At Rise we believe strong programs are built by strong, aligned people. Our team provides clinical leadership, operational guidance, and day-to-day support that keeps our work grounded in accountability, integrity, and respect.

Our team brings decades of combined experience across behavioral health, clinical care, nursing, and recovery support. Our work extends far beyond the offices and group rooms. We are present in the daily life of the house, working alongside residents as they learn practical skills like cooking, cleaning, maintaining personal space, and building consistent routines. We believe these everyday moments are where confidence, responsibility, and independence are built.

We are equally committed to helping residents connect beyond the program. Our team supports community engagement, employment readiness, and healthy use of outside resources, ensuring clients are not only supported within the house, but prepared to navigate life after treatment.

We are a dream team! Not because of titles and credentials, but because of how we show up every day. We work side by side with residents in the real moments of recovery, offering structure, guidance, and consistency. From making a bed to preparing a meal to managing real-world responsibilities, we are here for the full picture of recovery. Each member of our staff and board has a personal connection to this work, which is why we stay present for the effort that turns progress into lasting change.

Guidance. Integrity. Vision.

Lacey Knights

Clinical Director, LADC, CCS
Lacey brings extensive experience in residential substance use treatment and clinical leadership, with a strong focus on person-centered, trauma-informed care. She provides clinical oversight and facilitates both group programming and individual counseling sessions, helping to ensure that Rise Recovery maintains ethical standards, thoughtful structure, and care that remains responsive to the individuals and families it serves.

Jaime Higgins

Program Coordinator, CADC
Jaime coordinates program activities at Rise Recovery and facilitates clinical and life skills groups. She oversees community engagement, daily group structure, and activity planning, helping create a program environment that supports accountability, connection, and engagement—while allowing recovery to include purpose, energy, and enjoyment.

Ellie Knights

Head of Operations
Ellie oversees operational systems at Rise Recovery, bringing an extensive background in organizational structure and process management. Her work supports staffing coordination, internal processes, and regulatory alignment, helping to ensure the program operates smoothly, responsibly, and with consistency across all levels.

Brent James

Intake Coordinator
Brent serves as the Intake Coordinator for Rise Recovery and is often the first point of contact for individuals and referral partners. In addition to his role in admissions, he facilitates groups using a holistic approach that incorporates art therapy, writing, and interactive activities, supporting engagement, self-expression, and personal growth within the structure of the program.
Joshua Alexaner
Residential Aide
Joshua serves as a Residential Technician and Clinical Aide at Rise Recovery. He supports residents through daily programming, engagement, and structured activities within the house, including assisting with meal preparation, cooking, and maintaining a consistent environment that reinforces routine, accountability, and life skills development. He also facilitates groups focused on art and creative expression, encouraging self-exploration and personal growth.

Board of Advisors

Polly Colvin Mackenzie
Polly, LCSW, brings decades of clinical experience working with at-risk populations and individuals with complex mental health needs. She provides clinical oversight, and offers direct therapeutic groups to residents. Polly’s depth of experience, steady presence, and commitment to ethical, person-centered care help ensure that Rise Recovery maintains strong clinical standards while remaining responsive to the needs of the community it serves.
Keirsten Littlefield
Keirsten is a seasoned Registered Nurse with experience in hospice care and PNMI residential settings, bringing strong insight into medical co-occurring disorders and whole-person care. Known for her direct, honest approach and clear clinical perspective, she supports thoughtful decision-making and accountability in ways that benefit clients, staff, and the overall program.
Christine J. Berg
Christine, LADC, brings over 25 years of experience working with individuals across all stages of recovery. She operates a private practice and offers extensive expertise in clinical treatment and community-based recovery, providing a well-rounded perspective that strengthens both program development and continuity of care.


Andrew Nicholson, MD
Dr. Nicholson brings medical expertise and clinical perspective to the Rise Recovery Board, supporting oversight of care, safety, and program development. He also serves as an outpatient referral resource for primary care and medication-assisted treatment needs, helping ensure continuity of care beyond the residential setting.
John Hutchison
John brings over 25 years of continuous involvement in a 12-step recovery program, offering a strong foundation of lived experience and long-term recovery. He is currently pursuing his Registered Nurse (RN) degree, expanding his ability to support individuals through both clinical knowledge and compassionate care. John serves on the Board of Directors at the Clyde Bailey Drop-In Center, where he contributes to creating a safe and supportive environment for recovery meetings and sober community engagement. As a proud husband and father, he is deeply committed to strengthening individuals, families, and communities through recovery, and believes strongly in the power of peer-to-peer support.
Colleen McKee

Colleen McKee is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of healthcare experience, including primary care, detoxification, and addiction medicine. She brings expertise in medication-assisted treatment, withdrawal management, harm reduction, and patient education, along with a strong commitment to evidence-based care. Known for her collaborative approach and systems-thinking insights, she supports thoughtful program development and high-quality treatment for individuals in recovery.

A Message from The Founder

My name is Lacey Knights; I am the Founder and Clinical Director of Rise Recovery. I built Rise on a foundation of structure, accountability, and genuine care for the individuals and families who place their trust in us.

I am a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor and Certified Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in substance use treatment, care coordination, and clinical oversight. I began my career in mental health services before transitioning into substance use treatment, where I have spent years working directly with individuals facing complex clinical needs and co-occurring conditions. Throughout my professional development, I have remained grounded in the belief that people are more than their diagnoses and that meaningful recovery requires seeing the whole person.

I founded Rise Recovery because this work is deeply personal to me. I have witnessed countless reunifications—parents returning to children, adult children returning to their families, and loved ones—whether siblings or friends—finding their way back to those who never gave up on them. I’ve seen individuals reclaim their roles in families, lives, and relationships they once thought were lost. I have also experienced the profound loss that occurs when people do not receive the support they need in time. These experiences shape my philosophy and guide the standards I hold for myself and for this program.

I believe that when an individual enters care, they do not come alone. They come with families, histories, responsibilities, and relationships deeply affected by their recovery journey. When individuals and families entrust Rise Recovery with this stage of their lives, they place their hope and faith in our work. I take that responsibility seriously, knowing it has long-term impact beyond the individual’s time with us.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Smith; Rise would not exist in its current form without your efforts. I am profoundly grateful for your patience as we navigated the startup process, nothing went unnoticed.

Rise Recovery was created to offer a space where accountability and compassion coexist. Structure provides safety, expectations support growth, and care is delivered with consistency, respect, and integrity. My goal was to build a program that continues to support meaningful, lasting recovery long into the future, grounded in strong clinical standards, lived experience, and ongoing reflection.

Being witness to someone reclaiming their place in this world will never be lost on me; it is at the heart of why I do this work and why Rise Recovery exists.