With over 15 years in recovery, and 12 years experience at JACOA, Israel is what we like to call "the real deal." He has a magnetic personality that can be difficult to escape. His direct impact on clients over the years is immeasurable. His commitment to people in recovery goes way beyond the 28 days he gets to spend with them in treatment. He moonlights as a social media influencer across many platforms, and spreads laughter, joy, and personal motivation to everyone he comes in contact with. 

Taneca has had many positions at JACOA over the years, which has made her a very well rounded employee. She is very familiar with the every aspect of the organization; from admissions, to treatment, through discharge. To say that she is an unmatched asset to JACOA is an understatement. When she is not traveling, Taneca unwinds by binge watching her favorite shows and spending time with her son. She is a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, and a true delight to everyone at JACOA.

Desiree has been with JACOA for 5 years. She spends much of her free time volunteering wherever help is needed. She also works full time for The Scarlett Rope Project, and volunteers at A Betor Way, she is a true philanthropist with a heart of giving that seems to be never ending. She also enjoys spending time with her family (and dog), and talking to her plants when she has time. She is an alumni of JACOA; finishing the program in 2015. Her giving heart is the personification of the culture we share at JACOA.

After 16 years in marketing, distribution, and event promotion for the beer industry, Kris saw first hand the detrimental effects that excessive alcohol use can have on a person. He decided to use his expertise to help those in need, and fill a longing to live his life with a purpose. We believe that using his knowledge to aid those in recovery, and to build relationships in the community is a vital part of our continued growth, added support, and our pursuit of organizational development.

At a young age, Kristi was known for grabbing a friends lit cigarette, and throwing it out of a car. It was this type of passion for the health and well being of others that lead her to "officially" begin her career in prevention. The influence she has provided over the past 18 years is unparalleled. Nowadays, she is known for her exceptional baking skills, her keen interest in playing trivia, and her inspirational drive to unlock the potential in the youth of Tennessee. 

With 9 years, and a long list of many departmental titles, Bonita has familiarized herself with every aspect of JACOA. She is an exceptional artist, with a pristine focus on painting, among any type of hands on craft. She has always had an interest in behavioral health, the psychological aspect of addiction, and loves to go fishing as long as someone else is willing to remove the fish from the hook. 

The longest tenured employee at JACOA, with over 25 years of servitude under her belt, Jackie is the first radiant face that you will see when you walk through the doors at JACOA. When she is not working, she loves to spend time with her two daughters, and her grandbabies. She enjoys traveling so much that she will go to another town to do her grocery shopping as a quick getaway. She lives her life by Matt. 7:12, and embodies everything that we stand for at JACOA.

If you ask James what his hobbies are, you had better pull up a chair. He is truly a jack of all trades, and you will undoubtedly feel an increase in your I.Q. with nothing more than a short conversation with him. As one of the busiest employee's at JACOA, it is hard to believe that he has time to work on antique cars, dabble in 3D printing, and focus on the intricacies of light bulbs. Yes, that is right, light bulbs.

Brandy came to JACOA while following her spiritual journey. God has guided her throughout the entirety of her professional career. She started working in non-profit as a volunteer at A.R.M., which transitioned into a full-time position, and a deep longing to help those in need. She comes to JACOA with over 16 years of experience serving the needs of people in our community, and brings an unmatched eagerness for developing a positive change in our clients. 

Sheila moved to Jackson from Milwaukee to be with her daughter who was attending Lane College. She owned Sheila Loves The Children, a daycare that she operated for 15 years prior to her move. She began her journey at JACOA as a monitor, then became the kitchen assistant shortly after revealing her skills as an amazing cook. Our clients refer to her chili as "tha bomb" and she has family that will travel hours for her meatloaf. She says, "anything I do, I just put a little love in it" and that's what makes it special. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to church, traveling, and driving fast cars when she isn't working.

Some people don't know that they are leaders until they are given an opportunity to lead. Brandi is that person. Her commitment to the JACOA recovery program requires an hour and a half daily commute from Big Sandy. Her dedication, and passion comes from her first hand experience as an alumni of JACOA. She felt that giving back to individuals, and supporting them on their road to recovery would not only be beneficial to her personal growth, but would also provide a stability that addiction seldom offers. As the I.O.P. coordinator, she is the first step in the continuum of care provided after inpatient treatment. 

Diving head first into her profession, Beth has been awarded her Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and her Masters Degree in Professional Counseling. She is currently working on obtaining her L.P.C. licensure for the state of Tennessee. Beth has had an interest in behavioral sciences for many years. She worked as a Emergency Medical Technician and a medical transcriptionist prior to joining the JACOA team. She is one of many full time employees that are alumni of our program. Studying and creating oil paintings as well as watercolor are among the hobbies that help Beth to decompress from her demanding educational focus.

Giving back to the community, by helping the place that helped him, is such an inspirational way of motivating everyone at JACOA. Rusty has followed this mantra for the past 9 years, devoting his expertise in computer programming and information technology to benefit people in need. In his free time he likes to play the guitar and is an avid gamer. 

If he is not cheering for the Tennessee Volunteers, the Memphis Grizzles, or actively participating as a member of his local church in Frog Jump, you will find Jeff working to get people suffering from addiction the help that they need. Jeff is a 30 year alumni of JACOA, and has been working to help plant a seed of hope in everyone he comes in contact with. His 23 years of dedicated service at JACOA is a true testament to his selflessness. 

Stacey has been practicing medicine since 2011. She spent several of those years in orthopedics before finding a passion in addiction medicine. She comes to us from a family touched in many ways by addiction, and this has given her a unique perspective and desire to serve those in need at JACOA and in the Jackson community. She played college basketball at Freed Hardeman while getting her undergraduate degree in psychology, before receiving her Masters in Medicine at Trevecca University. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and helping coach her kids' sports teams in her free time. She is an irreplaceable part of the JACOA team. 

Saqueta grew up in a small town south of Oxford, MS called Water Valley. She graduated from Northwest college in Oxford before deciding to move to Jackson, TN. She started her nursing career in the pulmonary department of the Jackson Clinic before landing at JACOA. She has an innate drive to help people and enjoys seeing the healing process as clients overcome their battle with addiction. When she is not working she enjoys baking, bowling, and spending time with her daughter and 2 sons. She is such a delight to all of the staff and clients at JACOA, and we are grateful to have her fighting for recovery in our community.

A bit malnourished and a little timid, Scout came to the front door of JACOA on March 26th of 2018. When we opened the door, Scout walked right in ready to work, so we just assumed that he must have been an employee that had been out on a extended leave. Feeling immediate acceptance, just like everyone who walks through our front door, Scout was made well again. In the beginning, we cared for all of his needs, but now he gives back to us daily through his commitment to spreading happiness.