Meet the team

Our therapists & field staff

The Vantage Point by Aspiro Team

Aspiro is dedicated to providing a high level of care to all of our clients. We want you to feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the very best opportunity for change. Our multi-disciplinary treatment team is made up of compassionate and experienced professionals that share a focus of attaining positive outcomes. Please take some time to meet our team members below.

  • All
  • Admissions Team
  • Clinical Team
  • Family Services Team
  • Field Management Team
  • Health and Wellness Team
  • Leadership Team
  • Rick Meeves, PhD, LMFT
    Rick Meeves, PhD, LMFT
    CEO
  • Ryan Coley, LCSW
    Ryan Coley, LCSW
    Executive Director
  • Josh Watson, LCSW
    Josh Watson, LCSW
    CMO
  • Carl Smoot, PhD
    Carl Smoot, PhD
    Assoc. Clinical Director Research & Program Evaluation
  • Dr. Nathan Barusch
    Dr. Nathan Barusch
    Psychiatrist
  • Katie Thoma
    Katie Thoma
    CFO
  • Kayleen Richter, PHR
    Kayleen Richter, PHR
    HR Director
  • Woody Crowell
    Woody Crowell
    Program Director
  • Jamie Kaczmarek, LCSW
    Jamie Kaczmarek, LCSW
    Vantage Point Males/Females, Ages 13-17
  • Caitlin Galt, LCMHC
    Caitlin Galt, LCMHC
    Vantage Point Males/Females, Ages 18-26
  • Janna Dean, LCSW
    Janna Dean, LCSW
    Adolescent & Young Adult Males and Females, Ages 13-26
  • Ryon Smith, LCSW
    Ryon Smith, LCSW
    Adolescent & Young Adult Males, Ages 13-26
  • Jamie Ahern, LCSW
    Jamie Ahern, LCSW
    Adolescent Males, Ages 13-17
  • Brandon Johnson, LCSW
    Brandon Johnson, LCSW
    Adolescent & Young Adult Males, Ages 13-26
  • Leigh Uhlenkott, MS, LPCS, NCC, LMHC
    Leigh Uhlenkott, MS, LPCS, NCC, LMHC
    Clinical Wilderness Therapist, Adolescent Males & Females, Ages 13-17
  • Grace Larson, MSW, CSW
    Grace Larson, MSW, CSW
    Adolescent & Young Adult Females, Ages 13-26
  • Hannah Eckert, CSW
    Hannah Eckert, CSW
    Clinical Wilderness Therapist
  • Rebekah Phipps, ACMHC
    Rebekah Phipps, ACMHC
    Clinical Wilderness Therapist
  • Shannon Weaver, LCSW
    Shannon Weaver, LCSW
    Associate Director of Marketing & Outreach
  • Jolene McGuire
    Jolene McGuire
    Associate Director of Admissions
  • Mark Widmer, PhD
    Mark Widmer, PhD
    Independent Research Director
  • David Mayeski, LCSW
    David Mayeski, LCSW
    Family Services Director
  • Kate Crowell
    Kate Crowell
    Family Services Coordinator
  • Sarah Sarfaty
    Sarah Sarfaty
    Medical Coordinator
  • Ally Jackson
    Ally Jackson
    Admissions Counselor
  • Ryan Schaffer
    Ryan Schaffer
    Admissions Counselor
  • Audrey Stewart
    Audrey Stewart
    Admissions Coordinator
  • Cassie Ali
    Cassie Ali
    Associate Field Director
  • Kip Swem
    Kip Swem
    Associate Field Director
  • Tyler Carroll
    Tyler Carroll
    Risk Management Coordinator
  • Scott Shaffer
    Scott Shaffer
    Ropes Specialist Trainer
  • Robert Owen
    Robert Owen
    Field Operations Manager
  • Stephan Fanale
    Stephan Fanale
    Associate Field Operations Manager
  • Chandler Strong
    Chandler Strong
    Logistics/Transportation Department Manager
  • Dale Christensen, MD
    Dale Christensen, MD
    Medical Director
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Rick Meeves, PhD, LMFT
CEO

