Chief Financial Officer
Jim is a graduate of Loyola University – Maryland with a BA in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. After 10 busy tax seasons in Public Accounting, Jim decided he wanted his winters back and took a position as a Controller/CFO for a large Mental Health provider in Baltimore County. Since then Jim has worked as a Chief Financial Officer for a private school and a child welfare agency. He has also served in the US Army Reserves where he retired as a Medical Logistics Officer for a Combat Support Hospital. He brings to Arundel Lodge more than 28 years of experience in the nonprofit world. Both Jim and his wife are lifelong residents of Anne Arundel County where they have raised their four talented children.

Director of Human Resources

Behavioral Health Urgent Care Director
Jenn Messix is a nurse, servant leader, advocate, and the Clinical Director at Arundel Lodge’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center in Annapolis, MD. She holds a Master of Science degree in Nursing (PMHNP) from Walden University and an ANCC certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Jenn began her nursing career as an ER Nurse before transitioning to working as a psychiatric staff nurse, nurse supervisor, nurse educator of acute and residential psychiatric services for children and adolescents, and nurse manager of adult co-occurring inpatient units. Jenn has also served as a hospital representative for involuntary admission court hearings and worked as a clinical director of behavioral health with oversight of adolescent & adult inpatient, adolescent & adult partial hospitalization, and emergency psychiatric service lines. Jenn’s current role is to support her team of administrative assistants, peer support specialists, nurses, therapists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners in serving individuals from local communities with their mental health and substance use disorder needs. Jenn’s passions are building rapport, stigma reduction, emphasizing mental wellness, patient advocacy, and providing patient-centered care.

Director of Rehabilitation Program
Kathy Farrell is a graduate of University of Maryland Baltimore County where she received her BA degree and double majored in Psychology and Social Work. Kathy is also a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. Before coming to Arundel Lodge, Kathy interned at Springfield Hospital Center for Social Work and worked for an adolescent group home for children diagnosed with autism. Kathy started at Arundel Lodge over 20 years ago as a member of the Direct Care Staff, and is now Director of Rehabilitation Program. “I love what I do. I enjoy being in this field and working with people who want to take control of their recovery and overall wellness,” she says. “Arundel Lodge is also family oriented and has been a great company to work for. The staff and persons served are supportive of one another and my hope is that Arundel Lodge can continue to provide quality programs that will encourage persons served to live the best life possible.”

Facilities Director

Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Simone Blanchard is the Chief Clinical Officer at Arundel Lodge. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and holds her LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) in Maryland and Washington, DC. She is also a Trauma Specialist whose training includes working with children who have been impacted by childhood sexual abuse. She also provides consulting services for businesses, helping them with growth and expansion opportunities. Dr. Blanchard, a recognized authority in trauma counseling, is a highly sought-after speaker for both lay and professional audiences. Her talks to the general community cover a wide range of topics, including parenting skills, relationship healing and building, childhood development, and natural healing modalities. For professional audiences, she delves into mental health diagnoses, interventions, treatment, and prognoses; relationship healing and building; suicide prevention; mind-body connection; and global trauma. Dr. Blanchard holds a Ph.D. in International Psychology with a particular concentration in global trauma. She has extensive experience researching clinical service delivery, particularly “Youth and Depression” and “Help Seeking Habits in Youth.” Dr. Blanchard has studied spirituality, human development, and restitution with master practitioners. She has coordinated outreach efforts in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Washington, DC, to elevate and educate the community on important topics affecting our youth.

Director of Information Technology (IT)
Lisa Hughes is the Director of Information Technology (IT).  She holds a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.  She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland.  She received her undergraduate Bachelors of Art degree in Psychology from Towson State University. Before coming to Arundel Lodge, Lisa interned at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital as a Volunteer Intern. Lisa started at Arundel Lodge over 20 years ago as a member of the Direct Care Staff, and held a number of positions; including the previous Director of Residential Program.  “I always had a passion for helping people.  What we do here is help others do the things that we take for granted.  Sometimes we have our ideas of what normal should look like, but our persons served surpass that and flourish in their own way.  I love that.”