Avenues Recovery Center at Fort Wayne

Whitney Straight is the Executive Director at Avenues Recovery Fort Wayne, and has worked in the addiction field for over 15 years. She serves on several statewide and community boards relating to addiction recovery and the communities they serve. Whitney has an MBA, MDiv, and master’s in Mental Health Counseling and bachelor's of Science in Addiction Counseling. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys weightlifting, contact sports, and traveling adventures with her husband, Robert. They have three children aged eight, six, and two, respectively. 

Jonathan Elia is the Executive Director at Avenues Recovery of Fort Wayne. He was born and raised on the coast of Connecticut in a town called East Lyme. Jonathan made the move to Fort Wayne with his girlfriend and 3 lovely dogs and is excited to begin his journey working with Avenues Recovery. He strongly believes that recovery isn’t just about being sober, but also about finding happiness and joy in yourself and those around you. He is eternally grateful for the support of his amazing family and close group of friends. They have helped him reach the place where he is at. As someone in recovery himself, Jonathan looks forward to giving back to the recovery community.   

Tiffany Semons was born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN, now serves as the administrator of Avenues Recovery Center at Fort Wayne. Tiffany studied business at Indiana Institute of Technology. Although she has yet to complete her degree, she seamlessly combines her business acumen with a deep passion for supporting individuals on their recovery journeys. Seeing the profound transformations that occur through recovery work has been both inspiring and humbling for her. Each success story strengthens her commitment, reinforcing her belief that recovery is not only possible but life-changing.

Outside of work, Tifany is a proud parent to two wonderful children. She enjoys traveling to new destinations, dining out to explore diverse cuisines, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Marissa Sauer is the Clinical Director at Avenues Recovery of Fort Wayne.  She has her master's degree in Education from Indiana University and is licensed in Marriage and Family as well as Mental Health Counseling.  Marissa has presented in the community about complex trauma and how mental health providers can work more efficiently with clients. She is excited to continue to serve her community in this impactful role. Marissa enjoys group exercises, reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband.  

Holly Haft has been an impactful nurse in the mental health & addiction field for close to a decade. She received her ASN from Breckenridge School of Nursing and is furthering her education by pursuing a BSN at Purdue Northwest College. Holly served our country with distinction for 13 years in her position as an E5 Military policewoman in the United States Navy, and specialized in corrections.

Holly takes great pride in making our clients feel genuinely cared for. She is determined to help them realize that being addicted does not need to define them as a person and that recovery is possible.

Holly hails from Pasadena, California, and has made her home in Fort Wayne since 2011.

Brad has worked as an addiction counselor for over two decades. In that time, he has changed countless lives and supported an untold number of recovery journeys. Although Brad originally intended to move on to other areas of mental health counseling, he has found his work in substance use disorders so rewarding that he just can’t leave it.  

Brad still draws inspiration from a card he received years ago from the mother of a client, thanking him “for giving my son back.”  He is driven by the idea that each individual life positively impacted by recovery impacts an entire family for the better.  

He is known for the ubiquitous Hawaiian shirts he wears to work every day. To Brad, Aloha and Malāma means love, respect, and reverence for each person.  

 “Every morning, I wrap myself in a shirt that represents love, to remind me not to personalize the resistance I encounter from people who are feeling down, afraid, or even hopeless.  I do it to remind myself to show them Aloha.”  

Curtjanna hold a master’s degree in Psychology, and has worked in the mental health field for seven years. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and reading.  

Julia has worked in addiction treatment for over five years and is currently a therapist at Avenues.  She has her CADAC II and is currently finishing a bachelor's of Science in Psychology at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Once completed, Julia plans to pursue a master’s in Social Work.  In long-term recovery herself, Julia recognizes that there are multiple pathways to recovery and that each person seeking lifelong recovery must be empowered to find what works for them. “You can’t keep dancing with the devil and ask why you’re still in hell,” is her favorite quote, and the message she tries to impart constantly to those under her care.  

In her free time, Julia enjoys adventuring with her fiancé and their three dogs. 

Born and raised in Sturgis, Michigan, Stephanie McKenzie graduated from the University of Saint Francis in 1997.  She earned her CADAC in April 2022 and has been with ARC since October 2021.

As a Gold Star Wife, Stephanie has proudly served Allen County and surrounding communities as a Veteran Advocate since the death of her Marine husband in 2016.

Stephanie enjoys her vintage jukebox, antiques, and spending time with her three children. She has called Fort Wayne, Indiana home since August 1993.

