Joint Commission AccreditedYour Team
Administrative Team
Steven DeMille, Ph.D. LCMHC
Jennifer Hedrick, MS, LCMHC
Darcy Holt
Stacy Sturtevant
Scott Schill
Dr. Brian Burrows
Annette Davis
Cheryl Meibos
Steven DeMille, Ph.D. LCMHC
EXECUTVE DIRECTOR
When a teen’s life gets off track due to significant emotional distress or dysfunctional behaviors, it is not uncommon for their life and their family’s life to unravel. My passion is to bring families the healing experiences they need to reconnect as a family and help their child put their life back together. Using nature and outdoors as our setting, we help struggling teens reconnect with their families. We also help them find happiness, and develop the maturity to handle the challenges ahead of them.
Growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, I spent much time in the outdoors of Southern Utah. Whether hiking in Zion or rock climbing in Veyo, the outdoors was a place of peace and growth. Hence as a Mental Health Professional, I believe that the best environment for healing individuals and relationships is in the outdoors.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and have worked with teens in various capacities. I began working with adolescents as a field guide at RedCliff Ascent in 2000. Subsequently, I’ve held numerous positions at RedCliff. These include Senior Field Instructor, Field Support Manager, Assistant Medical Coordinator, Primary Therapist, Research Director. And I am currently the Executive Director for RedCliff Ascent.
As a clinician, I bring a wealth of experience. This experience includes Experiential Therapies, Narrative Family Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have also worked with adolescents and families in many different settings over the years, including residential treatment, community mental health, and foster care.
My educational experience includes an MA in Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. My research focus is on wilderness therapy, nature, adolescent development, and counseling ethics. I am actively involved in the counseling and psychology profession and hold regional and national leadership positions. I publish and present on wilderness therapy and the use of the outdoor. This is done around the world at the national and international conference level.
When not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife (who was also a field staff at RedCliff Ascent) and four children. Living just outside of Zion National Park, I enjoy spending time in nature with the family. I also like history and art, and enjoy visiting fine and contemporary art museums when I travel.
Jennifer Hedrick, MS, LCMHC
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Originally from Southern California, Jennifer came to Utah to attend both undergraduate and graduate school. She comes to RedCliff Ascent, after being an integral part of Moonridge Academy. Previously at Southern Utah University working in student development and academia for 18 years. She has received a significant amount of training in, and teaches, human development and group psychotherapy. Her experience has been diverse.
Jennifer started working with teens in 2008. It was here that she also discovered her passion for helping young people gain confidence in the understanding and expression of personal emotion. The training she has obtained over the years has given her the opportunity to fulfill many passions that feel innate to her.
Some of these include:
- Learning to integrate traumatic experiences into life. As well as letting go of the pain that may be associated with these experiences (trauma, recovery).
- Learning to achieve a positive identity as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth.
- Gaining a positive body image and learning to have a healthy relationship with food.
- Learning to navigate relationships with a definite sense of self and appropriate boundaries.
Jennifer not only loves working with youth but believes that strong family work is an integral part of the change process. She is trained in EMDR. And she loves educating young people and their parents on how the nervous system impacts their responses to stressful situations.
Jennifer loves laughing, traveling, trying new and exciting food. As well as exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and kids.
Darcy Holt
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR
Darcy grew up in Greenbrier, Arkansas where she graduated high school and attended Arkansas College in Batesville. After her parents retired, they moved to Enterprise, Utah and Darcy transferred to Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.
Darcy has over 19 years of experience working as a mentor and sponsor with adolescents and adults that suffer from the disease of addiction. She spends many hours speaking at rehabilitation centers and some local high schools in hopes of sharing her own experience, strength, and hope with others. Darcy feels she has found her dream job; a place Like RedCliff where she can make a difference.
