Mark Kaplan
Co-Founder
Mark retired after spending 38 successful year in the pharmaceutical industry as an executive focusing on both commercial and government markets. Since retirement he has been involved in helping families and people in recovery for more than a decade using his own personal experiences to give him insight into navigating issues specific to Substance Use Disorder including, rehabilitation, sober living facilities, extended care programs as well as the financial burden and emotional toll they take on individuals. In addition he and his wife Teresa have been actively involved in several 12 step programs like Al-anon and Celebrate Recovery and countless community advocacy organizations and events focused on SUD and addiction. Mark has also served on the Board of Capital District Recovery Center since 2020.
Teresa Kaplan
Co-Founder
Teresa is a proud Mom and is a Grammy to 3 boys and 1 girl. She worked for the school district when her son, Marcus, was experimenting with risky behaviors and was making some very bad decisions. She became involved in Al-Anon to help her cope, then was on the leadership team for Celebrate Recovery, a more Biblical 12 step approach.
After we lost Marcus to an accidental overdose in 2019, we searched for ways to turn our immense sorrow into something productive. We believed that the shame that Marcus always burdened himself with for being “less than” is what ultimately took him as he didn’t want to admit failure in his recovery again.
Teresa currently still attends Al-Anon, is active in many events supporting recovery, including bring National Speakers to annual Awareness Days with their local school district, and loves time spent with family & friends.
Kara Saint John
Kara has been a special educator for 19 years and is the mom of two boys; Ryan (10) and Evan (7). As a graduate of Bethlehem and now teaching in the same community she feels it is critical to arm students and families with as much knowledge as possible regarding the dangers of experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
Kara became passionate about helping families struggling with Substance Use Disorder when her family noticed her brother slowly slipping away and becoming someone they could no longer recognize after he began using opioid painkillers and later, cocaine and heroin. Through the support of family counseling and the staff at rehab facilities her brother attended, anger and disbelief eventually turned into compassion and understanding. Sharing her family’s story and connecting with students at events like the Capital Region Youth Summit and other awareness events held in the area are an integral part of her work in helping others going through similar situations.
When she is not in the classroom or helping her parents at an outreach event she can be found on the sidelines of the soccer or lacrosse field watching her boys play and husband coach.
Nick Kaplan
Nick has degrees in Supply Chain & Finance, with extensive experience in programmatic advertising over the past decade.
3+ years on the programmatic buy-side (Tapcommerce/Twitter & MiQ) running DR and Brand campaigns across various DSPs. In-depth knowledge of how to craft the right buying strategies to meet client needs and exceed KPI’s. Experience managing teams responsible for >$100mm client budgets.
6+ years on the programmatic publisher side at SHE Media, where I currently oversee all aspects of the programmatic business. This involves managing our programmatic ad stack and collaborating closely with Engineering, Product, Yield, AdOps and Sales teams to drive business growth.
His diverse experience on both the buy-side and sell-side of the digital advertising industry has given me an in-depth understanding of industry trends and the ability to leverage them for business success now and in the future.
Greg Saint John
While originally from the Jersey Shore, Greg now calls Upstate New York home. Greg works in the banking industry as a commercial credit officer and enjoys supporting local businesses by providing creative solutions to meet their needs. He also enjoys strategic problem solving to improve the operating work environment of those around him. Through his involvement in his sons’ youth sports teams, Greg has discovered his passion for coaching. He realizes that not all youth have stable role models and believes that youth coaches can have a profound impact on raising a child’s self confidence. This self confidence is immensely powerful as children get older and are confronted with harder decisions. Being a part of a team also creates a sense of belonging and provides a safe environment for youth to socialize and exercise. Greg believes exercise is an important part of life and enjoys early morning runs and hopes to hike the 46 High Peaks.
Mission for Marcus 