Niles Comer, M.A.
Executive Director
Niles has spent his professional and personal life working for and alongside those at the margins of society – the addicted, the homeless, and the disenfranchised – in both the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. His professional experiences include being the CEO of an internet company, nonprofit executive director, addictions counselor, HIV social worker, recovery center manager, government trainer/educator, community development specialist, and social entrepreneur.
He has over 30 years of experience with human services, community change, and healing movements. His expertise encompasses nonprofit leadership, building community, developing ecosystems of wellness and recovery, enterprise development, and social impact.
He has deep personal and professional knowledge of addiction, recovery, mental health, trauma, homelessness, spiritual development, community renewal, and the impacts of poverty.
Niles received his B.A. from Vermont College of Norwich University and his M.A. from Claremont Lincoln University (California), where he focused on developing social enterprises that make a positive social impact. He has been trained as an Addictions Counselor and a Peer Recovery Support Specialist.
Niles is also a person in long-term recovery from addiction.
He can be reached at niles@dayspringfdn.org
Our Staff
Amanda Patterson, QP, CPSS
Medicaid Care Navigator, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)
Amanda is an Asheville native who has worked as a Certified Peer Support Specialist for eight years. Before Dayspring Foundation, she worked on a Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team with DHHS, supporting families struggling with Substance Use. She has also spent several years before that working on an Assertive Community Treatment Team.
Amanda’s personal and professional experience has provided her the opportunity to walk alongside people who are at their darkest place in life and offer them hope, support, and encouragement. Amanda feels that meeting people exactly where they are and being trauma-informed are important assets when supporting people on their recovery journey.
Amanda’s passion for serving others has driven her to further her education, and she is currently completing her B.S.W. at Mars Hill University.
In Amanda’s free time, she enjoys exploring nature, creating art, supporting her daughter in sports, and spending time with her adult children, grandchildren, and furry children.
Amanda can be reached at amanda@dayspringfdn.org
Rebekah Karner, CADC
Care Navigator, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)
Originally from Hickory, North Carolina, Beka relocated to Asheville many years ago to begin her recovery journey. Beka has been a Peer Support Specialist working in Asheville for over 4 years. Beka holds certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and she has a degree in Human Services.
Beka can be reached at rebekah@dayspringfdn.org
Ashley Hyde, START Family Mentor
Ashley Hyde was born and raised in Asheville, NC. As a Family Mentor with the Buncombe County Department of Social Services START program, she serves as part of a unique program that pairs peer recovery support staff with lived experiences in both addiction and child welfare services. Ashley’s unique experiences allow her to connect with families on a deeper level and provide more effective guidance and support as families find healing and strive for recovery.
Ashley can be reached at ashley.hyde@buncombecounty.org.
Vallerie Dickinson, START Family Mentor
Vallerie is a proud peer recovery support specialist, a wife, and a mother. She is a START Family Mentor who has found purpose in helping people who are living with addiction. Vallerie brings her passion for and expertise in the peer recovery support model. She believes in second chances and helps create those opportunities for those she serves because she knows that recovery from addiction is real and life changing.
She can be reached at vallerie.dickinson@buncombecounty.org
Samantha Robinson, START Family Mentor
Samantha “Sam” Robinson is a dedicated Peer Support Specialist, who works as a Family Mentor on the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team at Buncombe County DSS. Originally from Florida, Sam moved to McDowell County NC in 2012 and has served the community in Asheville since January 2024. Her journey toward recovery and helping others is deeply rooted in her faith and involvement in Celebrate Recovery. Sam has over five years in recovery and is passionate about personal growth and continuous learning.
She has her associate’s degree in applied science with a certificate in cosmetology and is currently working towards becoming a Community Health Worker. She embraces opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills, particularly in areas that enhance her ability to support others. Her commitment to strengthening interpersonal relationships is evident in her interactions with families and individuals in recovery, as she strives to build trust and understanding. She is a devoted wife and mother of three energetic boys and enjoys spending time at the baseball field watching them play. Her hope is to promote healing and inspire others, showing them that recovery is possible.
She can be reached at samantha.robinson@buncombecounty.org
Brandy Rosa, NCCPSS, START Family Mentor
Brandy has been working in the recovery community for over a decade. She has worked in family services, drug court, and as a peer recovery specialist serving the Asheville area. Aside from the love of her work, Brandy is a mother of five wonderful children; her oldest is studying social work at Western Carolina University and Brandy is so proud her daughter wants to follow in her footsteps. Family is everything to her, which is why she is so well suited and passionate about being a Family Mentor with the START team.
Brandy is also a dog mom (German Shepherd), a cat mom (two Maine Coon kittens), and a cheer mom and coach. Brandy, like the entire Dayspring team, is a community Change Agent.
Brandy is a person in long-term recovery from addiction.
She can be reached at brandy.rosa@buncombecounty.org