James Gross

Director of Research and Development And Program Planning and Implementation

James Gross, clean and sober over 27 years, an artist, designer, creative, consummate nurturer and business owner. Originally from New York, Mister Gross has lived in the Northern Virginia area since 1971. Being a long term Sterling, Virginia resident He attended high school in Fairfax County and began furthering his education one year early at Northern Virginia Community College in pursuit of an engineering degree. With his addictions from high school having never subsided he left school and entered the work force and began a family. For 10 years Mister Gross fought with addictions, started a residential contracting business and raised a family in the Northern Virginia community. Finally succumbing to his addictions, he was arrested in 1985 and found himself incarcerated for 6 ½ months, this is where the light bulb went off, and he found recovery.

With a new start on life Mister Gross began pursuing recovery with a passion and started a new residential contracting business. Always creative and open minded he set about reinventing himself and his position in the community. With his knowledge and experience in the area, Mister Gross has found himself back in school at the age of 50 pursuing a degree in psychology. Having been told for years he would make a great counselor he has set out to acquire the credentials necessary to help others in a professional setting and make a difference in his community. Mister Gross has identified a supreme need in his community. His belief in a holistic healing approach towards substance abuse recovery is supported by research and serves to fill the gaps missing in the surrounding area. With his creativity, gentle strength and nurturing way he is sure to be an asset to the community he loves. 

Lori St Angelo

For the last 18 years, Lori Ann St . Angelo has been instrumental in managing local dental and medical practices. She moved quickly and effortlessly from an administrative position to leading a staff of 12 in a successful practice with revenues in excess of $1,000,000. Ever mindful of the delicate balance between success and respect, Lori proved to be both a strong leader and gentle listener. These qualities transcend industries giving Lori the ability to adapt easily and quickly to new challenges.

Born Lori Ann Brammell on August 9, 1960 just east of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , Lori grew up in an average middle-class family. Early on, she was identified by the public school system as a candidate for the Gifted and Talented program. Her accomplishments during high school include National Honor Society, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, National Thespian Society, Co-Editor of the senior yearbook and Honor’s orator at the 1978 commencement ceremony. Following high school, Lori entered Fordham University in New York City where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Combined Social Science and a minor in Computer Science.

In 1985, Lori moved to Northern Virginia where she began working in the computer industry, first in a retail environment then as a territory manager for software and hardware manufacturers. In 1989, her focus changed as she began a family and her choice of employment shifted from the computer corporate world to a more adaptable and available service based employment situation moving then into a nurturing position of working with European AuPairs. During this period her community achievements include active participation with a local church where she served on the Hostess Committee, the Summer Camp Committee and acted as a substitute for Sunday School teachers. She was elected as Treasurer of the Seneca Ridge Homeowners Association which included producing a neighborhood newsletter and taught an after school craft class for a local PTA program. Her most notable achievement was in January of 2003 when she organized a silent auction at the annual holiday party with all the proceeds donated to assist a former co-worker’s fight against cancer.

It was not until her marriage to an alcoholic that Lori became entrenched in the world of addiction. Having no personal background with alcoholism, it was a wake up call to discover that her husband was a hopeless alcoholic. She supported his countless efforts to become and remain sober by researching various treatment facilities, maintaining contact with hospital social workers who assisted in placement at both voluntary and involuntary facilities and attending AA, Al-Anon and Co-Dependents Anonymous meetings. Finding that locating affordable and effective treatment with an available bed space is often an insurmountable obstacle. Many families and their members, as was her experience, often go without treatment. This is when she was first inspired to open a treatment facility. The embers of a smoldering desire have been fanned into a burning passion. Loudoun County is the fifth richest county in the nation, is promoted by Loudoun County promotional documents as the best county to do business yet has no residential substance abuse treatment facility. Lori has the drive and passion to see her dream become reality.

 Lori St. Angelo

Jim Gross