Allison was born in York, Nebraska to a family who owned a John Deere Store, cheered on the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, and loved music. She is the eldest of five children, and her parents divorced when she was in her late teens.

She first drank alcohol at age 13 and it removed all her feelings of anxiety, insecurity and self-doubt. The combination of being social and athletic fueled her peer-driven substance use, and also some moments of fun along the way.

Colorado became Allison’s home during her college years. Her substance use escalated until age 25 when she discovered hope and a solution leading to another way to live. She entered her recovery journey alongside her future husband, Jeff. There were milestones and in 2018, Allison and Jeff celebrated 31 years of recovery and 26 years of marriage. They are very proud parents of Riley and Sevi, and also love their sweet little dog Izzy.

In her 40s, Allison yearned for more purposeful work in the world. Her recovery journey fueled her next professional chapter as well as a Master of Science from University of Denver in Organizational Leadership. She worked in community outreach—including for the Center for Dependency Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR)—and took on numerous volunteer positions in the prevention, treatment, and recovery field.

A life-long learner, Allison continues to deepen her knowledge and education. As of March 2019, she has been awarded the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals’ (NCC AP) National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) credential.

This most recent adventure, launching Beyond Betty, is anchored in Allison’s deep understanding of long-term peer recovery support services and their life-changing power. And at the core of Allison’s life purpose is helping just one more person find the hope and the solution she has found living recovered.