MERGECHICAG0
SOBRIETYLEADERSHIP
SUMMER 2025
MERGELA
WINTER 2025
MERGE is a summit that is a series of leadership events rooted in the principles of sobriety. Emphasizing how sobriety influences a person in terms of honesty, accountability, wisdom, and moral strength. All of which enhance leadership skills and improve your personal and professional performance.
Why Attend a MERGE Live Event?
MERGE Live Events are transformational experiences designed to connect, inspire, and empower individuals on the journey of recovery and leadership. Built around the core belief that sobriety is not a limitation but a superpower, these events merge vulnerability, personal growth, and leadership development in a dynamic, uplifting atmosphere.
Attendees walk away with:
Real-World Tools for Leadership in Sobriety – Practical insights to harness your lived experience and lead with authenticity.
Connection and Community – Meet others who truly get it—people rewriting their stories and leading with purpose.
Empowering Stories and Expert Insights – Hear from recovery leaders, mental health experts, and those living their truths out loud.
Inspiration to Keep Going – Whether you're newly sober or decades in, MERGE fuels your fire to grow, evolve, and thrive.
This isn't just another seminar. It’s a movement. A reminder that who you are now—sober, raw, resilient—is your greatest asset.
MERGECHICAGO
MERGE will be held at a premier downtown Chicago hotel, offering state-of-the-art conference facilities, catering, and convenient accommodation for attendees. Being in the heart of the city provides an opportunity to explore all that Chicago has to offer —from world-class dining and entertainment to the scenic Lake Michigan waterfront. Experience the energy of a thriving metropolis while immersing yourself in personal and professional growth.
THE MERGEEXPERIENCE
This isn’t a program—it’s a catalyst. The MERGE Experience is where sober leaders come to evolve. Designed to help individuals in recovery step into their full leadership potential, MERGE blends lived wisdom, professional insights, and transformative connection. Whether you’re navigating early recovery or well into your journey, this experience invites you to elevate, engage, and emerge as the leader you were always meant to be.
MERGECOACHING
MREGECOACHING is a powerful extension of the MERGE Summit’s mission—empowering individuals in recovery to lead with authenticity, resilience, and purpose. Rooted in lived experience, peer support, and transformational leadership principles, MERGECOACHING offers one-on-one and group coaching designed specifically for those navigating sobriety and seeking to grow personally and professionally.
Whether you're in early recovery or have years of sobriety, MERGECOACHING helps you tap into your innate strengths, embrace vulnerability as a superpower, and turn past struggles into fuel for future success. Our certified sober coaches and leadership mentors guide you in building a life rooted in clarity, courage, and connection.
MERGECOACHING is more than just support—it's a launching pad for the next, most powerful chapter of your life.
Services Include:
Individualized Sober Life Coaching
Leadership Development for Those in Recovery
Accountability & Goal Setting
Peer Support Integration
Community Connection & Purpose Mapping
MERGECOACHING—where recovery and leadership converge.
Click here for more information about coaching services:
https://www.mergeleadershipcoaching.com/
SOBER SOIREE EVENTS
Sober Soirées are not your typical night out—it's a celebration of sobriety, storytelling, and shared humanity. Designed as a dynamic, stigma-free space for people in recovery (and those who support them), these curated events blend live music, authentic storytelling, and meaningful conversation to build community through the lens of sobriety.
Each Soirée features a lineup of storytellers who bravely and vulnerably share their journeys with addiction, recovery, and the ongoing path of self-discovery. With creative expression and soul-stirring connection at the core, the Sober Soirées create an atmosphere that’s vibrant, inclusive, and deeply real—without the need for alcohol.
Whether you're sober-curious, newly in recovery, or a longtime friend of the sober community, Sober Soirée invites you to come as you are—to laugh, cry, reflect, and belong.
Our Mission: Community, Not Consumption
In a world that often equates connection with alcohol, Sober Soirées are a bold reimagining of what it means to gather and celebrate. We believe true connection comes from presence, vulnerability, and shared experience—not what's in your cup. These events are part of a growing movement to create alternative social spaces that uplift and support those walking the sober path.
Sober Soirées aren’t about what’s missing—it’s about what’s possible.
