Spencer Measom knows what it’s like to hit rock bottom, and he’s experienced firsthand what it’s like to lose a loved one who didn’t make it. This level of sympathy is hard to find when you’re a recovering addict, and it’s why Measom is making it his mission to provide opportunities to those in need.
Measom is a native to south Utah County and owner of multiple businesses including the Salem Collection, which is a full-service event rental company, and South Valley Cruisers, which is a car restoration business. He is also an integral member of the Springville Rotary Club. In all his endeavors, what is always in the forefront of his mind is giving individuals in sober living facilities a chance to get back on their feet.
“We have a soft spot for people in recovery and are all about second chances,” Measom said. “The majority of our workers right now, live in sober living houses in Spanish Fork. A lot of them work for us while in transition until they find what they want to do. One of our guys worked for us for a couple of months, and just got his commercial drivers license and is working toward a career in that field. We have some who have a background in mechanics, so they’re working on cars for us. We have a couple of other guys who do renovation stuff. We used to joke that our construction company specialized in customs and rehab. We’ve been helping people get back on their feet for over 20 years now.”
One man who has greatly benefitted from Measom’s support goes by the name of Dennis. Dennis, who grew up in Salt Lake City, was recently released from prison into a sober living facility. He connected with Measom and his team after struggling to find a job, and said that being given a chance to work has changed his life for the better.
“It’s hard to find people who will go to bat for you when you have a background like I do,” Dennis said. “I didn’t have a background in mechanics, but Spencer and (his partner) Jana, have helped me every step of the way. They’ve been my biggest support since October, and it’s changed my life.”
Measom said that Dennis has been a valuable asset, as have so many of the individuals who work for him. He said that he sees promise in him and is grateful for his willingness to work hard and learn new things.
“Dennis jumped right in!” Measom said. “He didn’t necessarily have a background in mechanics or construction or anything, but he jumped in and was just super anxious to learn and do anything that we needed, whether it was moving rocks or moving lumber or cleaning the shop. He has learned some mechanical skills and stuff with me too. I feel like he’s shown us his best self, and he really wants to get his life back on track. He wants to be a good person and a contributing member to society. I feel like the majority of these guys and girls that are in the situation that Dennis is in. … The sad thing is a lot of times for whatever reason, they slip back into patterns. Our goal is to show them something different and let them know that they have a life outside of that and that they can recover and have a really good life.”
Firsthand experience
Measom hasn’t always been on the giving end, but was once the one standing in need. For years, he struggled with alcohol abuse, and as he saw many friends and even family members fall prey to its effects, he knew he needed to get help.
“I’m a recovering alcoholic, and that all kind of happened later in my life,” Measom said. “I also lost my older brother to an opiate overdose in 2002. He was 10 years older than me and was 32 when he died. I graduated from Springville high school in 1997, and I think at our last class reunion, we figured that of our class, there’s 17 who have passed away and about two-thirds of those are drug-related.
I think if most people are honest with themselves and take a look around them, they are in a similar situation; we just have decided to be a little bit vocal about it. It’s a little bit taboo, especially in our culture, to admit your kid has a problem or your brother has a problem, let alone admit you have a problem. And so that’s probably where the passion stems from – really making these people feel like they’re equal to us and equal to everybody else. … Recovery starts with realizing that I have value and I either end up dead or I end up recovering, but I can’t stay in the middle. … Whether it’s somebody in recovery or not, our house and our shop have an open-door policy and if you need somebody to talk to or you need to feel loved, we’re always there.” The line is open at 801-471-4972 or email: info@thesalemcollection.com.
For more information on The Salem Collection, go to @thesalemcollection on Instagram or thesalemcollection.com.
