WVARR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bob Hansen – President
John Leite – Vice President
David Bailey, LSW, AADC, CCS – Treasurer
A life long resident of Mercer County, David is a graduate of both Concord and Marshall Universities. After 38 years of service, David is now retired from the substance use treatment and prevention field that included community behavioral health; Marshall University Research Corporation; and, Concord University. He remains connected to the field by continuing to provide some contractual group counseling services for the recovering community and serving on Board of Directors for Mercer County Fellowship Home, Mercer County Day Report Center and the West Virginia Certification Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals. A Certified Addiction Counselor since 1987, David currently holds both the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Certified Clinical Supervisor certification and a West Virginia License in Social Work. He has served the West Virginia Certification Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP) in a number of capacities over the years including: Board President; Treasurer; and, board member. In the early 1990’s David served on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors for an approximate 7 year period, four years as board treasurer and 3 years as board member
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nancy Daugherty – Secretary
Nancy Daugherty has had over thirty years of experience in workforce development, working with programs to assist individuals with barriers to employment and helping them become self-sufficient. Nancy previously served as Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Kanawha County, one of seven boards that administer the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds serving adults, dislocated workers, and youth. Nancy has thirty-two years of sobriety. She formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Rea of Hope, Inc., is the past-President of the Serenity Club, participated in many service positions through Alcoholics Anonymous, and is a board member of the State Rehabilitation Council, appointed by Governor Jim Justice.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Eric “Brooks” Birkhimer
Eric Birkhimer is a person in long term recovery with over a decade clean & sober. Eric resides in the Northern panhandle of WV and has battled addiction for over 15 years. Eric is the National Director of Business Development for Banyan Treatment Centers and says, “I have been blessed to have crossed paths with many great people, not only In WV but across the US, who have helped me find sobriety and grow professionally working in the field of substance abuse. My daily strive is to continue working on better relationships with myself and others through giving back.”
Stephanie Stout, PRSS
Stephanie resides in Martinsburg, West Virginia. For over five years she has worked tirelessly to provide recovery resources to her community and others across the state. Stephanie previously worked as the Recovery Services Coordinator of the Berkeley County Recovery Resource Center. She assisted in the implementation of recovery coaches in the emergency department, providers offices and the harm reduction program of Berkeley County. She is certified nationally as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist. She is a CCAR certified trainer for ethics, professionalism, and the recovery coach academy. She currently serves on the Berkeley County Adult Drug Court treatment team to provide insight and treatment options for participants. She serves on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Association of Recovery Resource Centers. As a person in recovery, Stephanie continues to stay highly involved in advocacy for those that have a mental health or substance use disorder. Stephanie states, “being grateful for all the past experiences that have brought me to a place where I can be of service and walk in my purpose to help others is the best reward of recovery”.
Dr. Debra Young, EdD, LGSW
Debra Young is an Assistant Professor of Social Work with Marshall University’s Master of Social Work Program. Prior to becoming a social work educator and program coordinator in academia in 2008, Dr. Young practiced for 14 years working in child welfare, individuals with developmental disabilities through clinical direct service, consultation, and program development. Dr. Young completed the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction and an EdS in 2010 with Marshall University and her MSW with WVU in 2000. Dr. Young teaches a variety of courses in generalist and advanced social work and also provides extensive training through the Social Work Education Consortium (SWEC) WV for newly hired WVDHHR child welfare workers. Her research and service interests are in the areas of family and community violence, human trafficking, and rural social work practice ethics. Dr. Young is a member of NASW-WV and CSWE and is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in WV. Dr. Young lives in Charleston, WV with her family.
WVARR STAFF
Emily Birckhead, MSW – Executive Director
emily@wvarr.org
Emily Birckhead is the executive director of the West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Residences. She graduated from WVU with her BS in Political Science and received her Master of Social Work Degree (MSW) from Marshall University. She is a person in recovery and is certified as both a CCAR Peer Recovery Coach and 200-RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). Emily has previously worked as a Recovery Coach with the Partnership of African American Churches and as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Try This WV. She has supported the development of organizations including West Virginia’s first Collegiate Recovery Program (WVU CRP) and WV Recovers, an integrated, statewide peer recovery network for people with mental health and substance use disorders, and served on the Board of Directors for the WV Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors from 2017-2020. Emily currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center (KPCC), is a member of the National Alliance of Recovery Residences’ Advocacy & Affiliates Committees, and chairs the Recovery Housing Taskforce of the WV Governor’s Advisory Council for Substance Use Disorders’ Community Engagement Subcommittee.
Kimberly Stanfield – Assistant Director
kimberly@wvarr.org
Autumn McCraw – Recovery Housing Program Coordinator
autumn@wvarr.org
Danny Hale – Certification & Compliance Coordinator
danny@wvarr.org
We are so grateful for the commitment, contributions, and dedicated leadership of our former and founding directors:
Jim McClanahan
December 2018- December 2023
Past Treasurer
Immediate Past President
Jonathan Dower
December 2018- December 2023
Founding Treasurer
Immediate Past Vice President
Frankie Tack, MS, AADC-S, NCC, CTTS
December 2018- December 2022
Founding Secretary
Past President
David Cisler, MA, LSW
December 2018- December 2022
Former Secretary
Kevin Knowles
December 2018- December 2022
Founding President
Robert Albury, JD, LADC
December 2021- August 2022
Past Secretary
W. Bradley Sorrells, JD
December 2018- September 2022
Marie Beaver
December 2018- December 2020
Founding Vice President
Reggie Jones
December 2018- December 2020
Rocky Meadows
December 2018- March 2020