Ward Clem: Ward has over four decades of experience in addictions and mental health counseling. In 1978 he graduated cum laude from Frostburg State University with a degree in Psychology. He is a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society. The next year he obtained his initial introduction to addiction treatment and recovery by working several months at a detox unit that was located in Hagerstown, Maryland. Ward subsequently obtained employment as an outpatient Addictions Counselor with the State of Maryland. In 1984 he moved from an outpatient setting to providing counseling and recovery services to adult males in a correctional setting. Concurrently, he was attending Shippensburg University and was pursuing his master's degree in their CACREP accredited Community Counseling program. Ward received his master's degree in 1985 and a few years later, in 1987, he left his position as an Addictions Counselor and continued his employment in the prison setting as a Mental Health Counselor. Until 2001, Ward continued to provide mental health services to the inmate population. At that time, there was a major initiative in the Maryland correctional setting to expand the addictions treatment that was provided to the inmate population and Ward was recruited to the Social Work/Addictions Department. He provided assistance in developing a six-month treatment protocol, as well as continued to provide individual and group counseling. In 2006, Mental Health Counselors in the prison system were on the cusp of receiving significant salary upgrades and Ward returned to his position as a Mental Health Counselor. Ward has been Reality Therapy and Choice Theory Certified since 2002. He is also certified by the NBCC as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and as a Masters Addiction Counselor (MAC). In Maryland, Ward is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). In 2012, he also became a Maryland approved Counselor Supervisor. Towards the end of his career in Maryland, Ward expanded his interests in two directions, for several years he provided supervision to college interns. He also became active in his union, AFT-Healthcare Maryland. In this capacity, he helped negotiate salary upgrades and tuition reimbursement for Addiction and Mental Health Counselors. He eventually served as Executive Vice President of his Local. Ward retired from the State of Maryland in 2017. In 2023, Ward and his wife embarked on a new adventure by relocating to Concord, New Hampshire. Although retired, Ward maintains an active interest in his profession, he is currently beginning his studies in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and is looking forward to giving back to his new community.