Conference Lodging (Must be booked individually)

Conference Venue

Location Information

  • Hilton Charlotte Airport
  • 2800 Coliseum Centre Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28217 US

Keynote Presenters


Mark Sanders, LSW, CADC

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is an international speaker, trainer and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Caribbean and British Islands.

He is the author of five books, which focus on behavioral health. Recent writings include; Slipping through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies for Clients Multiple Addictions and Disorders, Recovery Management and Relationship Detox: Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships in Recovery. He has had two stories published in the New York Times best-selling book series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Mr. Sanders has been a certified addictions counselor for 34 years. He has received numerous awards including a Life Time Achievement Award from the Illinois Certification Board and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the Social Work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago Alumni.

Mr. Sanders is co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery high school in Illinois. He is past president of the board of the Illinois Chapter of NAADAC. He has had a 30-year career as a university educator having taught at the University of Chicago, Illinois State University, Illinois School of Professional Psychology and Loyola University of Chicago, School of Social Work.


Sarah Laurel

After recovering from substance use disorder, Sarah sought to offer resources to women like herself. What began organically grew into a program providing housing, street-based outreach and nationwide training. Sarah uses her lived experiences to serve others and stay relatable to those still struggling. She leverages her corporate background to lead the Savage team thoughtfully, productively, and sustainably. Sarah is the recipient of several awards, including a Congressional Medal of Honor. She was featured on two Emmy award-winning episodes of Vice News and CBS News with Jessica Kartalija. Additionally, she created the first Xylazine training, delivering it both locally and nationally. Her advocacy for people who use substances, harm reduction, public health, and social justice has been consistent and groundbreaking.


David Best, BA, MSc, PhD

David Best is Professor and Director of the Centre for Addiction Recovery Research. He also holds honorary posts at the Australian National University, Eastern Health Clinical School at Monash University in Melbourne and the Public Health Institute in California. He is also a co-founder of the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations (CLERO in the UK and founder of Inclusive Recovery Cities. He is the author of eight books on addiction recovery and more than 240 peer-reviewed academic papers.


Sponsor Information

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and exhibitors. To learn more about the sponsorship opportunities that are available for this conference, please click here for the full Sponsorship Prospectus.

2025 SMART Recovery Sponsorship Prospectus.pdf

APPLY HERE


Conference Registration


A limited number of scholarships will be available to active volunteer facilitators who need additional financial assistance to attend the conference. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please complete the Volunteer Scholarship Request Form. 

  • Early Bird Registration through January 14. January 15 registration goes up to $300. Volunteer Registration includes all breaks and 2 lunches, awards dinner and session content. Does NOT include CEUs. Hotel lodging must be booked separately. Please see group lodging information and link.

  • Early Bird Registration through January 14. January 15 registration goes up to $450. General Public Registration includes all breaks and 2 lunches, awards dinner and session content. Does NOT include CEUs. Hotel lodging must be booked separately. Please see group lodging information and link.

  • Early Bird Registration through January 14. January 15 registration goes up to $525. Professional Registration Rate includes all breaks and 2 lunches, awards dinner and session content. This rate does include approximately 10.5 NAADAC CEUs. Hotel lodging must be booked separately. Please see group lodging information and link.

  • THE REGISTRATION FEE IS WAIVED FOR ONE PRESENTER PER BREAKOUT SESSION. PRESENTERS MUST ENTER THE PRESENTER COUPON CODE PROVIDED BY SMART. The code cannot be shared or transferred. Lodging must be booked separately. Please see group lodging information and link.

Attendee Info



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We are happy to have you be a part of this Annual Conference. In order to make this event a successful one, we ask that you read over and accept the following terms and information for this event.

If you have a disability and are in need of special accommodations to fully participate in this conference, please notify the SMART Recovery Planning Team in writing at least 30 days prior to the event at [email protected].

CANCELLATION POLICY
Sponsorships are non-refundable. Any travel cancellation fees, including airfare and hotel cancellation fees, are the responsibility of the attendee.

Attendee Registration is non-refundable after February 28, 2025. In the event of a cancellation prior to the deadline, registration will be refunded minus a $30 administrative fee.