Darcy has served as our Family Support Services Director and if you ask her, taking families through the graduation process is one of the most fulfilling things she has ever done. Darcy also has served as our very own on-site photographer. She loves it when a student who wouldn’t talk to her or look at her at first gets all excited and really wants their picture taken by the end of their stay. She says, “watching that light come on is amazing!” Darcy has served as our Admissions Counselor and is currently the RedCliff Ascent Admissions Director. Darcy is a wonderful team member and enjoys working with parents and guardians to help them discover how RedCliff can help their son or daughter and ultimately their family heal and recover.
Darcy lives in Enterprise, UT with her husband and two boys ages 13 and 10. She has served on the Enterprise City Council for four years and has run the local Easter Egg Hunt for 8 years. She feels that being of service to her community and being a part of RedCliff is her chance to pay it forward.
Stacy Sturtevant
FIELD DIRECTOR
Stacy began working for the RedCliff Ascent family in early 2013 after graduating from Brigham Young University. Stacy has a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership. Her love and understanding of the healing powers that come from the wilderness started at a young age. She grew up in northern Minnesota near a small town. As a child, she enjoyed fishing, hiking, camping, and just being outside.
Stacy has spent her professional career working with adolescents and young adults. She spent 3 years as Women’s Program Director at a young adult transition program in southern Utah. While at RedCliff, Stacy has held many positions including Head Instructor, Field Support Manager and now Field Director. Her high warmth along with clear expectations and appropriate boundaries define her style.
Stacy met her husband at RedCliff in 2013. They have 2 dogs that join them on many camping and traveling adventures. Stacy also enjoys working on art. You can often find her working on stained glass, loom beading, and gourd carving.
Scott Schill
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Scott has been with RedCliff since 1998. After graduating from BYU in Outdoor Recreation and Youth Leadership in 1991, Scott began his career in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare. Scott’s greatest asset to the organization is his love and compassion for the RedCliff students and staff he oversees and manages.
Scott’s philosophy is simple:
“All RedCliff staff work on the same curriculum, eat the same food, carry the same pack and wear the same clothing as the students. RedCliff counselors, will not ask the students to do anything they are not willing to experience themselves.”
This philosophy has promoted respect and rapport among RedCliff students and staff. It is priceless while providing a great foundation for treatment progress. In addition to his RedCliff responsibilities, Scott is busy with a wife he adores and five children of his own.
Dr. Brian Burrows
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Annette Davis
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR
Annette Davis offers students of the Discovery Academy system of academics which includes RedCliff Ascent, many years of experience and leadership in residential treatment settings as well as private schools. Her Master’s Degree in Education (M.Ed) focused on Leadership. Along with her bachelor’s in English and History, Annette has been well equipped over the years as she has led educators and influenced students.
Annette has worked with numerous student populations in the private and public setting. In her travels, she has had the opportunity to work with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Panama and Central America.
Her Special Education Certification has influenced and contributed to her caring and compassionate demeanor. She absolutely loves to be personally engaged in the education of students who find themselves enrolled in a therapeutic environment with emotional and developmental concerns.
Annette adores working with Junior high and high school students from different parts of the country as well as from around the world. She enjoys the interactions and personal engagement that accompanies their diverse talents and challenges. She believes as relationships develop, student confidence improves, and academic proficiency increases. Throughout the years, hiring talented faculty and encouraging quality curriculum development have been two of her major priorities.
Annette mentioned just the other day;
“It is important to me that we hire faculty that can thrill the students into learning.”
Throughout the years, Annette has enjoyed her interactions with Educational Consultants, industry professionals and parents. She looks forward to future interactions and collaboration that positively impact the lives of the students we serve.
Cheryl Meibos
INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
Cheryl graduated from Brigham Young University in Accounting. She has been with Ascent Companies for 13 years.
Cheryl grew up in Southern Utah and enjoys very active family life. With three sons, including a set of twins, Cheryl keeps up by running marathons. She and her family are also avid boaters and visit Lake Powell multiple times a year.
Cheryl is a professed nerd at heart and has a passion for accounting and numbers. She also loves going on location to our different programs and supporting those staff members that are directly involved in making a difference in our student’s lives. She is so proud to work for an organization that helps families become whole again.
