The People Behind FIRST
Behind every step forward is a team of people who care. At FIRST at Blue Ridge, more than 30 staff members, interns, and volunteers work alongside community partners to support our clients as they rebuild their lives. Meet the core staff who help make that work possible every day.
Mark Merrick
Mark Merrick is the Executive Director of FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc. He holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Bachelor of Arts in History from UNC Chapel Hill.
With more than 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field, Mark is passionate about reentry services and creating second-chance opportunities for individuals in recovery. He believes stable housing, meaningful employment, and strong community connections are essential to long-term success.
Mark is actively involved with several reentry and community organizations, volunteers in his community, and enjoys running, spending time with his family, and advocating for recovery and reduced recidivism.
Lindsay Jackson
Lindsay Jackson is the Administrative Director at FIRST at Blue Ridge. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from NC State University and is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist.
With nearly 11 years at FIRST, Lindsay has played a key role in expanding services, including substance use treatment, transitional housing, veteran services, and diversion initiatives. She oversees the admissions department and serves on numerous local and regional reentry, housing, and behavioral health committees.
Passionate about helping others, Lindsay is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in recovery through collaboration, advocacy, and compassionate leadership. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling her rescue pit bull, Blu.
Joe Anderson
Joe Anderson, NCCPSS, CADC-I, Program Director, leads daily operations and ensures the program consistently meets all licensing and regulatory requirements. He oversees staff, cultivates strong working relationships with oversight agencies including DHSR, Veterans Affairs, NCDAC, and local inspectors, and addresses operational challenges with a steady, hands-on approach.
Joe works closely with the clinical team to design and deliver structured, recovery-focused curriculum that meets clients where they are and supports meaningful, measurable progress. His work is grounded in maintaining a program that is consistent, accountable, and responsive to the real needs of those it serves, while reinforcing a structured environment that promotes stability and long-term recovery.
Raised in rural North Wilkesboro, Joe brings firsthand understanding of the challenges tied to poverty, rural culture, and the barriers individuals face when working to overcome substance use stigma and generational trauma. These experiences shape his approach, grounding his work in authenticity and practical understanding. At the core of his leadership is a commitment to personal integrity, along with a belief in the value of education, self-awareness, and mindfulness as foundations for lasting recovery.
Derek Soto
Derek Soto is a person in long-term recovery with more than four years of continuous sobriety. Drawing on both personal experience and professional training, he serves as the Senior Medical Case Manager at First at Blue Ridge. As a graduate of the program, Derek brings a unique perspective to his work—combining empathy, lived experience, and clinical knowledge to help others navigate the challenges of recovery.
In addition to this work, Derek is a GED instructor with A-B Technical Community College, where he helps students build educational foundations and expand their opportunities.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and is credentialed as a Certified Peer Support Specialist while also actively working towards obtaining his CADC. Passionate about service and second chances, Derek remains deeply committed to the recovery community and to helping others find hope, stability, and purpose in their own journeys.
Allen Foiles
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Monica Wright
Monica Wright is the DAC Program Coordinator at FIRST at Blue Ridge. She is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist, certified Recovery Coach, and trained in Mental Health First Aid.
As a Drug Court graduate with honors, Monica brings valuable lived experience to her work supporting individuals in recovery and reentry. With five years at FIRST, she specializes in direct client care and serves as Vice Chair of the Buncombe County Reentry Council.
Monica is passionate about trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and peer support, and is committed to helping individuals overcome barriers to recovery. Above all, she is a devoted wife, mother, mentor, and advocate for lasting change in her community.
Dana Johnson
Dana Johnson is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), North Carolina Peer Support Specialist, and Women’s Residential Coordinator who is passionate about helping individuals achieve lasting recovery. In her role, she conducts assessments, provides counseling services, and supports women as they navigate their recovery journey with dignity, hope, and purpose.
Originally from Maiden, North Carolina, Dana now lives in Lincolnton with her husband, Mark. She is a proud mother of two children and a grandmother of four. Drawing from both professional expertise and a deep commitment to serving others, Dana is dedicated to empowering individuals and families as they build healthier, recovery-focused lives.
Jared Champion
Jared Champion is the Job Coordinator at First at Blue Ridge and is passionate about helping individuals achieve greater independence through employment. As a certified North Carolina Peer Support Specialist (NCCPSS), Jared provides job coaching, teaches interview skills, assists with job placement, and supports clients throughout their employment journey.
Jared also works closely with local businesses and community partners to create employment opportunities that help clients build confidence, develop skills, and reach their personal and professional goals. His commitment to empowering others makes him a valuable resource for both clients and employers alike.
Shawn “Smitty” Smith
Shawn Smith earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Addictions and a micro-credential in Peer Recovery from Purdue University Global.
He is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist and a Registered Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). A U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of FIRST at Blue Ridge’s Veteran Program in 2023, Shawn now serves as the Veteran Case Manager, where he is passionate about helping fellow veterans and individuals in recovery.
Outside of work, he volunteers weekly with United Way and is actively involved in the local recovery community, reflecting his ongoing commitment to service and supporting others.
William “Bill” Oldenburg
William “Bill” Oldenburg is a U.S. Marine Corps and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, FIRST Program graduate, and Veteran Case Manager. Through his own recovery journey, Bill rediscovered purpose in helping fellow veterans, growing from program participant to peer leader and ultimately joining FIRST’s professional team.
Bill helps veterans overcome barriers, set meaningful goals, access resources, and build lasting stability and independence. Drawing on his experience navigating the VA disability claims process, he also connects veterans with resources to pursue the benefits they’ve earned.
Currently pursuing his Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor credential, Bill remains active in veteran and recovery outreach throughout Western North Carolina. He brings accountability, loyalty, lived experience, and a belief in every veteran’s potential—with enough military humor to keep things interesting.
“Recovery didn’t make me someone new. It reminded me who I was before it all went dark—and showed me what I was meant to do.”
Semper Fidelis!