Meet Our Team
The Orenda Center of Wellness and it’s passionate team are committed to the community and more importantly, it’s people.
Our Team
Kelsea Kephart-Scates
CEO & Founder
Meet Kelsea, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Kelsea has worked in the behavioral health field for over 15 years, in many different capacities including substance use, inpatient mental health, crisis intervention and prior to opening The Orenda Center as a psychiatric rehabilitation counselor. Kelsea attended Frederick Community College for Substance use counseling and attended University of Maryland University College for Psychology. In addition to her college education, Kelsea has taken additional training courses through Cornell University in their “ Psychology of Leadership” program to further advance her leadership skills.
Kelsea has a strong passion for helping those in need and has done so through various non profit organizations including serving as a part of the initial community board for The Phoenix Recovery Academy and starting Stomp out Heroin. Stomp out Heroin is an event aimed at raising awareness on overdose risks and raising funds for those suffering from addiction. To date the fundraiser has raised over $100,000 to fight addiction in our community. Addiction and mental health have deeply affected Kelsea’s family and friends, turning her pain into passion caused Kelsea to focus on the field of Substance Use and Mental Health co-founding The Orenda Center in 2019. Kelsea continues her involvement in not only helping the clients of Orenda but those in the community as well.
Dawn Ray
Executive Director of Inpatient Services
Meet Dawn, Dawn is currently our Executive Director of Inpatient Services. Dawn’s career in this field began at The Faith House, a program that offers safe shelter for women and children. Dawn served as a Program Specialist, offering guidance and support to individuals navigating challenging circumstances. Dawn additionally completed her Certified Peer Recovery Specialist training with Mount Saint Mary’s University. Her personal journey of overcoming addiction spans twenty years, shaping her empathetic approach to client care. Currently, Dawn thrives in her role at The Orenda Center of Wellness, where she initially joined as a DCC Tech in 2019 and has ascended to her current position. She finds immense fulfillment in working closely with clients, providing them with not only practical support but also a deep sense of love and hope.
Angel Daiker
Executive Director of Outpatient Services
Meet Angel, the Executive Director of Outpatient Services at The Orenda Center of Wellness.
With over 11 years in healthcare and administration, Angel focuses on overseeing our outpatient center and guiding our teams to deliver exceptional care tailored to client needs. Angel’s journey includes earning a Human Services Degree, which has provided her with a strong foundation in healthcare management, policy development, and client care protocols. This background empowers her to lead initiatives that optimize our service delivery while prioritizing your well-being.
Throughout Angel’s career, she has achieved several milestones, such as implementing new protocols that improve patient outcomes and securing accreditation for our outpatient facility. These accomplishments reflect my dedication to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
Angel prioritizes fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and compassion within our outpatient setting. By staying engaged with industry trends and best practices through professional organizations, Angel ensures our services evolve to meet your changing needs.
Kayla Dull, CAC-AD
Outpatient Substance Use Clinical Supervisor/Manager
Meet Kayla, Kayla is the Clinical Supervisor at our outpatient substance use program, as well as a primary counselor. Kayla is a licensed in the State of Maryland as a CAC-AD with board approval as a supervisor for other drug and alcohol counselors, as well as trainees. Kayla has been working in the behavioral healthcare field since 2017. Kayla attended Stevenson University for her Bachelors in Human Services and Minor in Psychology. Kayla comes to us with years of personal and professional experience dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She has shown dedication in wanting to assist and advocate for those that want a better life for themselves and for their family.
Grace Trigger, CAC-AD
Women's Inpatient Clinical Lead
Meet Grace, Grace is the Clinical Lead at the Women’s Inpatient Program. She has been with The Orenda Center of Wellness since 2019. Grace holds a graduate degree in Social Work from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Towson University. While at George Mason University, Grace was selected to participate in the Community-Academic Partnerships in Behavioral Health (CAP-BH) program, funded by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As a participant in this program, Grace received extensive training in addressing the complex issues that stem from trauma that is left untreated, as well as the impact of unmet behavioral health needs. The trainings included facilitating Dialectical Behavioral Therapy groups, utilizing Motivational Interviewing with clients with Substance Use Disorder, as well as introductions to Internal Family Systems and Trauma-Informed Yoga. Grace is also the Chair of the Low-Cost Therapy Program for the Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Work.