Admissions Team
Darcy Holt
Barbara Davis
Jennifer Chambers
Darcy Holt
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR
Darcy grew up in Greenbrier, Arkansas where she graduated high school and attended Arkansas College in Batesville. After her parents retired, they moved to Enterprise, Utah and Darcy transferred to Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.
Darcy has over 19 years of experience working as a mentor and sponsor with adolescents and adults that suffer from the disease of addiction. She spends many hours speaking at rehabilitation centers and some local high schools in hopes of sharing her own experience, strength, and hope with others. Darcy feels she has found her dream job; a place Like RedCliff where she can make a difference.
Darcy has served as our Family Support Services Director and if you ask her, taking families through the graduation process is one of the most fulfilling things she has ever done. Darcy also has served as our very own on-site photographer. She loves it when a student who wouldn’t talk to her or look at her at first gets all excited and really wants their picture taken by the end of their stay. She says, “watching that light come on is amazing!” Darcy has served as our Admissions Counselor and is currently the RedCliff Ascent Admissions Director. Darcy is a wonderful team member and enjoys working with parents and guardians to help them discover how RedCliff can help their son or daughter and ultimately their family heal and recover.
Darcy lives in Enterprise, UT with her husband and two boys ages 13 and 10. She has served on the Enterprise City Council for four years and has run the local Easter Egg Hunt for 8 years. She feels that being of service to her community and being a part of RedCliff is her chance to pay it forward.
Barbara Davis
ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR
Barbara joined Redcliff Ascent in summer 2003. Her Earth names say it all.
POLARIS is the brightest star in the constellation URSA MINOR. It is commonly referred to as the “Northern Star” or a Polar Star which people for centuries have looked to for guidance in the night sky.
The Northern energies bring knowledge, trust, and intuition to those around them.
EMBER comes from the Latin language meaning “burn”. An ember is a glowing fragment still capable of reviving and full of new hope. An ember also can cause a spark that fuels an intense fire. It is full of passion
Barbara’s passion is working with families in need. She enjoys staying in touch with families and sharing in their healing and success.
Barbara cherishes her time with her husband and her son who now plays college basketball.
Jennifer Chambers
Admissions Assistant
Clinical Team
Jennifer Hedrick, MS, LCMHC
Kaylie Corrigan, CSW
David Cacamis, CSW
Danielle Schneider, MA, LMFT
Christopher Tolen, Psy.D.
John Buckener LMFT
Jennifer Hedrick, MS, LCMHC
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Originally from Southern California, Jennifer came to Utah to attend both undergraduate and graduate school. She comes to RedCliff Ascent, after being an integral part of Moonridge Academy. Previously at Southern Utah University working in student development and academia for 18 years. She has received a significant amount of training in, and teaches, human development and group psychotherapy. Her experience has been diverse.
Jennifer started working with teens in 2008. It was here that she also discovered her passion for helping young people gain confidence in the understanding and expression of personal emotion. The training she has obtained over the years has given her the opportunity to fulfill many passions that feel innate to her.
Some of these include:
- Learning to integrate traumatic experiences into life. As well as letting go of the pain that may be associated with these experiences (trauma, recovery).
- Learning to achieve a positive identity as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth.
- Gaining a positive body image and learning to have a healthy relationship with food.
- Learning to navigate relationships with a definite sense of self and appropriate boundaries.
Jennifer not only loves working with youth but believes that strong family work is an integral part of the change process. She is trained in EMDR. And she loves educating young people and their parents on how the nervous system impacts their responses to stressful situations.
Jennifer loves laughing, traveling, trying new and exciting food. As well as exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and kids.
Kaylie Corrigan, CSW
THERAPIST
Kaylie Corrigan is a therapist with RedCliff Ascent. She has been working in the wilderness therapy context for the last nine years. Kaylie holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fort Lewis College. She has a master’s in social work from Arizona State University as well.
