Meet Our Team
Alaina Goff,
Director of Operations
Bio Coming Soon!
Dana Stratton
Director of Admissions and Detox Services
Dana brings over 30 years of experience in a diverse range of critical medical field applications, including the management of Urgent Care facilities, an Internal Medicine office, and domestic and international business development for a medical device manufacturing company. Her work as a key member and manager of the detox team begins with her passion for helping clients advocate for themselves and being part of each client’s recovery process. She holds certificates in healthcare administration and as a medical assistant.
Paul Tucker, MS, LADAC
Chief Executive Officer
Paul’s education began with a BA in Social Science from Marylhurst College. He has a Master’s Degree in Experiential Therapy from the University Of Wisconsin. Paul opened his first treatment center in 1997. He founded Focused Recovery with a focus on providing superior quality treatment for addictions and co-occurring disorders. He is continuously working towards expanding treatment offerings to better serve the growing substance abuse and mental health needs of our community. Paul is an accomplished hand cyclist who enjoys camping and numerous other outdoor activities with his wife Rebekah and their dog, Bella.
Stephanie Kohler,
HR Director
Sophia Childers,
Payroll Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!
Sandra Spurlock, LMFT
Intake Assessor & Clinical Supervisor
Sandra Spurlock, MA, LMFT, Certified Therapist in EMDR, and International Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGCG-II) Intake Assessor and Therapist: Complete Intake Assessments for new clients; work individually and in group (as needed) with clients in recovery, and work with Inpatient Detox and Outpatient Detox teams to help stabilize and encourage clients very new to recovery. Professional accomplishments include experience as a clinical supervisor and program coordinator for teams of clinicians working in recovery. Special interests in women in recovery; and trauma processing. Strongest value is in establishing a therapeutic connection that will activate and enhance healing. Have been a resident of Albuquerque since 1982 and love the mountains, rivers, and high desert of New Mexico, with a special interest in native plants and wild birds.. Live in the North Valley with my husband Greg and delightful cat Hannah (who is never allowed outside with the wild birds.)
Elijah Williams
Admissions Coordinator
Elijah Williams is an Admissions Coordinator here at Turning Point Recovery Center. He is often the one who will pick up the phone when you call and ask for help. When he is not screening clients over the phone, he is either meeting face to face for registration or on the phone with insurance companies. He also participates in alumni activities as he graduated from Turning Point July 2018. At 9 months of sobriety he was interviewed as a success story for Turning Point and you can read his story on our website. Since then that number has grown too 22 months of sobriety. He believes accountability within our program and the individuals accountability to themselves is what makes this program work. He believes that getting himself to the IOP groups, making the required phone calls, the required 12 step meetings and being willing to dig deep and make major internal and external changes was a recipe for success, and he is the proof. Now he gets to take his personal Turning Point experience and use it to help others remain successful in our program. Outside of work he is regarded as one of the top Stand Up Comedians in the city of Albuquerque. He is also an aspiring filmmaker and uses his own experiences as inspiration for both.
Kathy Young
Aftercare/Clinical Lead
Kathy Young is originally from California and Arizona. She has three grown children and has devoted her time to working in the Mental Health and Addiction field. Kathy holds an LMHC and is devoted to continuing her quest to learn more about Trauma and Addiction and to pass on the value of living a life, substance free.
Marissa Evans, CPSW
Peer Support
Marissa Evans, Yoga Instructor, CPSW. A devoted student of yoga for 5 years, Marissa completed the 200-hr YTT in 2018 in the school of hot power vinyasa flow. An avid backpacker, trek leader and guide as well as runner and traveler, she has never looked-back. You will get a full-body workout with focus on alignment and form as you flow through a moving meditation and slide on into final meditation with an exhausted smile and and a calm, relaxed state of mind. Marissa continues to pursue further specialized teacher trainings and opps abroad this year to honor her path as a yoga teacher.
Keith Grigsby,
Financial Director
Bio Coming Soon!
Julia Herrera, LSAA
Indiv Therapist
Julia graduated from the University of New Mexico’s Psychology department with a concentration in Addiction Counseling. She has had years of experience in crisis intervention and has a history in case management and advocacy for the refugee population in Albuquerque. Julia currently does assessments for Turning Point and assists with IOP groups when needed. She is working on a Master’s degree in Counseling and is expected to graduate March 2020.
