Deborah S. Taylor is president & CEO of National Capital Treatment & Recovery, a non-profit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, specializing in substance use and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment services, serving the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region. As president & CEO, she oversees all programmatic, operations and administrative functions of the agency and supervises the top agency clinical and administrative staff. She is accountable to the Board of Directors and creates and implements the organization’s strategic plan. Ms. Taylor has led the agency for more than three decades, and in that time, she has been responsible for many agency milestones and accomplishments, including the agency’s accreditation by CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), the agency’s continuing focus on evidence-based care, and its growth to its current continuum of programs serving roughly 2,000 men and women per year. Ms. Taylor joined the agency (then called Vanguard Services Unlimited) as executive director in 1989 and assumed the title of CEO seven years later. Prior to joining Vanguard, she worked for Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia, as program manager of the Adolescent Addiction Treatment Program, and she had previously served in other positions in the field in Maryland and Virginia. Deborah is a psychiatric nurse certified in chemical dependency.

Aarti Subramanian is responsible for all aspects of NCTR’s financial management. Prior to joining NCTR, she worked for The Psychiatric Institute of Washington for 12 years, having served as chief financial officer, vice president of finance and vice president of business development. Aarti holds a Master of Business Administration and a law degree. “I find it rewarding to work in the behavioral health field and be able to influence and impact regulations and reimbursements to allow for timely and quality patient care.”

As NCTR’s Chief Human Resources Officer since 2015, Carolyn Sheedy is responsible for the overall administration of the human resources department. Carolyn’s role includes staff training, recruitment, legal compliance, performance management, benefits, and employee relations. Carolyn holds a bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross and eight years of experience in the behavioral health field. “It is an honor to work with the employees who provide direct care for our patients. Real, important change happens here.”

As Chief Nursing Officer, Itunuoluwa Alao works with all members of the NCTR medical team to ensure patients receive current, evidence-based medical care. She also collaborates with community partners throughout NCTR’s service area to link patients to medical specialists in their communities. Itunu joined NCTR as a family nurse practitioner in 2017 and was promoted to her current position in 2018. Prior to joining NCTR, she served as nurse practitioner at Psychiatric Institute of Washington. Itunu holds a Master of Science degree in nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. “The treatment we provide at NCTR saves lives, offers hope for the future and the opportunity to press the reset button on life. This is my motivation to come to work and do my best each day.”

As Chief Operating Officer, George Knoerlein provides oversight at the executive level for all adult residential and transitional programs. He supervises program directors and managers, oversees program operations and ensures that programs are providing high quality services. George has worked for NCTR continuously since 2004. Before assuming his current position, he served as director of client/employee relations and facilities, and primary counselor. George holds a master’s degree in psychology from Capella University. “What motivates me to do the best for our patients when I come work every day is the patients themselves. I find great joy in working with them and seeing how recovery is possible.”

As Chief Growth Officer, Jacob leads strategy, business development, marketing, fundraising, and external relations.

 Prior to joining NCTR, Jacob worked as a Senior Manager in healthcare product development at CareCentrix, a strategy consultant at ZS Associates, and as a Category Manager at McKesson. Jacob also serves on the Board of Directors of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board and volunteers with Fredericksburg Rescue Squad.

 Jacob holds a Master of Health Administration degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sue Morrison, NCTR’s Chief Quality & Compliance Officer, joined NCTR in 2015 and oversees corporate compliance, quality metrics, accreditation preparedness, medical records, risk management, and an internship program for counseling, nursing, and social work.  

Sue has been in the field of mental health and substance use disorder treatment since 1996. Sue is a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia and Maryland and a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor.

Sue has a Master of Social Work, a Master of Business Administration, and a PhD in Industrial & Organizational Psychology.

Herbert Williams is the Director of Facilities at National Capital Treatment & Recovery, where he oversees the 

management, maintenance, and strategic development of multiple behavioral health facilities. With over 10 years of experience in facilities management, he brings extensive expertise in building operations, HVAC systems, fire and life safety compliance, and large-scale capital improvement projects. 

Mr. Williams has a strong background in leading maintenance teams, managing vendor contracts, and executing 

preventive maintenance programs that ensure safe, efficient, and compliant environments. Prior to his current role, he served as Maintenance Supervisor at The Salvation Army National Headquarters and Continental Realty Corporation, where he managed complex facilities and residential properties while maintaining high operational standards. 

He is EPA Universal CFC certified and has advanced training in HVAC systems, along with project management certifications.

In his current role, he is responsible for budgeting, capital planning, regulatory compliance, and overseeing renovations and facility upgrades that support quality care environments. 

Mr. Williams is committed to maintaining facilities that promote safety, dignity, and operational excellence for both staff and clients, while continuously improving infrastructure to meet evolving organizational needs.

As Chief Clinical Officer, Jennifer Walden oversees NCTR’s Assessments and Admissions Department as well as the agency’s Counseling Center outpatient programs.

She previously worked for NCTR from 2004 to 2015, holding multiple clinical positions. After leaving NCTR, she worked as a therapist at Potomac Health Services, before rejoining NCTR.

Jennifer is a licensed professional counselor and licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner and holds a Master of Science in education (community agency counseling) from Old Dominion University. She is also a Certified EMDR Therapist. “I am motivated by the changes I see in our patients every day -- I have the honor of watching our patients bravely confront an often-stigmatized illness.”