Meet our Program Facilitator: Joey Porchetta

Could we get some biographical information from you? Where you’re from, academic history, professional history, experiences in recovery, family life etc?
I was born and raised in Westfield, New Jersey – about 30 miles west of Manhattan. My twin brother Anthony and I are the youngest – technically, I’m older than Anthony by 7 minutes… My sister Alyssa is the “middle child” and my brother Jon is the oldest. Anthony and I attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and I ended up committing to play lacrosse at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

I spent about 3 years at F&M before attending my first treatment center – after lots of ups and downs, I got sober in 2017 and started to put together a nice little life for myself. I began working in the treatment field at Hope for Families – an addiction counseling center in Greenville, SC. I moved from Hope for Families to Pavillon’s outpatient services in Greenville. While working at Pavillon, I met the love of my life, Ashley, and we were married in April 2020.

Ashley took on a promotion at work that allowed us to move anywhere we wanted in North Carolina. After looking up treatment centers in Raleigh and seeing Green Hill’s website, I knew this is where I needed to be. Ashley and I moved to Raleigh in August of 2020 with our dog Oakley to embark on our next adventure!

What precisely does a Program Facilitator do?
A program facilitator essentially lives life alongside our clients – I am a living example of someone who has literally been in their position many times, and came out the otherside. I think that uniquely qualifies me to help them throughout this process. Program facilitators are the boots on the ground. We make sure our guys are doing what needs to be done on a daily basis. From morning meds, to grocery store runs, getting the guys to the office, taking them to recovery meetings, beating them in ping pong – PF’s are in constant contact with our guys and help facilitate all the greatness Green Hill has to offer.

What made you want to work in the substance abuse field?
As someone in recovery, I find a great deal of purpose working in this field. I empathize a lot with our clients. I’m someone who has attended every level of addiction treatment as a client. I think because of my experience, I’m well suited to work in the field. I’m at a point in my life where I don’t know exactly what I want to do yet. I feel like I’m pretty good at working with young adult men who are new in recovery and for now it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

If you could give a new Program Facilitator one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t take things personally and choose your battles. This is such a relational job, it’s crazy to think that you can really make anyone do anything. At the end of the day, I don’t have the power to change anyone. All I can do is show up every day to work with the best attitude ever and try and positively impact the lives of those around me. Every client is different and I treat them each individually. This allows me to seperate who they are from what they do.

What keeps you coming back day after day?
The laughs, the camaraderie, the shared struggle. Working with young adult men has me laughing nonstop every single day. It’s an interesting juxtaposition – alcoholism and addiction is such a serious deal, but we find levity and fun to get through it together. I would also be remiss if I didn’t say “the process”. When someone young and beat down changes their life, it’s a miracle. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to participate in the transformation process of young adult lives. I keep coming back for the miracles that unfold on a daily basis.

What do you believe makes Green Hill stand out in its field, and why?
We operate on a different level at Green Hill. The disease of addiction is interesting because no one exactly has it figured out. This makes for all sorts of different treatment approaches. Green Hill believes in developing young men who live with profound purpose. I didn’t get sober to just live some mediocre life! Therefore, we ask all of our guys to cast some sort of vision for their life.

We come alongside them in rediscovering their passions and interests and then get them moving towards that goal. This is a concept unlike any other sober living I’ve been to or worked at. The difference at Green Hill is our level of intentionality. Come to Green Hill for one day and you’re liable to see our CFO in the backyard of our house making concrete curbs (true story) to skate on outside. Olympic great Michael Phelps has this concept of “dream, plan, reach”. I think that goes on everyday at Green Hill.

When you’re not at work, what do you do to recharge your batteries?
My mental health is directly related to my physical health. When I’m off work there’s a very high chance that you might see me running or riding my bike around Raleigh. You will also find me on the lacrosse field, coaching varsity high school lacrosse. I find great purpose in coaching lacrosse, a lot like I find great purpose as a PF at Green Hill. Recharging my batteries looks like adventuring with Ashley and Oakley, exploring every inch of the research triangle! I’m a big fan of relationships, and so I try and fill my days off with time spent with people (as best as I can with COVID) because that’s what life is about!