Megan Hosea
Outpatient Detox Technician
Megan Hosea is an OPD tech who conducts medical assessments for potential client’s, assists with vitals and medication management with current patients while achieving quality patient care. Megan graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in HealthCare Administration with a minor in Healthcare financing. Megan has been working in healthcare for over 18 years from working in the ER, OR and ICU to Labor & Delivery and NICU. Healthcare has been a huge part of Megan’s life which helps with her patient care as well as being in recovery herself, she is able to get on the same level as our clients. Megan loves to be outdoors. She enjoys spending time with her kids as well as fishing, hunting and camping.
Frances Kathleen Lopez-Bushnell (Kathy)
APRN, EdD, MPH, MSN
Kathy is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a nurse researcher who has been working with substance use disorders for many years. She has been awarded a substance-use disorder fellowship, published in substance use disorders and she continues to work in this area. Kathy facilitates patients going through alcohol, opioid, or other withdraw with non-addictive treatments. Because of her ability to use motivational interviewing and her many years of experience with substance use disorders and research, she is able to provide excellent care with patients going through withdrawal. This successful protocol helps individuals go through withdrawal with minimal symptoms. It also helps them prepare for the lifelong journey of sobriety, a healthy, satisfying and productive life.
Lawrence Martinez
Facilities Manager
Lawrence Martinez is multitalented and very busy! He’s our Facilities Manager, taking care of maintenance, keeping all the facilities clean and operational including Turning Point and Focused Recovery, the recovery houses and the detox house. He cooks for our residential clients and makes sure there’s food on hand for the rest of us. But that’s not all! Well versed in IT maintenance and certified in Business Administrative Technology, he also takes care of our IT systems and makes sure everything is operational. He’s a computer enthusiast, but is also studying to become a Certified Peer Support Worker. How does he balance it all? As a loving husband and father of five, Lawrence is practiced at multitasking! He says, “I value honesty, hard work and the interpersonal relationships with my coworkers and clients.” We see those values in practice every day, in everything Lawrence does.
Ava Dasya
MSW, MA, IOP Therapist/Aftercare
Thomas Salas, CPSW
Sober Living Manager
An Albuquerque native, Thomas works as a peer support specialist to support clients through their process of recovery. As a recovering former addict, he can work on a closer, more personal level with clients outside individual therapy and IOP sessions, with the ability to relate intimately to the challenges and successes of recovery. He has recently started school at UNM pursuing a substance abuse counseling degree.
Dr. Gail Thaler,
MD, PSYC
Bio Coming Soon!
April Trujillo
Administrative Supervisor
April Trujillo is an experienced Administrative Supervisor who has extensive knowledge with all administrative tasks, in conjunction with scheduling and congruity. Having held positions in the medical and business fields April is able to modify her skills to meet the needs of many clients. She has skillfully increased efficiency in several of her assigned roles. April interacts directly with potential and current clients and has a strong desire to help those along in their journey towards recovery. While perusing a science degree from Central Community College April volunteered for the American Cancer Society and helped individuals with their battle through breast cancer. Helping people through life’s struggles is what April is most passionate about. On her free time, she enjoys playing board games and visiting with friends.
Mercy Serafin
Biller
Prior to joining the team at Focused Recovery, Mercy worked in management for federal contractors for more than 14 years and banking for over 10 years. She began as an intern and since then her career path within the organization has woven her back into supervising and finance. She enjoys working with a strong team that ensures compassionate client-care is the shared objective. She also likes working in a company that is constantly flourishing with innovative ideas. Mercy loves seeing her son grow and play sports, she loves live theater, musicals, and reading.
Lauren Bermingham
Admissions Supervisor
Jeremy Cordova
Admissions Coordinator
Jeremy Cordova, BA, CPSW, TPRC Admissions Coordinator. I am dedicated to helping addicts find recovery and maintain sobriety. Prior to Turning Point, I studied Psychology and Sociology at the University of New Mexico, I am currently planning to work towards earning a Masters in Social Work. In January 2020, I will be celebrating three years in recovery. Outside of work, I stay busy with working out almost daily, playing beach volleyball, and caring for my giant baby Jaxx, a 150 pound Rottweiler.
