Celebrating 40 Years of Leadership, Education, and Recovery
The CADTP Spring Conference 2026 was a celebration of community, professional growth, innovation, and 40 years of service to California’s substance use disorder treatment field.
Held May 6–7, 2026, at the beautiful Embassy Suites by Hilton La Quinta Hotel & Spa, this year’s conference brought together counselors, program leaders, educators, treatment professionals, and industry partners from across California for two unforgettable days of education, networking, inspiration, and celebration.
From outstanding keynote presentations to interactive games, major prize giveaways, exhibitor engagement, live interviews, and a very special 40-year anniversary celebration, the energy throughout the event was exceptional from beginning to end.
A Conference Focused on Hope, Healing, and Innovation
The 2026 conference theme, “Unified for Recovery: Advancing Hope, Healing, and Health,” set the tone for a dynamic and engaging experience centered around workforce development, innovation, leadership, counselor certification, and improved outcomes in the SUD treatment field.
Attendees participated in educational sessions led by respected professionals and thought leaders from across the industry. Presentations covered leadership, motivational approaches, certification changes, transformative counseling tools, innovation, and emerging trends affecting California’s behavioral health workforce.
This year’s speaker lineup included:
- Nir Bashan — “The Solution Mindset: How To Use Innovation From Other Industries In Yours”
- Mark Lundholm — “The Hope Dealer”
- Suzanne Loeb — “Rewriting the Stories That Keep Clients Stuck: Evidence-based Educational Tools for Transformative Change”
- Dr. Nola Veazie — “The Motivational Leader”
- Crystal Sanchez, Terri Tagami-Ware, and Barbara Aday-Garcia — “Counselor Certification 2026 and Beyond”
- Craig French and Ricky Rios — SUD Trivia
- Barbara Aday-Garcia and Cassandra Garcia — Certification Jeopardy
- Janice Forbes, Michealine Flower, Jen Strother, Christina Flores, and Jewels Del Parto — DUI MAT Round Table
Each presenter brought valuable insight, real-world experience, and meaningful discussion to the conference, helping attendees gain new tools and perspectives they can immediately apply in their organizations and clinical work.
Celebrating CADTP’s 40-Year Anniversary
One of the highlights of this year’s conference was CADTP’s 40-year anniversary celebration.
The celebration added an extra layer of excitement and community spirit throughout the event. Attendees enjoyed:
- 40-year anniversary cupcakes
- Interactive Certification Jeopardy competitions
- SUD Trivia games
- Special surprises throughout the conference
- Exciting prize giveaways
- Networking and celebration events
Conference participants enthusiastically joined in the games and activities, creating a fun and memorable atmosphere while also reinforcing professional knowledge in an engaging way.
The prizes this year were especially impressive, with attendees winning TVs, gift cards, and many other exciting giveaways throughout the conference.
Interactive Learning and Community Engagement
The CADTP Spring Conference continues to stand out because of its ability to combine professional education with meaningful community engagement.
This year’s interactive sessions encouraged attendees to actively participate rather than simply observe. Certification Jeopardy and SUD Trivia became crowd favorites, blending education, teamwork, and entertainment into experiences that attendees will likely remember long after the conference ended.
The conference also featured live interviews conducted throughout the event, capturing attendee experiences, professional insights, and conference highlights. These interviews may be featured on upcoming CADTP social media channels and online content.
Networking, Collaboration, and Professional Growth
Beyond the presentations and activities, one of the greatest strengths of the CADTP Spring Conference continues to be the opportunity for professionals to connect with one another.
Attendees spent time networking with colleagues, meeting new professionals in the field, exchanging ideas, and building relationships that support collaboration throughout California’s SUD treatment community.
The atmosphere throughout the conference reflected the passion, resilience, and commitment shared by professionals working to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.
Outstanding Sponsors and Exhibitors
The conference floor featured a strong group of sponsors and exhibitors who helped support the event while connecting attendees with valuable services and resources.
Exhibitors provided attendees with opportunities to learn about new programs, services, workforce resources, educational opportunities, and industry partnerships that support California’s behavioral health and SUD treatment community.
Gold Star Sponsors included:
- SavePlus Insurance Center
- LowCost Interlock
Exhibitors included:
- AG Management Consulting, LLC
- DUI MAT
- HealthStaff Training Institute
- InterCoast Colleges
- Shatterproof
- National Labs
- LowCost Interlock
- SavePlus Insurance Center
- Suzanne Loeb
- Dr. Nola Veazie
Looking Ahead
As CADTP celebrates 40 years of service, advocacy, and workforce development, the success of the 2026 Spring Conference reflects the continued strength and growth of California’s SUD treatment community.
This year’s conference delivered exceptional education, meaningful connection, memorable celebrations, and an overall experience that attendees described as truly outstanding.
CADTP extends sincere appreciation to all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, leadership teams, and attendees who helped make this year’s conference such a tremendous success.
We look forward to continuing the mission of advancing recovery, education, and professional excellence for many years to come.
About CADTP
CADTP supports California’s SUD treatment workforce through counselor registration and certification, education, advocacy, professional development, and workforce resources.
For more information about CADTP conferences, certification resources, and upcoming events, visit the CADTP Counselors website.