Byard is a passionate advocate devoted to ensuring all individuals with substance use disorders have access to high quality, evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services and is a leader in the broader U.S. Recovery Movement. A veteran and small business owner, Byard came to the field of addiction treatment from the private sector and has since lead a division of peer support specialists at a national non-profit, created that organization’s first division of supported employment for individuals in recovery, and founded Louisville, KY’s first Recovery Community Organization, the Louisville Recovery Community Connection (LRCC) where he still oversees operations as the CEO. Byard is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has expertise in building Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care, implementation of evidence-based interventions, legislative advocacy, arts-based, participatory methodologies for community-based activism and research, and organizational leadership.