Yana Khashper (Co-Founder)
Yana is originally from New York City and has been in Western N.Y. since 2012. Yana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in trauma, addictions, and mental health. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University and went on to work with The New York City Fire Department Counseling Unit where her focus was to provide services to firefighters and emergency personnel of the FDNY impacted by the WTC tragedy and other disasters. Yana’s addiction took hold of her life during this time leading to complete incapacitation. She struggled for years before finding recovery. When she entered recovery, she experienced a sense of loss, lack of purpose and overwhelming sense of emotional pain. It was not until she found physical activity and exercise that she felt a sense of freedom and purpose in her life.. In her darkest hour, Yana was able to find peace in letting go of old ideals and creating a new life founded on healing and healthy living. She became passionate about bicycling, weight lifting, kayaking, and getting out into the outdoors. Most of all, she found that being outdoors has significantly strengthened her spirituality and given her added tools she needed to live sober and free. She wants to share this gift with others who are on similar journeys of their own. Get busy living!!
Certification: Yana is a Certified Personal Trainer though NASM and a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate.
Yana is originally from New York City and has been in Western N.Y. since 2012. Yana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in trauma, addictions, and mental health. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University and went on to work with The New York City Fire Department Counseling Unit where her focus was to provide services to firefighters and emergency personnel of the FDNY impacted by the WTC tragedy and other disasters. Yana’s addiction took hold of her life during this time leading to complete incapacitation. She struggled for years before finding recovery. When she entered recovery, she experienced a sense of loss, lack of purpose and overwhelming sense of emotional pain. It was not until she found physical activity and exercise that she felt a sense of freedom and purpose in her life.. In her darkest hour, Yana was able to find peace in letting go of old ideals and creating a new life founded on healing and healthy living. She became passionate about bicycling, weight lifting, kayaking, and getting out into the outdoors. Most of all, she found that being outdoors has significantly strengthened her spirituality and given her added tools she needed to live sober and free. She wants to share this gift with others who are on similar journeys of their own. Get busy living!!
Certification: Yana is a Certified Personal Trainer though NASM and a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate.
Sean Smith (Co-Founder)
Sean believes “waking up and moving” has been so incredibly helpful in his recovery. He has always considered himself an athlete and an extremely active person. However, that part of him was lost to years of alcohol abuse. Since getting sober, he has been able to rediscover the wonders of nature and those thrills he once found by being outside and exploring the world. Physical fitness and leading an active and healthy lifestyle have been extremely important to his recovery and provide him with the inner peace that had been missing for so long. He was born and raised in Rochester, NY and has been around the world throughout his last 16 years serving in the U.S. Army. He is a certified CrossFit level one instructor and runs high intensity strength training classes in ROCovery Fitness. Sean has recently graduated with an Associates Degree in Addictions Counseling and is a 2014 graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. Like Yana, he too finds peace while out in the woods and by the water. This is why you will find that most of our events usually include one of the two. We plan to build a sober community of people who are committed to leading healthy and physically active lifestyles on their journey of recovery from addiction.
Sean believes “waking up and moving” has been so incredibly helpful in his recovery. He has always considered himself an athlete and an extremely active person. However, that part of him was lost to years of alcohol abuse. Since getting sober, he has been able to rediscover the wonders of nature and those thrills he once found by being outside and exploring the world. Physical fitness and leading an active and healthy lifestyle have been extremely important to his recovery and provide him with the inner peace that had been missing for so long. He was born and raised in Rochester, NY and has been around the world throughout his last 16 years serving in the U.S. Army. He is a certified CrossFit level one instructor and runs high intensity strength training classes in ROCovery Fitness. Sean has recently graduated with an Associates Degree in Addictions Counseling and is a 2014 graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. Like Yana, he too finds peace while out in the woods and by the water. This is why you will find that most of our events usually include one of the two. We plan to build a sober community of people who are committed to leading healthy and physically active lifestyles on their journey of recovery from addiction.
Meet the Team!
Matthew McGee – Operations Manager
Matthew joined the ROCOVERY Fitness family in September 2019 as the Operations Manager. He spent the previous four years at Veterans Outreach Center in various Marketing and Development supervisory roles. Matthew is a proud retiree of the Rochester City Police Department and the United States Coast Guard where he was deployed in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Matthew completed his graduate level certification in Project Management from Syracuse University and earned his Master’s in Public Administration from the State University of New York College at Brockport. Matthew is married to his wife Becky and they reside in the City of Rochester and have two adult children Joseph and Jordan.