What makes Raleigh a superb environment for young people in recovery?
Raleigh has it all. When I think about environments for people in recovery, I think about this concept of building “recovery capital”. Part of being in recovery is the idea of building “community recovery capital”. What that means is, for recovery to develop, it’s important for a community to have adequate resources to support the growth of one’s recovery. Raleigh has all of those resources. Especially for young adult men trying to get back on track.

We have the educational sector covered with NC State being walking distance from our house and other great institutions close by. The AA and recovery support group scene in Raleigh is thriving and has a heavy “young people” presence. The job market is increasing and projected growth moving forward is looking to be above the national average. Raleigh has got it going on!!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? How has that advice affected your day-to-day?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received would probably be to lower my expectations in life. I can knowingly or unknowingly place expectations on everything and everyone in my life. I used to lack awareness of this and it would negatively impact a lot of my experiences. When I became aware of the expectations I was setting, I realized that my expectations were just opportunities for me to be let down at my own expense.

I understand it might be a tall task to “have zero expectations” of others, but I can tell you with confidence that on a day-to-day basis, I have very little expectations of others. I think that because of this, my interactions with others and relationships are much more enjoyable!

What’s the one message you’d like the parents and loved ones of our residents and clients to know?
Your loved ones are in good hands! From the top down, our Green Hill staff is bound together by a common thread: our desire to positively impact the lives of our clients. I see it everyday at work. I hope that the parents and loved ones of our clients know how much we as staff care. We care about your loved ones and want the absolute best for them. I will do everything in my power to help and be of service to them. Also, the TL house is just a good time! We have so much fun on a daily basis.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT JOEY

Favorite movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Favorite book: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Favorite album: The Head and the Heart

Favorite podcast: Crime Junkie

One thing your hometown could be known for: Its quaint downtown – also Whitney Houston is buried there…

Dream vacation: Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

Favorite meal: Chicken Marsala

Dream job as a child: I wanted to play shortstop for the New York Yankees.

One thing everybody loves that you secretly hate, and why: Most social media platforms because I get too distracted

Guiltiest pleasure: Really whiny pop-punk music

Meet our Chief of Staff: Michael O’Sullivan

Could we get some biographical information from you? Where you’re from, academic history, professional history, experiences in recovery, family life etc? 

I’m originally from Long Island, New York where I lived until college. I’m the eldest of four (1 younger brother and 2 younger sisters) and we are still close. After high school at an all-boys school I came down to North Carolina for school at Duke.

I had been drinking throughout high school and was suffering from untreated anxiety and depression. Slowly, I began withdrawing from my social and academic life. By the end of my freshman year, Duke had asked me to complete treatment or else I would not be allowed back at school. 

I remained in New York during the fall semester of 2014. During my semester off, I entered treatment and began working for Phoenix House, a substance use treatment center. Recovery transformed my life and I felt called to share that gift with others.

Returning to school in 2015, I majored in psychology, with the eventual goal of becoming a mental health counselor. I moved into a transitional living program as a condition of continuing my academic career at Duke. I learned how difficult the transition back into school can be and how important mentorship can be. 

After graduating in 2017, I began working with Green Hill.  I feel that we are providing the kind of service I needed to young men who are in the same boat I was in. Even with grad school now on my horizon, I hope I will always remain part of the Green Hill community. 

What precisely does the Chief of Staff at Green Hill do?

I wear a bunch of hats, but my primary responsibilities are to carry out the policies and decisions of the executive leadership team. For instance, I have been taking the lead on our policy initiatives on community engagement, environmental impact, and personnel development. I am also involved with our HR, insurance contracting, regulatory compliance, and developing new lines of service such as coaching and our medical practice. 

My second major role is as head of Green Hill’s Coaching Service. I draft and update our curriculum and have designed and implemented our program.

What made you want to work in the substance abuse field?

