Avenues Recovery Center at Eastern Shore

Charlie Pleeter serves as the Executive Director of Avenues Recovery Center at Eastern Shore. Based in Baltimore, He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College, alongside formative studies at Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore. Initially on a path as a nursing home administrator in training, he shifted gears upon joining Avenues, where he found purpose and joy in supporting not only clients but also his team. This decision has been transformative for Charlie, shaping his outlook on life and deepening his gratitude for the positives in his own journey.

In his time working in addiction recovery, Charlie has observed that addiction does not discriminate; it erodes trust, self-confidence, and self-worth, leaving people feeling unworthy of love and appreciation. For him, the cornerstone of healing is empathy—providing unconditional support and care as clients work toward self-love and reconnection. He believes in fostering a strong foundation of trust, empowering clients to rediscover their value and helping colleagues find meaning in their roles.

Outside of his professional life, Charlie is passionate about personal growth and enjoys spending time outdoors. He loves playing with his kids and throwing around a baseball, bonding over time spent and special moments created together. Every day, he is committed to becoming a better person, appreciating his journey and lessons learned along the way.

Tammy Brown hails from Baltimore, Maryland, but has made her home in Salisbury for the last 16 years. She serves as the administrator of Avenues Recovery Center at Eastern Shore, and is a Certified Peer Support and a Registered Peer Supervisor. Tammy is passionate about her work and takes pride in being able to help people just like her.

As a person in long term recovery, Tammy has not used any mood or mind altering substances for almost 16 years. This journey has been challenging but rewarding, and she takes great joy in being able to give hope to others who are struggling with similar issues. Watching hope come back into clients’ spirits where they were once hopeless upon intake is a priceless experience for her.

Tammy is a proud mother of three grown children, aged 37, 33, and 25, and a grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren. The beach - any beach - is her best therapy, as any stress melts from her body the minute her feet hit the sand. She looks forward to her Cancun trip every year anew! She is truly grateful for the life she is living today as a person in recovery and tries to live every day to the fullest because she has never seen this day before.

Andrea Travers, Clinical Director at Avenues Recovery Center at Eastern Shore, is a dedicated mental health professional from the city of Laurel in Sussex County, MD. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Delaware, followed by a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Wilmington University, as well as a post-master's certificate in Mental Health Counseling. With nearly 14 years of experience, Andrea has made it her mission to help individuals with mental health and substance use disorders uncover the connections between their behaviors, emotions, and past experiences to foster healing and recovery. She is particularly interested in how rewiring thought patterns can positively impact not only the client but also their families and communities. Andrea hopes to one day return to school to return for her PsyD in Clinical Psychology, as well as certification in Trauma and EMDR Therapy.

In her personal life, Andrea is a devoted mother to her spunky 8-year-old daughter Charley. They live in Cambridge, MD alongside their dog Duke, gecko Goldie, and two hermit crabs, Spot and Sophie. An avid traveler, Andrea hopes to one day see the Northern Lights and explore Europe and Australia. She also loves camping (or "glamping") and is a fan of Marvel and DC comics. In her downtime, she enjoys watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory and The Office. 

Cathy Justice, a dedicated primary counselor at Avenues Recovery Center at Eastern Shore, graduated from Wor-Wic Community College in 2018 with an Associates of Applied Science degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling.  She began her career at Hudson Behavioral Health in Salisbury, MD, where she worked as a counselor at both their residential inpatient facility and their 3.1 Halfway Housing program. In her ongoing quest to improve the services she brings to her clients, Cathy is now pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a focus on mental health counseling.

Cathy is passionate about helping those in need and prides herself on her ability to connect with people of all backgrounds.  She is a fan of ‘keeping it real’ and not sugar-coating things – “Addiction is hard.  Recovery is harder.  You can do it.”  Advocating for client needs is important to her.

Cathy enjoys being creative, knitting, and going to the beach.  She resides in Salisbury, MD with her 2 wonderful children.

Jessica Blood, of Salisbury, MD, is a Primary Counselor with a passion for mental health and addiction treatment. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Salisbury University and an associate's degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling from Wor-Wic Community College. Currently pursuing her MSW, Jessica's ultimate goal is to obtain her LCSW-C alongside her CAC-AD credential.

Driven by a desire to make a difference in mental health, Jessica found her calling in addiction treatment and has loved her career ever since. She specializes in supporting clients who have faced challenging circumstances, where substance use became their primary coping mechanism. Watching her clients evolve into their best selves is what fuels her dedication to her work, and guiding them to recognize their inherent value is  hands-down the most rewarding part of her job.

Outside of work, Jessica's faithful  dog Cleo accompanies her on all her adventures - whether it's hiking, beach outings, attending concerts, participating in Disney half marathons, or exploring new destinations through travel. Her zest for life and dedication to helping others shine through both personally and professionally.

Jessica Rickels works as a Primary Counselor at Avenues Recovery Center at Eastern Shore, and currently resides in Salisbury, MD. She attended Wor-Wic Community College and Salisbury University, earning an associate degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling (AA), a bachelor's degree in Social Work (BASW), and a master's degree in Social Work (MSW). Additionally, Jessica holds a CAC-AD with a supervisory attachment as well as an LMSW. She is one hour away from having everything she needs to test for her LCSW-C and hopes to obtain this license within the next couple of months.

Jessica's passion for addictions counseling began during her time in community college. Initially entering the program with different career intentions, her perspective shifted dramatically after learning about addictions and working with the population during her internship. She fell in love with people's resilience and their motivation for change. Witnessing clients grow and succeed in recovery has profoundly impacted her, both personally and professionally, and has reinforced her belief in the possibility of real change.

Outside of work, Jessica loves spending time with her sons, Oliver and Felix. She has a pug named Winston and a cat named Willow. And of course, she is an avid Harry Potter fan.