Jamila Pennyman, FNP
Nursing Director
Meet Jamila, Jamila Pennyman is the Nursing Director and Medical Nurse Practitioner at The Orenda Center of Wellness, where she has been leading with a deep commitment to quality and compassionate care since 2019. With a diverse clinical background spanning multiple specialties, Jamila brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her career includes four years at a convalescent home, two years on a Med-Surg unit, and time spent on the pediatric unit of a long-term acute care facility. She also has extensive experience in obstetrics, having served for 15 years, and spent a year at a primary care/urgent care clinic.
Jamila holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Biology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing, complemented by multiple certifications. Her academic background, certifications and extensive hands-on experience, enhancing her ability to provide comprehensive care while staying abreast with the latest developments in her field.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jamila is deeply committed to community service. She has volunteered with a youth football association for eight years and served on the board of her community’s Youth Sports Association for two years. Known for her knack for blending humor with professionalism, Jamila excels at easing anxiety and fostering comfort with her clients. She is very passionate about delivering quality, compassionate care to underserved populations. Above all, Jamila finds great joy in empowering individuals to recognize their own potential and strengths throughout their journey in life, not just recovery.
Dr. Vemulapalli, MD
Medical Director
Meet Dr. Vemulapalli, also known as “Dr.V”. Dr. V is the Medical Director for The Orenda Center since April of 2020. In addition to serving as the Medical Director, Dr. V is our Psychiatrist at our Outpatient and Women’s Inpatient. Dr. V attended Med school atMahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical sciences, INDIA. He completed his Residency in Psychiatry at The University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore MD. Additionally, he completed his Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at The University of Maryland and Veterans hospital Baltimore MD.
Dr. V is Certified in addiction medicine by the American society of addiction medicine (ASAM)
In addition to his work at Orenda, Dr. V was apart of starting Man Alive inc. as the Medical Director for the first opiate addiction treatment program in the state of Maryland and the second oldest in the country. Dr. V has provided care at People encouraging People, as the Medical director and Psychiatrist for Assertive Community Care team in Baltimore city. Additionally Dr. V has worked with Lane treatment center as the Medical director of OMHC, treating patients with co-occurring disorders. He is also in Certified in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, bringing this incredible service to Orenda clients. All of his professional career Dr. V has worked with patients who have been marginalized and underprivileged, his journey serving this population has brought him to Orenda.
Jennifer Sartori
Finance Director
Meet Jenny, Jenny brings a wealth of financial knowledge and experience to her role as Finance Director at The Orenda Center of Wellness. With a comprehensive background in medical billing and financial management spanning over a decade and a half, she has played a key role in driving the company’s financial success. Since joining the team in 2021 she has been dedicated to diligently overseeing the financial operations of the organization, ensuring both efficiency and excellence in every aspect of fiscal management.
Matt Hayden, SHRM, CPSP
HR Director
Meet Matt, Matt Hayden is the HR Director for The Orenda Center of Wellness, where he also oversees IT Services, Corporate Policy, and CARF Accredited compliance standards. As a SHRM-certified professional with a degree in business administration, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience related to the field of behavioral healthcare. Before joining Orenda in 2020 he focused on program development, restructuring of operational systems and the implementation of strategic business management processes. This experience coupled with his passion for helping this community has made Matt a vital part of our growing organization.
As someone in long-term recovery himself, Matt is deeply involved in the recovery community of Frederick County. He is dedicated to addressing the epidemic of addiction and combating the mental health stigma with a passionate belief that everyone deserves a chance at recovery.
In his personal time Matt loves traveling to new exciting destinations where he enjoys making new friends and experiencing other cultures. Adventures and new experiences are his motto in life. As he often says “Live each day to the fullest and make great memories wherever you can.”
Kasey Purdum
Billing Director
Meet Kasey, Kasey serves as the Billing Director at Orenda, a role she has excelled in since joining the company in 2020. With over 15 years of experience in medical billing Kasey brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and a proven track record of success to the forefront of Orenda’s operational excellence. Upon taking on the role of Billing Director, Kasey initiated a groundbreaking transformation within Orenda by bringing the billing processes in-house. This strategic move not only enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of billing operations but also enabled tighter control, reduced costs, and improved client satisfaction. Under Kasey’s leadership, the in-house billing team has thrived, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and excellence in handling the nuances of medical billing cycles. Kasey graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, emphasizing Criminal Justice.