Meet the Team

This is your Team section. Briefly introduce the team then add their bios below. Click here to edit.

Co-Owner

Michael Lavender

Michael Lavender, CPFS, QBHA is a Certified Peer and Family Specialist (CPFS) and supervisor, holds NAADAC certifications. Michael "Lav" is a Qualified Behavioral Health Associate dedicated to helping individuals build strong foundations for long-term recovery and personal success.

As Co-Founder of Hope Dealers Recovery Homes & Peer Coaching Services, Michael combines professional training, lived experience, and a genuine passion for service to support individuals navigating substance use, mental health challenges, life transitions, and community reintegration.

Known for his approachable personality, strong advocacy skills, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life, Michael specializes in peer recovery coaching, life skills development, recovery support services, and community-based behavioral health interventions.

His mission is simple: help people discover their strengths, overcome obstacles, and create meaningful lives in recovery.

When he’s not working with clients, Michael focuses on developing recovery-focused programs, building community partnerships, and expanding opportunities that bring hope, healing, and lasting change to those he serves.

Co-Owner

Johnny Critchfield

Johnny Critchfield, QBHA/CPFS/COPA

Co-Founder, Hope Dealers Co. LLC

Johnny Critchfield life and work are built on lived experience, faith, grit, and second chances.

Johnny grew up outside of Detroit in a single-parent household, where drugs and alcohol found him at an early age. What started as a way to manage anxiety, fit in, and feel comfortable around others eventually became something that took hold of his life. After years of selling cars on and off throughout the 2010s, Johnny hit rock bottom on the streets of Denver in 2016. Homeless and living high to high, he slept under bridges, in gutters, and in motel rooms, surviving in a world he never thought he would escape.

After catching his first felony while homeless, Johnny found the motivation to stay sober for four years. But because he had violated the terms of his felony probation, he spent those years living with the weight of knowing his past was still catching up to him. After a relapse, Johnny was eventually arrested and sent to prison. What looked like the end became the place where he rebuilt his relationship with God, reconnected with himself, and found a deeper sense of purpose.

When Johnny was released, he began working with others who were fighting the same battles he once fought. Through shared experience, honesty, accountability, and real connection, he discovered that his pain could become a tool to help others rebuild their lives.

After helping build a recovery office in Pueblo alongside Michael “Lav” Lavender, Johnny realized something important: no matter how much you build for someone else, it will never truly be yours. That realization became the foundation for Hope Dealers Co. LLC.

Today, Johnny uses his story to reach people who feel forgotten, stuck, or too far gone. Hope Dealers was created for the people still under bridges, still in motel rooms, still trapped in the cycle, and still wondering if life can ever be different. Johnny’s mission is simple: bring hope back to the people who need it most, and prove that recovery is not only possible — it can become purpose.

About Hope Dealers

Recovery. Community. Purpose. Hope.

There comes a moment when a person stands at a crossroads. Behind them may be years of addiction, pain, broken trust, lost opportunities, and the weight of believing life can never be different. Ahead lies uncertainty—but also possibility. The decision to choose recovery is one of the most courageous choices a person can make. It requires strength to ask for help, humility to accept support, and determination to keep moving forward one day at a time. At Hope Dealers, we exist to walk alongside individuals during that transformation. We provide more than a place to live—we provide a community where people can rebuild their lives, rediscover their worth, develop healthy habits, and create a future they once thought was impossible. Here, recovery is not simply about overcoming addiction; it is about becoming the person you were always meant to be.

Founded by individuals who understand the challenges and triumphs of recovery firsthand, Hope Dealers was created to provide safe, structured, and supportive sober living environments where individuals can heal, grow, and thrive. Our homes are designed to bridge the gap between treatment and independent living, offering residents the accountability, stability, and community needed to build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.

We recognize that addiction affects every aspect of a person's life. That is why our approach extends beyond simply providing housing. Through peer support, recovery-focused programming, life skills development, mentorship, and community connection, we empower residents to create meaningful and sustainable change.

Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire transformation by providing safe recovery housing, supportive community, and opportunities for personal growth. We are committed to helping individuals overcome barriers, rediscover their potential, and build lives rooted in integrity, responsibility, and hope.

What Makes Hope Dealers Different

At Hope Dealers, we are more than sober living homes—we are a recovery community.

Our homes are built on the belief that healing happens through connection. Residents become part of a network of individuals who are committed to supporting one another, celebrating progress, and navigating challenges together.

Recovery-Centered Living

Every Hope Dealers home promotes an environment that supports sobriety, accountability, and personal growth. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in their recovery journey while developing healthy routines and habits.

Community and Belonging

Recovery can feel isolating, but no one should have to do it alone. Our residents become part of a community where mutual respect, encouragement, and shared experiences foster lasting connections.

Accountability and Responsibility

We believe accountability is essential to long-term success. Through house expectations, peer support, and personal responsibility, residents learn to build trust in themselves and others.

Life Beyond Recovery

Recovery is not just about what you leave behind—it is about what you build moving forward. We support residents in pursuing employment, education, financial stability, healthy relationships, and personal goals that contribute to a fulfilling life.

Peer-Led Support

Many members of our team have walked the path of recovery themselves. This lived experience creates authentic understanding, compassion, and mentorship that helps residents feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Our Vision

We envision a future where every individual seeking recovery has access to safe housing, supportive community, and opportunities to thrive. Through recovery housing, peer support, and community engagement, Hope Dealers strives to create lasting change—not only for the individuals we serve, but for families and communities as a whole.

Because recovery is possible. Healing is possible. Hope is possible.