Connor Hart
For almost the entirety of Connor's adult life, recovery has played a major role. His introduction to recovery came at an early age as both his parents are recovering alcoholics. They warned him about being high risk to developing his own addiction because of the genetic component, but that wasn’t enough. Starting at about age sixteen, his recreational drug use evolved into full-blown opiate addiction. It brought him to a series of low points in his life, and began affecting it in every area.
His recovery journey has consisted of several relapses, multiple treatment stints, and essentially having to start over several times. He couldn’t get over the idea that without substances, his life would lack excitement. Once he truly became apart of the Saint Paul recovery community, from whom he was shown constant support and encouragement, he realized how beneficial and exciting being in recovery could truly be. His life has taken on meaning and purpose which he didn’t think was possible.
Connor is fortunate in that recovery has offered him purpose in his professional life. In 2017, he founded Recovery First Sober Homes and hasn't looked back since. He's realized through this process that so many addicts struggle with the same aspects of early recovery that he struggled with. "As addicts, we are most vulnerable when isolated, and strongest when we have a strong community around us." This was so true in his own journey, and he tries to help our residents understand the same about theirs. He is so grateful to have found such meaningful purpose, that allows his experiences both in active addiction and recovery to be useful in helping others going through the exact same things that he went through.
Keith Czechowicz, J.D.
Keith is a Co-Founder and owner of Recovery First Sober Homes. Since 2017, Keith has worked to provide peaceful, uplifting, and supportive transitional housing for men in St. Paul's vibrant recovery community. Keith strives to provide mentorship, life coaching, and other ministries to individuals in recovery, and enjoys working to expand Recovery First to be accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of background, creed, or socioeconomic environment. Prior to co-founding Recovery First, Keith earned his bachelor's degree in political science and business management from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He went on to earn his juris doctor, with honors, from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. A practicing attorney in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Keith especially enjoys aiding Recovery First residents with some of the pending legal matters that unfortunately often accompany life in early recovery. Outside of the office, Keith enjoys playing softball in Recovery First's softball league, as well as coaching his children's sports. Keith resides with his wife, Vanessa, and their two children, in the Twin Cities metro area.
Duncan Hart
Duncan is a co-founder/owner of Recovery First Sober Homes right here in St. Paul, Minnesota. Duncan works hard to ensure that our residents have the best sober living experience as possible. He is often taking residents to lunch, meetings, as well as other activities to better get know each resident. Before Duncan got involved with Recovery First, he was pursuing his degree in business with a focus on real estate studies at the University of St. Thomas which is also in St. Paul. However, while attending UST, he developed an addiction of his own which steered him in a different direction. After many attempts to try and stay sober, he was finally was able to get some sober time under his belt and get his college degree. However, he developed a passion for helping others, specifically those suffering from an addiction and decided to work at Recovery First full-time. Duncan is thrilled to be apart of the team because he has seen firsthand the need for good quality sober living in St. Paul. He believes that everyone has a story to tell and something to offer if given the chance to do so. The world of addiction can be a dark and lonely place and it’s things like this that can provide some hope in the still suffering addict or alcoholic.
Matthew Schmidt, ADC-T
Matt has been involved in the recovery field since 2019 working primarily as a drug and alcohol counselor. While earning his degree in Addiction Counseling at Century College, Matt was also working as a technician at another local treatment center. He has been involved in the recovery community for quite some time now and his past experience working in the recovery field provides residents with another added support system. Matt's favorite thing about working at Recovery First is seeing the growth of the residents and their personal journey as they enter a life of recovery.
Luke Erickson
Luke is one of the Operation Managers at Recovery First, he is most of the residents first call when they need something. He has been with Recovery First since May 2020; first as a resident, then house manager, and now at his current role. Luke has been sober for several years and works a strong a program of recovery and encourages all the residents to do the same. In his free-time, Luke enjoys drawing, making music, and participating in sober fun within the recovery community.