Staff
Will Straughan
Founder and CEO​
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Will has taught substance abuse prevention education to thousands of young people in over twenty states in the US and throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. He utilizes his personal story of addiction and seventeen years of healthy recovery to generate developmentally appropriate conversations about substance use with whole school communities.
Will attended New Trier High School in Chicago and Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. He went to Wake Forest University before graduating from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) with a B.A. in English Literature. In addition to his career in prevention, Will has served as Director of Annual Fund for Montreat Conference center and is a founding member of the Asheville based Americana music trio Red June.
Lee Bergeron, LMSW
Director of Program Development
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In her work, Lee draws upon her educational and professional training as well as her own journey through a substance use disorder and recovery. This background has helped her understand the importance of using effective interventions in a manner that values individual and community strengths and needs.
Lee has been in the prevention field since 2016. Prior to this, she worked as a youth and family therapist in treatment foster care and public school settings in Baltimore, Maryland and surrounding areas. She has a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and BA degrees in psychology and art from St. Mary's College of MD.
Vanessa Raola, NBC-HWC
Development & Communications Coordinator
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Vanessa's journey through addiction and her subsequent engagement in the recovery community uniquely position her to cultivate environments that promote well-being through education, prevention, and outreach.
Vanessa's background encompasses diverse areas, such as business development, account management, communications, fundraising, substance misuse prevention, and project coordination. She earned a B.S. in Mass Communication with a Minor in Psychology from Florida International University. Before joining Soundcheck in 2022, she accumulated 13 years of experience in the media industry, specializing in account management and business development.
A graduate of the Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach Training Program, Vanessa is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She is originally from Miami, FL and now resides in Asheville, NC with her partner and her three dogs.
Stephanie Haines,
M.Ed., CHES
Stephanie Haines is a seasoned prevention specialist and health educator. She bring her expertise to audiences worldwide, having taught at numerous public, private and international schools across five continents. With a warm demeanor and lively humor, Stephanie is a sought-after presenter, highly skilled at engaging students of all ages as well as faculty and parent groups. Her understanding of adolescent development and prevention best practices, combined with her ability to lead insightful discussions, make her a trusted resource in the areas of substance misuse, mental health, and eating disorders.
Before joining Soundcheck Prevention Network in 2024, Stephanie developed an eating disorders prevention program for a top U.S. treatment center. She holds a B.S. in Behavioral Science from Granite State College, a master’s degree in Health Education and; Promotion from Plymouth State University, and is a certified Health Education Specialist, with a background as a certified occupational therapy assistant. Stephanie divides her time between New Hampshire and Florida and is always up for a road trip. She spends her free time participating in the recovery community, reading books, and making art.