LouAnne Pease-Dirawi
Medical Laboratory Scientist
LouAnne Dirawi, MLS (ASCP)CM, LMT, NTS, IRM, I am the Medical Laboratory Scientist for TPRC. It’s a fancy title awarded to me for achieving a Bachelor in Science and a national licensure allowing me to perform urine drug screens for the company.And as much as I love lab analytics and testing, I have another side to me that might surprise you if you were to meet me in person. I help people heal themselves as a Licensed Massage Therapist, a Natural Therapeutic Specialist, and an Integrative Reiki Master. I also enjoy facilitating an energetic connection to Spirit through meditation and other Shamanic practices (non-drug related of course). I feel that it is important to embrace all aspects of your personality to be a complete and whole person. I believe that it is important to never stop learning, never stop growing, always embrace who you are, how special you are, and what you have to give back to others. There is only one you and you are awesome so share it.
Kyle Ezell,
Peer Support
Bio Coming Soon!
Jennifer Gibbs, MHA, FACHE
Chief Financial Officer
Bio Coming Soon!
Andrea Lapin,
Director of Marketing
Bio Coming Soon!
Eric Mechenbier, MBA
Chief Information Officer
Eric is the Chief Information Officer for Turning Point Recovery Center and also owns MechenbierIT, his own successful tech company in Albuquerque, NM. Prior to MechenbierIT, Eric was a Senior Analyst for an IT consulting company, focusing on EM design and implementation of IT systems consisting of subject matter expert interviews, requirements gathering and documentation, as well as project management experience.
Nichole Meo,
Registered Nurse
Bio Coming Soon!
Christina Hynes,
Peer Support
Chrissy will be working as a CPSW and CCSS in Peer Support. Chrissy has several years of experience working for the State of the Recovery Center and Duke City Recovery Toolbox.
Fermin Gonzales,
Case Manager
Bio Coming Soon!
Gilbert Lopez
Bookkeeper
Bio Coming Soon!
Karina Moreno
Outpatient Detox Technician
Karina just relocated from Arizona where she was the Lead Medical Assistant at a Surgical facility; she is joining our outpatient detox team with a lot of skill, experience and enthusiasm.
Nate Gonzales
Detox Manager
My job is to ensure all clients receive quality patient care while adhering to the requirements as set forth for all documentation in order to receive payment. I oversee the medical assessments, admissions, and discharges from all medical detoxification programs, and work with the provider to establish the appropriate level of care for each patient. I have worked for TPRC x4 years, starting at inpatient detox, as a technician.
Vince Baca
Peer Support
Vince comes to us with several years of related CPSW experience. He recently worked with Bernalillo County Behavioral Health as a Case Manager.
Shani Crawford
IOP Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Juliana Loretto
IOP Therapist
Juliana has several years of experience working with substance abuse.
Karen Berry
Substance Abuse Counselor
Bio Coming Soon!
Germaine Melton
IOP Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Carmen Sharpe
IOP Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Charlene Alfero
IOP Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Hannah Casey
Care Coordinator
Bio Coming Soon!
Elizabeth Egelhoff
IOP Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Amanda Dean
Care Coordinator
Bio Coming Soon!
Calli Feerer
IOP Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Kristopher Wessel
Assessor
Bio Coming Soon!
Tana Chavez
Peer Support
Bio Coming Soon!
Neal McDonnell
Program Liason
Bio Coming Soon!
Anthony Dowidowicz
Medical Director
Anthony is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and has a background in addiction treatment – as well as an MBA! Dr. Dowidowicz allows us to provide an even greater level of safety, retention and care.
Kurt LeBeck,
Program Development
Bio Coming Soon!
Vanessa Wendlick
Finance Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!
Muriah Dean
Detox Technician
Bio Coming Soon!
Eloyd Saavedra
Residential Technician
Bio Coming Soon!
Cristie Ortiz
Clinical Therapist
Bio Coming Soon!
Zara Collins
Administrative Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!
Michael Oman
CPSW
Bio Coming Soon!
Alison Kionka
EMT Intermediate
Bio Coming Soon!
Hatherly Lewis
Specimen Collection Coordinator
Bio Coming Soon!
Ethan Bruer
Admissions Supervisor
Bio Coming Soon!
Ken Smith
Residential Technician
Bio Coming Soon!
Kat Ramos
CPSW
Bio Coming Soon!
David Guzman
Residential Technician
Bio Coming Soon!
Nakala Watson
Residential Technician
Bio Coming Soon!
Learn More
Contact us to speak with a team member and learn more about our admissions process.