MEET THE TEAM!

Meet Nadine Blase Psareas:

The Team: Dealing out Hope Everyday

Nadine Psareas, Founder, President
Seth Harris, Vice President
Jamie Parker, Treasurer
Ariel Read, Secretary
Skye Williams, Social Media
Mary Rogers, Peer Case Manager
Kevin Skanda Mraglia, Program Director
April Szoke, Certified Peer Support Board Member
Willie Myers, Special Advisory Board Member
Adalberto Ruiz Gutierrez, Board Member, Hispanic Outreach Director

A native of Utica, New York, now 35 year resident of Georgia and a graduate of Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia, Nadine, the mother of six, received her BSED degree at the University of Georgia and was an elementary school teacher for ten years in Georgia before early retirement. Having experienced at age 19 a mission trip to Haiti that redirected her path in life, Nadine studied to become a teacher and inner healing counselor. Recently, she served for two years as a Clinical Integrative Addictions Counselor and now has transitioned to Coaching. She currently is a CAMS (Certified Anger Management Specialist), ARBS (Anger Resolution Blueprint Specialist), Domestic Violence Specialist, and is an Integrative Nutrition Health and Lifestyle Coach and also a Certified Brain Health Coach through the Amen Clinics. Also, as a Global Organizational Leader for a pace-setting lifestyle corporation, Nadine identified a unique opportunity to combine travel with a new concept her company created “Voluntourism”-using travel to underserved communities as an opportunity to fortify the success of those in recovery to have long-term success through giving to those in dire straits more powerful than those struggling with addiction could comprehend. She enjoys yoga, outdoor activities and cooking with an eye to wellness and nutrition, and of course creating memories and collecting smiles with her husband and children. In recent years, she welcomed into her home and became the guardian of a special needs young man in the community whose parents are both deceased. In 2018, Nadine became the first recipient of the prestigious “Rudy” Award, given by the football inspiration, Rudy Ruettiger and nominated by her peers and community for exemplifying the “4 C’s” (character, commitment, contribution, and courage). In 2019, Nadine was a Legacy Award Nominee for Aurea McGarry’s Legacy’s Summit for her dedication to helping people suffering from addiction and her supporting their families in the process. In 2019, she achieved #1 International Best-Selling Author of Hope Dealers: The Calling, The Struggles, The Breakthroughs, and The Community of Believers.

Meet Pete Psareas:

Pete, a native of New England, also a 35 year resident of Georgia, is the proud father of 6 wonderful children ranging in age from 18-26. He received his B.S. degree in Physical Education at Keene State College and has been an Associate Broker/Realtor for over 30 years. He enjoys martial arts and is a 4th degree Black Belt with Choi Kwang Do Martial Arts. Pete is an avid traveler and enjoys playing racquetball, fitness training, scuba diving, and other sports. Together they created the concept of Hopedealers Worldwide, having experienced the struggle, derailing and danger a person with a substance use disorder faces in their own family.

Meet Jamie Parker:

Jamie Parker is a native of Marietta, GA and graduated from Pope High School. Jamie, the father of two elementary aged children, graduated from Georgia State University in 1997 with a degree in Music Education, The University of Georgia in 2000 with a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and in 2004 graduated from the University of Georgia with a Specialist in Instructional Technology. Jamie taught orchestra and general music for the Dekalb and Gwinnett County Public Schools for 15.5 years and was a Local School Technology Coordinator for two years before taking early retirement. While he was still teaching, Jamie got his real estate license and rapidly became a top agent in his local market even while continuing to teach. He now is a full-time real estate agent for eXp Realty and an active member of the Million Dollar Club, a Keller Williams Medallion winner. He also served on the agent leadership council (ALC) for two years. He is also a global organizational leader with a travel and lifestyle company. Jamie has seen first hand the effects of addiction through the struggles his wife went through after being raised by an alcoholic father. He now wants to help others who have suffered or are suffering by giving them a sense of direction laced with lots of positivity and nurturing. Jamie enjoys playing music, serving in his church ministry, serving the local community by being on the academy board of two different academies at a Gwinnett High School and loves to travel the globe with his wife and two kids.

Meet Skye Williams:

Skye, who proudly calls Houston, Texas home, has enjoyed success in multiple career tracts. She is a high fashion runway model, appearing in numerous publications and advertisements. She is an accomplished actress and also works in the travel, entertainment and lifestyle industries along with Nadine and Pete.

Skye’s heart is in philanthropy and it brings her great joy to help those in need. She was the event coordinator for “Keeping Youths Warm” an effort to help clothe and fund homeless teen shelters in Houston, TX. Skye recently welcomed a young boy without parents into her home and has become his guardian and has embraced the joy of motherhood. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, adventure, animals, travel, spirituality, giving back to the world for her many blessings by helping others with personal growth and development. She has a desire to help others who struggle with substance use disorder by connecting them with others who can have a positive impact on their lives through travel and service (voluntourism).

