Experts in the Field of Mental Health and Addiction

MARK OERTHER, CADC | Chief Executive Officer, Partner

With over 21 years of experience in the industries of mental health, substance abuse, and recovery, Mark is a veteran of healthcare program development and marketing. His roles have included admissions, business development, direct care and supervision inside therapeutic settings, as well as therapeutic program management. Mark also helped to start and operate five highly regarded treatment programs around the country.

Mark’s greatest accomplishment is getting sober. There was a time when addiction controlled his life. With much support from his family and others in recovery, he was able to break the cycle of addiction at the age of 21. It has now become his mission to make the gift of recovery more accessible to others. He believes there is hope for every young adult, that they—and their families—may find a new life. To quote his favorite line from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, “It works, it really does!”

Mark is married to Jackie and has a son, David.They have two dogs, Dakota and Duke.Mark is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan, and also attempts to play golf (but plays poorly).

KATIE SLAUGHTER, MSW, LCSW|Primary Therapist, Partner

Katie received her Bachelor’s of Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada and her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Utah. Katie has experience working with sex offenders, an array of sexual addictions, homeless individuals, substance use disorders, and men in the criminal justice system. Katie is EMDR certified and excels in working with families. Katie has been with the organization since 2014, serving as the Executive Director of our women’s extended care program, guiding over 200 women in their recovery process. Katie works with individuals and families utilizing the following evidence-based practices: Emotion Focused Therapy, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

TONY PADJEN, MSW, LCSW|President, Partner

Tony received his Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degree at the University of Utah and is one of the founders of Balance House.. Along with being a clinician, Tony is also our president and oversees each phase of the Balance House Program. He has been an integral part of the organization since its inception in 2012. Tony excels in building meaningful, strong relationships and firmly believes in the principles behind the Balance House philosophy. He provides a strong foundation to our culture, and his personal experience in long-term recovery has helped him develop outstanding leadership qualities that have allowed him to guide many men through their own recovery journeys.

CATIE CARTISANO, MSW, LCSW, LSUDC |Chief Clinical Officer, Partner

Catie received her Bachelor’s of Social Work and Master’s of Social Work along with Advanced Substance Use Disorder Training at the University of Utah. Catie spent most of her career in the public sector at non-profit facilities and federal and government agencies. She has extensive experience working with high-acuity mental health patients, combat veterans, chronically homeless individuals and inmates at the Utah State Prison. This experience has prepared her to work with severe cases of PTSD, an array of personality disorders, trauma, substance use disorders and the severely mentally ill. She is EMDR certified and believes in looking at addiction through an attachment lens. Catie believes that people in recovery must first detach from addictive substances and behaviors in order to develop the capacity to build and sustain healthy relationships. Catie has implemented multiple evidenced-based practices into our facilities.

BRANDON WALL|Director of Business Development, Partner

Brandon is the Program Director for our extended care program. Brandon is currently pursuing a Marketing degree through the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Brandon loves that his job affords him the opportunity to assist and witness other men on their journey to becoming healthy, happy and successful individuals. Brandon is in long-term recovery and is an alumnus of Balance House. His experience allows him to develop relationships with clients on a more personal level so that they can easily relate to his story and path.

Brandon is well-connected in the Balance House alumni network because he believes one of the most important elements of recovery is having a solid sober support network, so a big part of his focus is helping clients reach out and develop relationships with previous clients.

In his free time Brandon loves golfing, snowboarding, fly fishing, and hiking with his chocolate lab named “Marlo.”

JON WITEBSKY|Executive Director

Jon received his BS degree in the areas of Child Psychology, Social Work, and English Literature from the University of Minnesota. With years of extensive experience in the treatment industry, he uses these skills, along with his personal experience in the process of achieving long-term sobriety, to focus on building strong relationships with clients. He finds this makes it easier to help the client set and achieve goals for their future, work through their day to day problems, and share some laughs along the way.

Jon’s personal philosophy with clients is based around the concept of “I’m the same as you (the client), just a few years ahead in the process.” If Jon isn’t reading or watching Netflix, you’ll find him playing with his dog, Sir, or snowboarding at one of Utah’s many ski resorts.

ROBERT SIMPSON, MD|Medical Director

Robert graduated from the University of Texas, and he completed his internship and residency at Baylor University Medical Center before moving to Utah to complete his fellowships.

