Derek is a past 4-H & FFA member, and has been an active volunteer in 4-H & FFA for years. He joined the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company at the age of 16, where he served as a firefighter and EMS member. After buying a home in Pylesville, he joined the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company, where he is an active firefighter, EMS driver, and past president of the company. Derek has served in many other roles at the company as well. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he was sent by FEMA to be deployed to Mississippi where he served over a month helping the citizens of the gulf coast. Derek has also served on a number of other community groups. He is a member of Harford County's Agricultural Advisory Board and is passionate about saving the agricultural industry.
 

Leeann Bedsaul currently serves as the Program Director for Char Hope. Leeann officially joined our team in February 2018 after participating as an active volunteer for the  program since the opening of our first recovery residence in January 2017. She had been working in the substance abuse treatment field for nearly 4 years. Leeann has also been involved in the agricultural community. She was a member of 4H where she owned and showed horses growing up. Leeann has the experience necessary to relate to our residents on a personal level because she too is a woman living in long term recovery. Leeann is a  Certified Peer Recovery Coach and is also certified in Recovery Ethics. She is a dedicated recovery advocate having shared her story with several organizations and in public forums such as; Harford County Public Schools, the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, The Hard Truth of Addiction, and the Harford County Overdose Awareness Vigil. Leeann also continues to volunteer her time with the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy, recovery and harm reduction advocacy groups, numerous drug and alcohol treatment centers, and other recovery houses in our community. 

Olivia Huber grew up on a small farm in Jarrettsville, where she operates her own retail beef business along with the family produce farm. She is an active volunteer within the community, currently serving as Co-chair for the Harford County Farm Bureaus Women’s Committee and as an active 4-H volunteer.  Through these volunteering opportunities, she has had the opportunity to network around the state in relation to Maryland Agriculture. Olivia is passionate about teaching others about diverse agricultural practices and the connection it has to everyday life. She believes there is always something new to learn and is excited to grow with CharHope!