He received his master’s and doctorate in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in the field of addiction. He has worked in the field of addiction for nearly 50 years in various capacities, including director of the Salvation Army Harbor Light Detoxification Center, director of a 32-bed inpatient rehabilitation center, and director of a treatment center in a nursing home. He counseled addicts in the following settings: corrections, inner city, adolescent aftercare, chaplaincy, and outpatient primary treatment. He taught about addictions in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. He is a national and international trainer for Adventist Recovery Ministries (ARMin) and is currently Coordinator of the NAD ARMin program. He is active in Journey to Wholeness, the Christ-Centered 12-step recovery program of the Seventh-day Adventist church.