About Us
NET Training Institute: the Administrative Agency for the FL Recovery Friendly Workplace (FLRFW)
Since its inception in 1996, NTI, under the Leadership of Jean LaCour, PhD (President and CEO) and Cheryl Brown Merriwether (Vice President and Executive Director), has focused on providing training and/or certification services to behavioral health practitioners, including counselors, therapists, recovery and recovery support peers worldwide.
NTI also includes non-clinical professional coaches, health, wellness and human resources practitioners among their graduates. These all share a common goal of advancing addiction awareness, prevention and recovery education with a focus on practical, applicable skills for professionals.
The Florida RFW Coalition will provide advice and consultation to NTI, as they work together to address the challenges of substance misuse, addiction and recovery in the workplace. This collaborative effort positions Florida as a key player in the national movement to integrate support for employees seeking to achieve or maintain recovery into workplace wellness and other programs. NTI’s leadership ensures that the initiative is backed by decades of expertise in addiction recovery education, providing a foundation for success in addressing the state’s unique challenges.
As the Administrative Agency, NTI will oversee the design, development, and delivery of the Florida RFW training and certification program. This initiative will provide businesses with the tools to become certified Recovery Friendly Workplaces, offering training, standards, and application processes to promote recovery-focused workplace cultures.
The partnership between NTI and the FL RFW Coalition reflects NTI’s mission to cultivate workplaces rooted in compassion and support and by collaborating with employers statewide, we create environments that prioritize employee recovery and well-being.
Leadership Team
Jean M. LaCour PhD, CPP, CPRC
Founder, President, CEO, Net Training Institute
Dr. Jean LaCour is a renowned global consultant dedicated to empowering leaders, businesses, professionals, and individuals in addressing addiction through non-clinical, online certification programs. As the founder and CEO of NET Training Institute/ICARE, she advocates tirelessly for those in addiction recovery worldwide. Dr. LaCour’s expertise has taken her to 35 countries, where she has introduced best practices that reduce social stigma around addiction in regions such as Bermuda, Egypt, Russia, and the Middle East.
Her extensive contributions to the field include advisory roles with the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, and various national and state organizations, focusing on systemic improvements in addiction recovery. Since 2003, Dr. LaCour has been instrumental in defining best practices in recovery, including Recovery Management, Peer and Professional Recovery Coaching, and Recovery Support Services. These models, part of the Recovery Oriented Systems of Care approach, aim to provide sustainable, long-term support for underserved communities that often lack formal treatment options.
In 2006, Dr. LaCour was appointed as the Statewide Recovery Support Coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Substance Abuse Program Office. In this role, she played a key part in the nationwide rollout of the $600-million Substance Abuse Access to Recovery (ATR) program, securing $21 million in funding specifically for Florida’s initiatives.
Dr. LaCour holds a Master’s in Education from the University of South Florida and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and Pastoral Care from Cornerstone University. Her work continues to shape the future of addiction recovery and reduce stigma on a global scale.
Cheryl Brown Merriwether, MHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CM, CPRC, CRSS
Co-Founder, Vice President, Executive Director, International Center for Addiction & Recovery Education™ (ICARE)
Co-Chair, Recovery Friendly Coalition
Cheryl is the Vice President of the NET Institute Center for Addiction and Recovery Education and the Co-founder and Executive Director of the International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (ICARE), a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the growing global problem of substance misuse and addiction. Cheryl has over two decades of proven leadership in corporate management, Human Resources, adult education, addiction and recovery awareness, support, prevention, and corporate wellbeing. Cheryl is the Immediate Past President of the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Development (GOSHRM). During her tenure, GOSHRM won SHRM’s distinguished Pinnacle Award for innovating a community-based initiative to train HR professionals regarding substance misuse in the workplace.
