13th Annual California Addiction Conference (CAC)
October 14-18, 2026
Sheraton Universal
Universal City, CA
Hot Links
Save the date for the 13th Annual California Addiction Conference
October 14-18, 2026
Thank you to all who participated and attended the 10th Annual CAC. We hope to see you at our 2024 events. Be sure you are on our mailing lists to stay informed.
Our Speakers
Click this box to review our amazing speakers! If they provided their PowerPoint to share, you will find it in their profile.
CAC 12 is at the
Room rates from $185/night. Group code: G-CP25
Please note upon check out your resort fee will be waived and overnight self-parking will be reduced to $15 per vehicle per day.
Use the online reservation link below or call (402) 593-5442 and reference CCAPP Annual Conference.
Join us for the 12th Annual Halloween Party.
Friday, October 24, 2025
All are welcome! This is a free event, conference registration is not required.
Dress up and win prizes!
Join the dance contest and win prizes!
Become an Exhibitor or Sponsor
Sponsor and Exhibitor Packages
Elevate your brand by partnering with us as a sponsor and exhibitor at this year’s California Addiction Conference (CAC). This is your opportunity to gain premium visibility among top professionals in the field. Your ad can be featured in our official conference program—packed with essential event details, and distributed to every attendee.
Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting impression. Join the leading organizations that have already secured their space!
Sponsor packages available now!
The CAC 12 Agenda
*Speakers, topics, and times are subject to change without notice.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
| Time | Event | Room |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | All Recovery Meeting | Garden Room II |
| 7:00 AM–5:30 PM | Registration | |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast | Plaza Arbor |
| 7:30 AM–5:00 PM | Exhibit Hall Open | Plaza Arbor |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Wellbriety | Patio Room |
| 9:00–9:15 AM | Welcome/Land Acknowledgement/Prayer – Pete Nielsen & Kristina Padilla | Plaza Ballroom |
| 9:15–10:45 AM | Keynote: Dare Them to Dream: Building Recovery Capital Step by Step — Dr. David Best | Plaza Ballroom |
| 10:45–11:15 AM | BREAK | |
| 11:15 AM–12:30 PM | Care Predictor | Plaza Ballroom |
| 12:30–1:30 PM | LUNCH ON YOUR OWN | |
| 1:30–2:30 PM | Creating Peer-Focused Communities of Healing with the Recovery Café Model – Ken Goldstein, MPP, BA | Plaza Ballroom |
| 2:30–3:00 PM | BREAK | |
| 3:00–4:00 PM | Dreams & Recovery — Mark Scott, LAADC | Plaza Ballroom |
| 4:00–5:00 PM | Unlock the Power of Mindfulness in Shared Housing Precyous Newton & Janisha Street | Plaza Ballroom |
| 5:00–6:00 PM | Tom Karl – R1 Learning | Plaza Ballroom |
| 6:00–9:00 PM | Education Board Meeting (Closed) | Pacific Room |
| 7:00–8:00 PM | Smart Recovery | Garden Room II |
Thursday, October 23, 2025
| Time | Event | Room |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | All Recovery Meeting | Garden Room II |
| 7:00 AM–5:30 PM | Regristration | |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast | Plaza Arbor |
| 7:30 AM–5:00 PM | Exhibit Hall Open | Plaza Arbor |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Wellbriety | Patio Room |
| 9:00–9:15 AM | Welcome – Pete Nielsen & Kristina Padilla | Plaza Ballroom |
| 9:15–10:30 AM | Keynote: What Are We Missing? A Comprehensive, Multifactorial, and Cross-Sectional Approach to Gaining a New Understanding of Addiction, Diversity, and Recovery Challenges – Nicole Jafari, MBA, EdD, CPC, CMC | Plaza Ballroom |
| 10:30–11:00 AM | BREAK | |
| 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Innovative Approaches to Creating a Continuum of Care for the TGI Community — Samantha Montiel & Chantay Mackey | Plaza Ballroom |
