Staff & Executive and Advisory Board
Rev. Lisa Bryson, Founder and Executive Director
Lisa is the Founder and Executive Director of Praising Through Recovery. She is a woman in long-term recovery, businesswoman, mentor, international missionary, teacher, and a licensed minister of Bridgeway Community Church. As an active partner she serves as Co-Lead for the Ukraine Mission Team and as a lead for the addictions and recovery ministry. Lisa has dedicated her life to serving others while advocating and educating on the topics of caring for stigmatized and marginalized populations and how to overcome and persevere when everything in you wants to throw in the towel. She has worked in the clinical & mental health fields for over 15 years and has completed over 20 years of coursework in the fields of trauma, addiction & recovery and has over 17 years of administrative & management experience. Lisa hopes to share her story, her mission, and her deliverance with all, while educating professional & faith-based communities on the importance of inclusion for people like her. Not forgetting where she comes from, her life is an open book as she leads by example humbly displaying the Brilliant Light of Jesus Christ which led her out of darkness. 
Mashica Winslow, Executive Board, President
Mashica Winslow currently serves as President and executive board member of the non-profit ‘Praising Through Recovery.’ She is a proud graduate of both Morgan State University, with a Bachelors Degree in Music, and The University of Maryland Baltimore County with a Masters Degree in Education. From 2012 to 2019 she worked extensively as an executive director of the non-profit, Music Motivating Minds, whose outreach served an urgent demand of supplying arts education for the disenfranchised communities in Baltimore City. Mashica’s vision for the Music Motivating Minds organization was to empower and introduce the children of underserved communities to diverse cultural experiences, Art, Music, and History. Under her leadership the monthly ”Lunch and Learn” and “Music Movement” camps were created. The (M.M.M.) organization toured schools and taught music, dance, health, wholeness, and beginning business classes to prepare young minds for higher education. Mashica also lead masterclasses for high school students that focused on career choices and five year planning strategies. As an educator Mashica has served as a third grade teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System and as Site Coordinator for Sylvan Learning’s ‘Education Station’ after-school program. Presently, she leads the ‘King’s Keep Kings Club’ which is a weekly program that mentors young men between the ages of 13 and 21. Mashica is also a committee member who hosts and books talent for a monthly community concert series entitled ‘Open Mic’ celebrating the arts in Baltimore City. She also volunteers on the council of the North Valley Patient and Family Advisory Committee. Mashica is committed to being an exemplary global citizen by serving others in ways that bring about life changing experiences. She has dedicated much of her time to civic engagement and the building of strong community bonds. Volunteering and helping others is a strong passion of hers and she is excited to continue to put the needs of her community in the forefront of her life’s vision. 
Sharon Gamble, Executive Board Member
Sharon Gamble, MNPM, BS is the President/CEO of ReZults Management Consulting, L.L.C. Sharon has 29 years of combined experience as a senior manager in healthcare administration, continuing education, training & development, and financial services. She is experienced in platform training, curriculum development, operational management, program and event planning, and relationship building. Sharon’s ability to establish rapport with people of all ages, cultures and philosophies allows her to assemble a diversity of people in pursuit of a common goal. Clients enjoy working with Sharon because she pays attention to detail and is ReZults oriented. Sharon’s experiences provide clients with unique insight to assist with achieving their goals and objectives. 
James Bryson, Executive Board Member
James co-founded Praising Through Recovery with his wife Lisa. From the very beginning he has served as an active Family Advocate assisting family members who have love ones who are addicted to substances. In James' professional life, he has been employed with Nestle Ice Cream since 1989 working in the capacity of refrigeration and mechanical engineering. His dedication to his work and especially his wife and their children has proven to be nothing short of love, commitment, and a light in a dark world. |
Other Staff & Volunteers
Sharon Gamble, Administrative Assistant Judy Mason, Grant Writer & Administrator Monique Scott, Receptionist James R. Bryson, Family Advocate 
Brian Stephenson, Executive Board, Secretary & Treasurer
Mr. Stephenson is president and founder of Qodesh CM, a civil/structural engineering firm in Baltimore, MD. He possesses a broad civil engineer background ranging from program management and master planning to engineering design and construction management. His experience spans well over thirty-five years as a professional engineer in the built environment and over twenty-five years simultaneously as a civil engineering educator. Mr. Stephenson is a professional member of Engineers Without Borders (EWB). He has significant knowledge in sustainable design, appropriate technology, and biomimicry in structural engineering. His travels have taken him through much of sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. As such, he has observed, first hand, the challenges disenfranchised communities face as they seek self-sufficiency and economic independence within a globalized marketplace. Locally, he is an active member of Bridgeway Community Church and co-lead of the Christian Jail Ministry there. 
Ryan Hayes, Executive Board
Ryan Hayes has been a Maryland resident his entire life, and began serving on Praising Through Recovery’s Executive Board in 2020. Ryan joined the board as a means to help those struggling with addiction, as he himself has fought his own battles with it as well throughout the years. Professionally, Ryan is an Insurance Underwriter for Agency Insurance Company in Hanover, MD. His recently growing family includes his wife, Sarah, and his son Joel. 
Dr. Lisa is an author, educator, philanthropist, successful business woman, world renown inspirational speaker and CEO of Jones Jewels & Associates. She is the owner of a financial brokerage where she has helped countless families, churches and organizations understand financial literacy, stewardship, and planning. She has a strong passion for teaching money principles and helping families to break the generational curse of lack and struggle. Her signature workshop for churches is Stewardship the other 90% and it is taught nationwide. Dr. Lisa is also a respected coach and owner of her own leadership development company. Dr. Lisa's career has spanned 27+ years as a coach and trainer for individuals, families, government agencies, corporations, universities and churches nationwide. Her strongest desire is to inspire people with her walk, her talk, and her giving. This Woman of Purpose, is dedicated to affecting and infecting people in a way in which their lives transform from Vision to Reality.
Jim Thornton, Advisory Board
James D. Thornton is the co-founder and principal of Thorwood Real Estate Group, LLC, based in Bel Air, Maryland. In this role, he is responsible for the development of strategy and the acquisition of properties for redevelopment as multi-family units in the Baltimore Region. On an individual level, Jim has been recognized throughout his career for his success in business and his contributions to the community. He was the recipient in 1999 of the Achievement Alumni Award from his Alma Mater, Talladega College. Jim is a Life Member of the NAACP and a member of the Maryland Chapter of 100 Black Men. Jim has had the honor of sitting on the Board of Directors of Visteon Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company. He also served as Chair of the Board of Talladega College for nine years. Currently, he serves as an appointee of the Governor as a member of the Harford County Board of Education, and as Treasurer and Officer of the Baltimore Museum of Art. Jim received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Talladega College. A native of Ashford, Alabama, Jim and Lorayne reside in Bel Air, Maryland. He is the father of two sons, Anthony and Reginald (Courtney). He is also the proud grandfather of Anthony, Jr. |