Samantha has a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Psychology, recently obtained her CADAC II certification, and plans on getting her MSW someday in the future.

Working in the substance abuse field has been Samantha's dream ever since starting her undergrad, and her passion only grew as she walked through life and grew to see and experience the impact of addiction through the experiences of those closest to her. She feels that it is an absolute honor to work with this population and show them the kindness and compassion they deserve.

In Samantha's spare time she likes to binge-watch 15 seasons of Supernatural with her spunky black cat Azazel, as well as spend time reading all about serial killers and cold cases.

Terrell has has served underprivileged communities for approximately 16 years, has worked in addiction treatment for three years, and is currently a therapist at Avenues. He received his master’s in Management with a Specialization in Strategic Management in 2010, and master’s in Clinical Addiction Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2021. He became a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor – Associate in 2022, and since January 2023 he has been working towards his Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate degree.

Terrel's theoretical orientation leans very heavily toward Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, especially Choice Theory/Reality Therapy. His approach is to inculcate the importance of fulfilling relationships and activities which produces a greater chance of long-term recovery and happiness. Terrel decided to work with this population because he has witnessed how addiction can rob individuals of their hopes, dreams, and happiness.

His favorite quote is, “Once individuals recognize their role in creating their own life predicament, they also realize that they, and only they, have the power to change that situation” by Irvin D. Yalom. He enjoys spending time with his wife, family, and his dog Daisy.

Sarah Sims was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She graduated from Ball State University with her Bachelor's degree in social work, and currently holds her CADACII certification.  While substance abuse treatment was not her originally her field of choice, she quickly became involved in those suffering from addiction and learned from each experience. 

Sarah loved learning more about how addiction affects the brain, and the many possible pathways to healing.  Her experience and perspective has been strongly influenced by the patients she has worked with over the past years, and she has a diverse view of the addiction and recovery field.  In her personal life, Sarah is involved in adaptive sports, including wheelchair basketball and adaptive skiing.  She enjoys working out and spending time in the great outdoors too!

Linda Thompson is a born and bred Fort Wayne girl.  She attended IPFW and California State University Dominguez Hills, where she earned her Master's degree in Social Work.   

Linda's personal journey to recovery began in 1987, and she became involved in the field of recovery around 1988, while working alongside her future husband in his nonprofit organization, 'Building on Sobriety". In 1990, Linda established 'Pathways to Your Future', providing shelter for homeless individuals battling alcoholism and addiction. Her dedication and passion for this cause have remained steadfast over the years, grounded in her belief of staying sober one day at a time and prioritizing faith in God.

Outside of her work, Linda finds joy in traveling, having explored destinations like Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, and various states within the US. While the pandemic temporarily halted her travels, she eagerly anticipates resuming her adventures, with Ghana being her dream destination. Additionally, Linda is deeply passionate about learning and teaching African American history and culture, finding fulfillment in sharing knowledge and fostering understanding of this rich heritage.

Stefany Tyree, a native of Fort Wayne, holds multiple master's degrees earned through Indiana Tech and WGU. With a deep-seated passion for helping others, she is committed to making a positive impact on those around her. Having witnessed the struggles of family and friends with addiction, Stefany is determined to contribute to a brighter future for individuals in her community, believing that authentic connections are instrumental in the recovery journey.

Looking ahead, Stefany plans to pursue another master's degree to enhance her ability to support clients at Avenues Fort Wayne. Beyond her professional endeavors, Stefany finds fulfillment in motherhood, cherishing her role as a parent to a wonderful daughter who is her world. She enjoys exploring new destinations through travel and treasures moments spent with her family.

Lee Funkhouser hails from Redkey, Indiana. He has worked at Avenues Recovery Center for over two years, moving from the role of Group Facilitator to Primary Therapist. He is a graduate of Anderson University, with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as well as an Associate's degree in Human Services and Addiction Studies. 

Lee's Higher Power has given him the opportunity to regain 30 years of life lost to addiction. He has been able to turn every painful experience into a positive by going from drug dealer to therapist, and beacon of hope and light.  The therapeutic value of one addict helping another addict is unparalleled, and it is his wish to be of help to another .

Demonstrating his constant commitment to providing gold-standard, highly effective services to his clients, Lee is currently working towards receiving his Master’s degree in social work. Outside of Avenues, Lee runs several recovery meetings (Brianna's Hope, AA, and NA), and is an active member in the recovery community.  When he is not working, attending school, or volunteering at different organizations, Lee enjoys spending time with his family, friends, playing guitar, and losing himself in art.