Employees
Crisis Intervention/Prevention Coaches
Crystal L.
Crystal was born in Oneonta, NY, but grew up on the beautiful Jersey Shore. She attended Hartwick College in Upstate NY, where she discovered her love of travel. Crystal studied as a German Education major but developed a strong desire to help troubled adolescents during her time in college. Crystal spent numerous years traveling back and forth to teach English in Germany and Austria but now currently resides full time in Albany, NY with her adorable pug, MayLing. During the daytime Crystal works at Glenmont Job Corps Academy teaching and mentoring at-risk youth who have received alternatives to incarceration or have been brought in from a homeless shelter. She thoroughly enjoys the social interaction and opportunity to help change their paths in life. Crystal is a very empathic and caring person and thrives on turning challenges into opportunities. In her free time, Crystal loves to cycle, read, travel, and hike the Alps!!! In the future she looks forward to traveling the rest of the world while educating and helping others.
Sandi P.
Sandi is retired after twenty years as a New York State Trooper. She worked as a uniform Trooper for ten years and then spent ten years in the rank of Investigator in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. During her police career Sandi had countless instances of interaction with youth. Also during her career she was assigned to the Protective Services Unit tasked with guarding the Governor and his wife. Prior to Sandi's police career Sandi was employed as a camp counselor working with children ages eight to sixteen in a residential summer camp program in western New York. Sandi is a graduate of Erie Community College with a degree in Criminal Justice. In 2004 Sandi fulfilled her life-long dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail when she and her partner Cathy backpacked 2174.1 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine over a period of six months and five days. Sandi lives in a log home nestled in the Adirondack mountains of New York State.
Chris M.
Chris was born in the Rocky Mountains of Denver, Colorado but was raised in Syracuse, New York. There he grew up with a tightly nit group of friends and family. He was home schooled right through grade school, and attended college at Oswego State University in New York where he studied Secondary Education with a focus on English. After college, Chris became a mentor at an after-school enrichment program for high-risk kids in the Lafayette, New York area under the 21st Century grant. There he worked with K-8th grade children for over a year; improving their marks and working towards a higher level of emotional stability. Not long after this, Chris moved to Hagerstown, Maryland where he worked as a Substitute Teacher in the Washington County School District and was able to put much of what he learned in college and through 21st Century to good use. In short, Chris has worked with and around youth (high-risk and low-risk) his entire adult life, and has no plans of discontinuing this work. He now lives in Philadelphia, PA where he is pursuing his passion in writing and performing music with his band. Chris has hopes of one day returning to Denver to live.
Peggy G.
Peggy was born in Fruita, Colorado to a ranching family. During her youth she lived in both Colorado and Oregon on working cattle ranches. She is an accomplished horse person who loves the outdoors and values hard work and honesty. Peggy spent a number of years working in the banking industry where she successfully managed and maintained a strong professional relationship with customers and employees. In the summer of 2002, Peggy took a leap of faith and began working at SUWS of Idaho as a Youth Coordinator. During this experience, Peggy truly realized her passion for working with youth, especially young people struggling to overcome life's challenges. Peggy has served on numerous community boards and has worked with youth involved in 4-H. She has also worked as facilitator at the Magic Valley Ropes Course and is currently working as an educator at Payette High School where she teaches Government & World History.
Patti O.
Patti grew up on a southern Idaho ranch and still participates with day to day operations whenever possible. She is an accomplished horse person and is certified as an Equine Therapist. Patti has a Master's Degree from Idaho State University and has worked with youth in a variety of settings. Patti is a former employee of the College of Southern Idaho where she worked as a recruiter/advisor for low income/first generation students. She has formal training as ropes course facilitator and recently worked as the Education Director for a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility in Southern Idaho. Patti is currently working as an educator at Glenns Ferry High School where she teaches Business Technology and Health education courses. Patti loves the outdoors, enjoys traveling and cherishes her family and friends.
Charlotte K.
Charlotte Kavanagh holds a BA in Psychology from the University of North Texas. She holds a few hours in her Masters in counseling and hopes one day to go back to complete the program. Since graduation her primary focus has been on helping her family run their outdoor retail stores in Dallas. She has worked part time at Children's Hospital as a Child Life Assistant and has worked part time at Presbyterian hospital working with adolescents as a MHT (mental health technician). She currently works part time at the ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) as a life coach. She is a personal trainer and has started her own company, Nature Fitness where she believes in promoting wellness by connecting the mind, body and environment. Her passions in life are helping and serving people that are in need. She enjoys the simple pleasures in life, smiling at a stranger and sending an encouraging card to a friend in need. Charlotte loves to travel, some of her favorite locations are Costa Rico and Maui. She likes to be outdoors and enjoys training and participating in triathlons as well.
Jeremy F.
Jeremy Felsen grew up in the Washington DC area where he was exposed to a diversity of cultural beliefs and perspectives. He has always held a strong interest in different people, perspectives, animals, and the outdoors. He joined the United States Marine Corps out of high school and after a year of active training he transferred to the Marine Corp Reserves so that he could attend college. He received a Bachelors degree in Outdoor Education with a minor in Native American Studies from Northland College in northern Wisconsin. Since that time he has traveled around the world pursuing his interactions with new people and places. Jeremy has worked for three wilderness therapy programs in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina as a field instructor over the past number of years. He brings a wealth of experience to working with adolescents in the transitional periods in their lives. Jeremy has certifications in CPR, wilderness first responder and Personal Control System (PCS).