At the time of writing, I have been in recovery for almost seven years. I went to treatment at 19 and needed to live in a transitional program when I finally returned to school. I’m thrilled to work for an organization that offers the same opportunity to others that I had.

Since you’ve worked in several roles at Green Hill including Program Facilitator, what piece of advice would you give an aspiring professional?

I stayed curious, asked questions and slowly built up more responsibility over time. I found a mentor at Green Hill who encouraged me to step outside my box and start exploring other areas of the company. 

What keeps you coming back day after day?

At the risk of sounding corny again, our clients. Seeing the transformation in our clients is the most rewarding experience I’ve ever been a part of. Knowing that we are helping bright young men reach their potential is an incredible gift.

What do you believe makes Green Hill stand out in its field, and why?

Having been a client at a transitional living facility, I can say that Green Hill is one of the best programs in the country. The staff cares deeply about client success and building a culture of support and hope throughout our community. Everyone, from our CEO to our academic advisors build direct relationships with clients and participate in community events. Everyone in the organization works with a professional mentor and uses those lessons to inform their client interactions. 

When you’re not at work, what do you do to recharge your batteries?

I love to walk and listen to audiobooks. The weather in North Carolina is usually mild and I can walk for miles and reflect. I’m also a runner, and the many trails in the area offer a useful escape. Finally, I try to make time for coffee with friends on my days off and in the evenings. 

What makes Raleigh a superb environment for young people in recovery?

Raleigh has so many universities and industry leading companies that the area has become a magnet for young adults in recent years. As a result of this large influx, the number of young people in recovery in the area is relatively high.  As a result, Raleigh has seen the growth of a vibrant and dynamic community for young people in recovery.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? How has that advice affected your day-to-day?

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received was to always search for ways to contribute in a situation, not just where I could benefit. That service mindset has opened doors and allowed me to become a dependable and valued member of Green Hill.

What’s the one message you’d like the parents and loved ones of our residents and clients to know?

I have worked, visited, and been a client at many transitional living programs. I can say that the team at Green Hill is unequivocally the best I have ever seen. From top to bottom we have hardworking, empathetic, and brilliant people who put their energy fully into client success. If I had to imagine a dream team for a young adult substance abuse treatment program, I would take the team at Green Hill in a heartbeat. 

QUICK FACTS ABOUT MICHAEL

Undergraduate school: Duke University

Favorite movie: Blade-Runner 2049

Favorite book: Hyperion

Favorite album: Lateralus by Tool

Dream vacation: I’d love to visit India and South East Asia

Favorite spot in Raleigh:  NC Museum of Art

Favorite meal: Pot roast and noodles 

Dream job as a child: I wanted to be an astrophysicist and invent faster than light travel.

One object you couldn’t live without, and why: I couldn’t live without shower speakers. Listening to music in the bathroom is amazing.

One thing everybody loves that you secretly hate, and why: I don’t like hotdogs, sausages, or bacon. I can’t explain it, just never liked the taste. 

Guiltiest pleasure: I will blast Hansen, the Backstreet Boys, and NSync all day long.

Meet our Clinical Outreach Director: Marcus Shumate

Could we get some biographical information from you? Where you’re from, academic history, professional history, experiences in recovery, family life etc?

I was born and raised in Nashville, NC. It’s a small town in Eastern NC. I went to a small liberal arts University called Gardner-Webb University where I majored in Psychology and Religious Studies with an emphasis in Philosophy. I returned there to get my Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling. I came from a family that hadn’t previously had anyone graduate from college so my dad put a pretty big emphasis on getting my brother and me through school.

What made you want to work in a) the clinical field generally and b) substance abuse specifically? And what made you decide to change your focus to working in Outreach?

Honestly, I grew up around a lot of heavy and problematic substance use and had no interest in working in the field of substance abuse. It felt “too close to home.” However, as I was set to graduate from my Master’s program, I got an offer to interview for a case manager position at a residential program and I had no other offers available to me. I knew that I liked to have food on the table and had no real prospects for how I was going to make that happen so I figured I’d take the job until something else opened up and, well…I ended up loving it.