| 12:00–1:30 PM | LUNCH ON YOUR OWN | |
| 1:30–3:00 PM | Substance Use in the Older Adult – Vicky Magobet, PMHNP-BC | Plaza Ballroom |
| 3:00 – 3:30 PM | BREAK | |
| 3:30–5:30 PM | Social Justice Priority: Understanding & Helping Children of Parents with Substance Use Disorder – Wendy Wade, PhD, LPCC, CAD | Plaza Ballroom |
| 6:00–9:00 PM | Board of Directors Meeting (Closed) | Pacific Room |
Friday, October 24, 2025
Keynote/Plenary
| Time | Event | Room |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | All Recovery Meeting | Garden Room II |
| 7:00 AM–5:30 PM | Registration | |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast | Plaza Arbor |
| 7:30 AM–5:00 PM | Exhibit Hall Open | Plaza Arbor |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Wellbriety | Patio Room |
| 9:00–9:15 AM | Welcome – Pete Nielsen & Kristina Padilla | Plaza Ballroom |
| 9:15–10:00 AM | Keynote: Nowell Family Foundation – Sullivan Brothers | Plaza Ballroom |
| 10:00–10:30 AM | BREAK | |
| 9:30–11:00 AM | Students Day — Bridging Competence & Practice: Integrating California’s Core Competencies with the 12 Core Functions of AOD Counseling (Students Only) — John Herdman, PhD, LAADC | Patio Room |
| 10:30–11:30 AM | Clincal Supervision: The Powell Strategy – Jeffrey Quamme, MS, ICAADC, ICCS, CNE, CNC | Plaza Ballroom |
| 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Students Day — Competencies for the IC&RC Exam (Students Only) — John Herdman, PhD, LAADC | Patio Room |
| 11:30–11:45 AM | Regulators & Legislators Update | Plaza Ballroom |
| 11:45 AM–12:00 PM | Lunch Provided – Federal Policy Update – Andrew Kessler, JD | Plaza Ballroom |
| 1:00–1:10 PM | Regulators & Legislators Update | Plaza Ballroom |
| 1:10–1:20 PM | Regulators & Legislators Update | Plaza Ballroom |
| 1:20–1:30 PM | Regulators & Legislators Update | Plaza Ballroom |
| 1:30–2:00 PM | BREAK | |
| 1:00–2:00 PM | Program Member Round Table | Garden II |
| 2:00 – 5:30 PM | Students Day — Competencies for the IC&RC Exam (Students Only) — John Herdman, PhD, LAADC | Patio Room |
Workshops
| Time | Track | Event | Room |
| 2:00–3:30 PM | Recovery Residence | Recovery Residence Training — Sherry Daley, Kimberly Lindberg, Jia Chen, and Marisol Colvin | Ocean Room |
| Professionals | Mentalization-Based Couples Therapy for Sexual Addiction — Lee Blackwell, PhD | Lagoon Room | |
| Professionals | The Well Within: Personal Renewal for Those Who Serve — Terri Garcia, MA, BS, CADC II CA | Surf Room | |
| Admissions & Marketing – Mike Schaub | Uncompromising Service to Others | Harbor Room | |
| Professionals | Beyond Coping: Integrating Career Readiness and Life Skill Development into Addiction Treatment Sarah Segal, RADT | Beach Room | |
| Ethics | To Call or Not to Call, That Is the Question: Navigating the Ethics of Mandated Reporting – Sean Jacobs, CADC II | Garden Room I | |
| Professionals | The Science of Breath: Applications for Addiction Recovery — Rob Feeley, MD & Dara Ghahremani | Garden Room II | |
| 3:30–4:00 PM | BREAK | ||
| 4:00–5:30 PM | Professionals | Intergenerational Wisdom: Advancing Addiction Treatment through the Promotion of Practice-Based Evidence – Vincent Gonzales, MA | Lagoon Room |
| Executive Leadership | Wait…You Said What? – Mark Attanasi, MBA | Ocean Room | |
| Professionals | Reframing Care: Harm Reduction & MAT for Pregnant People in Recovery – Pauletta Pierce, CADC II | Surf Room | |
| Ethics | AI, Ethics, and Involuntary Treatment: Navigating Technology & Laura’s Law in Modern Addiction Care – Bryan Jones, BBA, CADC II, CADC-CS CA | Garden Room I & II | |
| Trauma | Using Creative Writing for Mental Health, Addiction, and Trauma in Treatment Centers – Maia Akiva, ICMHC | Harbor Room | |
| Criminal Justice | Sex Offender Treatment and the Trauma that Impacts the Family – Alan Johnson, MA, LMFT, LAADC | Beach Room | |
