Riveon’s marketing, development officer retiring after 11 years

Joe Matuscak, chief marketing and development officer at Riveon Mental Health and Recovery in Lorain, has seen how people with addiction and mental health issues in Northeast Ohio have received much needed help.

Matuscak will step down Jan. 2 after more than a decade with the agency.

Matuscak, who has worked in advertising, marketing and nonprofit development for more than 40 years, said each chapter of his career has carried its own highlights.

“You have to encapsulate 45 years,” he said. “Each different position has its own highlight, from working with Tina Turner at Capitol Records to what I do now.”

At Riveon, Matuscak is best known for building the agency’s annual Pearls of Wisdom benefit dinner into its largest fundraiser.

“One of my biggest accomplishments is the Pearls of Wisdom Dinner, from where it started to where it is currently,” he said. “We just broke records this year. We raised close to $200,000.”

Since joining Riveon 11 years ago, Matuscak said the agency has raised more than $2.5 million through events, campaigns and donor outreach.

“Being the chief marketing and development officer means raising awareness of the agency, but also raising income to help people who might not be able to afford treatment,” he said. “That’s a huge part of what we do.”

He said the mission has always been personal.

“I think I made a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “Specifically helping them with their disease of addiction and mental health, and helping divert the stigma.

“This disease touches everybody.”

Matuscak also pointed to the agency’s new Crisis Recovery Center, which opened Oct. 1, as an example of how services are evolving.

“It’s almost like one-stop care,” he said. “If you’re in crisis, detox, stress, anxiety, you can go there to get help.

“You’re welcomed by a peer who speaks the language, and counselors and medical staff can guide you through treatment.”

Though stepping away from his position, Matuscak said he plans to remain active during the transition.

“I’m hoping to help them in the first quarter next year with whatever direction they want to take,” he said. “It’s 11 years of relationships and programs.

“I’d like to continue that.”

Matuscak is married to Maggie and lives in Avon Lake.

He said he also plans to spend part of the year living in Belize and volunteering with the recovery community there.

“I was blessed in the journey that I took,” Matuscak said. “I’d really like to give back, in whatever position or direction I take next.”

He said he expects to leave the country in early January.

“Off and on for five months,” Matuscak said. “I’m still going to live here, but I’m going to take what I’ve learned and help some of the less fortunate there.”