Around about eight years into my clinical career I had become involved in some outreach efforts and found that I enjoyed the challenge of finding ways to best represent the ideals and practices of the program. This felt invigorating for me and opened up challenges that I hadn’t previously experienced. Additionally, I started to recognize that I had developed artificial constraints in my head about what I could and couldn’t do and switching to Outreach fulltime gave me a way to challenge those.

The other reason I changed my focus to Outreach was it gave me a chance to join the Green Hill team and I believe I’d be hard pressed to find another environment that relished it’s team members questioning assumed constraints as much as Green Hill does.

What precisely does a Clinical Outreach Director do?

I view the role of a Clinical Outreach Director as being able to distill complicated ideas into readily graspable concepts and narratives that can help others figure out if our program is a good fit for them or their clients. I also view it as my job to make sure we have healthy relationships with various resources and that I can translate what they do and what we do for different people.

What keeps you coming to work back day after day?

The culture of Green Hill is what keeps me coming back. It’s a culture from the top down that prioritizes personal and professional growth and operates off the sincerely held belief that cultivating this sort of culture will impact and challenge our clients. Getting to be a part of that sort of culture is invigorating for me and feels like we are continuing to build something that can be transformative.

What do you believe makes Green Hill stand out in its field, and why?

I think I run the risk of sounding like a broken record, but it’s our culture. Our leadership team has frequent conversations about cultivating a vibrant and growth-oriented culture amongst ourselves. It’s our sincere belief that if we foster this amongst ourselves and create a system by which that becomes the norm all the way down to our most frontline staff, then we can create a healing environment full of cues that are constantly pulling our clients in the right direction.

What’s the one message you’d like the parents and loved ones of our residents and clients to know?

I’d want them to know that growth comes from failure. We have a saying amongst ourselves that we want to create an environment where it’s ok for our clients to “skin their knees without cracking their heads.” When dealing with substance use disorders and mental health struggles it’s easy to forget that part of young adulthood is failing and absorbing the lessons from those failures.

I think back to when I was in my late teens and early twenties and I’m sometimes surprised I am still alive. The funny thing is, I think most of us are like that regardless of our relationship with substances and somehow that truth gets lost on us when substance use disorders and mental health come into play.

We hear you are an avid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai practitioner. How does your martial arts practice impact your life, your approach to things, your perspective, etc.?

You’ve probably heard that because, in typical fashion to anyone that trains this stuff, it is like one of the four topics that occupies most of my mental space and talking. When you train this stuff you become a zealot and talk about it all the time in the hopes that some other obsessed person will hear your siren call and come to exchange techniques and stories.

One of the reasons I continue to train is because it intimidates me. It’s physically grueling and I never walk into the gym without a flash of anxiety. I’ve been involved in a lot of martial arts over the years and when I first started training things like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai weren’t readily available in most places. As such, most martial arts had a playacting quality to them in which one person initiates a prescribed technique and the other person responds with a scripted technique. It leads to a sense of confidence that all but the most delusional feel is a bit hollow.

When you step on to the mats to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai, there are no self-deceptions that can abide. It’s a combat sport where you are actively trying to best your training partner. Any delusions you may have are immediately brought into contact with reality and the better practitioner often wins the match. If you get lucky, you know that you got lucky. It’s remarkably vulnerable and exposed and it never ceases to make me anxious.

You know what? I need that in my life. It gives me something that lets me constantly be mindful of my own insecurities and recognize them as automatic and transient. This practice gives me the opportunity to generalize it into every other area of my life.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? How has that advice affected your day-to-day?

This is a good one. I am not entirely sure, but I’ll cheat the question and try to marry two pieces together. First piece of advice: don’t take yourself too seriously. Second Piece of advice: don’t marry yourself to your ideas. I feel comfortable with these two pieces of advice being married, because I think they’re pretty similar. I think the world is a remarkably complicated place and requires mental models that are fluid and ever evolving. I also think that’s what is fun about living. It’s a constant process of evolution that will be happening with your willingness or not. We can engage with that process with a sense of curiosity and playfulness or have tightly bound fists that stay clinched until our departing breaths.

