Jerod Thomas
President/CEO
Jerod Thomas M.Ed., CADC, has been the President, CEO of the Shepherds House since January 2016. Jerod began his treatment career as a drug and alcohol counselor at WestCare Kentucky, a non-profit substance abuse program located in Ashcamp, KY. He was later named the Program Director for WestCare, at the Boyle County Detention Center. Jerod was ultimately promoted to Deputy Administrator at WestCare. He supervised and managed the day-to-day operations at all of the treatment facilities in the state of Kentucky. This included one inpatient treatment center, two prison programs, two day reporting programs, two transitional living programs, two homeless shelters, and a university student assistance program.
Sean Schomp
Director of Operations
Sean Schomp was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, where he attended Lexington Catholic High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Eastern Kentucky University. Following graduation, Sean obtained his Kentucky Real Estate License and managed shopping centers and rental properties throughout the Central Kentucky area.
Sean entered the recovery field following his own personal experience with alcohol and substance use disorder. Through recovery, he discovered a life beyond drugs and alcohol that he once believed was unattainable. This journey ignited a deep passion for helping others facing the challenges of addiction.
Sean later earned his Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential and currently serves as Director of Operations, working across all campuses and providing supervision and support to staff. His professional background, combined with lived experience, allows him to bring both leadership and empathy to the recovery community.
Cade Thomas
Director of Jail Programs
Cade Thomas was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Oneida, Tennessee. He pursued a degree in Sports Management at East Tennessee State University, initially planning a career in coaching or sports administration. During his senior year of college, Cade’s struggle with addiction led him to enter treatment mid-semester, where he became a graduate of Hope Valley Recovery Center.
After returning to Johnson City to complete his degree, Cade eventually lost sight of the recovery foundation that had carried him through college. Seeking a fresh start, he relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, where he recommitted to sobriety while working in construction and later as a drug testing representative with Gravity Diagnostics. In that role, Cade traveled to treatment centers throughout Lexington, where he became actively involved in recovery sponsoring individuals, running house meetings, and facilitating groups.
Through this work, Cade discovered a renewed passion for coaching and mentorship, this time within the recovery community. He later joined Shepherd’s House, working in the Grant County Detention Center, where he became Program Director of the SAP program. Cade earned his Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential and now serves as Director of Jail Programs, overseeing six jail programs, supporting more than 350 clients, and supervising a team of 12 staff members. His professional experience and lived recovery allow him to lead with both structure and compassion.
James Ellis
SCDC Substance Abuse Program Director
James Ellis grew up in southeast Ohio and graduated from Meigs High School before beginning his academic journey at Hocking College where he earned an Associate of Applied Business in Business Management. After college he faced a difficult period marked by drug and alcohol addiction, a struggle that ultimately reshaped the direction of his life.
Determined to rebuild, James returned to higher education and earned an Associate of Arts in General Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication graduating Summa Cum Laude, both from Ashland University. His academic achievements reflect resilience, discipline, and a deep commitment to personal growth.
Seeking a fresh start and a meaningful way to use his experience, James moved to Kentucky to begin working in the field of recovery with the Shepherds House. His lived experience combined with his education allows him to connect with clients in a way that is both authentic and impactful.
James now serves as the Director of the Substance Abuse Program at the Shelby County Detention Center where he oversees programming, supports staff, and works directly with individuals seeking change. He is also a graduate student in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky where he is pursuing his Master of Social Work to further expand his ability to serve others.
His journey from addiction to academic excellence to leadership in the recovery community continues to shape his mission of helping others discover the possibility of a life they once believed was out of reach.
Emily Lange
Clinical Director
Emily Lange is the Clinical Director at Shepherds House Inc., where she provides leadership, clinical oversight, and supervision across all campuses. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Eastern Kentucky University and her Master of Social Work from Western Kentucky University.
Emily began her career in substance use counseling with Shepherds House in 2017 and has remained dedicated to the addiction treatment field ever since. She returned to The Shepherds House in 2025 with extensive experience in both direct clinical care and program leadership. She is committed to supporting high-quality, ethical, and compassionate treatment services.
Emily is passionate about helping individuals and their families navigate the recovery process, believing that healing extends beyond the individual to the entire support system. She is deeply invested in mentoring staff, fostering professional growth, and ensuring that clients receive evidence-based, person-centered care throughout their recovery journey.
Tracy McIntosh
Program Director
Tracy McIntosh was born in Harrison County, KY and raised in Pendleton County, KY on a quiet farm with her parents and extended family. In 2003, Tracy began as a deputy jailer at Grant County Detention Center, where she worked for 8 years. Tracy began taking in foster
children and was a foster parent for 4 years before adopting 4 children out of the foster care
system. In 2016, Tracy went back to college with the intention of becoming a nurse, but fate had other plans.
children and was a foster parent for 4 years before adopting 4 children out of the foster care
system. In 2016, Tracy went back to college with the intention of becoming a nurse, but fate had other plans.
In 2020, Tracy began her forever career with Shepherd's House as an intern and moved up to program director upon graduation from Northern Kentucky with her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Servies and Addictions. Yearning to "go back home," Tracy returned to Shepherd's House in 2025 where she once again earned her position as program director.
