1700 Abbey Place Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, US
About Us
George L Raad, M.D. - Medical Director
Dr. Raad has treated over 28,000 moderate to high acuity patients during his thirty-plus year career while the Medical Director for an urban inpatient medical detoxification program. Dr. Raad has been innovative in his response to changing patients and changing drugs in the substance use disorder field, and he has earned high patient satisfaction scores during his tenure.
He is the past recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Jody Kellerman award for excellence in the field of substance abuse treatment. Dr. Raad is a much sought-after trainer and expert in the field of substance use disorders. He has presented to many varied professional groups and has appeared on numerous television reports on addiction. He has a private family medicine practice, a concierge medical practice and a research facility in Charlotte, NC
EDWARD "EDDIE" HAMMETT, - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Eddie joined Dr. Raad at StartBupe in November 2017 and oversees the day to day operations of the program. Prior to becoming the Director of Operations at StartBupe, Eddie spent thirty (30) years in law enforcement, the last twenty-seven (27) serving as a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Having spent the last ten (10) years of his career with the DEA in Charlotte, Eddie has an institutional knowledge of the ravages that opioid addiction has unleashed on the United States, especially in the State of North Carolina. Eddie believes in a partnership with law enforcement, medical professionals, treatment program, families, and patients are needed to cure this opioid epidemic.
Eddie spent his last three (3) with DEA involved with community outreach programs in the greater Charlotte as well as other areas of North Carolina regarding the dangers of opiate addiction, especially at the high school and college realm. These outreach programs made Eddie self-aware how important that the availability of substance abuse treatment is and Eddie passionate about helping people with this endeavor which lead him to StartBupe.
Eddie is originally from Spartanburg, SC where he started his law enforcement career after graduating From The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. Eddie is married and has two school aged children. Eddie is an avid outdoors man who loves to chase whitetail deer and eastern wild turkey in his home state as well as attending football games of his beloved South Carolina Gamecocks where his dad and mentor played football.
LISA MILLER, CSAC - DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING SERVICES
Lisa has over a decade of experience treating addiction. She first began counseling in the substance use disorder field in 2006. Her style is empowering with clear direction to help you to make positive changes in your life. Counseling our patients brings out her compassion and skill as a seasoned addictions counselor and sobriety guide.
Lisa has worked in MAT, intensive outpatient and adolescent programs. She brings her in depth experience to help StartBupe clients through many issues.
She loves fun times with friends and family at the lake or beach and waking up VERY early to work out in the gym. A true gym rat she passionately encourages others to be holistic in taking care of their health and wellness. Strength training and endurance are her favorites. Both recharge her spirit.
Christa Flatt - Director of Case management
May 2017, Christa Flatt became one of the original employees of StartBupe.com. Today, she is the Director of Case Management. She also assists our medical providers and clients with pharmacy and prescription concerns.
Christa moved to Charlotte in 2007 after graduating from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Christa began her career as a certified pharmacy technician before coming to StartBupe. She is currently in the process of becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) to further help our patients in their recovery.
In her spare time, Christa enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, baby and two dogs, Bear and Rodgers.
Pastor Fred Rudder - Pastoral Care
Pastor Fred Rudder, hailing from South Carolina, was originally a newspaper man. His family’s printing company designed and engineered the colors that you find in newspapers and circulars to this day. Upon leaving the firm in 1985, he embarked on his life’s work to begin his ministry that works with both spiritual and non-spiritual followers to aid in discovery of their life’s purpose.
Pastor Fred has over 30 years of combined education and experience in both science and spirituality to form his unique Pastoral Care program offered here at StartBupe. It begins with a Game-Plan tailored to the patient to aid both growth in all areas of life and ultimately living a life that is free from drugs. Moreover, self-care is an equally important tenet of his program that promotes a successful recovery of the entire person. He calls our patients whom elect to participate in pastoral care “wounded healers” because of their past and “warriors” because their trials will be used to aid their future testimony to others. The final step is Pay-It-Forward for patients to pass along what they’ve learned to help those suffering from their addiction.
Pastor Fred has four children and nine grandchildren who keep him very busy. He enjoys spending time with his fiancée and combined families. He enjoys the outdoors, traveling, music, dancing and new experiences in general. And Pastor Fred always appreciates a restaurant recommendation for him to try on his various travels!
Michael Benson - Director of Compliance
Michael joined StartBupe in January 2017 while the company was just a pilot program. Today, he monitors the program as its Director of Compliance, for both patient and regulatory.
A native Charlottean, Michael graduated from Charlotte Catholic and attended Duke University, where he earned a B.S. in Biology and a double minor in chemistry and history.
Michael remained in Durham after graduating to work in clinical research. He has since returned to his hometown and started a small business dealing in various types of collectibles.