His own experience with addiction was so profoundly moving that he felt compelled to help others find the kind of grace and freedom that he has been given in recovery.

Robert has worked treating patients with substance use disorders in a variety of settings, from clinics serving patients that are experiencing homelessness, to treatment centers that treat celebrities. He joined Balance House as the Medical Director in 2018. Robert finds the unique and personalized approach to caring for people at Balance House refreshing. He also enjoys the collaborative relationships that he has with therapeutic and programmatic staff and also enjoys working closely with family systems. Perhaps most interesting and rewarding to him is to follow patients from admission throughout their treatment at Balance House, seeing them transform into people who emerge with a new sense of freedom in recovery.

Robert is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, The American Board of Addiction Medicine, and the American Board of Preventative Medicine and Addiction Medicine. He is a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is Adjunct Faculty at The University of Utah in the Department of Psychiatry. He also serves as the Medical Consultant to the State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and is the Medical Director of The Utah Professionals’ Health Program.

BRIANNA JONES WHELAN|Chief Operations Officer

Brianna has worked in operations for treatment centers for more than 12 years and has consulted for several programs while focusing on alumni services, outcomes, and operating systems. She joined the EVNSQ/Balance House team after experiencing the revolving door of short-term treatment and watching Balance House alumni achieve sobriety at rates that were far above what she was seeing in other programs. She enjoys working in operations and attempts to make the treatment process as seamless as possible so patients and families can focus on healing. She has a bachelor’s degree in business and political science and is currently perusing her MBA.

JANIE CORBYN|Director of Operations

Janie studied History and Political Science during college and is passionate about politics, human rights & immigration policy. She was also a professional pastry chef for years and enjoyed her experience working in celebrity kitchens.

Janie is one of our Program Directors and is also a person in long-term recovery. She is passionate about sharing her experience, strength, and hope with those in early recovery. Janie has strong case management skills, possesses high levels of engagement, and excels when working with families. She also does an incredible job when it comes to instilling hope and motivation in our clients. In addition, she assists clients with executive functioning and provides them with humor to help them through their hard days.

NAN MICHAELIS, MSW, LCSW|Clinical Director

Nan received her Bachelor’s of Social Work at Utah State University and her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Utah. As part of her graduate degree, she studied abroad in Mongolia, focusing on homeless youth and video game addiction. She spent the beginning of her career in the non-profit sector, treating men with substance use disorders, personality disorders, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. She has extensive experience with treating complex substance use disorders and mental illness. She has worked with extreme cases including veterans, chronically homeless individuals, the severely mentally ill and inmates at the Utah State Prison.  She specializes in the following modalities: EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Moral Reconation Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy and Trauma-Informed Care.

ALLIE LEE, MSW, LCSW|Associate Clinical Director

Allie received her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work at the University of Utah. She spent the first six years of her career working for the State of Utah as a supervisor for the Department of Child and Family Services and has been with Balance House for three years. She has extensive experience working with extreme cases of child abuse, traumatized family systems, children in foster care, families in the criminal justice system and individuals with severe mental illness and substance use disorders. Allie believes that true change comes from the family system healing together and excels in working with families. She is heavily involved in our adventure therapy program and believes some of the best clinical work is done in the wilderness. Allie believes in looking at addiction through an attachment lens and specializes in the following modalities: Psychodrama, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mind-Body Bridging, Emotion Focused Therapy, EMDR, and Trauma-Informed Care.

SAMANTHA MEYER|Director of Admissions

Sam was raised here in Utah, and received her degree in psychology at the University of Colorado. Sam spent many years living in Mexico where she found sobriety in a small fishing village with one AA meeting a week. She then began working in mental health and addiction treatment and has held roles in direct care, directorship, admissions, and business development. Sam finds a passion and purpose in her work with adults and families struggling with their mental health and substance use, connecting with them over a shared experience. In her free time, Sam enjoys reading, hot yoga, skiing, biking, and making art.

RUSTI TOWNSEND, MSW, LCSW, LASUDC| Primary Therapist

Rusti received her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work along with Advanced Substance Use Disorder Treatment Training at the University of Utah. Rusti spent the first part of her career working with women in the criminal justice system. She has experience working with men and women in outpatient and residential settings and excels in working with trauma. Rusti is EMDR-certified and views addiction through the lens of attachment theory. Rusti works with individuals and families utilizing the following evidence-based practices: EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Informed Care.

