Staff + Leadership

Karen Pershing, MPH, CPS II

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Karen Pershing serves as the Executive Director of Metro Drug Coalition. 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.

Webster Bailey, SAC, CPRS, RCP

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Webster Bailey serves as the Director of Development 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

REGIONAL FAITH-BASED COORDINATOR

Ashlee is the point of contact for the faith community in establishing recovery programs for the east region. He 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.

Suzanne French

BOOKKEEPER

Suzanne has over 30 years of experience working as a Business Manager dealing with Finance, Payroll, and Human Resources.  She is currently the Director of Public Relations for the East TN Chapter of the American Payroll Association, former Board member of the Tennessee Statewide Board (APA), and former Board member for the Carter Community Pool.

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.

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

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.

Jenifer Rodriguez-Acuna

PREVENTION COORDINATOR

Jenifer Rodriguez-Acuna serves on the primary prevention team at MDC. She oversees the Mental Health First Aid training program. This course teaches how to identify risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges and substance use disorder in the community. 

Sydney Ross

YOUTH INITIATIVES COORDINATOR

Sydney 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

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.

Katina Woods, CPRS

CCAR RECOVERY COACH

Katina serves as a CCAR Certified Recovery Coach. She 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.

She has a passion in the recovery community and is a native of East Tennessee.