Michael enjoys reading, running, coffee, and spoiling his cat Milo.
Lisa Cassell - Director of Patient Relations
Lisa Cassell joined StartBupe in July 2018 in an administrative assistant capacity and quickly proved herself to be a valuable integral part of the program in her transition to Patient Relations and Case Management. She now serves as the Director of Patient Relations while still lending her expertise to our patient’s by directly participating in their case management.
Originally from Virginia, Lisa moved to Charlotte a little over fifteen years ago. Most of her career prior to StartBupe was spent in both advertising and elementary education. She is married with two daughters and two fur-babies, Shih Tzus named Bentley and Bella.
Lisa enjoys the outdoors, going camping, visiting waterfalls, attending football games (Go Hoos!) and spending time with her husband, family and friends.
Jamie Goebel - Audio Video Coordinator / Telemedicine Intakes
Jamie is one of the first people that speak with our clients. He arranges the live tele-medicine clinical visits by Dr. Raad. He introduces our clients during the video calls to other members of our staff.
He enjoys lake living, restoring old time pieces, reading and political discourse.
Jill Doohan
Jill is our toxicology processor from Andor Labs. She began her clinical association with StartBupe in early 2018. Originally from New York, she moved to Charlotte in 2006 after working ten years in the field of oncology medicine.
Jill is married with two active children and two lazy dogs. She enjoys being the soccer and lacrosse mom and will always make time for the beach!
Bailey
Bailey is the emotional support dog for the team. She participates in treatment team activities such as belly rubbing, tug of war and fetch. She lowers blood pressures and provides spiritual awareness for the office team.
She often assists nervous clients and their families when they visit us at StartBupe.
ROBERT MARTIN, J.D., CEAP - Director of Community Relations
Bob is our marketing and program analyst guru. He is in charge of our website, our marketing and branding, our community relations and outreach programs.
He brings over twenty-six years of experience as a leader in the recovery and substance use disorder fields to StartBupe.
Sue Turner - CPSS, Recovery Coach, CSAC-I
Sue retired in June of 2018 after 36 years of working in the Payroll/IT field, and began a subsequent career in substance use disorder counseling. She is a certified peer support specialist and recovery coach. As a person in long term recovery, she has a passion for helping others who struggle with substance use disorder. She officially joined Startbupe in May of 2019 after completing her degree.
She enjoys cross stitching, reading, trips to the beach and time spent with her children and grandchildren.
Melody Amendola
Melody is a Case Manager in our patient relations department. She is often that calming voice you reach helping you to register in our program or solving problems for our patients.
Melody joined StartBupe in August of 2020. Originally from New York, she moved to Charlotte in 2002. She has lived in the south since 1997.
Melody was a stay at home mom for 22 years, that is where she learned to multitask, problem solve and keep everyone on task. Prior to being a stay at home mom, she worked in the financial industry for fifteen years. Melody entered the mental health/ substance abuse field in 2017. Her passion is making a difference in the lives of others.
Melody is married with three children. She enjoys traveling, shopping, volunteering, spending time with family, watching football and basketball. Most of all is visiting her children.
Camille Hammett
Camille is our Social Media Marketing Assistant. She works with Robert Martin to keep our Social Media up to date. Camille has a strong passion to help others. She also works on outreach to youth that have substance abuse disorder. Since Camille has a strong passion for helping others, she plans on pursing a Nursing Major in college.
When she's not working, she enjoys going to football games, going to the lake or beach, and hanging out with her friends and family. Camille can also always be found tailgating at South Carolina Gamecock football games (Go Cocks!).
Riti Kathwadia
Riti has been an intern in patient relations for StartBupe since June 2019.
Riti, an undergraduate student attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, class of 2021, is majoring in psychology, with a minor in biology. She is very active and involved as a leader on campus. Riti is the Pre-Physician Assistant Association Fundraising Chairperson, the Psychology Student Coalition President and the Vice President of Alpha Epsilon Delta. After graduating, Riti hopes to attend physician assistant school and pursue a career in the medical field.
In her free time, Riti enjoys watching Carolina Panthers football, watching crime shows and reading.
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Peyton Bowling
Peyton processes payments and assists with new admissions at StartBupe. She wants to help others in any way she can. Her passion is to help people who suffer from substance use disorders begin their journey in recovery after she graduates from Queens University in Charlotte, NC. She is majoring in Human Services. Peyton chose the human services field because she wants to help people be the best version of themselves. Peyton has had people close to her battle addiction and she knows what it can do to a person.
After graduation, she hopes to work in counseling at a treatment facility helping people everyday on the road to recovery.
When not studying or working, Peyton enjoys playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family, and going on trips to the beach or mountains.
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