Leadership & Board

John McGahan, President/CEO

John has led the nonprofit Gavin Foundation since 1994. Under his leadership the Gavin Foundation has grown at a fast pace and become one of the most respected and trusted comprehensive community-based addiction education, prevention and treatment programs in greater Boston. John is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC I), Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS), and a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor. He is the Vice President of the MA Recovery Homes Collaborative and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). He is a member of the South Boston Association of Non Profits and of the South Boston Hope and Recovery Coalition. John has received numerous awards from local organizations for his dedication to improving the quality and access to substance abuse treatment. John and Anne, his wife of 32 years, reside in South Boston. They have two sons, William, a graduate of American University, and Sean, a graduate of University of Tampa. They enjoy traveling and spending time with family.  The McGahan family is committed to the community and can often be found at local fundraisers and events in support of area nonprofits.

Barbara Samek, Clinical Director

Barbara oversees the Center for Recovery Services (CRS), which provides individual and group treatment for adolescents and adults who are struggling with substance abuse and addiction. She brings over 25 years of experience in clinical and counseling services in the substance abuse treatment field to her role providing clinical supervision and support to all direct care staff and Program Managers. Barbara is a graduate of Westfield State College, where she majored in Criminal Justice, and earned her Masters of Social Work from Simmons College. She is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC I) and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Barbara is also a surveyor for CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF carefully chooses candidates with relevant field experience, administrative expertise and specific program knowledge. CARF surveyors are among the industry’s most knowledgeable and respected experts in the area of health and human services. Before joining the Gavin Foundation, Barbara served as a Clinical Social Worker for Dimock Behavioral Health in Roxbury, a Clinical Coordinator at Mentor Clinical Care in Boston, and as a Social Work Intern at both the Boston Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and Brighton-Dimock Early Intervention Program.

Board of Directors