2026 IAAP Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Celebration

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals is an affiliate member of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. Our purpose is to lead, unify and empower addiction focused professionals to achieve excellence through education, advocacy, knowledge, standards of practice, ethics, professional development and research.The Illinois Chapter of NAADAC is committed to the professional development of addiction professionals through trainings that increase and prepare addiction professional as leaders in the field. We are a voice of advocacy that remind legislators, community stakeholders and families that recovery works!

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals

Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals Present the 2026 IAAP Awards Celebration; Keynote: Terrence D. Walton, CEO, NAADAC

Ukrainian Cultural Center

<h2>13th Annual IAAP Awards Celebration</h2><h2>Keynote Speaker: Terrence D. Walton</h2><p><strong><strong>Executive Director &amp; Chief Executive Officer</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>NAADAC, </strong></strong><strong><strong>The Association for Addiction Professionals</strong></strong></p><h3>This year's 2026 IAAP Awards Celebration will be held in-person at the <strong><strong>Ukrainian Cultural Center. A light buffet lunch will be served.</strong></strong></h3><h3><strong><strong>Register as soon as possible--seating is limited.</strong></strong></h3><h3><strong><strong>See our fabulous lineup of Speakers below!</strong></strong></h3><h3><p><br></p></h3><h3><strong><strong>Friday, September 25, 12:00-3:00 p.m.</strong></strong></h3><h3>Doors open at 11:30 a.m.</h3><h2>12:00-12:45--Lunch is served</h2><h2>12:45-3:00 Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Celebration</h2><p><br></p><h2>ANNOUNCING the winners of the following awards!</h2><h2>Come to the Celebration!</h2><p><strong><strong>• The William White Lifetime Achievement Award</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>• The Mark Sanders Commitment to Advocacy Award</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>• The IAAP Professionals Program of the Year Award</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>• The Pamela Frazier Counselor of The Year Award</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>• The IAAP Recovery Services Award</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>• The Rising Star Award</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>• The IAAP Legacy Award (Posthumous)</strong></strong></p><p><br></p><h3><strong><strong>KEYNOTE SPEAKER:</strong></strong></h3><h3><strong><strong>Terrence D. Walton, MSW</strong></strong></h3>

<p>Terrence Walton is an addiction professional and the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. For more than 50 years, NAADAC has represented addiction professionals and supported them in their life-saving work.</p><p>Before joining NAADAC, Walton spent ten years as Chief Operating Officer for All Rise (founded as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals), where he led national and international initiatives to support addiction treatment and justice system professionals who work with individuals and families impacted by addiction and involved in the legal system.</p><p>Previously, Walton was Director of Treatment for the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA). During his 15 years at this Federal law enforcement and community supervision agency, he directed the departments that provided substance use disorder and mental health assessment, treatment, drug treatment courts, and other alternatives to incarceration and conviction programs. Additionally, he previously served as the director of what was then Washington, D.C.’s leading adolescent outpatient substance use disorder treatment center, Sasha Bruce Youthworks’ Necessary Interventions for Adolescents (NIA).</p><p>Walton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Master of Social Work degree with specializations in program administration and substance use disorder from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. He is an active member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), focusing on developing the global addiction and prevention workforce. He was a certified drug and alcohol counselor for more than twenty years and has devoted his entire professional life to helping individuals, families, and communities impacted by addiction recover and thrive.</p>

<h3><strong><strong>RECOVERY SPEAKER:</strong></strong></h3><h3><strong><strong>Mary Roberson, Ed.D., LCPC</strong></strong></h3>

<p>Dr. Mary Roberson has more than 30 years of proficiency in the Human Services and Behavioral Health field. Dr. Roberson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO), the first and only RCO in Lake County, Illinois. NIRCO was established in November 2019 and is active ARCO (Alliance for Recovery Centered Organizations) member through Faces and Voices of Recovery.</p><p>She was previously the Managing Director for Nicasa Behavioral Health Services where she had oversight on several evidenced based federal projects (SAMHSA Grants), some of which included technology assisted care, adolescents with co-occurring addiction and mental health; women at risk of infection for HIV and homeless individuals involved the criminal justice system.</p><p>Dr. Roberson first published in the Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly (July 2012) with her article<em><em> “Identity Development’s Impact on Peer Supported Recovery among African American Women.”</em></em></p><p>Dr. Roberson is a Navy veteran and is a Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.</p>

<h3><strong><strong>MASTER OF CEREMONIES:</strong></strong></h3><h3><strong><strong>Peter Bradley</strong></strong>, MA, LCPC , CRADC, CODP 2, PCGC, SAP</h3>

<p>Peter Bradley brings over 30 years of expertise in behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. As the CEO and Lead Therapist of Bradley Counseling &amp; Consulting LLC, located in downtown Homewood, IL, Peter is known for his engaging workshop presentations that skillfully incorporate humor and candidness to connect with diverse audiences. His dedication to client-centered care and professional development has made him a highly respected leader, educator, and speaker in the behavioral health community.</p>

2026 IAAP Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Celebration

13th Annual IAAP Awards Celebration

Keynote Speaker: Terrence D. Walton

This year's 2026 IAAP Awards Celebration will be held in-person at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. A light buffet lunch will be served.

Register as soon as possible--seating is limited.

See our fabulous lineup of Speakers below!

Friday, September 25, 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

12:00-12:45--Lunch is served

12:45-3:00 Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Celebration

ANNOUNCING the winners of the following awards!

Come to the Celebration!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Terrence D. Walton, MSW

Good to know

Location

Ukrainian Cultural Center

How do you want to get there?

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2026 IAAP Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Celebration

13th Annual IAAP Awards Celebration

Keynote Speaker: Terrence D. Walton

This year's 2026 IAAP Awards Celebration will be held in-person at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. A light buffet lunch will be served.

Register as soon as possible--seating is limited.

See our fabulous lineup of Speakers below!

Friday, September 25, 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

12:00-12:45--Lunch is served

12:45-3:00 Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Celebration

ANNOUNCING the winners of the following awards!

Come to the Celebration!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Terrence D. Walton, MSW

Good to know

Location

Ukrainian Cultural Center

How do you want to get there?

More events from The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals

Discover more events from The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals, from Business to other experiences you might love.

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