Jeff Reece is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience, including leadership roles as CEO, Chief Nursing officer, and Chief Quality officer across multiple healthcare systems. He has a proven track record in strategic planning, team building, patient experience, and compliance - all of which has helped him drive hospital performance improvements, regulatory compliance, and financial growth.

Jeff is a registered nurse who holds dual masters degrees in nursing and business administration, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Medical Care. He is also a certified Joint Commission Professional.

Born and raised in Balsam, he and his wife live in Canton. During his off time, Jeff loves cheering on the Carolina Panthers and wood working. 

Dr. Benjamin Crawford received his Doctor of Osteopathy in 2008 from the University of North Texas. After completing an internship in Family Medicine in 2009, he followed with a full psychiatry residency program, during which he served as Chief Resident in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the heart of providing a holistic approach to wellness, he added a graduate diploma in Theology in 2015.  

Dr. Crawford has lead a successful private practice as a Board Certified Psychiatrist since 2012. Fueled by his passion to help people, he added additional training to provide care to patients struggling with addiction. He’s grateful for the use of telepsychiatry and the barriers it has removed, allowing him to take both mental health and addiction care to communities previously unserved. He continuously seeks ways to enhance outcomes and equip patients with diverse tools, helping them discover their full potential in life.

Dr. Crawford embraces the role of Medical Director for Appalachian Community Center. His heart to educate and his sincere compassion equip him to serve the medical staff at ACS and walk jointly with them, into the challenges of tomorrow, knowing they can make a difference, in all the communities they serve.

Dr. Aldecoa relocated from Puerto Rico to Cincinnati during late adolescence and attended Xavier University where she earned a B.S. in Psychology and a M.S. in Special Education. After moving to Florida, she earned a M.S. in Psychology and Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from Carlos Albizu University in Miami. She has been providing services to individuals of all ages diagnosed with mental illnesses, intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or substance use disorders for more than 30 years.

Dr. Aldecoa has been part of the ACS team since 2005 and provides a range of services to the organization. She is dedicated and passionate about inclusion and recovery and believes everyone should be provided with the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.  She strives to assist others in reaching this potential by providing direct care and supervising staff members providing this care. She emphasizes humility, kindness, compassion and equality while providing comprehensive quality care to the members of our community.

A Chicago native, Victoria has called the mountains of Western North Carolina home for nearly fifteen years.  After earning a nursing degree in 2010, Victoria worked at Murphy Medical Center before joining Appalachian Community Services in 2015.  In her free time, Victoria enjoys the great outdoors with her family, often camping and fishing with her husband and children, and volunteering in her community. The most rewarding aspect of her job is seeing the clients and residents reach their goals and experience an improvement in their quality of life.

Nan Fein joined the ACS team in 2007 after moving here from Washington state.  Nan has held many positions with ACS and currently works as the Director of Integrated Care and Community Collaboration.  She has a passion for working with community resources in rural areas and is currently focusing on assisting providers in joining behavioral and physical health care services together.  Nan completed her BA degree at Purdue University and graduate studies at University of Washington.  Nan loves living in the mountains of Western North Carolina and takes every opportunity to explore and travel with her husband and two boys.

Leah McGrath, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as Clinic Manager at The Balsam Center. She holds a Master’s in Social Work, a Master’s in Teaching, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology, reflecting her strong foundation in both clinical practice and education.

Since joining Appalachian Community Services in 2021, Leah has served as an Intensive In-Home Team Lead and an outpatient therapist, working closely with individuals and families to provide compassionate, evidence-based care. Committed to expanding access to person-centered mental health services, Leah is passionate about improving the availability of quality care in rural communities, ensuring that individuals receive the support they need, regardless of location. Her leadership at The Balsam Center is driven by a vision of accessible, responsive, and client-focused mental healthcare for all.