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.

Amanda Ainsley, MA

PREVENTION & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Amanda serves as the Prevention and Outreach Coordinator. She serves on both the Primary Prevention and Harm Reduction teams. Through partnerships within the community, she is able to provide education and training to community members to address societal and mental health correlates of substance misuse.

Janet Brewer, Grant Professional Certified* 

DIRECTOR OF GRANTS

Janet is responsible for grant research, development, writing, submission, and reporting for Metro Drug Coalition. She is a certified grant professional with over 30 years of grant writing, finance and administration. *Grant Professional Certified by the Grant Professional Certification Institute (GPCI) http://www.grantcredential.org  

Asheton Casey

YOUTH INITIATIVES COORDINATOR

Asheton 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.

Ashlee Crouse, CPRS

REGIONAL LIFELINE DIRECTOR

Ashlee 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.

Holly Fuquay

BOOKKEEPER

Holly is responsible for MDC’s financial activities. She also assists with grant reporting, facility management, IT troubleshooting, and other office duties. Holly has over 24 years’ experience working for various nonprofit agencies.

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.

Jason Goodman, CPRS, RCP

DIRECTOR OF RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

Jason is responsible for the oversite of MDC’s peer recovery staff and recovery initiatives. This will help lay the foundation for other support activities planned as The Gateway community center becomes operational.

Jennifer Knisley

INTAKE COORDINATOR

Jennifer coordinates the intake process for persons in need of treatment, as well as assisting individuals needing recovery housing following treatment. She leads the workflow and triage for the SPIRIT program, which provides information and referral services to persons in need of treatment services. 

Eric Landry, NCPRSS, CPRS

FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY COORDINATOR, EAST REGION

Eric 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.

Courtney Niemann, MS, CPS I

DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION

Courtney manages the primary prevention team at MDC. She also oversees the Mental Health First Aid program. This program teaches individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in the community.

Misty McPhetridge, MSW

COALITION COORDINATOR

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.

Jessica Stanley, CPRS, RC

REGIONAL OVERDOSE PREVENTION SPECIALIST (ROPS)

Jessica currently serves Knox County as the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist (ROPS). She provides educational trainings on the administration of Naloxone, reducing stigma and harm reduction.

Katina Woods

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.

Emory Young, LADAC II, NCAC I, SAP, CPRS, RAS

CCAR RECOVERY COACH

Emory serves as a CCAR Certified Recovery Coach. . He will promote recovery, remove barriers, connect recoverees with recovery support services, as well as encourage hope, optimism, and healthy living.