Click here for dates and locations of upcoming Sober Soirees:
https://notalltherepod.com/
the minds behind merge
Where Experience Meets Purpose
The leaders of MERGE, Dr. Howard Gluss and Chad L Johnson, bring a powerful blend of professional expertise and lived experience to the forefront of sober leadership. Dr. Gluss, a respected Clinical Psychologist and media voice on mental health, joins forces with Chad Johnson, a seasoned real estate professional turned sober coach and podcast host. Together, they’ve created to challenge outdated perceptions of sobriety and showcase how vulnerability, resilience, and recovery can transform individuals into stronger, more authentic leaders. This section gives you a glimpse into the minds driving the mission.
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Dr. Howard Gluss is a renowned Clinical Psychologist, author, and celebrated radio and television host known for his insightful perspectives on mental health and leadership. With decades of professional experience, Dr. Gluss merges clinical expertise and real-world wisdom to empower individuals in embracing sobriety as a cornerstone for enhanced leadership and personal development. MERGE is deeply meaningful to him as it embodies his lifelong commitment to demonstrating how vulnerability and authenticity can forge stronger leaders.
Click here for more information regarding Dr. Gluss:
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Chad L Johnson is a seasoned communicator, sober coach, and the dynamic host behind the "Not All There" podcast. With over a decade of sobriety, Chad uses his personal recovery journey to advocate for mental health awareness and to combat stigmas associated with substance use disorders. He also brings over 12 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate, where he led marketing, leasing, and project management efforts across the Chicago area. His deep understanding of business and leadership complements his work in recovery and coaching. Chad is passionately invested in MERGE because it aligns with his mission to illustrate that embracing sobriety can significantly elevate leadership capabilities and foster genuine connections.
Click here to listen to the Not All There podcast:
SPEAKERS
We’re thrilled to announce that MERGE will feature keynote speakers Tim Ryan, Jennifer Gimenez, and Tonya McKenzie—each bringing powerful lived experience and leadership in recovery, advocacy, and mental health. Additional speakers will be announced soon, rounding out an inspiring lineup you won’t want to miss.
Jennifer Gimenez
Jennifer Gimenez is one of the nation’s most prominent voices in addiction recovery advocacy. A celebrated supermodel and actress, she has leveraged her platform to become a leading expert and speaker on addiction, wellness, and mental health. Jennifer is a familiar face on major television networks and social media, where she shares her personal journey and insights as a recovery advocate. In addition to her work in entertainment and fashion, she serves as a trusted panelist and commentator on issues ranging from sobriety to fitness and emotional well-being. Her dynamic presence and unwavering honesty continue to inspire audiences around the world.
https://dopetohope.com/
Tim Ryan
Tim Ryan is a nationally recognized addiction recovery advocate, interventionist, speaker, author, and executive consultant. He is the Managing Partner of Go Get Red LLC and a Partner at Dope to Hope, LLC, where he works to transform lives affected by addiction. Tim is the author of From Dope to Hope: A Man in Recovery and was the subject of the powerful 2017 A&E documentary Dope Man, which chronicled his battle with addiction and his mission to help others. In 2016, Tim was honored as a guest at the State of the Union Address, and in 2018, he was named one of the Top 100 Visionary Thought Leaders in the World by Real Leaders Magazine. His unfiltered message and tireless advocacy continue to inspire individuals, families, and communities toward lasting recovery and hope.
https://dopetohope.com/
john paul granillo
John Paul Granillo is a contemporary artist celebrated for his vibrant and evocative works that delve into themes of identity, culture, and human experience, with a particular focus on indigenous art. His journey as an artist is deeply intertwined with his life experiences, including years of incarceration, which profoundly influenced his perspective and artistic expression. During this time, Granillo turned to art as a means of self-reflection and healing, channeling his struggles and insights into powerful visual narratives.
Drawing from his own heritage, Granillo incorporates traditional indigenous techniques and motifs into his pieces, creating a unique visual language that resonates deeply with a diverse audience. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he has made significant contributions to the local art community, participating in numerous exhibitions that highlight the rich cultural tapestry of the region. His work not only reflects his personal experiences but also serves to elevate indigenous narratives within the contemporary art scene.
Active in community initiatives, Granillo collaborates with fellow artists and engages in educational workshops to inspire the next generation of creatives. Through his innovative approach and dedication to his craft, Granillo continues to influence the art world, making him a notable figure in both indigenous and contemporary art.
Tonya McKenzie
Tonya McKenzie is a powerhouse in PR, blending 30+ years of experience with AI to grow brands, boost media exposure, and build community. She’s the founder of Sand & Shores, a LA County Commissioner of Alcohol and Other Drugs, and host of the Leaders & Learners Podcast.
https://hrc.lacounty.gov/tonya-mckenzie/