Team

Howard Josepher, LCSW, is co-founder and President of Exponents, a non-profit, community based organization in New York City dedicated to improving the quality of life of people affected by drug addiction, HIV/AIDS and re-entry to the community after incarceration. He has been in the substance abuse treatment field for more than forty-five years and has been a pioneer in the development and implementation of both therapeutic community and harm reduction programs. At Exponents, Mr. Josepher has created and implemented evidenced based, peer-driven programs addressing drug addiction and other chronic health conditions. Mr. Josepher helped pioneer low-threshold, harm reduction services at the height of the AIDS epidemic and continues to advocate for compassionate, non-punitive substance abuse services.

Mr. Josepher has served on the NYC DoHMH, Mental Hygiene Advisory Council, is a past chairman of the Substance Abuse Committee of the city’s HIV Prevention Planning Group and is currently a member of the NYS, OASAS Recovery Implementation Team. He is a past recipient of the National Association of Social Workers’ Diego Lopez Award for his work with people living with HIV/AIDS . Mr. Josepher is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a recovering person, having overcome his own addiction to drugs many years ago.

Samantha has been with agency for over fifteen years first as Director of Development & Contracts then Director of Quality Assurance and Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to coming to Exponents Ms. Lopez-Fernandez, a graduate of New York University, was at HIV Care Services, a program of Public Health Solutions, where she managed a portfolio of over 30 Ryan White Title I contracts. She began working in the non-profit sector as Asst. Director, Program Development for Elmhurst Hospital Center shortly after college graduation. Ms. Lopez-Fernandez has also served on the Community Advisory Boards of two MHRA projects, FITA and HIV CARE services.

Regina Edwards came to Exponents 12 years ago as the Director of Finance with extensive nonprofit financial experience. She earned her degree in Accounting from Lehman College, Bronx NY, and has worked in the not for profit sector for over 23 years. Ms. Edwards served 6 years as Board Treasurer for the HIV Law Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal representation and advocacy for low income people with HIV/AIDS.

Joe Turner joined Howard Josepher at the beginning of Cycle 2 of ARRIVE in 1988. While working as at the Drug Education and Prevention Program for Phoenix House Foundation, Joe began making coffee and video-taping classes. Soon, he began training and a partnership in learning with Howie Josepher where the ARRIVE method of training and engagement became synonymous with “Howie and Joe”. As a team, they put into practice the foundations of peer- facilitated learning, small group (team) breakdowns, the hiring of graduates and populating the staff with graduates of ARRIVE. In 1990, Joe and Howie incorporated Exponents as a not for profit corporation, and began soliciting funds for the continuation of the ARRIVE. Joe Turner developed Exponents’ first outreach and education initiative – “The Speakers’ Bureau”. When the start up funding from NIDA expired, Joe, along with Howie, volunteered to work for months without compensation. Although Joe left Exponents in 1994, he has remained involved with the agency through his active participation as a member of the Board of Directors. Joe was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and attended Long Island University. He went on to graduate from Hofstra University School of Law and went on to practice law in the fields of criminal justice, civil rights and general practice. He has worked for the National Conference of Black Lawyers, the Center for Constitutional Rights and Community Action for Legal Services. Joe has worked for the last 35 years in the fields of in the fields of substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS prevention, community planning and development, non-profit management and organizational strategic planning. He is currently the Vice-President of the Exponents Center for Personal & Professional Development, Inc.