Andrea “Annie” Vasquez – (Public Member, Appointed by Governor) Annie is a public health professional with extensive experience in behavioral health, substance use services, community health, and health equity. As a person in long-term recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD), Annie brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, with a deep commitment to reducing stigma, removing systemic barriers, and improving access to care and recovery supports. She currently serves as Substance Use Services Coordinator for Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services, where she leads initiatives focused on substance use, overdose prevention, community partnerships, and opioid settlement implementation.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2029.
John Verdejo – (Public Member, Appointed by Governor) John Verdejo is a contract management and procurement professional with more than a decade of experience across financial services, state government, and local government. His professional background includes service with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the City of Raleigh, and he is a North Carolina Certified Contract Manager (NCCM). John holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lives in Wake County.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2029.
Marcus Boyd – (SUD Professional, Appointed by Governor) Marcus Boyd brings more than twenty years of behavioral health experience spanning psychiatric care, substance use treatment, forensic evaluation, crisis response, and permanent supportive housing. He played a foundational role in launching Mecklenburg County’s first Assertive Community Treatment Team and currently serves as the county’s Opioid Settlement Program Manager, leading one of the state’s largest opioid settlement portfolios. Marcus holds clinical licensure in North Carolina (LCMHCS, LCAS, CCS), South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, and is a certified forensic evaluator and Housing First trainer. An avid traveler, Marcus lives in Mecklenburg County. TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2029.
Caitlin Hettich – (SUD Professional, Appointed by Governor) Caitlin Hettich, LCSW, LCAS, CSI, is a mental health and substance use counselor with Project CARA (Care that Advocates Respect, Resilience, Recovery for All) at MAHEC Ob/Gyn and the founder of Open Canopy Health, a small private practice serving adults across North Carolina. In both settings, Caitlin is passionate about supporting individuals through life transitions, with particular interests in maternal mental health, perinatal substance use care, and person-centered, humane approaches to substance use treatment and recovery.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2029.
Lauren Futrell, Board Treasurer – (SUD Professional, Appointed by Governor) Lauren has worked in various addiction treatment settings since 2010. She has experience working in crisis settings, medical detox, outpatient, intensive outpatient, comprehensive outpatient, and residential treatment. She has extensive experience supervising peer support specialists, CADC, LCAS, and CCS-Is. Lauren has experience working with the perinatal population, women who are incarcerated, and Veterans. Her research interests include the relationship between trauma (especially DV/IPV) and substance use as well as chronic pain and substance use. She attended the Motivational Interviewing (MI) Train the Trainer (MINT TNT) and enjoys training individuals and organizations in MI.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2027.
Kathy Allen, Board Chair – (SUD Professional, Appointed by Speaker of NC House) Kathy is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a bachelor’s degree in Business from Gardner-Webb University. She has been in private practice since 2010, with locations in Gastonia, Lincolnton, Shelby and Kings Mountain. She is active in the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC). When Kathy is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family. She lives in Cleveland County.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2027.
Virginia Johnson, Board Vice Chair – (SUD Professional, Appointed by Speaker of NC House) Virginia is a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) with more than 20 years of experience in helping communities strengthen their protective factors and decrease their risk factors for substance use. She is a nationally recognized trainer with expertise in strategic planning, facilitation, and sustainability. With a passion for substance use prevention, Virginia has managed education and adventure-based prevention programs, coordinated federal and statewide initiatives, facilitated community mobilization and capacity efforts, developed targeted messaging, and integrated digital advocacy within the nonprofit sector. She is the Substance Use Prevention Manager at the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh, NC. Virginia is a graduate of East Carolina University, an avid traveler, and a proud mom.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2027
Dale Willetts – (SUD Professional, Appointed by NC Senate)
Dale is a Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional (CCJP) with more than 35 years of experience in the substance use disorder treatment and criminal justice systems. He retired from Coastal Horizons Center in 2025 as Director of the NC TASC Training Institute, where he directed training and education for the NC TASC Network and other related programs. He currently serves as Administrator of the North Carolina Foundation for Alcohol & Drug Studies (NCFADS). Dale holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from Campbell University. He lives in Brunswick County.
TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2028.
Katie Salmons, Board Secretary – (SUD Professional, Appointed by NC Senate President Pro Tem) Katie Salmons is a Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor. Katie has been in the field as a clinician since 2018 and has been in the field as a whole since 2013. Katie has experience in residential settings, school settings, outpatient, intensive outpatient, and transitional settings. In addition, Katie is an adjunct professor and enjoys presenting at conferences. She lives in Buncombe County. TERM EXPIRES: 6/30/2028