The Athens Area Commencement Center Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Program MEET OUR STAFF The majority of the clinical staff at the Athens Area Commencement Center hold masters degrees and are certified as Georgia Addiction Counselors with an average of fifteen years of experience in the chemical dependency field. All counselors are specially trained to work with alcohol and drug dependent clients. Administrator - Jim Hinzman Jim Hinzman is the Administrator of the Athens Area Commencement Center. Since 1982, Jim Hinzman has worked in the drug and alcohol field as a clinician and administrator. He has experience working in a hospital based/multidisciplinary setting and a private setting. He is a Georgia Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II, Certified Clinical Supervisor with the Georgia Certified Addiction Counselor's Association, as well as a Master Addiction Counselor. He hold a Master degree from Emory University. Jim is also credentialed as a G.C.A.D.C. through the Alchol & Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia Inc.   Medical Director - Farris T. Johnson Farris T. Johnson, Jr., M. D., F.A.A.F.P. is the Medical Director. Dr. Johnson is Board Certified in Family Practice an Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a professional member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, and the Medical Association of Georgia. Dr. Johnson is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He brings twenty (20) years of expertise in treating Chemical Dependency and ambulatory detoxification, along with experience as a Flight Surgeon, Emergency Room Physician, and a tenured Family Practice. He has active medical staff privileges at Athens Regional Medical Center and St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Johnson is considered one of our most beloved physicians in the Athens Community.   Program Coordinator - Joe Preston A Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor Level II and Certified Clinical Supervisor, Joe Preston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has more than eighteen years of experience in the treatment field. Joe has been in recovery since 1986.       Aftercare Counselor / CAC II - Karen Skinner Karen Skinner got her bachelors and Masters of Education from University of Georgia. She taught school for 10 years prior to working in addiction. She is a Certified Addiction Counselor Level II. She has been active in the recovering community since 1998.       Registered Nurse - Dana Bour Dana has worked in the nursing field since 1985 and graduated as a registered nurse in 1991. Because of her interest in helping people recover from addiction, she joined the Athens Area Commencement Center in 2003.       Business Manager - Robert Hinzman Robert's main duties is being the Business Manager, handling insurance, and all financial aspects of AACC. Robert is consistently exploring new ideas to improve patient care, and AACC as a whole. Robert has been working in the recovery field at AACC for 4 years, also assisting with facilitating group therapy, aftercare, individual counseling and case management. Robert is CAC I ( Certified Addiction Counselor) Level 1, and enjoys working at AACC helping people with their recovery. Watching this process happen with our patients is the joy of working at AACC. People get their lives back on track, and live happier. People come here with little or no hope, and realize they can change.