Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Brown.
Hi Taylor, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I struggled with addiction for a long time before my parents finally kicked me out of the house and I was homeless for a couple years. I was given a chance to attend an high quality program in Texas, but I did not follow direction and stay sober afterwards. I continued to hang around friends that used, got into relationships with those who used drugs, and was unable to remain sober. After losing two friends and a girlfriend to suicide, I finally ended up in the Salvation Army where I resided for about 6 months before being presented by my parents the opportunity to attend Crossroads, a young persons sobriety program. It was my saving grace. It introduced my to sobriety, to a life that was not a jail sentence but rather an enthusiastic and amazing life. I met so many young people that left an indelible mark on my life forever. Life was incredible, I led meetings, became a leader in young people’s recovery meetings, and was truly growing. However, I did fail to enlarge my spiritual connection, succumbed to external validation and began to lose sight of what matters most; God, and my principles and values. As I got more caught up with my job performance and chasing external validation, I stopped going to meetings and became quite lost after getting a prescription for Adderall. It was not long before I was back to abusing alcohol and drugs. This lead to a pretty enduring and taxing 7 month relapse. Luckily I knew one of the owners of Midwest Recovery Centers, Kevin O’Grady, and he came and picked me up in my time of great desperation. I was on deaths doorstep and he quite literally saved my life when he answered my call. Ever since I stepped foot into MRC, my life changed completely. I will never forget the way the staff made me feel, the hope they gave me, and the love I felt. I realized there was more for me to uncover when it came to my relapse and lack of tools in my recovery process. I was also faced with changing my path when it came to a career. I was not built to just chase money as a sales rep, I was made for much more, and it was time for me to whole heartedly explore that purpose. With the help of my brother-in-law Rich Cray, I was able to come to the conclusion that more than anything, I wanted to be someone who welcomed others into recovery, I wanted to work in treatment. It just so happened that I was asked to work as a house manager about 6 months into my recovery as a patient at MRC, and I leaped at the opportunity. The values of my 12 step program and my faith guided me to constantly work hard, and go above and beyond not just for my recovery, but also for my company that I was proud to work for. I quickly began running groups, earned my counselors credentials, learned how to answer phones for Admissions, and even began going out and marketing. Eventually I took over the entire website and digital marketing department as well. Overtime my responsibilities have increased and I was blessed to receive many promotions and chances for more responsibility. Today, I am overjoyed to be named the Vice President of Business Development, where I head up Admissions, Digital Marketing and Business Development. Above all else, my recovery has to stay number one today. There can be nothing that comes before God, my sobriety, and my family. That is where everything starts for me. When I show up as my most healthy self, others can benefit from that and receive the most effective version of myself. Working at MRC led me to meeting my wife, Suzanne Brown, and our amazing daughter Laine. Today, I am able to put focus and emphasis on what matters most; the memories I create, and the impact I have on other humans. I’m so grateful to God for my life and my sobriety. Today we have started the 9th episode of our podcast, Finding Mental Wellness, where we put out content centered around both addiction and mental health challenges, where I interview other professionals in the industry, to help inform and educate the public at large. We want to leave a mark on the KC community that addiction and mental illness does not have to be faced alone. We are here to help, and we have a team of expert professionals who can help guide people to a recovery process that works for them! My mission is to crush the stigma of addiction and mental illness and help our community recovery, heal and thrive!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I suffered from severe addiction and alcoholism but today I have turned my successful recovery into an asset. My former challenge has become the heartbeat of my career today, it fuels my relentless energy of trying to help every person that calls our program today. Many patients are like I once was, homeless and without health insurance. I work very hard to familiarize myself with all programs and resources in Kansas City, not just our program. The more I network with other programs, the more I can advocate for the person struggling, or the family member, that’s on the other end of that phone call. I also have worked very hard to earn my CRADC credentials in Missouri and studied Interventions and offer free interventions to families and individuals all over KC and surrounding areas and hospitals. I think this type of work should be free and part of what treatment centers do. Families should not have to pay exorbitant amounts of money for interventionists, they are vulnerable and should get help from marketing folks like me, for free! There are so many out there who feel helpless and frightened and it’s my life mission to help them find a path to mental wellness.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Midwest Recovery Centers provides treatment for both addiction and mental health disorders, and we have both inpatient and outpatient options! We accept private commercial insurance, and we are accredited by Joint Commission. We are held to the same gold standard as all hospitals. I specialize in Digital Marketing, Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, and Admissions. I lead several teams in order to help get clients into our care for behavioral health services. We work closely with hospitals, therapists, psychiatrists, and other treatment programs to serve as a resource to those in need.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as staying sober, and also by the quality of my relationships to my loved ones and friends. I am only as good as the memories I help create and the impact I have on others.
Pricing:
- Private Commercial Insurance
Contact Info:
- Website: https://midwestrecoverycenters.com
- Facebook: Midwest Recovery Centers
- LinkedIn: Midwest Recovery Centers
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@midwestrecoverycenters2071?si=MwOt7TQbhIJS3DGy
