Staff + Leadership

Webster Bailey, LADAC II, NCAC II, CPRS, RC

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Webster Bailey serves as the Executive Director for Metro Drug Coalition. After a 15-year career working in a residential addiction treatment center setting, Webster joined MDC full-time in April 2023. Webster’s career in the treatment field was primarily focused on business development, marketing, and admissions. As a person in long-term recovery, he has dedicated his career to helping others recover from the disease of addiction.

Ashlee Crouse, CPRS, RCPF

REGIONAL FAITH-BASED COORDINATOR

Ashlee is the point of contact for the faith community in establishing recovery programs for the east region. She provides training and educational presentations, as well as coordination of special events.

Melissa Cunningham

INTAKE COORDINATOR

Melissa is the Intake Coordinator at for Metro Drug Coalition. She assists individuals seeking recovery services and connects them to the appropriate recovery specialist. She bridges individuals seeking sober living assistance, detox, treatment, recovery coaching or recovery meetings to the best possible resource.

Courtney Fuson

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Courtney is responsible for coordinating, developing, and executing communications for the organization. She assists with organization strategic planning and development to assure continuity of mission/vision/implementation activities.

Miria Galyon

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Miria directly supports MDC’s Executive Director. She performs clerical duties and organizes special event projects, schedules events and manages communications. Miria has over 20 years of experience in assistant management. Miria is a Knoxville native and has a passion for serving others.

Denver Johnson, CPRS

RECOVERY COACH

As a recovery coach, Denver promotes recovery and removes barriers and obstacles to a recovery pathway, offering strength-based support, connects recoverees with recovery support services, promotes optimism and wellness planning.

Jennifer Knisley

REGIONAL LIFELINE DIRECTOR

Jennifer facilitates recovery efforts across the sixteen county area of Region 2. She educates those in recovery and the community with a specific goal in mind, reducing the stigma of substance misuse by establishing lifelines and support services for individuals in need.

Bethany Lemons, CPS

PREVENTION COORDINATOR

Bethany serves on the Primary Prevention team at MDC. She oversees a substance misuse grant that focuses primarily on stimulant misuse prevention. She is passionate about people, data, and ideas, and aims to use the combination of these passions to create a healthy and equitable society.

Misty McPhetridge, MSW, CPS

DIRECTOR OF PRIMARY PREVENTION SERVICES

Misty serves on the Primary Prevention team at MDC and supports the Community Coalition. She strives to create and maintain lasting partnerships across all sectors in the community in order to better address conditions that lead to substance misuse.

Karen Pershing, MPH, CPS II

DIRECTOR OF GRANTS & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Karen Pershing serves as the Director of Grants & Government Realtions. A 30 plus year veteran of public health, she has devoted her career to improving the health of families in Knoxville. Karen works with local and state policymakers to advocate for laws that help prevent substance misuse and its consequences.

Simone Shannon

YOUTH INITIATIVES COORDINATOR

Simone is on the primary prevention team at MDC. She works with youth in Knox County who may be at risk for developing substance use disorders, have a personal connection to addiction, or are passionate about prevention and mental health.

Jessica Stanley, CPRS, CYAPSS, RCPF

REGIONAL OVERDOSE PREVENTION SPECIALIST (ROPS)

Jessica currently serves Knox County as the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist (ROPS). She provides educational “Opioids, Stimulants and Overdose Prevention” trainings and distributes Narcan, Kloxxado and Fentanyl Test Strips within Region 2M of East Tennessee.

Brandon Styles, CPRS, RC

REGIONAL OVERDOSE PREVENTION SPECIALIST

Brandon serves as a Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist with the Metro Drug Coalition and is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the State of
Tennessee. He supports others as they walk their own self-directed path of recovery.

Maria Valerio

Youth Prevention Coordinator

Maria serves on the primary prevention team at MDC. She works with Knox County youth to educate them on substance misuse and mental health. She makes an impact by connecting youth, families and school staff with resources and trainings that can help prevent substance use before it starts.

Katina Woods, SAC, CPRS

CCAR RECOVERY COACH

Katina serves as CCAR Certified Recovery Coach with the Metro Drug Coalition and is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the State of Tennessee.

Anne Young, MS, LADAC II, CAS

Director of Recovery Support Services

Anne serves the Metro Drug Coalition as the Director of Recovery Support Services. She has dedicated her professional life to addiction treatment and suicide prevention. Anne, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Education and a MS in Human Ecology.