Professional Experience

Ryan Coley, LCSW
Executive Director

Also specializes in: Depression / Anxiety / Chemical Dependency Mood Disorder / Substance Abuse / Attachment Issues / Self-Harm / Identity Issues

Ryan’s clinical focus since 2010 is in working with our students and has been a member of the Aspiro Family of Programs since 2009. Over the last four years Ryan has commanded an integral role in the design and creation of Aspiro‘s chemical use/abuse Experiential Adventure based clinical wilderness treatment model. Ryan’s primary objective has been to establish long-term successful family interventions, stabilization, and diagnostic assessments all while meeting each student where they are in the therapeutic process.

Josh Watson, LCSW
CMO

Also specializes in: crisis de-escalation / anxiety resolution / frustration tolerance / verbal de-escalation / CBT/DBT / interpersonal relationships/leadership development

Josh has been working with adolescents, young adults, and their families since 2001. As an original member of the Aspiro Leadership Team, Josh has fulfilled several roles at Aspiro including Clinical Wilderness Therapist, Clinical Supervision, Admissions Director, Strategic Development, and currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer. He is passionate about carrying out the mission of Aspiro and creating the best possible experience for our clients. When Josh is not at work he enjoys traveling, cooking, outdoor adventure (of course!), golf, and spending time doing just about anything with his wife and two daughters.

Carl Smoot, PhD
Assoc. Clinical Director Research & Program Evaluation

Carl began working in mental health in 1990 and soon thereafter entered a Ph.D. program in Psychology at the University of Utah. After completing his degree, he supervised three school-based mental health programs around the island of O’ahu. Carl moved back to Salt Lake City because of his love of the outdoors and opportunities to work in wilderness programs completing psychological evaluations. He has an in-depth knowledge of learning and developmental disorders, as well the ways they interact with mental health and other adjustment problems. At Aspiro since 2012, Carl runs a weekly supervision meeting, mentors field guides, consults on difficult cases, and completes psychological evaluations.

Away from work, Carl enjoys fly fishing and duck hunting. He has been married for twenty years to Dr. Tracine Smoot. Together they have three children and one grandchild.

Dr. Nathan Barusch
Psychiatrist

Dr. Nathan Barusch earned his medical degree at Creighton University and his Masters in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where he did research on the impact of technology use on the mental health of adolescents. He completed his psychiatry residency at the University of California-Davis and is pursuing advanced training in integrative psychiatry at the Integrative Psychiatry Institute

Nathan believes in compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based care. He emphasizes environment, lifestyle, personal history, spirituality, and biology when developing a personalized treatment plan designed to prepare clients to reach their full potential.

He is a member of the Clinical TMS Society and has completed their training in the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a powerful tool for the treatment of depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Barusch actively practices Zen medication, is an avid skier, and loves exploring the mountains with his dog Jasper.

Katie Thoma
CFO

Katie graduated from University of Northern Iowa and brings over 18 years of experience in accounting and business management to the Aspiro Group. Katie has been with the Asprio since 2013 and oversees the company’s financial planning and management. She is a valuable member of the leadership team and brings her business management knowledge, as well as her insight and practical viewpoints, to the planning and oversight of the company. Katie enjoys running, biking and spending time with family.

Kayleen Richter, PHR
HR Director

Kayleen Richter, Human Resource Director for Aspiro Group, is an HR professional with over 11 years of experience in the public and private sectors. She is certified through Human Resource Certification Institute as a Professional Human Resource Manager.  Kayleen has been with the Aspiro team since April 2013, managing employee relations, training, recruiting, compensation, performance management, employee engagement, compliance, workers compensation, benefits and more.  She has been a Society for Human Resource Management Member since 2015. Kayleen loves working with people and helping employees have a great experience while employed at Aspiro. Kayleen enjoys running, volleyball, camping, boating, and most of all spending time with and raising 6 beautiful children.

