Get Addiction Help (888) 804-0917

Our Staff

Our Staff

At New Hope Recovery Center, we utilize a multi-disciplinary team approach in order to best serve our clients individual needs. Our compassionate staff treat each person individually in order to provide the best possible care.

Jeffrey Zacharias LCSW, CSAT, CAADC, RDDP  – Clinical Director/President

Jeff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CAADC), Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and Registered Dual Disorder Professional (RDDP) with extensive clinical experience in both the mental health and addictions fields. In 2015, Jeff was named Illinois Social Worker of the Year by the NASW. Jeff is currently the NASW Illinois Chapter Chicago District Chair.

Jeff is the President/Clinical Director of New Hope Recovery Center located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. He also has a private practice in Chicago’s Lincoln Square. His areas of interest include working with all aspects of addiction, severe and persistent mental health issues, personality disorders, trauma and its impact on recovery, hoarding and other obsessive-compulsive disorders and issues within the LGBTQI community.

Jeff is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the National Associations for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as well as the National Association of Lesbian and Gay Addiction Professionals (NALGAP) where he is on the Board of Directors. He has had articles published in “Praxis: Where Reflection and Practice Meet”, “Addiction Professional” magazine and “Renew” magazine. Jeff speaks extensively both in the US and internationally about addiction, trauma and LGBTQIA mental health issues.

Bradd Easton J.D., MAS, BS – Chief Executive Officer

Bradd Easton New Hope Recovery CenterBradd Easton received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his Masters in Accountancy and Bachelor in Finance from the University of Illinois. Bradd joined New Hope Recovery Center after more than 25 years of executive experience at three Fortune 500 Chicago companies.

As Chief Executive Officer of New Hope Recovery Center, Bradd handles marketing, finance, operational and accreditation matters. He diligently works on building new relationships within the recovery community and with programs that assist the LGBT population.

Bradd is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional, a member of the LGBT Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Treasurer and Board Member of the National Association of Lesbian and Gay Addiction Professionals (NALGAP).

Marla D. Kushner, D.O., FASAM, FSAHM – Medical Director

Dr. Marla Kushner graduated from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985. Her Family Medicine residency was at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan and she completed an Adolescent/ Young Adult Medicine Fellowship at Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and Rush-Pres St. Lukes Hospital in Chicago.

After her fellowship Dr. Kushner began working with a nationally known adolescent substance abuse facility in Chicago and received certification in Addiction Medicine from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. She received her fellowship from the American Society of Addiction Medicine in 2011 and certification by the American Board of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Kushner has been working with patients with the disease of addiction at nationally known treatment centers as well as her private practice for over 25 years. She has lectured on the subject of Addiction Medicine at numerous local and national conferences.

Humberto S?nchez, CADC – Primary Counselor

Humberto S?nchez has worked in the substance abuse field for over 24 years.  He has worked in numerous roles over the past decades, greatly contributing to a variety of populations and social service departments.

Humberto has worked with  the criminal justice system, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, and the private sector.  He began his career as a counselor aide at Salvation Army and then moved on to work with Healthcare Alternative Systems. He began in the residential program as a substance abuse counselor and was later offered an opportunity to work with court involved individuals at Cook County Jail’s Daily Reporting Center. This involved working with young males who were awaiting trial. After eight years with HAS, Humberto joined TASC where he worked in the “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” program as a Field Supervisor overseeing the North and Westside Department of Human Services offices providing assessment and referral services and worked in the “Recovery Coach Program” with clients who were DCFS involved.  In 2006, he joined New Hope Recovery Center where he has been a primary counselor providing case management services to our clients and their family members.

Greg Cox, LCSW, CADC, PCGC – Primary Counselor

Greg Cox graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2012. He received his Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2014.  Greg is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and a Certified Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor. His areas of interest within the addiction field include working with the emerging adult population, the LGBTQI community, compulsive gambling, shame-based trauma, and other mental health issues.

Greg has contributed a tremendous amount of research to New Hope Recovery Center’s Addiction Journal before joining the New Hope team as a Primary Counselor. He is also currently working on restructuring our emerging adult program to provide optimal services for our young demographic and their families.

Meredith McQuiston, LSW, CADC – Intake Coordinator – Primary Counselor

Meredith McQuiston is a licensed social worker, Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor and a certified yoga instructor since 2010. Meredith received her Masters from Loyola University Chicago, School of Social Work. Prior to moving to Chicago, Meredith earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas. In Texas, her experience included rape crisis interventions, supervised parental visitation for children, and acting as an advocate for victims of intimate partner assault cases with the Dallas County District Attorney.

Meredith focuses on addiction treatment, trauma-responsive care, and shame resilience and brings aspects of mindfulness and body integration into her treatment. Meredith also provides feminist-oriented therapy. Meredith has experience in a variety of substance use treatments including outpatient care, medication assisted treatment, detox, and inpatient. Meredith’s passion for social justice is evidenced through her commitment to providing trauma-specific services and advocacy for vulnerable communities.?

Our multidisciplinary team includes:

  • Medical Director
  • Board Certified Psychiatrist
  • Credentialed Drug and Alcohol Counselors
  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers
  • Recreational Therapists
  • Yoga Instructor
  • Trained Interventionist