I’m not the best at applying this, but I find that when I am able to abide in it a bit I tend to feel lighter, more balanced, and think more clearly.

What’s one memory you’ll always take with you from your time here in Green Hill?

It’s not a memory per se, but an impression. I was at my first yearly leadership team meeting and had this overwhelming impression of how dedicated the team and organization was to personal and professional growth. It left me intimated and excited. I think it would be entirely too easy for me to be a part of many organizations and be able to float by, but I don’t think that’s remotely possible for me on our team and it’s intimidating in all the right ways.

When you’re not at work, what do you do to recharge your batteries?

It could be any number of things, but it’s usually a combination of training Jiu Jitsu, cooking, meditation, time with friends, and being outdoors. Also, I love to watch football and could lay comatose on the couch for entirely too long watching games I only have a passing interest in if I am not careful.

What does your ideal day look like?

My ideal day would likely look pretty simple. First, I’d wake up, make some coffee, and get the dogs up and fed. From there, my next move would be to sit on the couch and drink my coffee with the dogs, and then meditate.

Next I’d do a light workout, probably go to Jiu Jitsu and spar with teammates. Having worked up an appetite I’d head home and get into the kitchen and start cooking with my lovely wife. When I’m cooking I love to either listen to music or have some sort of sporting event on in the background. After eating, I’d get back to where I started, on the couch chilling with the dogs… or a friend, until I head to bed. That’d be a good day!

What makes Raleigh a superb environment for young people in recovery?

It’s a city that is full of play and opportunities to build a life. In my past job I was a referring clinician and noticed that a lot of programs were based in really cool cities and places that our clients could go to for aftercare, but couldn’t do much besides play in those places. It was always tough for them to start building a career or exploring interests that were more broad.

What’s one message you wish our residents at Green Hill would always take with them?

Find something to work at that you will fail at and don’t take yourself too seriously.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT MARCUS

Undergraduate School: Gardner-Webb University

Desert Island movie: Easy. Shawshank Redemption

Favorite Book: East of Eden

Favorite Album: Jason Isabell’s South Eastern, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, anything Sam Cooke

Favorite Podcast: The Joe Rogan Experience, Your Mom’s House, Making Sense, and the Knowledge Project.

What’s One Thing Your Hometown Could Be Known For: George’s BBQ Sauce

Dream Vacation: Backpacking around Thailand.

Favorite spot to visit in Raleigh: Transfer Co. Food Hall

Dream job as a child: Chef or Fireman.

Guiltiest pleasure: Peanut Butter. I could eat an entire jar in a sitting.

Meet Our Clinical Case Manager: Samantha Puckett

Could we get some biographical information from you? Where you’re from, academic history, professional history, experiences in recovery, family life etc? 

I am originally from Franklin County, Virginia. I moved to Norfolk, Virginia after completing high school to study Marine Biology at Old Dominion University. When drugs and alcohol started taking over my life, I stepped away from school for a while and went to Florida. In 2013, I began my journey of recovery at a treatment center in South Florida.

Through my personal recovery journey, I found that I really enjoyed helping other addicts recover. I decided to move to North Carolina so that I could go back to school and later graduated from Old Dominion University with a Human Services Degree.

I am currently a graduate student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill working towards my Master of Social Work. I just recently got engaged and live in Chapel Hill with my fiance and dog, Cooper. 

What made you want to work in a) the clinical field generally and b) substance abuse specifically?

I found that I had a passion for working with individuals experiencing substance use disorders when I was sponsoring women in the recovery community. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their lives change which made me want to continue to do this work. Before deciding to go to school for this field, I got an entry level position at a treatment center in South Florida and quickly found that  this was what I wanted to do with my life. 

What precisely does a Clinical Case Manager do?

