VAPA Board

Bianca Rae Blaikner | MA, LCMHC, LADC
President, Term Expires April 2027

Bianca is a dually licensed mental health and substance use disorder clinician with over 10 years of clinical experience and more than 8 years of leadership, supervisory, and program management experience across a wide range of treatment settings. She currently serves as Program Director of the Chittenden Clinic at Howard Center, where she provides strategic oversight of program operations, regulatory compliance, quality improvement initiatives, and multidisciplinary teams delivering evidence-based care for individuals with opioid use disorder. Bianca’s professional background includes experience in opioid treatment programs (OTP and OBOT), treatment within a correctional facility, and supported living programs. She has held leadership roles including Clinical Director, Director of Clinical Services, Clinical Supervisor, and Assistant Program Director, overseeing clinical services for hundreds of clients while supervising licensed clinicians and professionals working toward licensure and certification. Her work emphasizes clinical excellence, staff development, and patient-centered care. Bianca has a long-standing commitment to professional advocacy and leadership within the addiction treatment field. She currently serves as President of the Vermont Addiction Professionals’ Association (VAPA), and is also Vice President of the Vermont Substance Use Treatment Collaborative (VSUTC). Outside of her professional work, Bianca enjoys spending time with her dog, Goose, practicing hot yoga and lifting weights, cooking, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

Megan Kiernan | MS, LCMHC, LADC
Vice President, Term Expires April 2028

Megan Kiernan is dually licensed counselor working in her own practice, Lionheart Counseling, LLC, in Essex Junction, VT. Ms. Kiernan has extensive experience with motivational enhancement techniques having worked for Phoenix House as a clinician and then as the director of the Women’s Substance Abuse Program in the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF). She also worked as the Risk Reduction Coordinator at CRCF where she organized and ran mandated programming for high-risk offenders in Department of Corrections custody. Additionally, Ms. Kiernan has worked as a psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer at Networks, Inc. in Burlington, VT. She has created and led trainings for the New England Addiction Technology Transfer Center, Vermont Addictions Professional Association, AdCare Educational Institute of New England’s Summer School and Best Practices conferences, as well as other Vermont organizations. Ms. Kiernan has a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Vermont.

Andrew Decker | MS, LADC
Secretary, Term Expires April 2027

Andrew is a lifelong Vermonter bringing 13 years of professional mental health and substance use experience to the VAPA board. He holds his MS from Northern Vermont University and is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug counselor. He has experience working in short- and long-term residential treatment programs, crisis services, and outpatient treatment. Supporting youth, families, or adults, he works to bring laughter and joy to his practice. He has a passion to support individuals in defining and achieving their own recovery from mental health and substance use challenges and is equally motivated to support addiction professionals surpass their professional aspirations.

Amanda Talbert | MA, LCMHC, LADC
Board Member, Term Expires April 2028

Amanda has been with Howard Center since
December 2023 and has served as a Clinician, Program Coordinator, and now as a Clinical Supervisor. Prior to coming to Howard Center, Amanda worked at Spectrum Youth and Family Services in various roles including, Residential Counselor, Intake Coordinator, and Outpatient Counselor. Amanda is a
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Amanda holds a BA in Psychology and a MA in Counseling from Northern Vermont University-Johnson. Amanda lives in Burlington with her family, enjoys live music, spending time with friends, and being outside as much as possible.

Nerzada Turan | MA, LCMHC, LADC
Board Member, Term Expires April 2027

Nerzada brings over 15 years of experience in the field of addiction and mental health, working with individuals, youth, and families facing co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges. She is dually licensed as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Over the course of her career, Nerzada has held multiple roles—ranging from direct care to clinical supervision and program management. She has also provided clinical supervision to numerous professionals pursuing licensure, contributing to the development of the field through mentorship and leadership. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Green Mountain College and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Substance Use Counseling from Antioch University New England.

Stephanie LaRock | MS, LCMHC, LADC
Treasurer, Term Expires April 2028

Stephanie is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) with extensive experience in mental health and substance use treatment. She began her career as a group home counselor with NFI, supporting adolescents, and later joined the Howard Center, where she has served in multiple roles across mental health and substance use services. Stephanie’s professional focus centers on supporting underserved and marginalized populations, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system. In her current role as a Clinical Supervisor at the Howard Center, she oversees the Substance Use Services Mobile Unit Program, which provides medication-assisted treatment to individuals in rural areas across Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties. Through this work, she is dedicated to reducing systemic barriers to care and expanding access to compassionate, evidence-based treatment for populations that have historically been underserved. Outside of her professional role, Stephanie enjoys attending community events with her family, spending time with her grandchildren, and reading. A lifelong learner, she remains committed to ongoing professional development and to advancing equitable, high-quality mental health and substance use services.

Mallory Stunell | LCMHC, LADC, ICGC-I
Board Member, Term Expires April 2027

Mallory is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), and International Certified Gambling Counselor–I (ICGC-I). She brings over a decade of experience in the substance use and mental health field, with a deep commitment to the individuals, families, and communities impacted by addiction. Mallory currently serves as Operations Director at Howard Center, where she focuses on supporting staff, strengthening systems, improving care, and building community for those with opioid use disorder. In addition to her role on the VAPA Board, she also serves on the Board of Directors for the Vermont Council on Problem Gaming and Health. She brings to her work a mix of strategic thinking, compassion, and humor — and is especially passionate about mentoring and supporting the next generation of clinicians. Mallory believes that meaningful change happens when we stay collaborative, curious, and grounded in purpose (with the help of the occasional caffeine-fueled meeting).

Samantha Rhoads | LCMHC, LADC
Board Member, Term Expires Apriil 2027

Samantha Rhoads is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor with more than 15 years of experience in the human services field. She currently serves as the Director of Clinical Treatment Services at Lund, an organization dedicated to supporting children and families throughout Vermont. In her work, Samantha is committed to helping individuals and families break down shame and find safety in engaging in meaningful clinical work. She often jokes that she “grew up with her clients”—beginning her career supporting children and youth, transitioning to work with adults, and eventually coming full circle to serve whole families. Today, Samantha’s passion has expanded to supporting the professionals who make this work possible. She provides direct clinical supervision and serves on the VAPA Board, where she helps strengthen the field through advocacy, mentorship, and collaboration.