Staff
Summer B. Brancoccio, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS
President and CEO
President and CEO
Summer B. Brancoccio, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS
Summer B. Brancoccio is the President and CEO of The National Center for Advocacy and Recovery for behavioral health (NCAAR-BH), a leading organization promoting recovery through advocacy and education for over 40 years. Prior to assuming her position in July 2022, she served as the Clinical Director for the Substance Abuse Initiative and Behavioral Health Initiative (SAI/BHI), overseeing a statewide cohort of clinicians providing comprehensive care management services to the GA and TANF population in New Jersey.
Summer has dedicated her career to serving individual, families, and communities affected by behavioral health concerns as a clinician, supervisor, and advocate for equitable and accessible services. She served those with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders at Mount Sinai Hospital, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Family Connections, West Bergen Mental Healthcare, North Charles Institute for the Addictions, and SAI/BHI. Her extensive experience providing treatment and care management informs her work in public policy, supporting the implementation of a full continuum of evidence-based care, harm reduction principles, and legislation and policy that honors the humanity of those being served.
Summer obtained her BA in Psychology from Boston University and her Masters of Education and Masters of Arts in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University.
Laura Videtti, MAcc
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Laura Videtti, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Videtti is the Chief Financial Officer and has been with NCAAR for over 22 years. Laura received her Master’s in Accounting from the Business School of Rutgers University and her undergraduate degree from The College of New Jersey. Under her leadership, she and her staff have received clean annual financial audits each year insuring that our grantors can trust our agency is a good steward of financial resources.
Laura is the pawrent of her furbaby Rylee, a six year old black Labrador Retriever and enjoys taking her for walks and training classes for nose work. Although she was born and resides in New Jersey, when not working Laura enjoys spending time on a quieter shore. The Eastern Shore of Virginia is where she spends her down time boating, fishing and relaxing with family and friends.
Stacey Wolff, NCC, LPC, LCADC, ACS
Director of Care Coordination Services
Director of Care Coordination Services
Stacey Wolff, NCC, LPC, LCADC, ACS
Stacey’s career in the behavioral health field spans almost 30 years! She is passionate about the work she does with strong convictions to advocate and help others with their goals for meaningful change. Stacey has worked in various clinical and supervisory positions and with very challenging populations. She began her career working with young adults with intellectual disabilities, and adults with moderate to severe disorders transitioning to the community from long-term psychiatric hospitalizations. She has provided therapeutic services to adolescent girls with trauma and co-occurring disorders, children in high-risk families, and most recently with the complex and challenging WFNJ GA/TANF population. With advancing positions within NCAAR she became the Director of Care Coordination Services for NCAAR in 2010. When she is not working, you can find her outside photographing nature.
Robert K. Hightower, BS
Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Robert K. Hightower, BS
Robert earned an Industrial Engineering & Operations Research degree from Rutgers University in 1995 and has over 25 years of Systems Manager experience. Robert began his journey with NCAAR in 1998 as a subcontractor, enlisted to manage the hardware and software needs of the then six person agency. As a key leader in the organization, Robert helped build and maintain all databases while meeting the networking needs for several multimillion dollar grants. In addition, he manages the IT Department who supports over 100 employees stationed in all 21 counties within the state of NJ. Robert serves as a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Compliance Officer and volunteers on the Fundraising Committee for NCAAR.
Gina Wilkins LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS
Clinical Director, Work First NJ Substance Abuse Initiative and Behavioral Health Initiative
Clinical Director, Work First NJ Substance Abuse Initiative and Behavioral Health Initiative
Gina Wilkins LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS
Gina Wilkins is the Clinical Director for the Substance Abuse Initiative and Behavioral Health Initiative (SAI/BHI). In the role of Clinical Director, she oversees a team of clinicians providing statewide comprehensive assessment and care management services to the Work First New Jersey population. Gina joined the agency in 2018 as a Care Coordinator and was promoted to the Lead Care Coordinator position in 2019 in order to provide clinical support and supervision to her staff.
Gina began her career in 2012 as a case manager and counselor for the Women and Children’s Residential Substance Use program at Straight and Narrow, Inc. She continued to serve the men, women, and children affected by mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorders for the next six years in various levels of care. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of NJ, Gina has worked with youth ages 3-21 and their families as an Intensive In-Community Counselor; a tele-health therapist for an employee assistance program (EAP); and a private clinician/consultant.
Gina is passionate about providing an open and welcoming environment where people can learn from one another, grow in their personal and professional goals, and create change within themselves and their community.
Ciara Guile, NCC, LPC, LCADC
Director, Work First NJ Family Violence Option
Director, Work First NJ Family Violence Option
Ciara Guile, NCC, LPC, LCADC
Ciara Guile is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Towson University and received her Master’s degree for mental health counseling at Monmouth University. Ciara began her work in 2009 by providing services to individuals eligible for parole through the Department of Corrections. Ciara has experience with mental health, substance use, domestic violence and has worked with diverse groups including children, at-risk adolescents, adults and families in a variety of settings including outpatient and in-home services.
Ciara came to work at NCAAR in 2015. She quickly advanced to become a Lead Care Coordinator and then was promoted to become the Director of the WFNJ Family Violence Option in 2018. Ciara is a dynamic and active leader. In her current role, Ciara is dedicated to empowering survivors of domestic violence to more secure income support, autonomy, and safety without placing them at risk of further abuse.
Lisa Schmitter, BA, PHR
Director of Human Resources & Administration
Director of Human Resources & Administration
Lisa Schmitter, BA, PHR
Lisa Schmitter is the Director of Human Resources & Administration and has been with NCAAR. for over 19 years. Previously she worked in staffing and recruiting. Lisa is a graduate of Buffalo State College and a certified HR professional. Until several years ago, she served many years in the role of ‘HR Department of One’. This has provided her the opportunity to work in all areas of HR including recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and benefits to name a few. She is always happy to assist a staff member in any way possible.
Lisa enjoys lengthy runs in the woods, has raised four hairless cats and loves The Muppets. She was born and raised in the Buffalo, NY area and relocated to Portland, OR before settling here on the east coast.
Andora Hightower, BA
Communications & Development Manager
Communications & Development Manager
Andora Hightower, BA
Andora Hightower has been a loyal employee with NCAAR since 1998. Her journey began with the birth of the SAI/BHI program as an Assistant Care Coordinator. Her responsible and versatile nature earned her promotions throughout the first decade of her tenure at NCAAR. Upon finishing her undergraduate degree with Thomas Edison State University, she ventured into the Public Policy Unit as the Communications Specialist in 2012. In this role, Andora would oversee the public facing website, social media platforms, and traditional media requests. She would also produce desk top publishing for the organization.
Since then, she has taken on management responsibilities as well as a keen interest in the development of the organization. As someone who is seasoned in both Public Policy and Care Coordination, she was promoted to the Communications and Development Manager where she also takes part in a strategic development plan and leads the fundraising committee. She holds a graduate certificate in fundraising and development at Thomas Edison State University.
Her long lived inspiration to be part of the mission is woven in great part by the loss of a loved one to addiction.
2022 Board of Directors
William Waldman, Chairman
Donald Starn, Treasurer
Naomi Hubbard, Secretary
Bruce Stout, VP Public Policy
Patricia Bowe-Rivers, Member
Terry O’Connor, Member
Robert Trojan, Member
Chris Schroeder, Member
Manuel Guantez, Member
Edward Brazell, Member
Anne Marie Bramnick, Member
Connect With Us
Sign up for our mailing list to receive information about key legislation, letter-writing campaigns, and legislative hearings.