Biography
Michigan Addiction Recovery Alliance founder Gregory Emelander understands firsthand the isolation, confusion, and frustration that can come with trying to navigate addiction recovery. After facing his own battle with substance use and struggling to find clear, accessible support, Greg turned his experience into a mission: to ensure that no one seeking recovery has to walk that path alone.
That mission became Michigan Addiction Recovery Alliance (MARA), an organization dedicated to strengthening recovery through community, access, and innovation. Combining his background in website development, branding, and digital communications with his passion for advocacy, Greg built MARA to serve as a centralized hub for recovery resources, support services, education, and community connection throughout Michigan and beyond.
Greg is a Recovery Coach trained through Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), with additional training through NAADAC and Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Addiction Professionals and contributes as an advisory board member for multiple Recovery Community Organizations.
Beyond MARA, Greg serves as co-host of The Greg & Fred Show, where he and his co-host discuss addiction, recovery, faith, culture, and the real-life challenges people face on their journey toward healing. He also serves as a Strategic Partner to the CTO at Prescribery, where he helps develop and manage the company’s public-facing infrastructure, branding, and digital systems.
Greg is also the author of Where Darkness Reigned, a deeply personal account of addiction, redemption, and transformation. His story and advocacy efforts have reached audiences throughout the United States as well as internationally in Germany and Kenya.
Today, Greg continues to dedicate his life to bridging gaps in recovery support, empowering individuals and families, and building collaborative systems that make recovery resources more visible, accessible, and effective for everyone seeking hope and change.
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