Woody Crowell
Program Director

Having worked with young adults and adolescent in various capacities since 1997, Woody is a great addition to the Executive Team at the Aspiro family of programs. Woody is no stranger to wilderness adventure therapy. As the initial owner/operator for eight years of the largest adolescent and young adult crisis intervention organization in the United States, woody maintained 55 employees and personally helped over 1,000 families seek treatment for their son or daughter. Woody worked as a Director of Admissions and Marketing Director for several Therapeutic Outdoor Programs, and was responsible for all admissions, marketing materials, website design/maintenance, the creation and updates of Parent and Field Manuals, and more. During this time he formed personal relationships with Clinical Professionals, Executive Directors, and Therapeutic Community leaders all over the country and is widely respected and trusted in the therapeutic wilderness and residential communities. Woody also has over 450 trail days as a Field Guide in Southern Idaho and Upstate New York, Logistics Coordinator and served as an Assistant Field Director in Southern Idaho.

Jamie Kaczmarek, LCSW
Vantage Point Males/Females, Ages 13-17

Also specializes in: Autism Spectrum Disorders / NLD / Family Systems / Depression Attachment / ADHD / Mood Disorders / Anxiety

As a youngster, Jamie was climbing trees and catching fireflies in the outskirts of Chicago, Illinois. Her love for the wilderness influenced her decision to obtain a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation with an emphasis in Environmental Education from Indiana University in 1999. With the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Baja, Mexico, Jamie was educated in leadership and team dynamics through an experiential adventure approach. She then began her career in 2000 serving adjudicated youth in the wilderness working for Alternative Youth Adventures (AYA), in South Central Utah.

Caitlin Galt, LCMHC
Vantage Point Males/Females, Ages 18-26

Also specializes in: Autism Spectrum Disorders / NLD / Family Systems / Anxiety / Identity Issues / Mood Disorders / Trauma / Addictive Behaviors / ADHD

Caitlin received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago focusing on Art therapy, sculpture, and painting. In 2008, she merged her love of art therapy and the outdoors by earning her graduate degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University in Colorado.

Janna Dean, LCSW
Adolescent & Young Adult Males and Females, Ages 13-26
  • Brigham Young University, UT, BSW
  • University of Utah, MSW
  • Licensed Certified Social Worker in the State of Utah
  • Experience working in various treatment settings including: County Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment, Residential Treatment Centers, Eating Disorder Treatment Centers, and Wilderness Therapy
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2002

Also specializes in: Anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, and body image.

Janna graduated with an MSW from the University of Utah in 2003 and earned her LCSW in 2006.  After graduating she began working at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) in the “Staying off Substances” IOP program. There she ran groups for clients and families while doing individual assessments and counseling. After working at UNI, she worked at the Center for Change (CFC) with adolescent and adult women with eating disorders.  Many of the clients had a dual diagnosis, generally including substance abuse or addiction. She was in charge of developing and running the chemical dependency groups. She worked with clients in inpatient, residential, and outpatient programming.

Janna has spent the past 15 years working with adolescent boys and girls and young adults with addictions and various mental health and identity struggles.  She has worked in all levels of care from acute care at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Unit, to residential care with adolescents and young adults with substance abuse and eating disorder addictions, to day-patient and IOP work, to out-patient work.  Her passion is in working with teenagers and the emerging young adult population and she loves how empowered these young people are at this stage of life to create and follow through with changes. She follows a strength-based and positive psychology model in her work. Janna is passionate about working with the family alongside the clients to help create meaningful understanding and to help relationships grow.

Ryon Smith, LCSW
Adolescent & Young Adult Males, Ages 13-26

Also specializes in: Anxiety / Depression / ADHD / Self-Esteem / Identity Development / Substance Abuse / Oppositional Behavior / Autism-Spectrum

Ryon has been a part of the Aspiro team since 2012. Starting with Aspiro as a field guide, he has been an integral part of developing culture, implementing therapeutic interventions and facilitating adventure in our adolescent boys groups. As a clinician, his unique field perspective lends itself well to his treatment approach which emphasizes concrete interventions, expanding comfort zones, coping skills, self-efficacy, and self-reflection. Ryon has a passion for demystifying oppositional behavior in adolescents. He trains staff and professionals on the underlying factors that contribute to maladaptive behavior which helps to suggest the most appropriate interventions. Ryon was born and raised in southern Arizona.  After a brief collegiate tennis career, he moved north and worked as a ski school supervisor in northern Arizona where he discovered his passion for the marriage of therapy and recreation. Currently living in Salt Lake City, Ryon enjoys the colder months by snow-skiing, snowboarding and ice-fishing. When the sun is out, he enjoys tennis, golf, and cheering for Utah’s own professional soccer team, Real Salt Lake.

Jamie Ahern, LCSW
Adolescent Males, Ages 13-17

Also specializes in: Trauma / Relationships / Emotional Regulation / ADHD / Executive Functioning Skills / Anxiety / Depression / Substance Use / Learning Differences. 

Jamie has been a mental health therapist since 2011. He was first introduced to wilderness and adventure therapy as a field guide at Aspiro. After working as an Aspiro therapist for nearly 4 years, he relocated and provided therapy services in an underserved area of rural Montana. It was during this time that he found a passion for helping his clients recover from trauma, utilizing EMDR therapy as a core treatment modality in addition to a variety of other therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing. He returned to wilderness therapy after working with community mental health and is happy to now be back at Aspiro. Jamie is a warm and inviting therapist with a passion for helping young people and families in need. He strives to establish a non-judgmental and mutually respectful therapeutic relationship with his students and works very closely with their families, supporting them during their child’s stay and inviting them to challenge their own patterns.

Jamie wholeheartedly believes in and is passionate about the healing power, growth opportunities and excitement found in the outdoors. His free time is spent with his wife in pursuits such as fly fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and skiing. He also enjoys tying flies, playing the banjo, and spending time with his dogs.

Brandon Johnson, LCSW
Adolescent & Young Adult Males, Ages 13-26

Also specializes in: Substance Use Disorders / Depression / Anxiety / Post-traumatic Stress Disorder / Oppositional Defiance Disorder / ADHD

Brandon’s experience in counseling and providing support for others began during his time in the military. Brandon served two tours of duty in Iraq (2004-2005, and 2007-2008). During his military career, Brandon counseled his troops and led them into battle. Brandon learned how to utilize his troops strengths and to be aware of their weaknesses in order to effectively complete the mission, and get everyone back home safely. After Brandon’s military career, he worked at a residential treatment center with 15-17 year old boys, with the Aspiro Boys groups, and at the Salt Lake City Department of Veterans Affairs. Brandon’s therapeutic approach integrates interpersonal, cognitive behavioral, and psychodynamic theories. Brandon’s clinical specialization in Substance Use Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Trauma come form his experience working with adolescents and their families, and with combat Veterans. Brandon has been trained in Cognitive Processing therapy (CPT) for PTSD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. Brandon believes that the wilderness creates an opportunity to build a foundation for long-term change and improvements in communication, relationships, and for students and their families to take committed action for their futures based on their experiences and the momentum they gain during the process of adventure wilderness therapy. When not working, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife and baby girl. Brandon enjoys golfing, playing/watching sports, hunting, fishing, skiing, being in the outdoors, and traveling to new places.