CONFERENCE CODE OF CONDUCT
The SMART Recovery USA (SRUSA) Annual Conference is intended for education, networking, and collaboration among SMART Recovery Board members, volunteers, staff, and the general public. SRUSA is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful conference experience regardless of a person's race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, age, religion, disability status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical appearance, or other characteristics. SRUSA expects conference participants to communicate professionally and constructively and to uphold the professional and educational purposes of the conference. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone.

Unacceptable Behavior: Harassment or intimidation of, or discrimination against, conference participants, guests, service providers, or SRUSA staff in any form is prohibited. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to, offensive verbal comments, expressed or implied threat of physical or professional harm, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior: Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. If you experience or notice others experiencing any of the above unacceptable behavior or have any other concerns, please contact Gus Curran, Director of Training, at [email protected] so that we can take appropriate action.

SRUSA's Commitment: SRUSA will investigate all incidents and Code of Conduct violations reported with discretion and confidentiality. SRUSA reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the conference without refund, barring attendance at future conferences/events, and/or terminating an individual's relationship with the organization.

We encourage you to engage through Whova with each other through our community board, live session chats, exhibitor booths, Q&A, speed networking, icebreakers, polls, and one-on-one virtual meet-ups.

As there are so many incredible ways to network and connect this year, please note that the organizers will be unable to monitor all discussions. However, organizers have the right to remove content that is deemed inappropriate, aggressive or harmful.

HEALTH & SAFETY POLICIES
SRUSA is fully committed to hosting a successful in-person conference and is working to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all attendees. Our priority is always the health and well-being of our community. We reserve the right to update or otherwise modify these policies at any time as we deem necessary to best protect the health and safety of attendees, staff, and others.

At the Event: Follow relevant guidance provided by the CDC and your local health authority. Evaluate your own health and that of the people you are in close contact with. Stay home if you feel sick or exhibit any of the symptoms of COVID-19. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 at the conference, get tested at a local testing site and do NOT attend the event if you test positive.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing: Based on current contact tracing advice from health authorities, if you test positive for COVID-19 up to 10 days after returning home, please notify SRUSA at [email protected]. SRUSA will keep attendees informed if a potential exposure has been had at the conference.

Individual Accountability: SRUSA cannot guarantee that attendees will not get COVID-19. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.

SRUSA will not be providing COVID-19 testing on-site at the conference. For your own peace of mind, please consider taking a COVID-19 test before the conference even if you are fully vaccinated.

PHOTO/VIDEO RELEASE
Registration and attendance at, or participation in, SRUSA meetings and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution of the attendee's image or voice in recordings (both live and on-demand), photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions and audiotapes of such events and activities by SRUSA. If you indicate that you wish not to be included in photos or videos from the event, SRUSA will make every effort to exclude you based on a name badge indicator of that preference. While we will inform all conference attendees about the name badge indicator, we cannot guarantee that other participants will respect your wishes.

HOTEL
Hotel rooms must be booked by the attendee and a discounted rate and information has been provided above. No hotel room will be reserved as a result of the registration completion. Please call the hotel listed above and mention that you are part of the SMART Recovery Conference to book your room under the group rate or use the hotel booking link.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY
I acknowledge that my participation in any Event is at my own risk, and hereby accept all risks attendant thereto and agree to release and hold the SMART Recovery and Favored Conferences & Events Parties harmless from any damages or liability that might arise out of my participation.

PAYMENTS
Registration payments must be made in full, including any processing fees. There will be processing fees charged with the registration. If a payment fails to process or registration is not completed, then an attendee is not officially registered for the conference. I acknowledge that the platform charges a processing fee which will be added to my total purchase.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs):
Professional Registration: Attendees will ONLY receive CEU credits for those sessions attended in person and in full and ONLY for those attendees that have paid the registration fee inclusive of CEUs. If you do not attend the conference for any reason or cancel registration, then CEUs will not be awarded. Conference Certificates will be mailed AFTER the event and AFTER your completed conference feedback survey is received by SRUSA.

LEGAL AGE
I warrant that I am over the age of eighteen (18) and have full power and authority to enter into this agreement and grant the aforesaid rights.

Billing Information

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
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