Meet the team

MRJC Executive Director

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Marisa joined the staff of MRJC in 2008 and now serves as the Executive Director, as well as Program Director for the 24th Judicial Recovery Treatment Courts, Watauga Recovery Treatment Court Coordinator, and all purpose mediator. She has a Master's Degree in Counseling (Expressive Arts Therapy), a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and an extensive history of advocacy around restorative processes, community- building, peaceful conflict resolution, and experiential learning.

Homestead Recovery Center Director

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Mollie is a person in long-term recovery, a formerly incarcerated individual, and a Watauga County native. She has dedicated her career to working at the intersection of peer-led recovery and restorative justice, beginning as Case Manager for the Recovery on the Inside (ROI) Program in 2018. She later served as Program Coordinator for Watauga LEAD and ROI (2020-2022) before stepping into her current role as Center Director of Homestead Recovery Center in 2022. Mollie began her recovery journey as someone who had to leave Watauga County to access basic recovery services. She returned to Appalachia in 2013 with a commitment to bring back the support she had experienced and expand recovery access in Watauga County. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Social Work from Appalachian State University and has received numerous recognitions, including the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Award for Non-Profit Business Professional (2021) and the Beaver College of Health Sciences Emerging Leader Award (2023). A North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist, Mollie is a strong advocate for centering peer voices at all levels of the organization. She is a member of MRJC’s Executive Team, a part-time adjunct instructor in Appalachian State University’s Interdisciplinary Studies Department, and a subject matter expert for North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Overdose Prevention Team. She also actively participates in multiple local coalition groups to advance community-based recovery initiatives. Mollie continues to experience the gifts of recovery, living in the western end of Watauga County with her husband and their six children.

Community & Programs Specialist

Project Director for MRJC ARC INSPIRE Initiatives

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Mackenzie Laney is a dedicated advocate for restorative justice and community-driven recovery efforts. As the Community and Program Specialist at MRJC and Project Director for MRJC's ARC INSPIRE initiatives, she leads workforce reentry programs, coordinates internships and volunteers, and contributes to strategic planning, grant writing, and program expansion as part of the Executive Team. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s in Social Work from Appalachian State University, where she completed her graduate internship at MRJC in 2019-2020 before transitioning into roles in juvenile and adult services. Mackenzie actively engages in local policy and advocacy, serving on the Watauga Housing Council, STABLE Workplaces planning group, Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative Events Committee, and as the Watauga Advisor for Recovery Friendly NC. She also co-facilitates the Watauga Community Justice Coalition alongside the MRJC Executive Team. Beyond her professional work, she volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem in Wilkes County and continues to develop her recovery allyship, strengthening her commitment to community healing.

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Clinical & Operations Director

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Dale joined MRJC in 2021 and serves as the Clinical and Operations Director for Homestead Recovery programs. Dale received his Master of Social Work from Wayne State University and is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist.  After entering recovery in Detroit, Michigan in 1985 Dale returned to the mountains and his family in 1992 and has been a resident of Ashe country since . 

Recovery on the Inside Case Manager

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Pam joined MRJC in 2023 as a Peer Support Specialist for the Watauga LEAD program and was promoted to Recovery on the Inside Case Manager in 2024. In this role, she works alongside detention staff, law enforcement, attorneys, and treatment providers to develop pre-trial diversion plans and provide recovery support to individuals incarcerated at the Watauga County Detention Center. A Watauga County native, Pam brings lived experience to her work, having navigated the federal justice system herself. Since beginning her recovery journey in 2012, she has rebuilt her life as a wife, mother, landowner, and property owner and is now in the final stages of seeking a Presidential Pardon. Committed to ongoing education and professional development, Pam is currently pursuing a degree through Caldwell Community College and has received training in conflict resolution, mental health, forensic peer support, and trauma-informed care. She is also a certified Seeking Safety Curriculum facilitator, equipping her with specialized skills to support individuals impacted by trauma and substance use.

Watauga LEAD Case Manager

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Crystal joined MRJC in 2023 as a Peer Support Specialist and was promoted to Case Manager for the Watauga LEAD Program in 2024. She has found her passion in helping clients secure detoxification, treatment, and long-term housing solutions as they navigate their recovery journeys. A North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist, Crystal is also an overdose prevention and reversal trainer, providing life-saving education to the community. She will graduate from Wilkes Community College in Summer 2025 and has been accepted into Appalachian State University, where she will pursue a degree in social work in the fall. Crystal's personal experience with substance use disorder began at age 15. After the birth of her first child in 2008, she was arrested and incarcerated in the Commonwealth of Virginia Prison System—an event that became the turning point in her life. Since that arrest, she has maintained long-term recovery and wellness, using her lived experience to inspire and support others in recovery.

Watauga LEAD Peer Support Specialist​

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Katlynd joined MRJC in 2023 as a Peer Support Specialist through an NCWorks work-based internship before being promoted to Peer Service Coordinator and later to LEAD Peer Support Specialist in 2024. In her current role, she provides peer support within the intensive community case management program, helping individuals navigate recovery, access resources, and build stability in their lives. Katlynd also serves as a task supervisor for bachelor level interns and coordinates volunteers, ensuring meaningful engagement in recovery services. As Homestead Recovery Center’s first “Full Circle” Peer Support Specialist, she began her recovery journey as a client of the program before becoming an employee. Now, she uses her experience, strength, and hope to support others and make a lasting impact in her community.

Housing Coordinator​

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A Watauga County native, Heather joined MRJC in 2024, bringing extensive experience from her healthcare and community support background to her role in providing stable, supportive recovery housing. She holds an Associate in Science from Caldwell Community College (2010), an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting and Medical Office Administration (2011), and earned her National Certification in Medical Assisting from the National Health Career Association (NHA) in 2014. After spending much of her career in healthcare, Heather transitioned to working directly with individuals in recovery, ensuring access to safe, structured housing that fosters long-term stability. As a formerly incarcerated person, she has found meaning and purpose in helping others navigate reentry challenges, using her own recovery journey to guide and support those rebuilding their lives. Committed to breaking cycles of instability, Heather is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Human Services at Lees-McRae University to become a Human Services Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP).

Peer Services Coordinator​

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A Wilkes County native, David joined MRJC in 2024 as a Peer Service Coordinator and is Homestead Recovery Center’s second “Full Circle” staff member, having begun his journey as a client before stepping into a staff role. He now uses his lived experience to support others navigating recovery. In his role, David oversees all Peer Services activities, including day center services, supplies, outreach, group facilitation, training, and community events. He is also a task supervisor for bachelor-level interns and facilitates SMART Recovery meetings at Homestead each week. Passionate about helping others, he is dedicated to using his experience, knowledge, and insight to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those seeking recovery and stability.

Embedded Social Worker​

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Cierra joined MRJC in 2024 and was born and raised in Ashe County. She attended Western Carolina University and obtained her Bachelors in Social Work in May 2024. Spending most of her research studies on incarceration and criminal justice, Cierra discovered her love and passion for working in a criminal justice social work field. She completed her internship with the Sylva Police Department and Community Care Program, leading her to want a full time career doing this work. She enjoys seeing individuals discover their worth and watching them grow on the path of recovery. Cierra enjoys helping be a voice for others and advocating for change within social justice and criminal justice systems. She is a person in recovery from mental illness and enjoys showing others that it can get better!

Peer Services Coordinator​

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Brittany joined MRJC in 2024 as a Peer Services Coordinator and is the organization’s third “Full Circle” staff member, having transitioned from a client to a dedicated team member. She is currently pursuing her NC Peer Support Specialist certification and is a licensed phlebotomist, further expanding her ability to support individuals in recovery and overdose prevention services. In her role, Brittany oversees day center services, outreach efforts, inventory management, and office operations, ensuring that programs run efficiently and effectively serve the community. Committed to meeting individuals where they are, she helps clients navigate available resources to support their recovery journey. She is passionate about using her lived experience to inspire and empower others, demonstrating that recovery is possible and that no one has to navigate it alone.

Volunteer Recovery & Transportation Ally

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Ken began volunteering with MRJC in 2022, bringing his passion for service and community to our team.  A retired software developer, he moved to Boone from West Virginia in 2014 and has been actively engaged in volunteer work for almost two decades. Ken has dedicated his time to local jail and prison ministries and supporting individuals on their recovery journeys. In 2022, he completed Recovery Coaching Academy and is also a trained SMART Recovery facilitator, equipping him with valuable skills to guide people though evidence-based recovery processes. Ken played a critical role in launching our recovery housing project, serving as Co-Housing Coordinator from 2023-2024. In recognition of his outstanding commitment to service, Ken received the Governor's Volunteer Service Award for Watauga County in 2023.

Volunteer Recovery & Transportation Ally​

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Bob began volunteering at Homestead in the Summer of 2023. A native of the Mississippi Delta, he moved to Boone in 2020 from Charlotte, where he was an attorney with Moore & Van Allen. He shares that in the time that he has volunteered at Homestead, he has become a huge admirer of the Homestead staff and the mission of the organization.