Title: Director of Peer Coaching
Company: Peer Connect LLC
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Shakilla Saeed, director of peer coaching at Peer Connect LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in mental health.
Ms. Saeed has built a successful career in health care, focusing on mental health and addiction recovery. She is the founder and director of peer coaching at Peer Connect LLC, a role she has held since 2021, and has served as a peer support specialist and certified recovery coach with Peer 2 Peer Recovery Services since 2019. Peer Connect LLC is dedicated to reducing the harms associated with substance use, addiction, and stigma by engaging adults in innovative prevention programs and offering evidence-based, holistic treatment to support clients on their recovery journey. His responsibilities are focused on community outreach, especially with high-risk clients, building networks with local organizations like shelters and missions, and regularly checking in with clients to assess their needs. He manages a team of around 36 individuals, ensuring they contribute effectively to the organization’s goals. As a designated trainer for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), he educates the community about addiction and recovery, providing training based on the CCAR curriculum. Additionally, he dedicates his time to the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals and the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery. He also volunteers at his mosque, which partners with the local food bank to distribute essentials and helps donate and distribute food for Peer Connect LLC’s clients and others in need.
Laying a solid educational foundation, Ms. Saeed earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in speech communications with an emphasis in organizational development and organizational communications from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2000, and a master’s degree in business management from the same institution in 2003. Additionally, she is certified as a Recovery Coach Professional through the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals and serves as a designated trainer of trainers with the CCAR. Reflecting on her path, after over a decade in information management, she transitioned into property and retail management before reassessing her path at age 40. Seeking greater personal fulfillment, she engaged with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration during the opioid crisis and discovered the emerging field of peer support. Two years ago, she founded her own clinic, providing essential services to the community.
Ms. Saeed’s personal experience with addiction, coupled with her family’s struggles, has deeply shaped her career path. After witnessing the devastating effects of the opioid crisis and the unexpected deaths it caused, she was driven to help others. Initially she was involved in private charity work, but found it overwhelming both financially and emotionally. Taking advice to find a more sustainable way to contribute, she shifted to supporting others through her professional role, allowing her to balance community service with her own well-being. She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her family, including her husband, parents, and three children. Having immigrated from Afghanistan with her parents, their shared resilience has been instrumental in her achievements and her appreciation for her current life. In the coming years, she is dedicated to expanding Peer Connect LLC’s reach, with a plan to establish new offices, starting with locations in Denver and Port Holland, to broaden their impact and serve a more diverse population.
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