Amanda Smith is the Vice Chair of REACH Chattanooga, bringing both professional experience and lived understanding of recovery to the organization’s leadership.

Originally from McDonough, Georgia, Amanda spent her early years just south of Atlanta before relocating to Chattanooga, Tennessee. For nearly 14 years, she struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse before reaching a point where she knew something had to change.

In early 2023, Amanda made the decision to leave everything familiar behind and move to San Diego, California to immerse herself in a structured recovery community for women facing substance use and mental health challenges. Over the course of nine months, she built a strong foundation in recovery through accountability, community support, and a 12-step model.

When she returned, it wasn’t just with sobriety — it was with a new way of living rooted in structure, purpose, and daily commitment.

Amanda holds a background in Business Management and became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) in early 2024. She has experience working within a nonprofit setting, focusing on peer support, relapse prevention, and post-crisis care for individuals navigating early recovery.

Her role at REACH Chattanooga is driven by a deep belief that recovery is possible when the right environment exists. She is committed to helping create that environment — one built on structure, accountability, and consistent support — so that others have access to the same opportunity for change that she was given.

Her approach to recovery is simple and grounded in daily action:

“I only have to make one decision a day — to turn my will and my life over to a higher power that will always do for me what I cannot do for myself.”