Based on her background of her family having substance misuse issues, Tracy decided help others who also suffered. In 2025, Tracy earned her Master of Social Work degree from
Northern Kentucky University.
Working in recovery gives Tracy the purpose she longs for. To help just one person commit to recovery and change their lives for the better is what makes Tracy come to work every day. Tracy always tells her clients she is "in it for the outcome."
David Luster
Deputy Administrator
David Luster is a recovery professional, peer advocate, and organizational leader with more
than six years of experience supporting individuals with substance use disorder and co-
occurring mental health conditions. He is certified as an Adult Peer Support Specialist
(APSS) through NAMI and has dedicated his career to strengthening recovery-oriented
systems of care.
than six years of experience supporting individuals with substance use disorder and co-
occurring mental health conditions. He is certified as an Adult Peer Support Specialist
(APSS) through NAMI and has dedicated his career to strengthening recovery-oriented
systems of care.
David’s professional journey is rooted in lived experience. After struggling with addiction
for many years, he entered treatment at Shepherd’s House—the program that ultimately
helped him reclaim his life. Upon graduating in 2018, he began working at Shepherd’s
House as a weekend house manager, a role he held for approximately 18 months. In 2019,
he transitioned into full-time leadership and now serves as Deputy Administrator, while
continuing his work as an Adult Peer Support Specialist.
In his role as Deputy Administrator, David provides executive-level operational oversight
across recovery housing and related programs. He supervises residential leadership staff,
supports approximately 70 residents across multiple levels of care, and ensures compliance
with program standards, policies, and safety requirements. His responsibilities include staff
supervision, operational compliance, resident support and mentorship, enforcement of
safety and security procedures, and coordination of required training and certifications.
David emphasizes accountability, stability, and relationship-building as essential
foundations for long-term recovery.
Beyond his organizational role, David serves in statewide and community leadership
capacities. He is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Alliance of
Recovery Residences (KYARR), where he helps advance quality standards, ethical
operations, and recovery housing policy across Kentucky. He also serves on the board of
Recovery Café Lexington, supporting inclusive, peer-driven recovery spaces within the
Lexington community.
David brings a unique perspective that bridges lived experience, organizational leadership,
and governance. His work is grounded in the belief that recovery housing and recovery
communities should be safe, dignified, accountable, and centered on connection, hope, and
long-term stability.
Kendra Thomas
Clinician
Kendra Thomas was born in the small town of Lansing in western North Carolina and later moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, to attend East Tennessee State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. She began her career in the substance use field as a Targeted Case Manager, supporting individuals through care coordination, resource linkage, treatment planning, and navigating systems essential to recovery and stability. Kendra went on to earn a Master’s degree in Education in Clinical Counseling, along with a Certificate in Substance Abuse.
She later relocated to Lexington to further her career. Kendra currently works as a clinician at Shepherd’s House, in the long-term outpatient men’s program, where she provides individual and group therapy. Her clinical focus includes helping clients develop coping skills, process trauma, rebuild healthy relationships, reunite with family, and gain the tools needed to become independent, productive members of society.
Kendra’s passion for this work is shaped by both professional expertise and personal experience. Having seen loved ones struggle with addiction, and through her own engagement in a 12-step program, she gained firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards of recovery. This perspective informs her compassionate, client-centered approach, empowering individuals to build resilience, develop healthy coping strategies, and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives.
Jessica Marshal
Nurse Practitioner
Jessica M. Marshal, APRN, CARN-AP, serves as the Nurse Practitioner for Shepherd’s House, providing medical care for individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. As the organization’s primary medical provider, she oversees medical services across residential and outpatient programming, integrating evidence-based addiction treatment with primary and acute care expertise.
Ms. Marshal brings extensive experience in addiction medicine, hospital medicine, and high-acuity nursing practice. She previously worked in residential substance use treatment and helped establish an inpatient addiction consult service within a large academic medical center.
She holds dual board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and is credentialed as a Certified Addiction Registered Nurse – Advanced Practice (CARN-AP). In addition to her clinical work, she remains committed to advancing education, overdose prevention, and evidence-based care within the community.
John Vance
IOP Counselor
John Vance (PhD, CADC) was raised in Lexington, KY and attended the University of Kentucky, where he earned a BA in English. He then attended the University of Louisville, where he earned an MA in English and a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition. He won numerous accolades throughout his academic career, including the 2010 Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research Paper Award, a University of Louisville Graduate Fellowship, a University of Louisville Creative Writing Scholarship, first prize honors in two creative writing competitions, and election to Phi Beta Kappa. After completing his PhD, he was hired as an Assistant Professor of English at Virginia State University.
Also during this time, however, John was grappling with substance use disorder, which eventually progressed to homelessness and a three-year black hole in his professional resume. In 2019, he was first admitted to the Shepherds House as a client in the men’s 12-month program, and he graduated in 2021.
After graduating, John was hired as a counselor in the Shepherds House’s Substance Abuse Program (SAP) at Grant County Detention Center, where he was later promoted to Program Director. After earning his CADC, he transferred to his current position in Lexington, where he serves as primary counselor for the intensive outpatient and RISE programs. John is also a current student in the University of Kentucky’s MSW program, with a focus on clinical social work practice.