Kaylie’s journey began in 2008 as a field guide. She has since has worked her way into various leadership positions. Some of the positions include the Outdoor Program Director for an adventure therapy program and Executive Director for a residential women’s dual diagnosis substance abuse facility.
She has been actively involved and responsible for developing and designing various programs. In addition to developing programs, Kaylie is involved in creating policies and procedures and administering treatment programs over the years. These experiences are also combined with various community mental health positions. At those positions, she worked with low-income children and families as well as working at a holistic health center that detoxed clients off of prescription medications.
These diverse and unique practices allow her to tailors her therapeutic interventions to meet the needs of each individual. She uses a holistic, strengths-based, humanistic approach, believing that unconditional positive regard allows for a foundation of rapport and healthy therapeutic alliances. She believes that a client-centered approach allows clients to identify their authentic self and partners with her clients to actualize the best version of themselves.
Kaylie specializes in working with drug and alcohol abuse clients. She is deeply passionate about supporting and assisting people on their road to recovery. She has particular experience in working with oppositional defiance, borderline personality disorder, mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety, and failure to launch clients.
When she is not being of service to others she enjoys hiking, climbing, snowboarding. Other activities she also enjoys include yoga, meditation, exploring, and anything that makes life an adventure with her dog Luna.
David Cacamis, CSW
THERAPIST
David graduated from the University of South Alabama with a BA in Psychology. After spending several years with the Ascent Companies, split between RedCliff and Discovery Ranch for Girls, he went back to school and completed his MSW at Radford University in Virginia. David started working with adolescents during his undergrad through a community based out-patient facility and has made it his goal to continue working with young people ever since. Since he was a child David has always had a passion for the outdoors and the powerful experiences it provides. Being able to combine his passion for helping young people with the outdoors has been an incredibly fulfilling experience.
Danielle Schneider, MA, LMFT
THERAPIST
Danielle Schneider earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Southern Utah University, and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University. She has a passion for helping young people and their families change their lives and has worked with adolescents in residential treatment settings, as well as in boarding schools and detention centers. Danielle loves swimming, the outdoors, playing music and playing with her dog.
Christopher Tolen, Psy.D.
THERAPIST
- Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
- MA. Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
- MA General Psychology, Pepperdine University
- BA Design, Psychology, and Afrikaans, Brigham Young University
- Licensed Psychologist in CA, IL, and UT since 2000.
Dr. Christopher Tolen is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. He started his mental health career in 1991 and eventually earned his Doctorate in psychology in 1999. Throughout his career, he has worked decades in the support of adolescents, young adults, and families. He has focused his profession with a commitment to evidence-based methods and practices. Dr. Tolen works primarily with adolescent girls, developmentally delayed adolescents, and young adults with emotional distress and addiction. He has been a wilderness therapist and closely affiliated with RedCliff Ascent since 2013.
Dr. Tolen is trained in and utilizes Brainspotting, Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and Applied Behavioral Analysis. He has served as a therapist, program director, clinical director, supervising psychologist, an APA internship director, and an Executive Director. He has experience working in outpatient therapy, corrections, residential treatment, and wilderness therapy. He is the founder of two successful businesses including an outpatient therapy program and an aftercare transition program. As a clinical psychologist, he has provided psychological testing for over a thousand youth and young adults across the country and in multiple settings including schools, homes, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and wilderness therapy programs.
Dr. Tolen was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico and lived his childhood in both Sitka, Alaska and Santa Fe. He is the son of two public school teachers and was raised to appreciate and value culture, exploration, adventure, and family. His travels and aftercare therapy work have taken him to nearly every state in the union, to the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa. He and his wife have been married since 1994, and are the proud parents of four children and a growing number of grandchildren. He has both professional and personal experience working with special developmental needs children. He and his wife have two sons with autism, one of whom completed wilderness therapy. In his free time, he enjoys sports, reading, movies, travel, spending time with his family, and singing barbershop.
