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 2005, 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.”

Pattie Schneeman is a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner with 30 years of experience in the substance abuse treatment field. As Chief Clinical Officer, she oversees all business development, assessments, outpatient programming, utilization management, and oversees the Welcome Center. She joined the agency in 1996, and since then has held several clinical and management roles, most recently serving as director of admissions. Prior to joining NCTR she worked for Fairfax County Drug and Alcohol Services, where she was coordinator of services for the hearing impaired. Pattie holds a master’s degree in public health and a master’s degree in counseling.

As Director of Donor & Community Relations, Jared is responsible for raising funds from individuals, foundations, businesses, and civic and religious groups. These funds support a variety of organizational needs, including financial assistance to uninsured, under-insured and low-income individuals in need of treatment.  He serves as the liaison to the Board of Directors and engages and represents the organization in the community. A fundraising professional for over 12 years, he has worked in various mental health organizations across the region.  Jared also holds a Master of Social Work degree from North Carolina State University.  “Every day, the treatment we provide at NCTR saves lives, offering hope for the future. Being part of that bright future, that hope, that’s what brings me to this amazing organization, every day.”

Sue Morrison, NCTR’s director of continuous quality improvement since 2016, oversees corporate compliance, quality metrics, accreditation preparedness, medical records, risk management, and an internship program for counseling, nursing, and social work.  

She joined NCTR in 2015, and prior to her current position she served as deputy director of clinical operations. Sue has been in the field of mental health and substance use disorder treatment since 1996.

She is a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia and Maryland and a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor. She has a Master of Social Work, a Master of Business Administration, and a PhD in Industrial & Organizational Psychology.

As the Director of Business Development, Tiffany Sullivan oversees the agency’s Business Development, Outreach, and Marketing Teams. She has over seven years’ experience in the behavioral health treatment field and over 20 years in project management and marketing. Tiffany graduated magna cum laude from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling. She also has a degree in Visual Communication Design. “I am motivated to help individuals get the treatment they need and deserve, and I am proud to work with a team that inspires hope and support for individuals looking to grow and change.“

As Director of Outpatient Services, 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 in her current role in 2022. 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. “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.”

As Senior Facilities Manager, Dominic Timm oversees the overall functionality, maintenance, and security of all NCTR’s programs. “When the patients arrive, they already have enough on their plates to deal with, so the facilities team tries to do our best to make them feel comfortable in their new environment and promptly address any issues that might arise.” He has 23 years in the maintenance/construction field, including 12 years with NCTR. Prior to joining NCTR, his most recent experience was with Community Residences, Inc.