Meet The Team

Founder | Consultant | Trainer | Peer Advocate

Stephanie Hutter-Thomas, PhD, CPH, RPS

As someone with lived experience, Dr. Steph knows firsthand the power of peer support. Through Appalachian Recovery Concepts, LLC, she is dedicated to training, mentoring, and advocating for peer recovery specialists, community health workers, and other paraprofessionals working on the frontlines of behavioral health.

A peer supporting peers, she has spent her career strengthening the recovery workforce, leading training initiatives, and driving research that amplifies the voices of those with lived experience. She is a Co-Investigator for the Mountain Maryland Forward recovery workforce initiative, a member of the IRIS Project Leadership Committee, and an Appalachian Leadership Institute 2023-2024 Alumni.

Before founding Appalachian Recovery Concepts, Dr. Steph served as Director of Peer & Organizational Development at Maryland Coalition of Families, where she championed training, evidence-based practices, and workforce development for peer professionals. She has also led research efforts through West Virginia University’s BIRCH Project and Johns Hopkins University, focusing on the intersection of substance use, public health, and harm reduction. From leading the AmeriCorps COAT Program at Frostburg State University to delivering anti-stigma training through the Maryland ROTA program, her work has always centered on empowering peers to lead the way in recovery-focused care.

Dr. Steph is a seasoned trainer, educator, and advocate, holding credentials as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, CCAR Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator (RCP-F), and Master Trainer for the Regrounding Our Response initiative in both Maryland and West Virginia. She is passionate about breaking down barriers to certification and career advancement for peers, ensuring that those with lived experience have access to meaningful professional opportunities.

At her core, Dr. Steph believes that peers are the future of recovery support—and she’s here to make sure they have the training, resources, and recognition they deserve.

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Trainer | Consultant | Peer Advocate

Robert Zellner

Rob Zellner is more than just a person with lived experience—he’s a dedicated advocate, mentor, and leader in peer support. With over eight years of experience in the field, Rob has used his lived experience to empower others in recovery and shape the future of peer services.

An experienced trainer, Rob serves as a consultant and instructor for Appalachian Recovery Concepts, LLC, where he helps strengthen the peer workforce through education and mentorship. His work has supported initiatives such as Justice and Recovery Advocates, Inc., Alternative Drug & Alcohol Counseling (ADAC), and the Harm Reduction and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in Washington County, Maryland—an Appalachian community he has called home since childhood.

Rob previously served as Director of Client Services and Methadone Coordinator at Awakenings Recovery Center, where he worked directly with individuals navigating opioid use disorder and medication-assisted treatment. His passion for community-based recovery also led him to serve as a Field Supervisor for Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s BeSure West study, contributing to research on substance use and harm reduction strategies.

An AmeriCorps alumni of the COAT (Conquering Opioid Abuse Together) program, Rob’s dedication to service was recognized with Maryland’s 36th Governor’s Award for Service and Volunteerism. He brings a deep understanding of the real-world challenges individuals face in recovery, particularly within high-risk industries like construction. Having worked in residential and commercial carpentry before entering the behavioral health field, Rob knows firsthand how chronic pain, pride, and fear of losing stability can create barriers to recovery. He is committed to advocating for real, practical support systems that help people maintain both their careers and their well-being.

At his core, Rob believes that with the right training, resources, and passionate advocates, real change is possible. He works across disciplines and communities to ensure that peer recovery specialists, service providers, and organizations have the tools they need to create lasting impact in the lives of those they serve.