Meet The Team

Executive Director

Jimmy McGill is the Executive Director of Next Step Recovery Housing. He served as the Director of Peer and Recovery Services for the state of Arkansas from 2018 to 2023, where his lived experience has allowed him to lead the development of recovery services throughout Arkansas. Jimmy is a founding member of the SAMHSA Region 6 Peer Support Advisory Committee, an executive board member of the National Peer Recovery Alliance, and the Chairman of the National Association of Reentry Professionals.

Overcoming a lifetime of incarceration and twenty-three years of addiction, author and speaker Jimmy McGill has found his purpose. His childhood was marked by trauma, but what should have destroyed him is now being used to transform reentry and recovery across the country.

Co-Founder

Chelsea is a Co-Founder at Next Step Recovery Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping men find and maintain long-term recovery from substance use disorder. With a passion for serving others, she has worked in the mental health and substance use field since 2017. Chelsea earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas and has since committed her life to creating safe, supportive environments where lasting change can happen. Her vision and leadership continue to shape the mission of Next Step and impact countless lives on the path to recovery.

Residential Program Coordinator

Richard Lee is a graduate of Next Step Recovery Housing who now serves as the Residential Program Coordinator.

A survivor of addiction, alcoholism, and incarceration, Richard has experienced firsthand the transformative power of God’s grace. After finding freedom and restoration through the ministry, he chose to stay and serve others walking a similar path. Today, he uses his story and testimony to minister to men seeking recovery and a new life in Christ—offering hope, accountability, and the love of Jesus to those ready for a fresh start.

Ministry Outreach Coordinator

Nick has struggled with addiction and alcoholism since the age of 12. His journey took him through jail, prison, and periods of homelessness before he finally reached out for help and found his way to Next Step. It was there that he discovered more than just recovery—he found a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, Nick serves as the Ministry Outreach Coordinator, using his story to help others discover the same hope, healing, and purpose through faith and community.

Recovery Coordinator

Hayden Dougan serves as the Recovery Coordinator at Next Step Recovery Housing. Having spent much of his life trapped in addiction and cycling in and out of incarceration, Hayden first came to Next Step through a court-ordered conditional release. During his time in the program, he caught fire for 12 Step recovery and allowed God to completely transform his life. Against all odds and in defiance of the stigma so many in addiction face, Hayden became the man he never dreamed he could be.

After graduating, he felt called to stay and serve in the very ministry that helped save his life. Today, he is the definition of change, dedicated to walking alongside others on their journey to freedom and recovery.

Maintenance

At 45, JP has battled addiction since a young age. He joined the service at 16, spent 15 years working on oil rigs, and took some difficult detours along the way—including two prison terms and drug court. His lowest point came when he was found asleep at the wheel, truck in gear, at a blind intersection. By God’s grace, JP is still here—and with the support of Jimmy, Chelsea, and Next Step, he’s now living with purpose. Today, he celebrates 70 days clean, a renewed relationship with his family, and a deep connection with God. For the first time, JP is proud of the man he’s become. He has traded chaos for peace, manipulation for love, and now lives with gratitude, growth, and freedom.

House Leader

I’ve been battling drug addiction since 2009, a struggle that led me through years of pain, multiple prison sentences, and what felt like a never-ending cycle. But even in the darkest moments, I always felt a deeper calling—to help others. It wasn’t until I truly surrendered and experienced the grace and mercy of God that my life began to change.

Today, I’m proud to serve as a House Leader at Next Step. This role allows me to walk alongside others who have faced similar battles, offering guidance, encouragement, and a reminder that redemption is possible. My past no longer defines me—it equips me to serve. I'm living proof that no matter how far someone has fallen, there’s always a way forward with faith, support, and a willingness to change.