MATTHEW PIERZALA, DO
Medical Director, Primary Care
Matthew Pierzala, DO is ARC’s Director of Primary Care. With the assistance of a team of ARNPs and PAs he oversees the delivery of medical care to ARC clients and employees in the residential, clinical, and telehealth environments.
Most of Matt’s career, since graduating from medical school at the University of Pikeville in ’03 and completing a residency in Internal Medicine at East Tennessee State University in ’06, has been spent as a Hospitalist. These positions have primarily been in large referral centers with high volume ERs in Ashland, KY and Huntington, WV area but he has also staffed locum tenens positions in diverse communities spanning Harlan, Morehead, Lexington, Frankfort, and downtown Louisville. Across these communities he has observed opportunities for improvement at that point in care such as after the Narcan has been given (when patient is in acute withdrawals) or the day of discharge after a specific medical issue has been addressed (when patient continues to deal with joblessness/homelessness/substance use disorder). Matt seeks to use his experience and perspective in providing a pathway for these issues to be addressed in an appropriate environment.
Matt still lives in his hometown of Ashland, KY. During his undergraduate program at the University of Kentucky he had the opportunity to spend Junior year abroad in Helsinki, Finland. After completing a BA in Biology he trekked an extensive backpacking trip through Guatemala, southern Mexico, Cuba, and Belize touring Mayan ruins and developing a functional grasp of Spanish. He shares a household with his wife Karen, son John Silas and daughters Sophie and Daisy who are preparing to launch into young adulthood along respective careers in Nursing and Education.
He holds board certifications with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ADIM) and subspecialty certification in Addictionology with the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM).
CHRIS JUDE, DO
Medical Director, Rural Health
Dr. Chris Jude, DO serves Addiction Recovery Care as the Associate Medical Director. In this role, he provides leadership and pivotal health services to the clients we serve.
Born in eastern Kentucky, Dr. Jude has been a staple to the healthcare community since earning his medical degree in 2015. Before pursuing a medical degree, Dr. Jude worked as a leader in the fiber optics industry. Ultimately, he would change his career path in hopes of serving others in a medical role.
Dr. Jude completed a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Marshall University in 2011. Soon after graduating he would enroll and earn a doctorate degree in osteopathic medicine from the University of Pikeville in 2015. He completed his residency in 2018 at Holzer Health System.
He would return home after graduation and serve the Lawrence County, Kentucky community at Three Rivers Medical Center as an emergency room physician. Most recently he is the lead physician at Pioneer Rural Health, an Addiction Recovery Care enterprise, near downtown Louisa, Kentucky where he provides quality healthcare to his community.
Dr. Jude married his wife in 2016 and together are raising their three sons. In his spare time, Dr. Jude enjoys the outdoors, farming, growing his coin and baseball card collections, and spending time with his family.
ARUN KAITHI, MD
Medical Director, Bellefonte Hospital
& Recovery Center
Arun Kaithi, MD serves as ARC’s Medical Director and attending psychiatrist at our Bellefonte Hospital and Recovery Center. Dr. Kaithi has 20+ years of experience practicing in an acute psychiatric inpatient setting. He joined ARC in November 2023.
Dr. Kaithi has extensive experience in Psychotic Disorders and Drug and Alcohol Addiction. Dr. Kaithi also has experience working in state hospitals, prisons, private practice, and outpatient settings. He has recently served as Medical Director and attending psychiatrist with Acadia Healthcare and Universal Health Services. Dr. Kaithi received his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in 2001 and completed his medical training at the University of Louisville.
JAMES STATON, PharmD, RPh
Vice President, Pharmacy Operations
James Staton, PharmD, RPh. serves Addiction Recovery Care as the Senior Director of Pharmacy Operations. In this role, he oversees all operations relating to pharmacy and medication distribution throughout ARC. He is also Pharmacist-in-Charge for ARC’s flagship pharmacy, South Creek Drug.
Dr. Staton became interested in the practice of pharmacy early in life thanks to an independent pharmacy he would frequent when visiting family friends that worked there. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 2019 with plans to bring the knowledge he had gained back home to rural Kentucky.