Meet April Szoke:

April is a native of Fairmount, GA and studied at Pickens Technical College. For ten years, April served at Nourison Industries in a supervisory role and loved helping people reach their full potential and grow within their company. She loved working at Nourison, but knew she was called to serve those struggling with the same path of addiction that she had successfully overcome many years prior. April struggled with the disease of addiction for 18 years. When her father was diagnosed with cancer, she dedicated every moment being his caregiver. His words, “baby girl I think you’re going to make it this time” changed her life forever. She has been in long-term recovery for over 11 years. April followed her heart and passion and is now the Executive Director for The R.O.C.C. (a national RCO program that she helped initiate through Hopededealers Worldwide.) April is a pioneer and a founding executive board member of The Recovery Organization of Cherokee County. She currently holds her certification as a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist and a Certified Peer Specialist – Alcohol and Drugs through the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. She is currently completing her certification process to become a Board Certified Addictions Counselor at Hopedealers Worldwide.

April is the proud mother of two adult children, a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren, who are her pride and joy. April loves spending time with her loving husband and family, camping, riding her motorcycle, and traveling.

In addition to running the program at The R.O.C.C., she enjoys offering Peer Coaching to all who are in need. She promotes long-term recovery from substance use disorders by providing experienced peer support and advocating for self-directed care.

Meet Willie Myers:

Willie is a native of Fort Worth, Texas now a 13 year resident of Georgia and a graduate of Keller High School in Keller, Texas. Willie is the father of six. He received his BS EMS Mgt. degree from George Washington University and was a Nationally Registered EMT- Paramedic for 34 years, 13 of those years in Georgia. Served as DOD employee at Underwater Special Forces Training School in Key West Florida and 23 yrs in Public Safety combining Law Enforcement (SWAT) & Fire Rescue Special Operations.

From 2005 – 2014, Willie served overseas in Iraq & Afghanistan and Israel as a Protective Security Specialist Paramedic contract member of the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Ambassador’s Protection Detail & Personnel Recovery Hostage Rescue Team. Willie served as Agent In Charge, Shift Leader, Operations Security Specialist and Primary & Lead Paramedic during his time overseas. Willie is a Leader and a Student and believes in the importance of personal development to build from the inside out.

In 2014, Willie was introduced to a brazen opportunity, involving travel and personal development which that platform has placed him in front of a successful group of entrepreneurs. Willie enjoys sports & traveling but most importantly, he loves being a father & grandfather to his 4 girls & 2 sons and 2 grandsons. On September 26, 2014, while deployed overseas in Israel, Willie was critically injured rendering him a quadriplegic. Over the course of the past 3 1/2 years, Willie has endured months of physical therapy despite being told he would never walk again. In March of 2018, Willie began taking assisted steps. And currently is conditioning and training to climb Stone Mountain on September 11, 2019, as part of the 9/11 Memorial Climb. Willie is also adding his story as a contributing co-author in an upcoming book with 2 other celebrity authors. Willie believes that the ability to overcome any challenge in life, first starts with making the decision to accept the challenge and then second, you must have a strong mindset and be willing to adapt it to that challenge.

Willie was the 2004 Recipient of the Georgia Department of Public Health-STAR of Life Award for life saving actions as a Grady Paramedic – 2005 Recipient of the Dekalb County Fire Rescue Medal of Valor for the rescue of a father & daughter caught in rough waters off the coast of Myrtle Beach South Carolina during a break from the firefighter combat challenge competition in which he qualified for the 2005 World Championship Finals.

Meet Adalberto Ruiz Gutierrez:

Adalberto Ruiz “Beto” is a native of Oaxaca, Mexico, now a 10 year resident of Playa del Carmen in the Caribbean paradise of the Riviera Maya. He is a graduate of Universidad del Golfo de México with a Business Management degree in Tourism. Beto has a heart for serving and helping children who come from less privileged circumstances. He values his close relationship with God and extends his passion for his faith to others through teaching them about God’s love for them. Currently, Beto is an active member of the Rotary Club in Canton Georgia, where together with other members of the community lead and seek to benefit and help the Hispanic community in different integral areas of the family. Beto Ruiz has served on the board of Hopedealers Worldwide, an organization that seeks to help those who have gone through the misfortune of being affected by substance use disorder. Currently, he is involved with The ROCC, which is a Recovery Community Organization that is an extension of Hopedealers Worldwide. Beto Ruiz has contributed with the editing and translation of the International Bestselling book: Hope Dealers: The Calling, The Struggles, The Breakthroughs, and the Community of Believers by Nadine Blase Psareas. In collaboration with the Georgia Council of Substance Abuse, Beto has sought to enter the Latino community by providing various types of help, medical insurance for rehabilitation programs, outreach activities, and food delivery among other services, while prioritizing education on prevention and recovery of substance use disorder. Beto’s dedication, commitment, and perseverance have enabled him to reach the level of a 2nd degree black belt in the martial arts arena. This level of commitment and passion has helped him develop and lead a group of international entrepreneurs’ personal growth and development and global expansion of the world’s largest lifestyle organization. His bilingual set contributes greatly to the service of our mission at Hopedealers and The R.O.C.C.