Lindsay Chambers – Development Director
Lindsay joined ROCovery Fitness in May 2019 as Development Director. Lindsay is an experienced fundraiser and event organizer who has worked at other nonprofits in the community in various development roles for the last decade including NAMI Rochester, Women’s Foundation and most recently Veterans Outreach Center. She is an active member of the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Lindsay lives in Fairport with her husband, Greg and children Dylan and Leah.
Jonathan Westfall - Peer Support Program Manager
Jon has been heavily involved with ROCovery Fitness since 2017. He started as a volunteer engaging in Wayne County expansion project, at the forefront of the community/street level outreach pilot project and the annual 5K. In July 2018, he started full-time with the organization, which allowed him to marry his love of fitness with his passion for community service. Jon has become a cornerstone of the peer recovery movement in the Rochester region. He is heavily involved in community outreach programs, grassroots recovery community organizations and advocacy groups/events. Jon also serves as ROCovery’s Boxing Conditioning Coach, ASFA Certified Kettlebell Instructor and Outdoor Program Team Member. Jon is a NY State Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) and is currently working towards his CASAC certification. Jon is proud father of four, a long-time fitness enthusiast, graphic designer and artist.
Lisa Nichols – Expansion Program Manager
Lisa is our ROCovery Expansion Manager and facilitates the growth of sober, active living communities across the state. Her current projects include the direction of the Southern Tier chapter and guiding Watertown through building their own. When she’s not nerding out over creating spreadsheets and documents, she’s definitely in the gym lifting weights or teaching other people how to do so. Lisa is certified as a USAW Olympic lifting coach and Level 1 Crossfit Trainer. Her non-athletic, but equally important certifications include CRPA and Education. The accomplishments she’s most proud of include almost a decade of sobriety, mother to an amazing human, published poetry and forthcoming novel, ability to drink at least 32 ounces of water a day, competing at the professional level in Motocross, CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting, and choosing to be kind in every situation.
Kara Izzo – Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Kara joined ROCovery Fitness in October 2019. She is a person in long-term recovery and she obtained her CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) so that she could support others on their own paths of recovery. Kara is a graduate of Fairport High School and LeMoyne College. She enjoys watching Buffalo Sabres games, reading, and visiting Alexandria Bay and St. Petersburg, Florida. She lives in Fairport with her husband Gary, her two sons, Nick and Zach, and her boxer Mickey.
Chelsea Kehrli- Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Chelsea joined the ROCovery crew in the beginning of October 2019 but has been a member since 2017. She entered into her own recovery journey around that time. Having struggled with addiction for 15 years of her young life, she ended up at a point where she felt completely hopeless and lost; she wasn’t living. In early sobriety, she was feeling a lack of purpose and connection. It wasn’t until she started coming to ROCovery for workouts with Sean and Yana, that she slowly started to find her place. Today, Chelsea is passionate about helping others on their path to recovery and is a true advocate for the work ROCovery is doing. She has earned an Associate’s Degree in Visual Communications & Graphic Design. Chelsea is working towards completing her CRPA certification. Chelsea loves going on hikes and spending time outdoors, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying the recovery ride. She enjoys utilizing her creative skills by cake decorating and making beautiful pastries.
Eric Fitzpatrick – Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Eric joined the ROCovery Fitness team in October 2019, he been a member and volunteer since 2017. Eric Is closing in on 3 years of sustained recovery after a 20-year battle with addiction and credits ROCovery with helping save his life. He has his CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) and will be graduating from Monroe Community College in the spring of 2020 with his CASAC (Certified Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor). Eric is a music lover, outdoors enthusiast, and a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. He currently lives in Brighton with his dog Legend.
Keirstan Saltsman- Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Keirstan joined the ROCovery crew in October 2019. She started as a member and volunteer in December 2018. When she came to the Rochester area, she did not know what sobriety could look like. She thought it was going to be anything but fun. Through ROCovery Fitness she has found a life in sobriety beyond her wildest dreams. She has found an amazing community she now calls family and a life full of adventures. She is in active recovery and finds her purpose in helping others. She believes she has found God’s plan for her life by joining the ROCovery crew and helping in their mission. She is working toward her CRPA certification and obtained an Associates in Science of Criminal Justice from Colorado Technical University. She lives in downtown Rochester and is completely independent for the first time in her life.
Matthew McGee – Operations Manager
Matthew joined the ROCOVERY Fitness family in September 2019 as the Operations Manager. He spent the previous four years at Veterans Outreach Center in various Marketing and Development supervisory roles. Matthew is a proud retiree of the Rochester City Police Department and the United States Coast Guard where he was deployed in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Matthew completed his graduate level certification in Project Management from Syracuse University and earned his Master’s in Public Administration from the State University of New York College at Brockport. Matthew is married to his wife Becky and they reside in the City of Rochester and have two adult children Joseph and Jordan.
