Brett Lovins
Recovery Friendly Workplace consultant and founder of Sober Curious Consulting.
How This Started
Thirteen years ago, Brett got sober.
He knows what it is like to be deep in addiction while carrying serious responsibility inside a large organization. He also knows what it is like to get sober and realize his workplace had no clear language, structure, or systems to address substance use.
While working at Cisco, Brett helped build one of the first large-scale internal recovery support efforts inside a Fortune 500 company, before the term Recovery Friendly Workplace was widely used. What began as a grassroots effort grew into real culture change, influencing events, policies, leadership conversations, and peer support networks across a global workforce.
What is a Recovery Friendly Workplace?
A Recovery Friendly Workplace is not about lowering standards or turning managers into therapists.
It is about clear expectations, practical systems, and peer support.
It means leaders know what to say, what not to say, and where employees can go for confidential help. It means substance use is treated as a workplace health and safety issue, not a character flaw.
When handled well, this reduces risk, strengthens culture, improves retention, and protects your people.
What We Do
Brett works with HR leaders, safety professionals, and business owners who want to address the elephant in the room without creating drama or confusion.
His work includes:
Leadership training and education
Manager tools and conversation frameworks
Policy review and practical updates
Peer support and ERG development
Recovery Friendly event guidance
Strategic consulting for long term culture change
He meets companies where they are, strengthens what is already working, and helps reduce the silence, shame, and risk that come with ignoring substance use in the workplace.
Most organizations already care. What they lack are simple, repeatable systems that reduce risk and give managers confidence.
Credentials
CFAA-HR – Certified Facilitator in Addiction Awareness for HR & Managers
Certified Recovery Coach – CCAR
Certified Facilitator – Crucial Conversations
Certified Suicide Prevention Trainer – QPR Gatekeeper
Dare to Lead™ Trained – Brené Brown
Podcaster – Addiction & Recovery Conversations
Recovery Friendly Workplace SME – Washington Recovery Alliance
Board of Directors - Recovery Beyond
A Personal Note
Earlier in life, Brett spent more than a decade touring as a songwriter and recording artist. Music is still part of who he is. So is recovery.
Today, his primary work is helping organizations create workplaces where people can get help, stay employed, and contribute at a high level.
If you are ready to address substance use with clarity instead of avoidance, start here: