Meet Board Administration
Crystal Smalldon
Executive Director
Crystal is an experienced Executive with extensive decades long experience and a track record of success. She attended Niagara College, Brock University, Carleton University, The University of British Columbia, and Mount Royal University, where she studied Social Service Work, Political Science, Law, and Addiction Medicine, before launching her career into Political Strategy and Campaign Management, Emergency Disaster Leadership, and Grant Writing.
Her success can almost always be traced back to her demonstrated professionalism, complex understanding of government operations, ability to build a winning team, and confident negotiation skills.
Crystal is currently an appointed member of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Harm Reduction Fund, a reviewer at Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation on the Innovation and Research Panel as well as the Solutions Lab funding panel, and a reviewer for Canada’s Volunteer Awards.
She is a board member at MacKay Manor. Mackay Manor is a residential recovery home for men who have alcohol and drug-related problems. This facility has 12-Level 1 and 4-Level 2 beds.
Crystal is the Executive Director of the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation as well as the Chair of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium. IC&RC promotes public protection by setting standards and developing exams for credentialing prevention, substance use treatment, and recovery professionals. Organized in 1981, it has a worldwide network of over 50,000 professionals.
Crystal created The Kanata, Carp, And Stittsville Stocking Project 6 years ago, where she rallies the community together each year during the holiday season and provides gifts to those in the community who are least expecting it. These recipients are surprised with elves who show up at their house with armfuls of gifts after being referred by other community members for some joy during the holiday season after a particularly difficult year.
Crystal also runs a private practice addiction counselling office and conducts personal, confidential, crisis and addiction counselling weekly.
Crystal spent 15 years with the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services as a team leader. In this role, Crystal was responsible for managing the teams of emergency responders, attached to Ottawa Fire Services. When there was a fire in the city that displaced residents, Crystal was responsible to coordinate a full approach to assisting the families through the trauma and tragedy that a fire brings. Concurrently, Crystal was the elected President of Ottawa Police Services Neighbourhood Watch Program and remains a member of the Board of Directors.
Crystal is a current Registered Social Service Worker, Psychotherapist, Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor. Canadian Indigenous Addiction Counsellor, Canadian Certified Telemedicine Addiction Professional, Internationally Certified Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, and an associate member of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. Crystal can rarely be found sitting still and not initiating some creative campaign to help someone.
Meet the Board of Directors
Officers
Zachary C. Talbott
President & Chief Executive Officer
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Chairman of the Executive Committee
Zac is a native of Eastern Tennessee and and is a nationally recognized expert in the treatment of opioid use disorder.
Upon moving to north Georgia in 2015, Zac founded and operated Counseling Solutions Treatment Centers and opened outpatient opioid treatment programs in Georgia and North Carolina. Counseling Solutions Treatment Centers were later acquired by BayMark Health Services/MedMark Treatment Centers, where Zac stayed on through May of 2019 to assure continuity of care for the patients during the transition. Zac currently has ownership in and serves as the federal Program Sponsor of Gateway Treatment Centers in Ellijay, Georgia and is the founding President and CEO of Talbott Legacy Centers, which operates comprehensive opioid treatment programs in Eastern Tennessee. Zac is passionate about drawing on the success of his business expertise and non-profit board experience to further professionalize the ADACBGA during his Presidency.
Concurrently as President of the ADACBGA, Zac serves as the President of NAMA Recovery, the oldest and largest national advocacy organization for individuals seeking medical treatment for opioid use disorder. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia (OTPG), the Georgia opioid treatment providers association and state chapter of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). Zac has provided operational, policy, compliance, and clinical consulting for office based opioid treatment (OBOT) providers and opioid treatment programs (OTPs) across six U.S. states, and is proficient in the behavioral health accreditation standards of The Joint Commission and CARF International. He has been sought after as a speaker for a variety of national, regional, and state-level conferences. Zac also serves as a Planning Partner for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Before serving as President of the ADACBGA, Zac served for two years as the corporation's Treasurer.
Formal Education:
-Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science & History
-Master of Social Work (MSW) in Advanced Clinical Practice
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CAADC)
-Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
-Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS)
-E-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (E-CADC)
Other Credentials:
-Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (CACII) | Georgia Addiction Counselors Association
-Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) | National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals
-Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor, Level II (LADAC) | State of Tennessee Board of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors
-Qualified Clinical Supervisor (QCS) | State of Tennessee Board of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors
-Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) | State of Tennessee Board of Social Workers
-Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICAADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
-Internationally Certified Clinical Supervisor (ICCS) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Liz Hubbs
Vice President
Chairwoman of the Strategic Planning Committee
Liz is originally from Staten Island, New York and moved to Georgia approximately 12 years ago.
Liz began her professional social work career in mental health in Atlanta, GA, working at an inpatient psychiatric hospital in both the acute and forensic units. She then transitioned to a private insurance company, where she worked as a care advocate to help assess and monitor high-risk individuals’ mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Upon moving to Dalton, GA in 2013, Liz continued her mental health career in the outpatient department of a community service board. She served as a therapist, where she provided crisis assessment and intervention, as well as individual and group therapies. She was also the lead clinician, where she provided clinical supervision and oversight to other clinicians and staff. During this time, Liz also served as a field instructor for BSW and MSW interns completing their internships at the clinic.
Currently, Liz is the Director of Field Education and Assistant Professor of Social Work at Dalton State College. She oversees the field education program and teaches several classes in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. Liz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Georgia since 2013 and also provides clinical supervision to practicing social workers as they seek to obtain their clinical licensure. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development.
Liz has been a member of the Ethics Committee with the ADACBGA since July 2020, where she has helped to oversee and intervene with several ethics complaints and investigations. During this time, Liz has become very knowledgeable of the ADACBGA policies and procedures and Code of Ethics. She also became a Director of the Board in November 2020 and has transitioned into the Vice President of the Board as of May 2021. As the Vice President of the Board, Liz brings her clinical skills, leadership experience, and educational background that will support the strategic planning and holistic oversight of the board.
Formal Education:
-Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology
-Master of Social Work (MSW)
-Doctor of Education Student in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development
Credentials:
Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW), Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists
Chip Fuller
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
Chairman of the Finance Committee
Chip is a native of East Tennessee, where for 24 years he taught Math and Geography as well as served as an Assistant Principal for Maryville City and Blount County (TN) school systems. As Treasurer for ADACBGA, he brings 15 years of experience managing financial records for his family’s trucking company. In 2015, he began work in the field of addiction where he consulted for Counseling Solutions Treatment Centers (Chatsworth GA and Murphy NC) on their safety plan and facility security. After retiring from the school system, he began working for Counseling Solutions Treatment Centers-Chatsworth where he was the Director of Security, a Pharmacy Technician, and a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC-II & ICADC). He continued to expand his knowledge in this field by obtaining his E-CADC as well as the MATS certifications through the ADACBGA. Chip served as the Treatment Services Coordinator (Clinical Director) for Northwest Georgia Treatment Center (New Season/CMG) for almost a year before serving as Administrator of Gateway Treatment Centers in Ellijay GA through October of 2020. Chip is currently the Vice President of Operations & Finance for Talbott Legacy Centers, a company that provides comprehensive opioid treatment services in Eastern Tennessee and surrounding areas. He has served as Treasurer for the Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia (OTPG) and is an active Recovery Month Planning Partner with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Formal Education:
-Bachelor of Arts in Geography (BA)
-Master of Science in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction (MS)
-Education Specialist in Administration and Supervision (EdS)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II)
-Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS)
-E-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (E-CADC)
Other Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II) | Tennessee Certification Board
-Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Lisa Brown
Secretary
Lisa currently works for Veterans Affairs as a Health Science Specialist Crisis Responder. She has over 20 years experience in Criminal Justice and over 10 years of experience in the field of addiction. Lisa is a 20 year retired United States Army veteran and works part-time as an Adjunct Professor with American InterContinental University in Atlanta. Lisa has always been a strong advocate for individuals struggling with addiction and understands the importance of seeking treatment.
Education & Credentials:
-Bachelor of Science in Social Science (BS)
-Master of Science in Marriage, Family, & Children Counselor (MS)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II)
Other Credentials:
-Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Rosalyn D. Davis
Parliamentarian
Chairwoman of the Policy & By-Laws Committee
Chairwoman of the Social Justice Committee
Rosalyn D. Davis has over 30 years of experience in the Criminal Justice profession. Rosalyn worked in the private probation sector monitoring a private probation company for 7 years prior to starting her career in State Government for the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2000. She has held positions as a Probation Officer I/II, Probation Officer III, Director of a Day Reporting Center, Statewide Day Reporting Center Manager, and Field Services Programs Manager. Rosalyn is currently the Manager of the Community Counseling Services Unit with the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Rosalyn has supervised Probation/Parole Officers, managed community service coordinators, mental health and substance abuse counselors, and implemented cognitive behavioral and substance abuse treatment programming for offenders. She is also a Senior POST instructor who actively provides instructions to officers and counselors employed with the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Rosalyn has been a Part-time Instructor for Middle GA State University for 7 years. She is very active in her community. She served as Board Chair for 4 years as President for Genesis Joy House Homeless Shelter, a homeless shelter for female veterans. Rosalyn is a member of the Macon Reentry Coalition, Warner Robins Human Needs Coalition, Georgia Professional Association of Community Supervision, American Probation and Parole Association. Rosalyn serves on various workgroups with various organizations and agencies. Rosalyn has always been an advocate for the less fortunate, homeless, and individuals who are in Recovery.
Education & Credentials:
-Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BS)
-Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MS)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II)
-Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS)
Other Credentials:
-Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Directors
Lucy R. Cannon
Dr. Lucy R. Cannon is the CEO/Owner of LEJ Behavioral Health Services, LLC, a training and consulting company in Metropolitan Atlanta. Dr. Cannon has been a clinician, supervisor, director, and consultant of mental health and co-occurring disorders programs in inpatient and outpatient healthcare organizations and psychiatric hospitals in various states in the United States and Camp Zama, Japan. She is an Adjunct Professor at Clark Atlanta University School of Social Work. She is also a Facilitator/Speaker for the United States Navy Reserve Command. She is a trainer for various local and national healthcare organizations. She also serves on various healthcare organizations boards of directors and advisory boards.
Formal Education:
-Master of Social Work (MSW)
-Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology (PhD)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Diplomate (CCDP-D)
-Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS)
Other Credentials:
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists
-Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) | Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners
-Internationally Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Diplomate (ICCDP-D) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Anne Kohutko
Chairwoman of the Ethics Committee
Anne currently works for Legacy Behavioral Health Services at their Tift County Site after relocating here 8 years ago from the Chicago area. Anne graduated from North Central College with a B.A. in psychology and religions studies and Northern Baptist Seminary with a Master in Divinity. She is an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Church Alliance. Anne has 30 years experience in the addiction field with emphasis in criminal justice having worked with probation and parole throughout her career. She has served as a prison and jail chaplain, in addition to working with the drug court.
Currently Anne is the Substance Abuse Director for Legacy Behavioral Health Services, Tifton and the liaison for the Tift Accountability Court. She resides in Tifton with her husband.
Formal Education:
-Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA)
-Master of Divinity (MDiv)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II)
-Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist (MATS)
-Certified Recovery Residence Administrator (CRRA)
Other Credentials:
-Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) | Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists
-Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Avery Nix
Avery Nix is a person a in long term recovery. What that means to him is that he is a proud father to his 8-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, and a loving fiancé' who shares similar visions in life together. He serves at several different capacities for his local community and state as whole, but his heart and soul rests in advocating for adolescents in self-discovery and seeking long term recovery. He grew up in north Georgia and attended a local school to that area, North Hall High School. Avery played football, wrestled, and ran track. He acquired much attention during his time in high school, impacting his surroundings from the very beginning. This began laying the groundwork for his journey to personal recovery and his career in the field of addiction recovery as well. Avery finds himself advocating a lot for high school athletes, specifically, that struggle with substance use disorder. Mainly because he has been there himself. He has spoken on many different platforms, both nationally and locally. From WebMD, to local newspapers, and recorded on a podcast series about the nature of addiction and processes of recovery. Avery also arranges an annual recovery event to recognize all pathways to recovery. Its a tournament style flag football event. In Avery’s time of Recovery, he has helped pilot and launch peer recovery coaching in the emergency departments of Northeast Ga Medical Center, working with the GA Council on Substance Abuse. As of Late September 2018, he took a position working with adolescents as the Director of Marketing and Clinical Outreach for Eagle Overlook Recovery for Adolescents. As of August 2020, Avery joined the Clearfork Academy team as a National Business Development Representative. He continues to have a vision to spread as much hope and awareness as possible for those in recovery or seeking recovery from substance use disorder and mental illness. Supporting them with the help they need is a priority.
Stacey Pearce
Stacey Pearce began working in the substance use treatment field in 1995. She was the Program Director of GPA Treatment, Inc., an outpatient opioid treatment program in Doraville, Georgia, from 1998-2002 and was active in the pilot project for opioid treatment programs in the United States to become nationally accredited during that time. In March of 2002, Stacey opened a comprehensive opioid treatment program (OTP) in Macon, Georgia and remained the federal Sponsor and Program Director of the facility until it was acquired by Maric Healthcare in 2018. She remains the President of GPA Treatment of Macon, Inc. where she remains active in the treatment space as a consultant for companies that are opening and/or currently operating opioid treatment programs in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Stacey earned a Bachelor of Science in Public and Social Services from Kennesaw State University in 2000, is a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) through the American Academy of Healthcare Providers in the Addictive Disorders, and is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) through the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia.
Concurrently as a Director of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia, Stacey also serves as an Officer and Director of the Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia (OTPG) while representing our state as the Georgia delegate to the national Board of Directors of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). Stacey has been a behavioral health and opioid treatment program accreditation surveyor with CARF International since 2010.
Passionate about evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, Stacey strives to educate individuals and the public regarding objective evidence in support of including FDA-approved medications in the treatment of substance use disorders. In particular, Stacey is committed to local, state, and national advocacy efforts to de-stigmatize methadone maintenance treatment and, most especially, the methadone patients themselves who have become productive, contributing members of society.
Formal Education:
-Bachelor of Science in Public and Social Services (BS)
Credentials:
-Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) | American Academy of Healthcare Providers in the Addictive Disorders
-Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) | Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia
William Thomas
Dr. Thomas has over 25 years’ experience in the field of addiction and substance use disorders. He was introduced to the recovery treatment field in the poor working-class community in the South Bronx in the height of the HIV/AIDS outbreak and the crack epidemics.
He started in the trenches as a counselor, and then moved to work with the largest substance abuse provider in the country Beth Israel Medical Center in Harlem, New York City, and Lower Manhattan, as a program Supervisor.
His experience extended to working with individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders in Brooklyn. Dr. Thomas migrated to Georgia where he worked as a private contractor in the field.
Currently Dr. Thomas is a Lecturer at Clark Atlanta University, Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work, where he teaches in the graduate degree program several courses, including courses relevant to addiction and substance use disorder. Dr. Thomas has presented to audiences both in the northeast and the south on topics relevant to the field of addiction and substance use disorders.
Dr. Thomas strongly believes that treatment works. He is committed to continue to work with all populations, including persons, with substance abuse and drug dependency problems to improve their lives “one day at a time.”
Formal Education:
-Bachelor of Science in Community & Human Services (BS)
-Master of Social Work (MSW)
-Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II)
Other Credentials:
-Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | New York State Board of Social Work
-Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
Ralph Harris
Ralph Harris, Ph. D., LCADC, NCAC II, CAADC, SAP, Researcher/Chief of Behavioral Health Services for Clinical Research Institute and active member of Drug-Free Coalition/CPAW Rockdale, Collaborative Member Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative. Served as Coordinator for Minority AIDS Initiative Continuum of Care (MAI-CoC) Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) for Recovery Consultants of Atlanta Inc., delivered evidence-based interventions for substance use /mental health treatment and co -occurring disorder services, co-locate and fully integrate HIV/Hepatitis C prevention and medical healthcare services, Newton County Juvenile Justice Drug Court as SAMHSA Family Intervention Specialist, Programmatic Field Officer for Region 2, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Multiple Offender Program Regional and Instructor: Psychological Aspects of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (MHSS 221) Community College of Philadelphia Department of Human Service Careers Mental Health/Social Curriculum.
Education & Credentials:
-Ph. D. /Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology
-M.A. /Master of Arts, Counseling/ Psychology
-B.A./Bachelor of Arts, Human Services
-A.A.S./Associate of Applied Science, Mental Health/Social Service
Credentials:
-Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Counselor – Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Board
-Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor CAADC- ADACBGA
-Substance Abuse Professional-NAADAC
-National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II- NAADAC
-Certified Clinical Psychopathologist- American College of Professional Mental Health Practitioners
Courtney Elise Connell
Courtney is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II) and the Administrator
of the evening program at Private Clinic North in Rossville, Georgia.
Native to Chattanooga, Tennessee, Courtney graduated from Chattanooga Christian School in
2008 before going on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Samford
University in Birmingham, Alabama in 2011. Courtney worked at Magnolia Creek in
Birmingham, a residential/inpatient facility which specializes in eating
disorders, roughly a year after graduating before moving home to work as an
alcohol and drug counselor trainee at Private Clinic North in Rossville,
Georgia where she got her start in the field shredding papers during high
school.
In 2013 Courtney
moved to Columbus, Georgia where she helped establish, operate, and design
clinical curriculum for Private Clinic Columbus, a new nonresidential opioid
treatment program (OTP). Courtney became passionate about group counseling
processes during this time and ultimately designed and/or facilitated more than
400 group processes tailored to individuals whose recovery from opioid use
disorder included an FDA-approved medication. After working in this capacity
for nearly five years, Private Clinic Columbus was acquired by BayMark Health
Services/MedMark Treatment Centers in 2017.
Courtney moved
to Ringgold, Georgia in mid-2018 and returned to Private Clinic North where she
helped establish and currently serves as the Administrator of an evening opioid
treatment program designed to help meet the needs of patients who work third
shift and/or drive long distances for outpatient care. Courtney also serves as
Parliamentarian for the Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia.
Beyond her
passion for quality, evidence-based patient-centered care for individuals with
substance use disorders, Courtney is also passionate about whole health and
clean eating, becoming a Whole30 Certified Coach in 2017 and subsequently an
Advanced Level Whole30 Certified Coach in 2021.
-Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA)
ADACBGA Credentials:
-Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Level II (CADC-II)
-Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS)
Other Credentials:
-Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICADC) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium
-Internationally Certified Clinical Supervisor (ICCS) | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium