Our Staff
Executive Leadership
Lisa Heaton
Executive Director
A graduate of Southern Utah University and the University of Utah, Lisa is a licensed therapist with 20 years of experience at House of Hope. Previously she worked in children’s mental health for ten years and specialized in working with children and families, especially in reunification, before becoming the Executive Director of House of Hope. “Since only one woman out of every twenty who seek treatment will qualify for funding or get a slot, I have high expectations for our House of Hope women. I’m fine with being known as the hardest treatment program as long as we also have the reputation for building strong women, healing lives and strengthening families. I believe in being strengths-based treatment and giving people chances, but I also believe in being direct, holding myself, staff and clients accountable, and that the fight to overcome addiction and keep families together requires hard work, constant self-awareness and utilizing every possible internal and external resource.”
Favorite vacation spot: Oregon coast. Favorite Hobby: Reading. Strength: Determination. Weakness I’m Working On: Mt. Dew addiction.
Lori Weaver
Director of Operations
A graduate of University of Phoenix in Criminal Justice, Lori is a licensed advanced substance use disorder counselor with over 15 years of experience at House of Hope. Lori also has over 25 years of experience working in the social work and criminal justice field and has specialized worked with women in several treatment centers as a case manager, treatment coordinator, and director before becoming Director of Operations at House of Hope. “I truly believe that change is possible and have had the privilege to see it happen daily. House of Hope is a tough program but we believe in compassion, accountability, and empowering our women to see their true potential as productive citizens in our communities. I also believe that myself and our employees should be part of a team that is accountable, strength-based, solution-focused and open to feedback. Change is possible and we must represent what a healthy human can look like as we support our families through challenging times. Recovery is possible for the entire family.”
About Lori: Love the ocean so any vacation by water is plus for me. I love to spend time with my family and friends and especially my amazing daughter, and of course, my super cute little dogs DJ and Maggie. I am a strong, assertive woman who also needs to continually work on being healthy on the inside and out.
Admissions
Julie Jackman
Admissions Director
Biography coming soon; please check back.
Biography coming; please check back soon.
Nicole Trump
Assessment Therapist
Nicole has been interested in the brain and human behavior since childhood and pursued this interest as she completed her education. She graduated from the University of Utah in the Spring of 2019 with a master’s degree in Social Work. The emphasis of her studies were substance use disorders, and she is especially intrigued by how the brain changes through addiction and recovery. Prior to this, she graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, emphasizing work with the LGBTQ+ community. Over her short career, she has spent time as a residential substance use therapist and an assessment therapist.
Nicole’s passion lies in stories and the human experience. She continues to marvel at the demonstrations of resilience and determination within the recovery community. She believes that each continued effort towards recovery is an act of self-love.
Nicole loves the privilege of hearing each person’s story and hopes to continue to help clients get into treatment and find support in their recovery. One of her favorite quotes to live by is, “I’m the only one who can get in my own way, and I stopped doing that yesterday.”
Cami Sandall
Admissions/Eligibility Specialist
Biography coming soon; please check back.
Children's Services
Lyra Gills
Child Development Specialist
Lyra was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. For fun, she enjoys skiing, baking, and reading. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelors in family, community, and human development. Following graduation, she moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, to volunteer with AmeriCorps as a literacy interventionist and homework tutor for elementary and middle school students. She has experience working with homeless individuals, underprivileged and low-income youth, and young adults with disabilities. Lyra currently works at The Hope Center for Children as a Child Development Specialist. She loves working at the Hope Center because she gets to play with the children and see the world through their eyes.
Kathy Myhre
Family Case Manager
Kathy grew up in North Dakota and graduated from the University of Jamestown with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. She joined the U.S. Air Force and spent four years in Japan. She later joined the reserves and deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar. Kathy then began working as a counselor for the juvenile justice system. Following this, she traveled to India to become a registered yoga instructor. Kathy graduated from Walden University with a master’s degree in forensic psychology. She enjoys concerts, camping, and hiking. Kathy works at House of Hope as a Family Case Manager and loves the excitement and fulfillment of The Hope Center. She enjoys working alongside the mothers while positively impacting the growth and development of the children.
Hanna Wright
Family Specialist
Hanna grew up in La Quinta, California and has a bachelors degree in psychology. She is currently enrolled in Westminster College’s masters program in clinical mental health counseling and is excited to work with adolescents following graduation. When not working or in class, Hanna can be found reading, going to the park, or hanging out with her cat, Sokka. Prior to joining the House of Hope team, Hanna worked in an art studio for disabled artists and a children’s art summer camp. Her passion for working with children and mental health led her to her current position as a Family Specialist at The Hope Center where she loves working with the children, noting that its her goal to make a positive impact in the lives of HOH’s women and children.
Client Services
Heather McCall
Residential Services Coordinator
Heather received her undergraduate degree from California State University Long Beach and her graduate degree from Utah State University. She spent over 10 years teaching topics including parenting, relationships, communication, and finances before bringing that expertise to House of Hope. Teaching at ‘Adult Parole and Probation’ and ‘The Other Side Academy’ Heather discovered that she loved working with the recovery community because they were so dedicated to personal growth. “I have never taught a group of people who were so willing to learn new skills and change behaviors.” Heather specializes in ‘Parenting the Love and Logic Way’ and is trained in Gottman level 1 and 2 counseling, Couples and Addiction Recovery, and “Bringing Baby Home.”
“I love working at House of Hope because I see women find their inner strength and become people they never thought possible. Both clients and staff grow so much while at House of Hope, and it so rewarding to be a part of that.”
Heather spends most of her time being a “sandwich generation” caregiver. When she can get away, she grounds herself in the quite solitude of nature. Or driving with the windows down and the music up. Maybe singing at the top of her lungs on the mountain top. “It is all about balance.”
Hannah Belcher
Food Services Program Specialist
Biography coming soon; please check back.
Kelly Howard
Client Services Specialist
Kelly believes House of Hope is an amazing program and provides support for women in our community while providing a better understanding of basic life skills and living with sobriety. Kelly worked for a large healthcare organization for 27 years and made the decision to leave just prior to full retirement and give back. Personally, Kelly has been surrounded by addiction and knows that the effects are far reaching. Losing her son at age 26 in 2014 and his father in 2004, both to an overdose, changed her life forever. Kelly’s daughter has 15 years of sobriety and continues to attend meetings, sponsor peers and has obtained her Master’s Degree. She has family members still in active addiction and many in recovery. Kelly believes addiction is a family disease and believes this program is not easy. She knows the women work hard through a structured program with rules and expectations and that to many of our women this is new. She feels her role at House of Hope has been one of the hardest yet most rewarding of her life. She sees everyone here at House of Hope put their heart and soul into what they do every day. She has learned and continue to learn and is grateful to be here. Something that gives Kelly hope, one day at a time, is the Serenity Prayer – God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Jinny Frisby
Client Services Specialist
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Aubry Schow
Client Services Specialist
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Willard Emery
Maintenance Manager
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Development
Margaret Yeates
Director of Development
Margaret graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications – Public Relations, minor in English. Since 1998, she has worked in the non-profit sector for wonderful organizations along the Wasatch Front. She started working for House of Hope in 2009. She loves the opportunity to support amazing causes through her writing. She has enjoyed serving for grant review boards, being a member of the fundraising community and empowering women and children in need so far throughout her career.
She has a passion for bringing the topic of mental health respectfully to the table and eradicate the stigma that unpleasantly accompanies it. She is inspired and motivated by the courage and determination displayed on the daily at House of Hope and is honored to have the opportunity to do a small part of bigger change for the greater good. “I come to work each day excited to move the mission of House of Hope forward. Addiction does not discriminate, and treatment should not either”.
Lover of animals, nature – especially trees, hiking, cooking/baking, reading and most importantly family and friends. She is a published writer and currently working on her next writing project. She is constantly striving for harmony in all things. Margaret is a certified Reiki Master and Intuitive Coach. She loves to laugh and to have the blessing of laughter everyday thanks to her two comedians that we call children. “I value compassion. Compassion for everything outside of myself and compassion for everything that makes me…. well, ME”.
Rehana Baksh
Development Assistant
Biography coming soon; please check back.
Finance and Reception
Marian Egbert
Accounting Coordinator
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Jacob Joyner
Accounting Specialist
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Rackel Montano
Receptionist & Billing Assistant
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Heather Burke
Accounting Specialist
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Human Resources
Kirt Bateman
Director of Human Resources
Kirt Bateman began his career in 1998 at The Clements Group, L.C., a consulting firm where he learned virtually everything he knows about the non-profit sector. Ready to put theory into practice, he accepted the Executive Directorship of Davis Arts Council in Layton, Utah in 2008. During his tenure there, Davis Arts grew from a budget of $300,000 yearly to over $2.5 million—becoming the largest inter-disciplinary arts nonprofit between the Salt Lake City and Idaho borders.
It is Kirt’s personal mission to foster connection that facilitates understanding and empathy which ultimately led him to House of Hope. Kirt knows that to move oneself out of addiction and into authenticity can be the most difficult, yet rewarding, desperate, but powerful thing a person will experience. He stands firm in his belief that the work the people that facilitate this life transition do is ICU-critical. “I hope to be able to use my role as Human Resources Manager to ease some of the stresses and bring a bit of light to this incredible House of House staff. Essentially, I want to offer hope to the House of Hope family.”
Kirt’s own family consists of his husband, Jerry, and his son, Oscar. There are also two mischievous Chihuahua siblings, Gus and Lulu who run amok at his house. Kirt grew up on a dairy farm in West Jordan and he feels fortunate to come from a big, ol’ farmin’ dynasty. In his free time, he enjoys performing on the stage and has been seen in over 30 plays and musicals along the Wasatch Front as well as a commercial or two and a feature film. He also enjoys reading, gaming, documentary films, and making others smile whenever he can.
Outpatient Services
Erica Vasgar
Director of Outpatient Services
Erica graduated from California State University East Bay with a Bachelor’s in Health Science and a minor in Sociology. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she went on to get her Master’s in Social Work. After graduating, Erica held a case management position at the Regional Center in California, working with the disabled population throughout the state. Erica gained case management skills in this position and learned how to help advocate for people’s needs.
