John King
John King was an original PeerFest Planning Committee member from 2016 and co-leads the Finance Subcommittee for PeerFest 2024. After a three-decade career in retail merchandising, John made the switch to peer support and advocacy in 2013. He was a contract trainer for Via Hope and served on the Via Hope Certified Peer Specialist Planning and Advisory Council from 2015-2017, including one year as Board President. John was a member of several curriculum development workgroups. Additionally, he has been involved with workgroups for Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH). From 2017 until 2023, John was privileged to serve on the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Council of Disability Rights Texas, serving from 2022-2023 as Vice Chair of the group. He is also a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Facilitator., and lives in Beaumont, TX.