John Buckener LMFT
THERAPIST
John started working with adolescents and their families in the residential treatment industry in 2006 as a line staff. Over the years John has worked with hundreds of struggling teens and their families. John has worked in many roles helping families and adolescence heal. Some of these include but are not limited to a frontline staff, milieu director, primary therapist at an RTC, and even a School administrator. Even through John enjoyed working in these roles he decided to fulfill a lifelong goal of becoming a wilderness therapist. He jokingly reports that working for RedCliff Ascent is like the cherry on top of his career.
John is trained in or has experience in DBT, CBT, EMDR, positive psychology, and most family therapy models. He specializes in working with adolescents who have emotional dysregulation and trauma. When John is not working he loves to day dream ways to make his dreams into memories. He loves spending time with his wife and 5 kids, he loves to read books, mountain bike, and doing Crossfit.
Medical Team
Dr. Brian Burrows
Karen Hiatt, RN
Dr. Brian Burrows
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Karen Hiatt, RN
MEDICAL COORDINATOR
Karen became part of the RedCliff team in July of 2008. She earned her nursing degree from Weber State College and has worked in family practice, hospital setting, and ob/gyn setting. When she is not working, she has her hands full at home with a husband and four children. They enjoy traveling, supporting each other, and just being together. Karen is happy to be back in the Enterprise area and has already seen the positive effect that the wilderness experience can have on young people.
Field and Operations
Stacy Sturtevant
Josh Finicum
Brad Lundell
Caitlin Jaramillo
Stacy Sturtevant
FIELD DIRECTOR
Stacy began working for the RedCliff Ascent family in early 2013 after graduating from Brigham Young University. Stacy has a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership. Her love and understanding of the healing powers that come from the wilderness started at a young age. She grew up in northern Minnesota near a small town. As a child, she enjoyed fishing, hiking, camping, and just being outside.
Stacy has spent her professional career working with adolescents and young adults. She spent 3 years as Women’s Program Director at a young adult transition program in southern Utah. While at RedCliff, Stacy has held many positions including Head Instructor, Field Support Manager and now Field Director. Her high warmth along with clear expectations and appropriate boundaries define her style.
Stacy met her husband at RedCliff in 2013. They have 2 dogs that join them on many camping and traveling adventures. Stacy also enjoys working on art. You can often find her working on stained glass, loom beading, and gourd carving.
Josh Finicum
ASSISTANT FIELD DIRECTOR
Josh was raised in a small town on the Utah-Arizona border and spent much of his time wandering the desert landscape. He first began working in the wilderness therapy industry in 2011 and has since worked in multiple wilderness and residential programs. Josh is passionate about the healing and clarity that the wilderness brings and is proud to be a part of the RedCliff team.
Josh met his wife in 2013 when they were both working as field staff in the same wilderness program. They spend a lot of time hiking, camping and paddle boarding with their two daughters and their huge Alaskan Malamute.
Brad Lundell
RECREATION AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT
Brad has been working as a wilderness professional since he was 15. Since he began working as a wilderness guide he has taken countless groups of teens into the wilderness Backpacking, Climbing, Repelling, Biking, and many more outdoor activities. He has not only lead groups but trained staff in safely facilitating such activities. He has served in many outdoor positions over the years, Nature Director, High Adventure Director, and Program Director. He joined Red Cliff Ascent as a field guide and is now facilitating our recreation program by doing weekly activities with our students and adult program.
Caitlin Jaramillo
FIELD SUPPORT MANAGER
Office Admin
Milton Hatt
Leslie Bishop
Eunice Cole
Crystal Sevy
Lindsey Robertson
Rachael Spaulding
Jenica Limb
Emily Novakovich
Milton Hatt
WAREHOUSE MANAGER
Milt was born in Burley, Idaho and lived there until after high school. He grew up in a family of 6 boys; he was the 4th. They spent time fishing, hunting, camping, playing sports, and swimming. Milt received an Associates Degree from Ricks College and went on to further education at Idaho State University where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Business.
Milt has worked in sales for over 20 years, spending most of his career in the sporting goods market. In 2006 he joined Redcliff Ascent as their warehouse manager and purchasing agent. Milt met his wife in college and they have two grown married children. Milt has spent time traveling to England, South Africa, Scotland, Mexico, Canada, and around the US.