Dr. Staton took part in numerous experiential leadership rotations and internships during his time at the University of Kentucky Healthcare, gaining experience in areas including Ambulatory Pharmacy Management, 340B Program Management, Inpatient Central Pharmacy Directorship, and Clinical Pharmacy Services. During this time in Lexington, he saw firsthand the widespread toll that addiction has taken on people from across the Commonwealth and how critical it is to provide quality healthcare to this vulnerable population.
After graduation, he returned home and served as Pharmacy Manager for an independent retail pharmacy serving his local community before stepping into his role with ARC when they opened their own pharmacy to better meet the unique medication needs of our clients.
Dr. Staton lives in Albany, Kentucky with his wonderful wife, Chelsey, and their two dogs, Maverick and Chloe. He is passionate about using his knowledge of pharmacy to advocate on behalf of all patients in an ever more complex healthcare system.
VANESSA KEETON
Vice President, Marketing & Access
Vanessa Keeton serves as the Vice President of Marketing at Addiction Recovery Care (ARC). She oversees the media, communications, transportation, intake, community and hospital liaison teams, and Casey’s Law advocates. Through her shared experience, Vanessa strives daily to share hope with the hopeless and help people access quality addiction treatment.
As ARC’s first client in December 2010, Vanessa has helped lead multiple departments across the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University, a degree she obtained during her recovery.
Vanessa’s husband, James, is also in recovery. They live in Louisa, Kentucky, with their son, Jacob. They are committed to helping others to overcome addiction and trauma and know that if someone has breath in their lungs, they can heal and live an abundant life.
ARRON RHODES
Vice President, Administrative Services
Arron holds a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHCA) as well as a Master of Science in Strategic Management (MSCM). Throughout his career, he has successfully led cross-functional teams, balancing data-driven decision making with a people-first philosophy. His expertise spans HR leadership, technology integration, compliance, and operational excellence — all rooted in a commitment to advancing ARC’s mission and ensuring sustainable growth.
Passionate about stewardship and innovation, Arron continues to shape ARC’s administrative and workforce infrastructure so the organization remains a trailblazer in behavioral health and recovery services.
Arron joins ARC after serving a variety of roles within Accounting, Operations, and Human Resources in both local and globally based organizations. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources within his last organization.
ASHLEY FLETCHER
Vice President, Healthcare Services
Ashley Fletcher joined Addiction Recovery Care in March 2021 as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Since then, she has served as Senior Director of Development and Practice Management and has now transitioned to ARCs Vice President of Healthcare Services.
Prior to working with ARC, Ashley was an Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner at Three Rivers Medical Center. In this position, she provided comprehensive care for patients with acute and non-acute medical problems, diagnosed and managed substance abuse, and performed various medical procedures.
Ashley holds a Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner from Kentucky Christian University, where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kentucky Christian University.
Ashley resides in Louisa, Kentucky with her husband, Chris, and their sons, Maddox and Maverick.
JOHN WILSON
Vice President, External Affairs
TODD DIALS
Vice President, Compliance
Todd Dials is the Vice President of Compliance for Addiction Recovery Care and its affiliated companies. In this role, Todd evaluates and reports the organization’s adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. Additionally, he is a leader in the company’s ethical delivery of service. Todd investigates reports of ethical violations and manages the ARC ethics program by advising, training, and monitoring ethical practices throughout the enterprise.
Todd has been with ARC since the summer of 2018, when he began as the company’s Vice President of Human Services, where he utilized his business management experience to lead and grow the HR Department. Previous to ARC, he worked in the banking industry for over 18 years in a variety of roles. For nearly a decade, he was responsible for the Deposit Operations for a large regional bank, where he successfully led a large team with varying backgrounds to achieve excellent results. He holds a BA degree in University Studies from Morehead State University.
NATHAN MARTIN
Vice President, Legal
Nathan Martin serves as the Vice President of Legal for Addiction Recovery Care (ARC). Nathan is responsible for managing the workflow and daily operations of the Legal Department. He also handles all liability insurance needs of the organization and places a large emphasis on risk mitigation.