JAMES SILVESTRI, MSW, LCSW| Primary Therapist

James received his Master of Social Work degree along with Advanced Substance Use Disorder Training at the University of Utah. James spent the beginning of his career in the public sector, working with the Utah Harm Reduction Coalition doing outreach for people seeking substance abuse and mental health treatment. James has experience working with treatment center settings with both men and women and is highly skilled when working with families. James is EMDR certified and views addiction through the lens of attachment theory. James loves to take his patients off-site to fish, as he believes being in nature and practicing spirituality can be a healing experience for those in treatment. James works with individuals and families utilizing evidence-based practices of  EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

ANNIE TASSE, MSW, CSW|Primary Therapist

Annie received her Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University of Chicago and her Master of Social Work from the University of Utah.  She began working at Balance House five years ago, and she is a Balance House Alumnus. She began her clinical career working with unsheltered individuals experiencing serious mental illness, and she is experienced in various evidence-based modalities. She is passionate about helping families reconnect through family therapy so that true healing can occur within the family system. She loves hiking, pickleball, and spending time with friends & her pup out in nature.

HALEY OSTERREICHER, MSW, CSW | Primary Therapist

Haley received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Utah and her Master of Social Work from Boise State University. During the early phase of her career, Haley dedicated her efforts to the public sector, harm reduction, and providing support to the homeless population. She possesses the ability to work with high acuity mental health patients, exemplifying her proficiency in managing complex cases. Haley’s expertise extends to her work in outpatient settings, where her skills shine particularly in trauma-related matters, family systems and learning disabilities.. Her diverse toolkit includes evidence-based practices such as Emotion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

TARA REID, MSW, LCSW | Primary Therapist

Tara is a Balance House Alumni and a mom of three boys.  She received both her Bachelor’s of Social Work and her Master’s of Social Work from the University of Utah.  She is an active member of the Salt Lake City recovery community and enjoys playing sober softball, hanging out with her family, and sponsoring women in a 12-step fellowship. Tara works with individuals and families utilizing the following evidence-based practices: emotion-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy.

COLIN SMITH, WFR|Outdoor Director

Colin Smith had the opportunity to go through treatment for his alcoholism in December of 2007. He became actively involved with 12-Step recovery programs while he was in sober living and was able to find his first love, the great outdoors. While he was cleaning up the wreckage that his addiction caused he was able to engage in many adventures and was able to hone his skills in backpacking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, white water kayaking and rafting, and wilderness emergency medicine. He knew how important it was for his sobriety and general life satisfaction to engage in the activities that he loves.

Colin entered the field of addiction treatment early in 2010 working for a young adult male wilderness program. This is where his passion for being in the wild places of the western united states and working with newly sober young men merged. He spent most of the last decade working with young men at a number of different programs before he landed at Legacy Outdoor Adventure where he ended his career in wilderness therapy as the Assistant Field Director. After leaving Legacy, he was in charge of recreation therapy at a young adult program here in Salt Lake City before he joined the team at EVNSQ to build out and manage the adventuring element here.

NOAH SMITH | Outdoor Program Guide

From a young age, Noah struggled with learning difficulties that made school feel like an unsafe place for him.  This led to isolation, mental health struggles, and addiction.  As a person in long-term recovery, Noah is passionate about helping others discover their strengths and identities during their initial phases of sobriety. He finds joy in utilizing the skills he has learned in his own recovery and giving back to others.

JUSTIN SELIGA | Outdoor Program Guide

Justin is originally from New Jersey. After struggling with alcoholism and addiction for a decade he finally found a solution through 12-step programs. Having been through several treatment programs in the past, he wanted to be able to help those early in recovery the way he was helped. After over six years, the passion and love he has for helping others has only grown. Outside of work, Justin is an active member of several 12-step fellowships. In his free time he loves to climb, hike, and play video games.

BRIAN COLLAER|Director of Organizational Development| EVNSQ

Brian is a (retired) Jack Kerouac impersonator, voracious autodidact, unrepentant idealist, Tom Waits groupie, and reformed malcontent. Since getting sober, he has immersed himself as vigorously in recovery as he did previously in his… extracurricular endeavors. Brian is an active member of the local recovery community, holding volunteer positions of advocacy and service at the local (Salt Lake City) and regional (Central/Western Utah) levels. He has held (and holds) positions of leadership and has been instrumental in the production of annual Young Peoples’ recovery conferences in the state and is active in the mentorship of other recovering men. Brian is a firm believer that service to others is the ultimate ends of any meaningful recovery and spends a majority of his spare time putting his metaphorical money where his mouth is. Brian’s greatest passion in life is to share the great fact with his fellow alcoholics and addicts (and the people who love them): that recovery *is* possible for anyone with the willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness to try.