Leslie Bishop
HR MANAGER
Eunice Cole
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Crystal Sevy
OFFICE ASSISTANT
I grew up in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains raised by all the southern critters. I attended Greenbrier, Arkansas Schools up until my junior year when, as a family, we moved to Enterprise, Utah. I completed high school in Enterprise and then attended Dixie University. During this time I found the first love of my life. The sky! Once upon a time, I became a Skydiver, having now made just fewer than 300 jumps from perfectly good airplanes and helicopters. This experience changed me and made me more confident and focused in all my life experiences.
After completing my time at Dixie, I went on to a career as a Lab Tech. / Phlebotomist at Cedar City Hospital.
After battling infertility for over 17 years I found the second love of my life. I had my first and only baby girl at age 41. She indeed is a miracle. I left work at the hospital to fully enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity of being a Mother. This is the most amazing experience of my life. She’s the only thing that has topped the Blue Skies.
My baby is now attending school and having adventures of her own. Therefore, I’ve had the opportunity of joining the RCA family in a part-time position.
I thought I had a pretty good grasp on what RCA was all about before joining. I was pleasantly surprised after realizing the depth of this program and the strength that it holds in healing so many families. To see it happen before my eyes are so humbling. I’ve already learned so much in a short time being here.
A little bit of what I do goes a long way. I provide the connection of loved ones with their children through our Parent Portal. This is where parents and loved ones have access to letters and pictures from their students. This is also where my relationship with the students comes from. It is so exciting to see the growth they experience even if just in their pictures. To be even just a small part of the miracles happening here on a daily basis is an honor and privilege.
Lindsey Robertson
CONTROLLER
A graduate in Accounting at Utah Valley University, Lindsey handles the daily cash flow and manages the assets of Ascent. She has been with Ascent Companies for 6 years and married for five. Lindsey and her husband are outdoor enthusiasts. They enjoy camping, fishing, and snowboarding to name a few. Lindsay loves participating in Parent Days and watching the progress students make as a result of being at one of our programs. She is so grateful to be part of an organization that truly changes lives.
Rachael Spaulding
ACCOUNTING
Working at Ascent Companies is truly a family affair for Rachael whose husband is the clinical Director at OxBow. Rachael has been with us for 21 years. She’s has a love for learning and has attended multiple institutions to gain her unique skill set in office management and accounting. Rachael’s family is very busy. They enjoy being out in nature, playing sports, and watching movies. Rachael recently received an earth name (Solstice) which is a big honor here. She attended a RedCliff Graduation and it made an everlasting impression. She loves working for Ascent and the new beginnings they provide for their families.
Jenica Limb
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Jenica has a unique perspective here at Ascent Companies because she moonlights as a Recreational Therapist at Discovery Ranch. Originally from Idaho, Jenica enjoys a rich family life nearby. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Therapeutic Recreation and has been with Ascent Companies for almost a year. Jenica loves sports and being outside. Her passions include basketball, racquetball, photography, hiking, and biking. Jenica has been really impressed with the culture here. She loves working for a company that cares just as much for their staff as they do their students. She loves being part of the outcomes we produce and working with students directly.
Emily Novakovich
RECRUITER
Emily was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She first joined the RedCliff Ascent family in the summer of 2013. As a Head Instructor, she worked with both students and staff in the field. This helped her witness first-hand the real transformative power of wilderness therapy.
Emily left RedCliff Ascent to finish her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Utah State University. While a student, she also interned in the United States Senate during the 2016 presidential election. After graduation, Emily returned to Southern Utah and rejoined RCA. She now combines her passions for law and the remarkable people who make wilderness therapy possible through working in Human Resources at RedCliff Ascent.
When not working, Emily enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and otherwise enjoying the beauty of the Southern Utah desert and ample public lands of the area. She also has a border collie named Mckinley whom she enjoys training, and who often joins in on the adventures.