Nicolle started out as a resident manager at Pinelands Recovery Center back in 2015. Through her dedication and hard work, Nicolle has transitioned from many roles in operations and has recently moved over to clinical as a case manager of the Young Adult program. She graduated in the summer of 2022 with a BSW and is currently in the process of pursuing her MSW. Nicolle has been working in the field of substance use disorder for eight years. Nicolle has been sober since 2012 and has always been passionate about helping those around her.    

Kennedy began working at Pinelands Recovery Center in 2021, a year after starting her own personal recovery journey in 2020 here at Pinelands. Initially hired as a behavioral health technician, Kennedy quickly became passionate about this line of work. Kennedy has moved through multiple positions at Pinelands, being promoted to a recovery coach and pursuing her Peer Recovery Coach Specialist certification through the state of New Jersey. A year later, she moved to another role as administrative assistant, spending a period of time in that role before starting her career as a case manager. Kennedy is currently continuing her education and working on a bachelor’s degree in social work at Rutgers University along with her CADC. Throughout her time at Pinelands, Kennedy found a passion for helping others.

Payton started her substance use treatment career in 2022 and joined our team at Pinelands Recovery Center in October 2023. She came in as a behavioral technician and was promoted to behavioral technician supervisor shortly after. Payton showed compassion and dedication to our patients and ultimately joined the clinical team as a case manager in September 2024. She graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and is in the process of pursuing her Master’s degree to further serve individuals in need of help. Every day, Payton tries to be the person she would want her loved ones in recovery to have alongside them in their recovery journey.

Kristin is a highly skilled and compassionate care coordination manager at Pinelands. She joined the team in 2021 bringing a wealth of experience and training in the behavioral health industry.  Throughout her career, Kristin focuses on growing and building strong, productive and collaborative relationships within the industry while providing an outlet for those struggling with a substance use disorder. She obtained her certifications as a recovery specialist and a family recovery specialist through the Pennsylvania Certification Board, completing the CRS & CFRS program at Penn State University.

As a person in long-term recovery since 2010, she brings personal and professional experiences in her everyday work. She is a passionate advocate for the individuals and families she serves. Kristin dedicates her life to guiding individuals in their recovery journey and providing hope to all those afflicted and their families by showing that treatment works, and recovery is possible.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Kristin’s personality and work-life balance are shaped by her role as a parent. She is most proud of being a mom and she finds great joy in supporting her son’s growth, accomplishments in sports and education, and personal development. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Alexandra has been working in the addiction and mental health field since receiving her master’s in social work degree from Columbia University in 2014 with a concentration in health, mental health, and disabilities. Alexandra is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, and an approved clinical supervisor by the New Jersey Board of Social Workers and has worked in detox, mental health, and primary substance abuse inpatient and outpatient facilities. Alexandra utilizes a variety of treatment modalities including DBT, CBT, strengths based, and solution-focused techniques. Alexandra is passionate about helping loved ones of our patients to navigate their own recovery process!

Eric graduated Rowan University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. After going through Pinelands as a patient in 2020 he found his calling in wanting to help others. He started working in the SUD field in 2021 and a year later joined the Pinelands team in 2022. Eric was quickly promoted from other positions at Pinelands as a behavioral health tech, recovery coach, and behavioral tech supervisor before becoming the Alumni Coordinator in 2025. Eric is a CADC intern currently to support his plan to continue his education in the treatment field to further develop his clinical skills in this role.  Eric feels working with alumni at Pinelands has brought him full circle in his recovery journey. 

Joe has been in the restaurant business for 24 years. Prior to his promotion to food service supervisor, he was the head chef at Pinelands since 2021. He previously worked as a corporate chef/manager for Compass Group for nine years. As an individual in recovery, Joe has had a whole new perspective on life, and coming to work every day and helping people is something he looks forward to. Outside of work, he is an avid athlete and has played multiple sports, including basketball and soccer, at Penn State University. He gets the privilege of raising three beautiful kids: two boys and his princess. In his spare time, Joe enjoys spending time with family, cooking and dining at new restaurants.

Oliver is a registered therapy dog at Pinelands, providing emotional support to our community. Oliver is super affectionate, loves to cuddle and will show you his tricks on command. He loves playing fetch, meeting new people and spending time with his Pinelands family.