Erica has always had a passion for helping people, specifically women. Erica mentored high school girls for over 12 years and was able to meet with them and help guide them in their lives. In 2012, Erica started a girls’ conference that went on to be continued over the next 5 years, before she moved here to Utah. That girls conference helped middle school and high school girls learn more about themselves and how to love themselves and be confident in who they are. In 2016, Erica moved to Utah where she started working as a case manager at House of Hope. In 2017, she got her CSW and began working as a therapist in the residential portion of our program. After a few months in that position, she transitioned over to being an Outpatient therapist. Erica is now the Director of Outpatient and has gained more trainings in M.I. (motivational interviewing) therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) trauma-based therapy.
Erica loves movies and spending time getting to know people. Through her job, she seeks to understand the root cause of something and work from there. Erica desires to understand her clients and help advocate for them. She is grateful for her time here and her time getting to help impact women’s lives.
Stephanie Hunt
Outpatient Therapist
Biography coming soon; please check back.
Madison Bowler
Outpatient Case Manager
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Amanda Callahan
Outpatient Case Manager
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Rosann Greenway
Self-Sufficiency Case Manager
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Allison Wilson
Outpatient Group Specialist
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McKell Schreiner
Aftercare Coordinator
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Liesl Hanson
Residential Therapist – INTERN
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Recovery Support Services
Katrina Raymond
Recovery Support Supervisor
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Alia Richards
Assistant Recovery Support Supervisor
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Ariel Rasmussen
House Manager
Ariel graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Art History. She also obtained a Human Factors certificate and volunteered in the Applied Basic Cognition lab. She has extensive experience volunteering for various nonprofits such as the Rape Recovery Center, NAMI, Circles, and more. Ariel became interested in the social work field shortly before graduating from college. Since then, she has been either working or volunteering in the field. In recent years, Ariel has become more interested in the science of addiction.
A native Utahan, Ariel has lived in Salt Lake City most of her life. She enjoys hiking, snowboarding, reading, cross stitching, and gardening. She enjoys working with the women at House of Hope and hopes that she can encourage a positive change in their lives no matter how small it may be.
Lauren Sage
House Manager
Biography coming soon; please check back.
Ellarie Schatzman
House Manager
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Shadell Wright
House Manager
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Connie Barnett
Recovery Assistant
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Cydney Bridner
Recovery Assistant
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Angela Broadbent
Recovery Assistant
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Taylor Durham
Recovery Assistant
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Anja Eason
Recovery Assistant
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Trista Eckman
Recovery Assistant
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Taiva Fagatele
Recovery Assistant
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Andria Irvin
Recovery Assistant
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Lydia McGee-Rodriguez
Recovery Assistant
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Cassidy Monette
Recovery Assistant
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Kapinga Melissa Ndiadia
Recovery Assistant
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Justine North
Recovery Assistant
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Benta Opiyo
Recovery Assistant
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Juliana Padilla
Recovery Assistant
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Brittany Peterson
Recovery Assistant
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Martha Quintero
Recovery Assistant
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Pamela Rasmussen
Recovery Assistant
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Helen Saylee
Recovery Assistant
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Kimberly Vradenburg
Recovery Assistant
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Residential Services
Rourk Baird
Clinical Director
Rourk received his Masters of Mental Health Counseling in 2007 and has been with the House of Hope for over 12 years. Prior to coming on board at the House of Hope, Rourk worked for 2 ½ years as an RA and therapist at New Life Center, an eating disorder clinic. At House of Hope he has been a case manager and therapist and working in both positions helped increase his ability to be a clinical director. “I am amazed at the courage our women have to analyze their lives and make changes that for some would be impossible. House of Hope offers those that want to change the chance to find that courage, change their lives and in turn show others that change is possible. Many of our women will help change entire generations because of the work they do at the House of Hope. I am proud to be a part of the miracles that happen here.”
About Rourk: “Family is everything!” I love spending time with my children and grandchildren and find great joy in watching them grow and develop. I am an advocate for healthy living and enjoy being outdoors hiking and camping and engaging in activities that promote physical health. I believe that in order to live a balanced life you need to pay daily attention to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Peter Beckman
Residential Therapist
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Ashlie Hess
Residential Therapist
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Sarah Aubin
Residential Case Manager
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Eden Garcia
Residential Case Manager
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Johanna Thompson
Residential Group Specialist
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House of Hope Provo
Ali is a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She has been practicing as a professional counselor since 2012. She graduated from University of Phoenix with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, having also completed the Master’s program for Educational Counseling.
Ali has specialized training in substance use/addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, mindfulness, grief and loss, motivational interviewing, psychodrama and is also a certified interventionist. Ali also specializes in issues that impact the LGBTQ community.
She believes that the keys to living well are to develop a sense of self love and learning to live life authentically. She also believes that trauma work is vital to the healing process. Ali utilizes many therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Relationship Trauma Repair. Ali enjoys traveling, spending time in the mountains, photography and spending time with her three year old daughter.
Biography coming; please check back soon.