Board of Directors
Paula Cunningham, RN- Executive Director
Paula Cunningham, RN- Executive Director
Paula Cunningham, RN- Executive Director
Paula is a passionate activist using her voice and personal experience to fight the opioid epidemic. She has years of personal experience as a mother of a child who suffered with an opioid use disorder. In addition to her personal experience, Paula is a Registered Nurse and is currently employed with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield as the Director of Medical & Payment Policy Administration.
She serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Next Step Recovery Housing and is a member of the Arkansas People Achieving Recovery Together (APART) coalition. She was appointed to the Arkansas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinating Council by Governor Asa Hutchinson. She holds a Biblical Counseling Certification from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a ministry leader at Grove Life Recovery Ministry at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Little Rock. Mrs. Cunningham was the 2021 recipient of the Peer Champion award at the Arkansas Peer Support Conference.
Casey Copeland- Board Member
Paula Cunningham, RN- Executive Director
Paula Cunningham, RN- Executive Director
Casey is a person of long-term sustained recovery. He is the first peer recovery specialist to hold a full-time position within a jail setting in Arkansas. He is a trainer of trainers for the Arkansas Model of Peer Recovery and serves as the Director of the Arkansas Peers Achieving Recovery Together (A.P.A.R.T.) Coalition and the APAC Committee. He is the Director of The Rock of Hope, a chain of recovery homes for men battling addiction and a Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader at Westrock Baptist Church. He is currently employed at Exodus Life as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist.
Pam Cummins- Board Member
Paula Cunningham, RN- Executive Director
Lynda Ovaert , Ph. D- Board Member
Pam is a wife and mother of three sons with a passion to end the opioid epidemic.. She knew Parker personally, as a friend of one of her sons, for only a short time, but his wit, charm and big heart quickly stole her heart. She joins the Parker Gill Foundation to fight the epidemic that is stealing precious lives in our country everyday.
Lynda Ovaert , Ph. D- Board Member
Lynda Ovaert , Ph. D- Board Member
Lynda Ovaert , Ph. D- Board Member
Lynda is a retired clinical psychologist with experience which includes 15 years as the Chief Psychologist for a child and adolescent program in a psychiatric facility. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of North Texas.
Suzanne Waters- Board Member
Lynda Ovaert , Ph. D- Board Member
Lacy Jahner, LPN -Program Director
Suzanne, a wife and mother of two teenage sons, has years of experience as an elementary educator with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Arkansas and a Masters of Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is also a businesswoman, realtor and owner of Diamond Rock Realty. She was selected to the Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXV. Volunteer service includes serving as the President Elect of the PTF at Little Rock Christian Academy, Director of Sunday School and various other volunteer positions at Calvary Baptist Church.
Lacy Jahner, LPN -Program Director
Lynda Ovaert , Ph. D- Board Member
Lacy Jahner, LPN -Program Director
Lacy is a wife and mother of two boys. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse, graduating from Baptist Health School of Nursing with honors in 2014. As Parker's sister, Lacy has a strong personal connection with the Parker Gill Foundation. Following Parker's overdose she has a strong passion to end the opioid epidemic.