TRAVIS BAILEY
Vice President, Financial Operations
Travis Bailey is the Vice President of Financial Operations. Over a career spanning nearly 15 years, Travis has held positions as a CFO in the home healthcare field and COO of a financial services firm. Most recently, he worked as a Financial Analyst for Ascension Recovery Services in Morgantown, a national addiction consulting firm.
As CFO of a multi-state home health care company, he helped to build a sustainable business model and worked to establish private funding to grow the business. Travis has worked in the addiction space building seed companies in the outpatient and residential settings in many different states.
A native of West Virginia, Travis lives in the Mountaineer State with his wife, Erika, and their three kids. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Charleston and an undergrad Business Marketing degree from West Virginia State University.
LEON HEATON
Director, Clinical Services
Leon Heaton is the Director, Clinical Services with Addiction Recovery Care. Leon has 30 years of experience in the human service field, primarily working with those in addictions, primarily in residential settings.
Leon holds a Master’s degree in Sociology with an area of concentration in addictions and a Master’s in Counseling. He has been Reality Therapy Certified since 2000. Leon is a Kentucky Certified Juvenile Sex Offender Counselor since 1996. On top of his other credentials, Leon is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and is currently a member of the Kentucky Board of Alcohol & Drug Counselors.
Brittany Parsons
Senior Director, Organizational Advancement
Brittany Parsons serves as the Senior Director of Organizational Advancement at Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), where she has dedicated more than a decade to advancing the organization’s mission. She is responsible for directing the development of systems and strategies that strengthen programs and support ARC’s commitment to transforming lives.
Known for her entrepreneurial mindset, Brittany has a proven track record of creating innovative solutions that turn complex challenges into opportunities for growth. She is deeply committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and trust, while also maintaining a strong focus on accountability and measurable impact for both individuals and communities.
Brittany holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College. Her educational foundation in psychology and human development continues to inform her leadership approach and drive program innovation at ARC.
Beyond her professional role, Brittany values time with her husband, their two sons, and the family’s beloved pets.
Ashlea Leslie
Senior Director, Revenue Cycle
Ashlea Leslie is a compassionate healthcare leader with more than a decade of experience. She currently serves as Senior Director of Revenue Cycle, where she leads strategic day-to-day operations for the entire revenue cycle continuum. This includes billing, coding, denial management, accounts receivable (A/R) management, and additional areas that support five healthcare practices specializing in behavioral and mental health, medical practices, rural health clinics, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and laboratory services.
Ashlea’s professional journey has also been deeply shaped by her personal experiences. Both she and her husband, Brandon, are in long-term recovery. They met while working at the same healthcare organization, and have been together for 10 years. They recently celebrated the birth of their first child, Isabella, in July 2025.
Ashlea holds a degree in Business Administration along with certificates in Financial Perspectives, Public Leadership, Advanced Business Administration, and Management. Through her years of experience, her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards for character, stewardship, and organizational excellence.
Matthew Bradley
Senior Director, Business Development
As Senior Director of Business Development, Matthew Bradley brings a unique combination of professional expertise and lived experience to our healthcare organization. With a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Lindsey Wilson College, he has built a distinguished career focused on advancing access to quality care for individuals facing co-occurring mental health and behavioral health challenges. His comprehensive understanding of the healthcare landscape, combined with deep personal insights into the recovery process, enables him to approach business development with both strategic acumen and genuine compassion.
In his leadership role, Matthew oversees critical operational areas that ensure our organization maintains the highest standards of care delivery. He manages all licensing and credentialing processes, ensuring compliance and regulatory alignment across our services. Additionally, he leads project management initiatives and serves as a key liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders, fostering partnerships that expand our reach and impact. His multifaceted responsibilities require exceptional organizational skills and the ability to navigate complex healthcare regulations while maintaining focus on patient outcomes.
Matthew’s personal journey in recovery has profoundly shaped his professional mission and approach to healthcare leadership. Currently in long-term recovery, he brings an authentic understanding of addiction as a disease and the transformative power of comprehensive treatment. This lived experience, combined with his professional qualifications, positions him as a powerful advocate for evidence-based treatment and recovery-oriented care. He is grateful to contribute to solutions that address what he recognizes as a critical public health challenge, and his work continues to be driven by a commitment to helping others find their path to recovery and wellness.
