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Meet the Team

Community is important at Jacob's Ladder.  It's one of our core values.  We're a community of supportive peers and partners focused on the community of residents who come to Jacob's Ladder to heal.  Click through the images below to learn more about our caring recovery support specialists.

Kevin Blankenship, MD
Founder & Medical Director

​The son of a coal miner, Kevin grew up in a small town in southern West Virginia. After graduating from high school, Kevin joined the U.S. Army to serve his country. After military service, Dr. Blankenship earned degrees in pharmacy and medicine and went on to complete his emergency medicine residency at West Virginia University.  He became board certified in emergency medicine and worked in numerous medical settings throughout West Virginia.
 
In 2014 an immediate family crisis with addiction brought Kevin face-to-face with the significant issue of this growing epidemic and the lack of recovery options throughout our country.  Inspired by this experience, Dr. Blankenship has dedicated himself professionally to being part of the solution through directly serving the recovery industry and indirectly combating the stigma surrounding this issue in today's society.  This dedication is what has become Jacob's Ladder.

Brandhi Irvon Gafeney 
Director of Music & Arts

Originally from Benton Harbor, Michigan, Brandhi proudly served in the U.S. Army traveling abroad with significant time spent in Korea and Germany. As a songwriter and musician, he has published two musical projects, the last of which was an innovative project where he recorded 10 songs and painted a series of oil paintings inspired by the tracks. Those works have been displayed in London, England, and Barcelona, Spain. 
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Brandhi received a life coaching certification in 2014 and has always believed that music possesses healing qualities and that it is the universal language of the human race. Brandhi is currently pursuing a music therapy degree at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, where he lives with his wife and their four children.
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If you LOVE someone...say it! There is no weakness in
it. Quite the contrary. There is ENDLESS and BOUNTIFUL strength in the vulnerability of LOVE.
​

Chad Bishop
Director of Operations

Chad earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from West Virginia University in 2000 and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Glenville State College in 2014. Chad spent time early in his career coaching women’s basketball and softball at Waynesburg College and then as head assistant coach of men’s basketball at Potomac State College.

Chad has spent much of his career helping others.  For the past decade, Chad has worked for West Virginia Department of Juvenile Services at the Kenneth “Honey” Rubenstein Juvenile Center (KHRC) in Davis, WV.  When he started out with KHRC, he was a counselor and was quickly promoted to case manager.  While with KHRC, he earned his certification in Therapeutic Recreation for High and Low Ropes Courses and various counseling techniques.

​Chad’s natural leadership skills and commitment to others extends beyond professional contributions and also shows through his volunteerism within his community and county.  He is currently a chair for Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission, Aurora Middle School Girls’ Basketball Coach, and President of the Aurora Youth League.   Chad uses his leadership and interpersonal skills to help motivate others to be productive members of society.  Chad is a native of Aurora, WV, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Mark Utterback
Director of Farming

Mark and his family are the fantastic folks from Brookside Farm who have committed their time and resources to the Jacob’s Ladder mission.  Mark has a history degree from Bucknell University and has worked a variety of positions since returning home to the farm after graduation.  He’s a licensed real estate agent in Maryland and West Virginia and spent time working in a cabinet shop operating machinery and managing purchasing functions. 

​Mark has an impressive history with 4-H at the local, county, state and national levels having been involved since he was nine years old; he still holds the Preston County 4-H record for stuffing 31 marshmallows in his mouth all at one time!  Mark lives on Brookside Farm with his wife and son.  When he’s not busy on the farm, he enjoys golfing, singing in a local men’s group and gardening. 

Elias Tancin
Therapist and LCSW

Elias (Eli) earned his Bachelors Degree in Social Work from West Virginia University in May of 2014 and then earned his Masters in Social Work from West Virginia University in May of 2016. Eli has gained experience through Valley Healthcare Systems, Hazelton Penitentiary, WVU’s Carruth Center, and the WV Suicide Prevention Board. He has also gained experience through Mountain Laurel Medical Center in MD as a Behavioral Health Consultant.

Eli has always enjoyed being involved with local communities and assisting those in need who reside in them. He has volunteered with numerous events through his job as an on-air personality, has volunteered at Health Right in Morgantown, and has also assisted with numerous soup kitchens and food pantries. Eli enjoys utilizing Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in his practice while also utilizing guided meditation techniques.

Eli Currently resides in Bruceton Mills with girlfriend, two cats, and his wolf-hybrid (yes a wolf) named Timber who visits residents from time to time.