Lindsay Chambers – Development Director
Lindsay joined ROCovery Fitness in May 2019 as Development Director. Lindsay is an experienced fundraiser and event organizer who has worked at other nonprofits in the community in various development roles for the last decade including NAMI Rochester, Women’s Foundation and most recently Veterans Outreach Center. She is an active member of the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Lindsay lives in Fairport with her husband, Greg and children Dylan and Leah.
Jonathan Westfall - Peer Support Program Manager
Jon has been heavily involved with ROCovery Fitness since 2017. He started as a volunteer engaging in Wayne County expansion project, at the forefront of the community/street level outreach pilot project and the annual 5K. In July 2018, he started full-time with the organization, which allowed him to marry his love of fitness with his passion for community service. Jon has become a cornerstone of the peer recovery movement in the Rochester region. He is heavily involved in community outreach programs, grassroots recovery community organizations and advocacy groups/events. Jon also serves as ROCovery’s Boxing Conditioning Coach, ASFA Certified Kettlebell Instructor and Outdoor Program Team Member. Jon is a NY State Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) and is currently working towards his CASAC certification. Jon is proud father of four, a long-time fitness enthusiast, graphic designer and artist.
Lisa Nichols – Expansion Program Manager
Lisa is our ROCovery Expansion Manager and facilitates the growth of sober, active living communities across the state. Her current projects include the direction of the Southern Tier chapter and guiding Watertown through building their own. When she’s not nerding out over creating spreadsheets and documents, she’s definitely in the gym lifting weights or teaching other people how to do so. Lisa is certified as a USAW Olympic lifting coach and Level 1 Crossfit Trainer. Her non-athletic, but equally important certifications include CRPA and Education. The accomplishments she’s most proud of include almost a decade of sobriety, mother to an amazing human, published poetry and forthcoming novel, ability to drink at least 32 ounces of water a day, competing at the professional level in Motocross, CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting, and choosing to be kind in every situation.
Kara Izzo – Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Kara joined ROCovery Fitness in October 2019. She is a person in long-term recovery and she obtained her CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) so that she could support others on their own paths of recovery. Kara is a graduate of Fairport High School and LeMoyne College. She enjoys watching Buffalo Sabres games, reading, and visiting Alexandria Bay and St. Petersburg, Florida. She lives in Fairport with her husband Gary, her two sons, Nick and Zach, and her boxer Mickey.
Chelsea Kehrli- Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Chelsea joined the ROCovery crew in the beginning of October 2019 but has been a member since 2017. She entered into her own recovery journey around that time. Having struggled with addiction for 15 years of her young life, she ended up at a point where she felt completely hopeless and lost; she wasn’t living. In early sobriety, she was feeling a lack of purpose and connection. It wasn’t until she started coming to ROCovery for workouts with Sean and Yana, that she slowly started to find her place. Today, Chelsea is passionate about helping others on their path to recovery and is a true advocate for the work ROCovery is doing. She has earned an Associate’s Degree in Visual Communications & Graphic Design. Chelsea is working towards completing her CRPA certification. Chelsea loves going on hikes and spending time outdoors, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying the recovery ride. She enjoys utilizing her creative skills by cake decorating and making beautiful pastries.
Eric Fitzpatrick – Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Eric joined the ROCovery Fitness team in October 2019, he been a member and volunteer since 2017. Eric Is closing in on 3 years of sustained recovery after a 20-year battle with addiction and credits ROCovery with helping save his life. He has his CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) and will be graduating from Monroe Community College in the spring of 2020 with his CASAC (Certified Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor). Eric is a music lover, outdoors enthusiast, and a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. He currently lives in Brighton with his dog Legend.
Keirstan Saltsman- Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Keirstan joined the ROCovery crew in October 2019. She started as a member and volunteer in December 2018. When she came to the Rochester area, she did not know what sobriety could look like. She thought it was going to be anything but fun. Through ROCovery Fitness she has found a life in sobriety beyond her wildest dreams. She has found an amazing community she now calls family and a life full of adventures. She is in active recovery and finds her purpose in helping others. She believes she has found God’s plan for her life by joining the ROCovery crew and helping in their mission. She is working toward her CRPA certification and obtained an Associates in Science of Criminal Justice from Colorado Technical University. She lives in downtown Rochester and is completely independent for the first time in her life.