Our Team

Hi I'm Linda Ventura. Proud Mom of Thomas and the Founder and Executive Director of Thomas' Hope. Thomas' Hope was established in honor of my son and to create the space and be the person I wish I had holding my hand and assisting my son to navigate this insidious disease.
We welcome you to our family.

Hey! My name is Jennifer Roach. I am a wife, a mom of four, and Thomas' big sister! I am the Administrative Assistant and a Peer Recovery Coach at Thomas' Hope Foundation. I am here to meet you where you are in your journey, no judgments - just love and acceptance.

I’m Sue Forrester. I’m a mom of four. After reading a Newsday article about Linda and Thomas I reached out to her regarding my family’s 10 year struggle at the time with my daughter’s substance use disorder. Linda came to our home and sat with us to talk about it. Since then we’ve remained in contact and I started volunteering from home for Thomas’ Hope Foundation during quarantine. When the company I was working for eliminated my job Linda invited me to work for the foundation and I have been a part of the Thomas’ Hope Foundation family for over a year now. My goal is to become a Recovery Coach and provide support for other families and their loved ones through each of their journeys.

Hi, my name is Denise Hard and I am a Family Support Navigator here at Thomas’ Hope. My dedication to serving the community and to supporting families comes from my life experiences as someone who has watched multiple loved ones struggle with addiction throughout my life. I understand what it is like to feel helpless as you watch someone you love struggle with addiction and how it deeply impacts those around them. I can say that looking back on my life it is in those moments of feeling helpless that my strong dedication to supporting others inspired my professional and spiritual path that started in 2012. 

Hi I am Gerald Duggan I Matriculated from Howard University Washington DC 1983. I have been in the field of SUD and Mental Health for over 30 years. In Recovery for 43 yrs. Worked in all forms of Modalities with Female and Male sentient beings from Washington DC, East Harlem to Ronkonkoma and Hauppauge. I worked with THRIVE Recovery Center from its inception for 4.5 yrs, and have been instrumental in support of its growth and leadership in Peer Services. I am presently with Thomas’ Hope Foundation as a Peer Specialist. I walk in Righteousness as a Buddhist Monk.

Hi, my name is Tim Sullivan. I have come to realize that I am not here to fit into this world, I am here to help change it!

Hello my name is Nicole Aretz. I am honored to be working on the team at Thomas' Hope Foundation. It is a passion of mine to help others that struggle with substance use disorder and the families that love them. I believe that Substance Use Disorder is a family disease that demands a family recovery. Whether you yourself are struggling with SUD or you are a family member looking to better understand I am glad to help navigate this often arduous journey.