Founding The Lighthouse: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Recovery Residences with Trey Laird

Welcome to a special episode of the Recovery Reach podcast, recorded live at the Mental Health Marketing Conference in Franklin, Tennessee! In this episode, host Andrew sits down with Trey Laird, the founder and CEO of The Lighthouse, a luxury recovery residence in Connecticut. Trey shares his personal journey from Wall Street to recovery, the inspiration behind starting The Lighthouse, and the lessons learned from a decade of helping professionals rebuild their lives after treatment. Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, recovery, or the business of behavioral health, this conversation is packed with insights, real stories, and practical wisdom.— Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com/— Learn more about The Lighthouse Recovery Services : https://thelighthousect.com/— Connect with Trey on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/treylaird/Key Topics Covered:• Trey’s personal recovery journey and the founding story of The Lighthouse• The gap in post-treatment support for professionals and executives• Building a luxury recovery residence: vision, challenges, and lessons learned• The importance of community, peer support, and recovery coaching• Navigating business development and referral relationships in behavioral health• Adapting and growing through COVID-19 and beyond• The role of family and non-residential services in recovery• Marketing, networking, and the power of sharing your story• Advice for aspiring founders in the recovery/treatment space• Reflections on impact, identity, and the future of The LighthouseTimestamps & Detailed Show Notes:00:00 – Introduction: Meet Trey Laird, CEO & Founder of The Lighthouse01:00 – Recording at the Mental Health Marketing Conference; the importance of industry events02:00 – Trey’s background: Wall Street career, personal recovery, and the seed for The Lighthouse04:00 – The lack of local sober living options and the inspiration for a new model06:00 – The Lighthouse’s mission: luxury recovery residences for professionals08:00 – What makes The Lighthouse unique: daily life, amenities, and peer support10:00 – The transition from treatment to real life: challenges and opportunities12:00 – Expanding services: from men’s house to women’s house and apartments14:00 – Navigating COVID-19: community, remote work, and new opportunities16:00 – The business model: non-clinical services, coaching, and peer support18:00 – The power of lived experience: staff in recovery and peer mentorship20:00 – Trey’s journey from recovery consumer to mentor and founder22:00 – Learning from other high-end sober living models and adapting to Connecticut24:00 – Building the business: networking, referral relationships, and early challenges28:00 – The importance of reputation and careful client selection30:00 – Hiring, team-building, and the realities of starting up34:00 – Lessons from the first year: learning by doing, adapting, and staying mission-driven38:00 – Growth, alumni engagement, and the evolution of services40:00 – The impact of recovery coaching and family support44:00 – Marketing, business development, and the power of personal storytelling48:00 – The future of The Lighthouse: growth, expansion, and staying true to the mission52:00 – Reflections: personal transformation, impact, and advice for new founders56:00 – Closing thoughts: how to connect with Trey and The Lighthouse