Paul Nuedling
​Certified Recovery Coordinator

Paul is originally from Port Washington, WI. He graduated from Port Washington High School. He has been an active member in supporting his community of residence throughout his life, from being an Eagle Scout in his hometown, to working for a food pantry for two years in Milwaukee, WI. Now most recently being active in Morgantown with 12 step recovery support and working towards being a certified Peer Recovery Coach. 
 
Paul enjoys outdoor activities including camping, hunting, and fishing. He also is a stained-glass artist which he learned while in the Jacob's Ladder Treatment Program while a resident in 2019. He is committed to helping his friends and family. Though close with his family back in WI he has grown to find family and home right here in WV.
 
A quote Paul had lived by: "Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
-St. Francis of Assisi 

Andrew Cox
​Recovery Coordinator

Andrew grew up in Clarksburg WV and is a graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School. He attended college at Fairmont State University to study Business Management then worked in commercial insurance for a few years before deciding to address his rapidly increasing substance use issues. Andrew came to Jacob’s Ladder in 2019 and never looked back. He relocated to Morgantown in April 2020 and is now an active member of Morgantown’s NA fellowship. Andrew has formed new relationships with lifelong friends and found a passion for working with others.
 
He am pursuing his goal of becoming a peer recovery coach and wants to help to give back to the program that he credits with giving him his life back. Andrew stated Jacob’s Ladder believed in me when I saw nothing in myself and I owe my life to the program. 
 
In his free time, Andrew loves to explore the beauty of the state of West Virginia through hiking and camping. Most importantly, he loves to be a son that his parents can be proud of. Andrew stated he has been able to reconnect with my family and is a part of their lives again and he actually loves himself today. 

Jacob Blankenship
Recovery Coordinator

​Jake is from Morgantown, WV.  He currently is enrolled at West Virginia University studying Psychology with the intent of becoming a Behavior Analyst. He plans to finish his master's here in WV and pursue a career in addiction recovery. 
 
Jake enjoys spending time playing racquetball, exercise, video gaming, and meeting new people.  
 
“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” -Steve Jobs

Jordan Luzier
Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Jordan is a West Virginia native who grew up in Morgantown. He is a graduate of Morgantown High School where he participated in extracurricular activities such as Lacrosse and Soccer. After graduating, Jordan went to WVU and developed a substance use disorder which led him on his journey for treatment. After many attempts at getting clean and experiencing different types of treatment centers, he found Jacob's Ladder and committed to the six-month program. Upon graduation, he made a commitment to continuing his chosen recovery pathway and found a passion in helping others seeking recovery. Jordan is in the process of becoming a certified Peer Recovery Coach and an active member of the recovery community in West Virginia.

“You can always improve your situation. But you do so by facing it, not by running away.”
― Brad Warner

Randall Brown
Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Randall Brown is from Bluefield, WV. and is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College.  He has worked many years with troubled teens and homeless individuals and families. He is a person in long term recovery and has been a recovery coach / peer support specialist since January 2013. His motto is that it takes Courage to Change!

Preston Quigley
​Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Preston is originally from Lafayette Indiana. He now lives in Morgantown and is attending West Virginia University in pursuit of a Social Work degree. Preston came to West Virginia searching for help with drug addiction and found it with Jacob's Ladder. Upon graduating Jacob's Ladder he decided to stay in the area and build a life in West Virginia.

Emma Evans
​Recreational Therapy Coordinator

Emma grew up in Winchester Virginia with her family. Growing up she went camping, hiking, swimming, adventuring, playing tennis with her friends and family. After she graduated High School she spent four years at Radford University focusing on pursuing her Recreation Therapy Degree. After graduating college she moved to North Carolina to complete her internship at SOAR Inc. which is a summer camp focusing on the ADHD and Autism Spectrum population. While Emma enjoys having fun and helping others, she is also hard working, passionate, and creative. She is excited to plan outdoor activities/adventures for Jacobs Ladder and explore the beautiful scenic West Virginia.  

Jerrica Blankenship
​Yoga Instructor

Jerrica Blankenship is originally from Morgantown, WV. She studied dance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she graduated with a BFA and the prestigious Stella Moore Award in 2012. Since graduating, Jerrica has toured with several dance companies, most notably with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for the 2012-2013 season and world tours with MOMIX from 2013-2016.

Alongside dance, Jerrica has been practicing yoga since early high school. She completed her yoga teacher training at the Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja, Mexico. While there, she studied asana practice, pranayama, meditation, anatomy, yogic philosophy, life style and more in an intensive immersion program.

Through a personal family exposure to addiction, Jerrica found a passion for helping others in recovery and feels blessed to be able to do so. She also loves traveling, experiencing other cultures, snorkeling, and her cat, Milly. 

Do small things with great love. -Mother Teresa