Leigh Uhlenkott, MS, LPCS, NCC, LMHC
Clinical Wilderness Therapist, Adolescent Males & Females, Ages 13-17

Also specializes in: NLD / Spectrum Disorders / Learning and Executive Functioning Issues / Substance Dependence / Obesity / Self-Esteem Issues / Adoption / School Refusal / Anger Management / ADHD / Oppositional Defiance Disorder

During her 20 years of experience, Leigh has worked at a therapeutic boarding school for boys specializing in learning disabilities, 3 wilderness therapy programs; Expedition/Nomadic model, Transition Model, and now an Adventure based programming model working with adolescents with multiple diagnoses, and a school in Broward County, FL providing counseling, prevention work, and substance abuse counseling for adolescents. Leigh also has training in and a certification for working with transgendered clients. She has extensive experience working effectively with these clients and is passionate about doing so. Leigh’s eclectic approach fosters her ability to be creative with each individual she works with, finding the best possible interventions to meet their needs. She enjoys helping struggling families’ find their common ground so that they can move forward out of crisis. Leigh has a particular strength in utilizing wilderness therapy to find the perfect metaphors and rites of passage to support real change and sustainable success. When not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, friends, and her two rescue dogs—Fluffy and Yoda.

Grace Larson, MSW, CSW
Adolescent & Young Adult Females, Ages 13-26

Also specializes in working with adolescent and young adult females with: Anxiety, Depression and Mood Disorders/ Trauma and PTSD/ Social Anxiety and Social Communication Disorders/ Self-Esteem Issues and Identity Development Issues.

Since 2011, Grace has dedicated her professional career to understanding and empowering the lives of struggling adolescents and their families. After working in a variety of mental health contexts, Grace found her home in the wild outdoors of Utah at Aspiro, starting in 2015. An avid rock climber, whitewater raft guide, and backpacker; Grace found a way to meld her passion for the outdoors with her training in individual, group and family therapy.

With individualized treatment plans utilizing a variety of evidenced based interventions, Grace engages her students through a series of milestones: 1) Acknowledging the issues and impacts of the issues, 2) Developing motivation to change, 3) Skills acquisition and powerful mastery experience, 4) Application of change and acceptance, and 5) Preparation for transition. Through group therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training, Grace teaches and leads the group culture in effective interpersonal communication, developing meaningful relationship skills, challenging judgement, and changing automatic patterns of thinking and acting. In her family work at Aspiro, is important to Grace to allow a space for deeper understanding of the child, time to repair relationships, and a space for deepening connection while fostering greater independence. Through comprehensive diagnostic assessment, individual and family intervention, and communication between past and future treatment providers, Grace strives to enrich and empower the lives of her clients and their families for long term success.

Hannah Eckert, CSW
Clinical Wilderness Therapist

Originally from the Adirondacks of Northern New York, Hannah attended the University of Denver where she graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. Her passion for the outdoors and working with adolescents translated well for her start at Aspiro as a field guide in the spring of 2015. In that position, Hannah fell in love with the field of wilderness therapy. After leaving to work at a therapeutic boarding school and gaining a broader perspective of the therapeutic field, she returned to Aspiro where she worked as a therapist intern and trained under Dr. Gillan Smith, before completing her Master’s Degree and working as a clinician herself. She also has done therapy at a grief support center for kids, where she did counseling and led grief groups, furthering her knowledge about grief counseling and complicated bereavement. Hannah also has experience working with oppositional behaviors, anxiety, depression addiction, and finds value in incorporating experiential modalities such as adventure therapy, art therapy, and recreational therapy.

The beautiful desert landscapes of Utah drew Hannah to this part of the country. She now spends most of her free time canyoneering and exploring these areas with her dog, Saranac.

Rebekah Phipps, ACMHC
Clinical Wilderness Therapist

Rebekah has been with Aspiro since May 2017. She began her career in wilderness therapy as a Field Guide, worked as a clinical assistant, and is now working as a therapist. 

Rebekah attended Prescott College to receive a graduate degree in counseling, with a concentration Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Adventure-Based Psychotherapy. Her undergraduate degree is in Interpersonal Communication Studies from UNC-CH. Prior to Aspiro, she worked in experiential and outdoor education as a Program Manager and a Lead Instructor at UNC-CH Outdoor Education Center. She is an advocate for Adventure therapy and has presented at multiple conferences around the country on experiential therapeutic modalities. She has vast experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma, relational difficulties, and addiction. Her approach resonates well with young people because she believes in meeting a client where they are at, connecting with them, then approaching their problems through an experiential activity, thus creating a platform to see outside themselves as well as a safe space to dive into the more emotional aspects. Rebekah has a passion for working with adolescents and young adults in order to help them find healing and a deeper understanding of themselves, others, and the natural world. 

In her free time, she enjoys trail running, climbing, hiking/backpacking, reading, yoga, and exploring new places. 

Shannon Weaver, LCSW
Associate Director of Marketing & Outreach

Shannon brings over 20 years of experience to Aspiro working with families and students as a counselor, therapist, and teacher. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked as a therapist in a number of settings, including county mental health, substance abuse clinics, residential treatment centers, and private practice. As a therapist she has been rewarded by seeing people heal, discovering their strengths, finding confidence, and building positive relationships. Shannon also is a certified teacher and has recently spent 6 years in China with her family teaching English and doing private practice therapy. She is passionate about helping students and families and has a very caring approach that is informed by her years as a clinician. Shannon enjoys working in admissions and assisting families as they begin their powerful experience in Wilderness Adventure Therapy. She is able to compassionately guide families through their questions and concerns while providing comfort during the process.  Shannon loves the beautiful landscape and outdoor opportunities that Utah has to offer, and she especially enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and 2 children.

Jolene McGuire
Associate Director of Admissions

Jolene Williams comes to Aspiro with close to 20 years of experience in the wilderness programming and education fields. Parents have come to appreciate Jolene’s professional problem solving and communication skills, as well as her insight and compassion. She has mastered the art and skill of conducting a complex orchestra of details involved in helping young people along their paths to improvement. Jolene is a born and raised Southern Idaho native. Growing up on her families’ cattle ranch, a love of the outdoors was fostered. When she is not managing the admissions process at Aspiro, she enjoys hiking, biking, running, and yoga. She is the mother of two young daughters that keep her active in sports and school related functions as well.

Mark Widmer, PhD
Independent Research Director

Dr. Mark Widmer is a tenured professor of therapeutic recreation at Brigham Young University. He has conducted research in the area of Wilderness and Adventure Therapy for 18 years. He is a licensed recreational therapist who conducts and published research in refereed journals. He has several ongoing research projects with leading therapeutic outdoor programs.

David Mayeski, LCSW
Family Services Director

Also specializes in: Family Systems Work / Understanding Family Roles, Dynamics and Power Struggles / Genograms

David comes to Aspiro with almost 20 years of experience working with families in therapeutic programs. Originally David received his Bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics and went on to earn his Master of Social Work.

Prior to joining Aspiro, David served in many capacities at highly respected residential treatment centers as a primary therapist, Admissions Director, and Clinical Director. After working as a primary therapist for two years, he was awarded his License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW) in 2003 and has continued practicing therapy with students and their families. His desire to help families heal and overcome obstacles, his years of experience, and his clinical sophistication, make him the perfect match as the Family Services Director where he continues to help families heal through parent coaching, therapy sessions, webinars, and during groups over Aspiro’s Parent Seminars.

David is passionate about helping others and guiding families through their journey of connecting and healing as a system. David enjoys talking politics, playing a round of golf, and especially cherishes time with his beautiful wife and three children.

 

Kate Crowell
Family Services Coordinator

Kate has worked in the wilderness industry for over twelve years, spending the majority of that time with Aspiro.  Kate has gained vast experience in numerous departments including working as a field guide, logistics coordinator, purchaser, accountant, and now as the Family Services Coordinator. The different roles she has played at Aspiro plus her great attention to detail and organization, make her an incredible asset to the Family Services team as she has an in-depth knowledge of the details of each department and of wilderness therapy as a whole. Kate’s experience allows her to easily arrange details for clinicians and families when organizing Family Days, and to answer questions for parents on all of the aspects of Aspiro.  Kate enjoys gardening, reading, knitting, and spending time with her husband, two little girls, and three dogs.

Sarah Sarfaty
Medical Coordinator

Sarah Sarfaty grew up in the Colorado mountains and earned a degree in Biological Sciences from Colorado Mesa University. It was after that when she sought a change and moved to Utah to work for Aspiro as a field guide, where she worked for a year and a half. From there, she continued her medical education and exposure, teaching university-level outdoor classes, gaining knowledge and experience as an EMT, and utilizing her Wilderness First Responder certification while guiding in locations all over the world. She found herself unable to leave Aspiro behind, however and returned in the spring a few years later to join the medical team. She currently works at the Medical Coordinator where she works to maintain the physical health of all the students in weekly medical evaluations. Sarah also places emphasis on guide knowledge and training as well as focus on best medical practices. When not working, Sarah enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and anything that involves being outside!

Ally Jackson
Admissions Counselor

Ally has been working in the treatment industry for over six years in various admissions and marketing roles for residential treatment centers and wilderness programs. Ally graduated from Utah Valley University with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and also brings four years of experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children to the team. Admissions is something Ally is very passionate about and she understands the importance of connecting with and supporting families throughout the admissions process in order to help find the right fit for each family. Ally loves spending time with her friends and family, and when not working, she can be found spending time with her dog and exploring all of the beauty Utah has to offer.

Ryan Schaffer
Admissions Counselor

Ryan has been at Aspiro since April 2015; first as a field guide and now an admissions counselor.  His passion for education and development shows in his diverse experience as a teacher, administrator, and house coach at a therapeutic boarding school.  Ryan grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and received his degree in speech communications at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  He has spent the majority of his adult life abroad teaching in Mexico, France, South Korea, and most recently lived in Münster, Germany for seven years as a business English teacher and an associate English professor at the Münster University of Applied Sciences.  If he’s not outside climbing, hiking, snowboarding, or disc golfing, he’s most likely reading, writing, or dabbling in music.

Audrey Stewart
Admissions Coordinator

Audrey started at Aspiro in 2014 as a field guide. After working in the field, Audrey transitioned into the Logistics department where she primarily facilitated student intakes and departures. After several years, Audrey was promoted to Logistics Manager and joined the Senior Management team. Most recently Audrey has moved over to the Admissions team where she currently works as an Admissions Coordinator. Throughout her time at Aspiro, Audrey has worked in many roles but has always maintained her passion for helping students and their families. Audrey’s educational background includes a degree in Child, Adult, and Human Services from Iowa State University in addition to a Paramedic Specialist Certificate. She previously worked in a pediatric emergency room and brings her medical background with her to work every day. She is committed to being a life long learner and is currently working towards a marketing certificate. Her love for the outdoors and desire to help others has never waned and she believes strongly in the healing properties of the wilderness and of high adventure activities like mountain biking, skiing, and rock climbing, which she pursues in her own time.

Cassie Ali
Associate Field Director
Cassie grew up in both the wooded lakes of Minneapolis and the north shore beaches of Massachusetts. In search of new terrain, she moved to Colorado where Cassie attended the University of Denver. While in school, Cassie was a successful collegiate rower and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and English. After a brief stint in cooperate finance, Cassie continued West and began guiding with Aspiro in the Fall of 2015. She spent two years as a field guide, advancing at Aspiro’s Adventure Facilitation and developing a relevant field and clinical knowledge while working with diverse populations. In the Fall of 2017, Cassie became an In-Field Trainer where she developed professional advancement for field guides and co-facilitated several tryouts. As an Associate Field Director, Cassie manages Aspiro’s Field Guides by overseeing weekly staff trainings and engaging with staff and students in the field. If not adventuring with our groups, Cassie can be found exploring the beauty of Utah’s desert on foot, on a bike or on rappel.
Kip Swem
Associate Field Director

Kip grew up in eastern Washington where he quickly found a love for the outdoors. After going to school at Central Washington University, he traveled to Honduras to volunteer as an English teacher and manage a  program on proper nutrition for the local youth. It was in Honduras that Kip learned that service was his passion, thus leading him to wilderness therapy. Kip has been with Aspiro since early 2016. He started out as a field guide where he was able to develop a diverse skill set to help our unique and complicated students. Following that, he transitioned into the role of recruiter where he discovered our staff and helped them develop to a high standard which Aspiro holds. As an associate field director, Kip now manages Aspiro’s field staff and focuses on training them to be as effective as possible. Kip can likely be found visiting student groups in the field, hiking into a backcountry lake, or planning his next adventure.

Tyler Carroll
Risk Management Coordinator

Tyler felt the call of the Mountains back in his home state of Alabama. After graduating with his Bachelors in psychology and minor in Sociology in 2007 he entered the guiding world of wilderness therapy and by Christmas Day 2008 began his first week on trail with Aspiro as lead guide. Since those early days, Tyler has been an important part of 6 years of growth and positive change within Aspiro. With this extensive experience his role as Risk Management Specialist and now Operations Manager is critical in the continued development of the program. Since taking on this role; Tyler has streamlined our incident tracking system, creating a database which gives us the ability to develop a greater understanding of safety and risk mitigation than ever before. Along with incident tracking, Tyler is on the ground, visiting groups in the field providing real time risk assessment and training opportunities. Tyler is Aspiro’s primary trainer for Crisis Intervention and Driver Safety. In his free time Tyler can be found pet-sitting other peoples dogs and enjoying the Beauty of Utah. Tyler also enjoys downhill mountain biking, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and fishing.

Scott Shaffer
Ropes Specialist Trainer

Scott Shaffer grew up in Idaho where he spent  time camping in the mountains with his family, going backpacking, and learning to mountain bike, rock climb, and ski.  He graduated with a degree in Secondary Education and History from the University of Idaho and decided to apply his education as a primitive wilderness guide in Southern Idaho.  In 2014, Scott found his way to Aspiro where he worked as a field guide for a year and a half, then began working as the Professional Development Coordinator, and finally moving to the Adventure Facilitation Team.  Scott teaches guides how to facilitate adventure with a therapeutic approach and emphasis on risk management.  In his free time, Scott enjoys adventuring in the mountains with his wife and two dogs.

Robert Owen
Field Operations Manager

Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Robert moved to Utah in 2010 to be a field guide for Aspiro. In 2011 he left to work at a therapeutic boarding school, and returned to Aspiro in 2013 as a field guide. Robert is now the the Associate Field Operations Manager, and oversees our expeditions and weekly staffing needs.

Stephan Fanale
Associate Field Operations Manager

Originally from central Massachusetts, Stephen moved to Utah to work as a field guide in 2015, after working as the Program Director for a residential program for adolescents with autism. Stephen is now the Associate Field Operations Manager, and oversees our expeditions and weekly staffing needs.

Chandler Strong
Logistics/Transportation Department Manager

Chandler grew up just North of Atlanta Georgia and attended Kennesaw State University on a competition cheerleading scholarship. After his freshman year, he realized his passion truly was adventure and wilderness, so he took a 2-year leadership development residency where he developed skills in facilitation of high ropes and challenge courses. Throughout this residency, he facilitated team building and experiential learning programs with adolescents in corporate businesses and served on an outdoor adventure team for summer camps. While attending the National Challenge Course Practitioners Symposium 2017 he met the Aspiro team and quickly realized that his enthusiastic and positive personality paired with his passion for adventure and the outdoors made Aspiro a good fit for him. He has worked as a guide, a team lead, and in the Logistics and Transport department where his organization and people skills shine. Chandler works with the Admissions team scheduling student intakes and departures, trains and oversees transportation staff, and helps maintain base camp operations. In his personal time, he enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, and watching a good movie.

Dale Christensen, MD
Medical Director

Professional Experience