In February 2023 Cheryl won BambooHR’s inaugural HR Experience Maker Award in the Heart & Soul category. In 2022 SUCCESS Magazine named Cheryl a winner of their inaugural Women of Influence awards for her pioneering work in addiction and recovery. Cheryl has been featured in publications such as Fortune Magazine, HR Executive Magazine, Employee Benefits News, BenefitsPRO, Reworked and SHRM. Cheryl is a thought leader on workplace addiction as a workforce inclusion issue, and the critical role of peer recovery support in ending substance misuse in the workplace.
Ashley Grimes, MBA, PMP, SHRM-CP
Executive Director of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition
Ashley Grimes, CFAA-HR, CRPS-A,F, MBA, PMP, SHRM-CP, brings over 20 years of diverse experience across project management, human resources, and the nonprofit healthcare sector to her role as the Executive Director of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition. She is recognized as a leader in promoting mental health and substance use recovery in professional environments, fostering inclusive workplaces that support individuals in recovery.
In 2024, Ashley was honored with the News Service of Florida Rising Stars in the Sunshine State: 40 Under 40 Award, underscoring her contributions to mental health advocacy and workplace wellness. Previously, in October 2022, she was ranked #30 in City & State Florida’s Health Care Power 100, acknowledging her influence among Florida’s healthcare leaders.
Ashley’s expertise in federal health policy was showcased in 2023 at the Florida State of Reform Conference, where she joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 4 Director, Antrell Tyson, to discuss critical policy updates. Her work extends to national platforms, including panels and conferences focused on stigma reduction, peer recovery, and building recovery-ready communities.
A person in long-term recovery from co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and a suicide survivor, Ashley leverages her personal journey to inspire and empower others. Through her leadership, the Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition advances its mission to create supportive workplaces for individuals impacted by substance use and mental health challenges.
Rick Riccardi
Founder and CEO of Fellowship Recovery Community Organization
Co-Chair Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition
Rick Riccardi is the Founder and CEO of Fellowship Recovery Community Organization. Established in 2005, a Not-for-Profit Community Center and Housing Facility for men and women committed to changing their lives with multiple locations across Broward County, including Margate and Fort Lauderdale. He is responsible for the advocacy of people with substance use disorders and oversees the recovery support services that Fellowship RCO offers. He is a person in long term recovery from alcoholism with 30 years, and his main objective is to develop community support and business awareness with understanding of Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
Rick is passionate about community involvement and development. Presently, he is the President of the Fort Lauderdale Rotary Club, and on the Board of Directors for the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. He is the Vice Chairman of the Broward County Sheriff’s Re-Entry Program, member of The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, and member of the Broward County Community Response Team. He is past President of the Board of Directors of Unity of Pompano Beach Spiritual Center and the past President of the Margate Chamber of Commerce. He is the former Treasurer of the FARR Board of Directors, Past Director of the Floridians for Recovery, and Past Treasurer the Board of Directors of the New York City Police Athletic League (PAL).
He received the Mental Health Association’s Epic Award in 2019, Arc of Freedom Alliance Resilience Award in 2018 and the Pompano Chamber Light of the Community Award in 2018.
Rick spent 25 years on Wall Street as an Institutional Municipal Bond Specialist. He is a graduate of Colgate University with a B.A. in Economics with a full academic scholarship while lettering in Football and was Captain of the Lacrosse team (Honorable Mention All-American).
Mark Bonta
Secretary, Florida Recovery-Friendly Workplace Coalition
Mark is an accomplished Manufacturing Plant Director of over 20 years, who pioneered the New Hampshire Recovery-Friendly Workplace (RFW) Initiative when he joined the Governor’s Advisory Council and his workplace became one of the nation’s first designated RFWs.
Mark’s work has developed individuals from the beginnings of their recovery journey to in-demand skilled workers and successful community business leaders. These successes were further validated by his increased plant efficiencies, 50% reduction in safety incidents, and over 5 consecutive years of zero lost days. Mark remains on the Advisory Council of the NH-RFWI today and works closely with the National RFW Institute.