| Ethics Committee Meeting (Closed Session) | Pacific Room | ||
| 7:30–10:30 PM | Halloween Party (All are Invited) | Plaza Ballroom | |
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Keynote/Plenary
| Time | Event | Room |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | All Recovery Meeting | Garden Room II |
| 7:00 AM–5:30 PM | Registration | |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast | Plaza Arbor |
| 7:30 AM–5:00 PM | Exhibit Hall Open | Plaza Arbor |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Wellbriety | Patio Room |
| 9:00–9:15 AM | Welcome – Pete Nielsen & Kristina Padilla | Plaza Ballroom |
| 9:15–10:45 AM | Keynote: The Hopeaholics: Stories of Addiction, Recovery, and Resilience — Chad Carlsen & Natalie Eva Marie | Plaza Ballroom |
| 10:45–11:15 AM | BREAK | |
| 11:15 AM–1:15 PM | Annual Membership Meeting Luncheon & CCAPP Awards Ceremony | Patio Room |
| 1:15–2:00 PM | BREAK | |
Workshops
| Time | Track | Event | Room |
| 2:00–3:30 PM | Ethics | Courageous Self-Kindness in Recovery: Creative Process as Daily Practice – Bob Weathers, PhD, CMHRS | Garden Room I & II |
| Professionals | Working in Recovery: How to Prevent Burnout Frankie Nelson, MPSS, & Michelle Tanner, MPSS | Lagoon Room | |
| Professionals | Recovery Incentives Program: Does Providing Incentives to Remain Abstinent Really Work? – Tamara LaFontaine, LMFT, BBS | Surf Room | |
| Criminal Justice | User-Centered Design for Implementing Digital Interventions in Criminal Justice Settings – Steven Jenkins & Melissia Larson, MS | Beach Room | |
| Executive Leadership | David vs. Goliath: Big Marketing on Small Budgets — Nick Jaworksi | Ocean Room | |
| DEI/Trauma | Invisible Stigma, Trauma, and Cultural Implications – Wendy Wade, PhD, LPCC, CADC | Harbor Room | |
| 3:30–4:00 PM | BREAK | ||
| 3:30–5:30 PM | Credentialing Board Meeting (Closed) | Pacific Room | |
| 4:00–5:30 PM | Professionals | Family Involvement in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Significance and Evidence Based Practices – Ashton Tisdale, LISW-CP, LAC, AAD | Lagoon Room |
| Professionals | This Is Not in the Manual: Real-Talk Survival Skills for Drug & Alcohol Counselors – Melissa Morales, LCSW, CADC | Surf Room | |
| Trauma | Integrated Recovery: Healing Addiction and Generational Trauma with AIT and Digital Tools Foojan Zeine, LMFT | Harbor Room | |
| RADT | The Power of Digital Documentation: HerdmanHealth EHR in Action – John Herdman, PhD, LAADC | Garden Room II | |
| Criminal Justice | Unchaining the Minds: Addressing the Bondage of Addiction, Institutionalization, and Relapse through PICs — An Impact Treatment Models – David Moore, CADC II and Christina Gonzales, MA | Beach Room | |
| Ethics | Bridging the Gap — Marc Schmallen | Garden Room I | |
| 6:30–8:30 PM | Under the Stars: Country and R&B Throwbacks (All are Invited) | OASIS Court | |
| 8:00–9:30 PM | All Recovery Meeting | Garden Room II | |
Sunday, October 26, 2025
| Time | Event | Room |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | All Recovery Meeting | Garden Room II |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast | Plaza Arbor |
| 7:30 AM–5:00 PM | Exhibit Hall Open | Plaza Arbor |
| 8:00–9:00 AM | Wellbriety | Patio Room |
| 9:00–9:15 AM | Welcome – Pete Nielsen & Kristina Padilla | Plaza Ballroom |
| 9:30–10:30 AM | Complacency: “The Leadership Killer” – Mark Attanasi, MBA | Plaza Ballroom |
| 10:30–11:00 AM | BREAK | |
| 11:00 AM–12:30 PM | Special Topics in Ethics: Informed Consent – Jeffrey Quamme, MS, ICAADC, ICCS, CNE, CNC | Plaza Ballroom |
Download the agenda pages in PDF
Take a Peek at Last Years CAC 11 Speakers
We wish to thank all of our speakers for our 11th Annual California Addiction Conference. If a speaker has given permission to share their presentation, it will be on their page. Click on “See All Speakers” below for more.
