Meet Tom Fay | Founder of Gambit Recovery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tom Fay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tom, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I didn’t sit down with a business plan and a five year forecast. It started with frustration, honestly. After years in and around treatment, I saw the same pattern on repeat—people leaving detox or residential with no real structure, no accountability, and no community to plug into. Just a pamphlet and good luck.
I wanted to break that revolving door, the one that somehow gets normalized, even promoted, in parts of the recovery industry. The idea that relapse is just part of the package, or that bouncing from program to program is acceptable as long as it’s billable. That never sat right with me.

I wanted to build what I wished existed when I was trying to get my life together. A place where people were held to a standard, but also believed in. Where the house wasn’t the program—the people were.

So really the thought process wasn’t some polished pitch. It was: “This isn’t working. What would actually help?” And from there, it grew. Mostly because I thought I had the answer and also because I kept listening to what people in early recovery actually needed. The business followed that. Not the other way around.

What should our readers know about your business?
Gambit Recovery is a structured sober living program with houses in Arizona, California, Washington, and Missouri. It’s more than just a roof over someone’s head—it’s a network of people rebuilding their lives after addiction, built on structure, accountability, and genuine community. We’re not selling some clinical miracle. What we offer is a real chance to start over, surrounded by people who truly get it.
What sets us apart? Honestly—everything. We took lived experience, a clear vision, and some fresh ideas, and built something original. Now, most others are either not doing what we do—or they’re just an unoriginal copy. When I looked at what the recovery industry was calling “sober living,” I knew the standard needed to be raised. That’s what we’ve done—and now I’m fired up to keep expanding in Arizona and across the country.

I’m proud of the culture we’ve built here. The camaraderie. The way people don’t just stay sober—they start showing up for their families, holding down jobs, even starting businesses. Watching that shift happen in real time never gets old.

I didn’t get here because I had a business degree. I got here by living it. I spent years in sober living and treatment settings—listening, talking to people, paying attention to what actually worked and what didn’t, and constantly asking, “How could this be better?” It wasn’t theory; it was real life.

Putting those ideas into action was the hard part. It meant pushing through fear and doubt. There’s nothing comfortable about taking a first step when you have no idea what’s on the other side. But once I did, things started moving—slowly at first, then all at once.

It hasn’t been easy, but every challenge helped build the foundation we stand on today. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t need to have it all figured out—you just need to care enough to take the next right step.

What I want people to know is this: Gambit Recovery isn’t just a bunch of houses. It’s a brand—and more importantly, a growing community of people who believe recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, owning your past, and building something better. Better yourself, so you can better the lives around you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A week-long trip in Arizona? First stop—we’re eating at Blue Wasabi in Gilbert. For dessert, we’re hitting Baskin Robbins, because my daughter wouldn’t let us go anywhere else for ice cream.
The go-to spots are definitely Blue Wasabi, In-N-Out Burger, and First Watch for breakfast. Honestly, planning this makes it sound like nothing but eating out. I’d probably throw in a couple home-cooked meals just to show I don’t live off restaurants.

As for things to do—maybe walk around a park in Gilbert or Chandler, or check out their downtown areas. If they’re up for something more adventurous, we could drive out to Tombstone or Bisbee so I can bore them with a bunch of history stories.
I don’t know… a week is a long time. I’d probably be making it up as we go.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many. I’m grateful to be aware that I’m not here (figuratively and literally) because I did it all on my own.
To shoutout a few, first would be Eric W. He was my roommate in detox, and without even realizing it, helped motivate me to actually finish treatment. He taught me what work ethic looked like in early recovery, and somehow—15 years later—he’s still one of my best friends.

Then there’s Nathan Mitchell. We were roommates in sober living back in 2011. He became the guy who challenged the way I talked about myself, the doubt I didn’t even realize I was carrying. Fast forward to 2022, he and I started Gambit Recovery together. He’s walked me through fear, through unknowns, through growth—and we’re still building side by side.

And my mother. She’s been my biggest supporter and never gave up on me. Her belief in me carried me at times I couldn’t carry myself. I could do shoutouts all day long, I’m reminded constantly that this story—my story—was never a solo act.

Website: https://www.gambitrecovery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gambit recovery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gambitrecovery

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GambitRecovery