As the Clinical Case Manager at Green Hill, I wear multiple hats. I help provide academic and vocational support to the residents through case management sessions, facilitate scheduling of medical appointments, manage all client’s medication. I also manage admissions upon arrival at our organization, and help facilitate all aspects of the Transitional Living program. I often serve as the point of contact for any questions or concerns regarding the Transitional Living program and aim to support our residents with any of their needs.  

What keeps you coming back day after day?

Definitely our Transitional Living residents! I have found a passion for working with individuals experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. Each day, our residents surprise me with the amount of growth they make, whether it be recovery related or not, seeing that spark in their eye is comforting. It is comforting to know that the work they are doing is making a difference in their life.

What do you believe makes Green Hill stand out in its field, and why?

Green Hill focuses on empowering young adults to live with purpose. Many of our clients have not experienced life outside of using drugs or alcohol. Green Hill truly tries to find the strengths in our clients that will help them live a productive life. We encourage our clients to develop the essential executive functioning skills that they need in order to continue to thrive. We want our residents to complete our program with the ability to live on their own with skills that will help them succeed.

What’s the one message you’d like the parents and loved ones of our residents and clients to know?

Each of our staff is committed to helping your child. We develop a connection with our clients where they can lean on us for the support to get through this new point in their lives. We want them to walk away from Green Hill with the skills they need to live on their own and manage their life without needing drugs and alcohol to do so. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? How has that advice affected your day-to-day?

Growing up I played a lot of sports and had a lot of coaches who would push me to my limit. On the wall of the gym where I did gymnastics was a sign with the word “Can’t” which had a circle around it with a diagonal line going over it. My coach would not allow us to use the word “can’t”, it was a forbidden word at the gym. She would always tell us, if there is something that you want to do then you can do it if you put your mind to it. I have tried to carry this message with me to this day. I think it is important to strive to meet your goals and dreams which is what I try to do on a daily basis.

What’s one memory you’ll always take with you from your time here in Green Hill?

Wow, how can I choose just one memory?! I cherish every moment at Green Hill because the guys we work with have made an impact on my life. The most rewarding part of my job is for the residents to tell me they have had something good happen.

For instance, I’ve had guys walk into a room yelling at me with excitement a about how they got a good grade, or got the job. I even get phone calls or text messages from program alumni to tell me about their academic and personal milestones. These are all the memories that I will forever cherish and take with me: seeing the success of our residents. 

When you’re not at work, what do you do to recharge your batteries?

I have just recently got into practicing yoga which I find very relaxing and calming. After a long day I will come home and do yoga to clear away the day and restart. I am also a country girl so I enjoy doing activities outside. In the summer my favorite thing to do is go fishing or go on hikes with my dog, Cooper.

What does your ideal day look like?

My ideal day would be spending time with family. I love the days where we can be in the pool all day, playing some pool badminton. We ended the day with a cookout on the grill and a bonfire at night. 

What makes Raleigh a superb environment for young people in recovery?

Raleigh is such a growing city and has a lot of recovery opportunities for young people in recovery. There are many recovery meetings in the Triangle that are specifically for young people in recovery which provides the opportunity to meet other young people who are in recovery. There are also some amazing recovery programs/groups at the local colleges in the area where young people in recovery can find support from other students.

What’s one message you wish our residents at Green Hill would always take with them?

We are always a phone call away! We will always be there for you whenever you need us!

Quick Facts about Samantha

Undergraduate: Old Dominion University-Norfolk, VA

Graduate school: Current enrolled in MSW at UNC- Chapel Hill

Desert Island Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes

Favorite Album: T.E.T.I.O.S., Papadosio

Dream Vacation: Anywhere where I can hike and have beautiful scenery

Favorite spot in Raleigh: All restaurants, I LOVE food!

Favorite meal: A nice steak with a side of mac-n-cheese 

Dream job as a child: I wanted to be a Marine Biologist, went to college for it and realized that I had other passions.

Guiltiest pleasure: ANYTHING Sweet, I have a major sweet tooth