Wesley Geer, CADC I
Wesley Geer, CADC ISpecial Keynote Presentation Wednesday, October 16, 2024 9:15 AM -10:15 AM Founder, Rock To Recovery – Wesley Geer has been a professional musician for over 20 years. He first found success as the founding member of Jive Records artist Hed P.E. as…
Shane Earn, THE HOPEAHOLICS
Shane Earn, THE HOPEAHOLICSSpecial Presentation Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Born and raised in Canada, Shane Earn is a dynamic host of The Hopeaholics podcast and a passionate veterans advocate for the Infiniti Group programs. With over 15 years of…
Natalie Eva Marie Coyle, THE HOPEAHOLICS
Natalie Eva Marie Coyle, THE HOPEAHOLICSSpecial Presentation Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Natalie Eva Marie, widely recognized from her WWE days as Eva Marie, is a dynamic talent who has seamlessly transitioned from professional wrestling to a…
Chad Carlsen, THE HOPEAHOLICS
Chad Carlsen, THE HOPEAHOLICSSpecial Presentation Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:00 PM-1:30 PM Chad Carlsen is a multifaceted and dynamic figure in the behavioral health field, renowned for his significant contributions and leadership. As the charismatic host of The…
Regina Santistevan
Regina SantistevanHer Path-Rise & Thrive: A Holistic Approach to Women’s Health, Safety & Success Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Regina Santistevan is a workshop presenter at United We Can/Run4Hope and a motivational speaker at Victory Outreach…
Terri Garcia, ICADC II, ICCDP, ICCJP
Terri Garcia, ICADC II, ICCDP, ICCJPHer Path-Rise & Thrive: A Holistic Approach to Women’s Health, Safety & Success Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Terri Garcia holds a master’s in executive leadership and a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies….
Michelle Ho, LMFT
Michelle Ho, LMFTBridging the Gap Between Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Michelle Mai Ho has given numerous presentations and lectures on addiction and mental health treatment services. She has worked in both inpatient…
Pattie Vargas, CRAFT/ITC
Pattie Vargas, CRAFT/ITCWhat I Wish the World Understood Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Pattie Vargas is a Peer Parent Coach with the Partnership to End Addiction. She works one-on-one with parents using the CRAFT and Invitation to Change models and…
Mike Schaub
Mike SchaubUncompromising Service to Others: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Mike Schaub is the Senior Director of Community Relations at Social Model Recovery Systems. He is an expert in delivering and teaching the principles of exceptional customer…
Thank You to Our Sponsors of CAC 12
Thank You to Our Exhibitors
Bicycle Health |
Growth Central Training |
Hoag Hospital |
L.A. CADA |
Lab 24 |
Lochness Medical Supplies Inc. |
Lynk Diagnostics |
Pacific Clinics-Recovery Education Institute |
R1 Learning |
Randox Laboratories |
Social Model Recovery Systems |