RYAN TOWNSEND | Phase I Program Director

Ryan was born and raised in the Bay area of California and moved to Utah to attend residential treatment.  He has been an involved and active member of a 12-step fellowship since he got sober.  He is a person in long-term recovery and spends his free time with family and friends, working out, and barbequing.  He is passionate about helping men in early recovery recognize the beauty that comes along with living a sober lifestyle.

CHRIS BELL | Phase I Program Manager

Chris was born and raised in New York and spent a lot of his adult life in Colorado. He found his way to Utah to get sober and is an EVNSQ and Balance House alumnus. He is active in the Salt Lake recovery community and views it as a large piece to how he stays sober. He is passionate about helping clients on their road to recovery, skiing, fishing, snowmobiling, and spending time with his pets.

MARK SWANK | Phase II Program Director

Mark is a New York native from Westchester County. He moved to Utah to get sober and is a Balance House alumnus. He studied ecology and music at University of Vermont. He loves live music, playing golf, chess, and spending time in the mountains. He is passionate about connecting with clients and forming strong relationships.

GRADY FINCH | Phase II Program Manager

Grady is a Balance House alumnus and a person in long-term recovery. He was born and raised in North Carolina, Grady moved to Utah after a long battle with grief, addiction, and depression. Relocating to Utah allowed him to build a new life filled with involvement in 12-step fellowships, mentorship, and service.

Grady is passionate about sharing his personal experience of turning pain into beauty with clients. When not in Salt Lake, you can find Grady on the Wildcat Chairlift at Alta Ski Area or the beaches of Ocracoke Island.

MASON KELLER | Phase III Program Director

Mason is currently a student at Salt Lake Community College pursuing a degree in business. He is an alumnus of Balance House and has been working in the field of recovery for three years. Due to his extensive personal and professional experience with addiction, he has a unique perspective that allows him to build meaningful relationships with the men that he works closely with at Balance House. In his free time, Mason can be found hanging out with his friends and family or hitting the links on the golf course.

MEGAN MARTIN | Operations Manager

Megan was born and raised in Houston, TX and came to Utah 4 years ago for treatment and loved it so much that she decided to make Utah her permanent home. She loved living at Balance House so much that she was thrilled when a job opened up; she has worked in recovery since getting sober in 2015 and is dedicated to helping other addicts get back to living the life they want.

AUSTIN WYMAN | Case Manager

Austin was born and raised in the South, growing up in Mississippi and North Carolina. Having been in addiction for most of his life, he moved to Utah in hopes of establishing a foundation of living a fulfilling, sober life. As a Balance House alum, he realized that one of the most important parts of his recovery is working with fellow alcoholics and addicts. He is an active member in the 12-step community, avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman, and sports enthusiast.

SIRAK GARLAND | Resident Coordinator

Sirak was born in Awasa, Ethiopia.  He spent much of his childhood in an orphanage and was adopted when he was five years old.  He has lived in Cape Cop and Virginia but moved to Salt Lake City during the pandemic to get sober.  He is passionate about working in treatment so he can give back to others what was given to him during the beginning of his recovery journey.

TYLER TEST | Resident Coordinator

Tyler was born and raised in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. He received a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Texas Tech University. Tyler moved to Utah after attending treatment and is an alumni of the Balance House program. He loves to spend his time outside of work fly fishing, fly tying, and hiking. Tyler is applying to graduate programs to study Economics and Conservation Biology.

RUSSELL ERICKSON | Resident Coordinator

Russ is a S.L.C, native. He has a passion for family, playing drums, mountain biking, and the outdoors.

Russ has been involved in health care since he sustained a traumatic brain injury after a car accident when he was in his 20s. After a year of speech therapy, he started volunteering in nursing homes before getting released to go back to work. He eventually worked as a recreational assistant and later began working with individuals with autism by helping them gain independence in their lives. Russ worked in marketing for a home health company for seven years developing relationships with medical clinics, hospitals and nursing facilities. Russ has always had a passion for helping others in need.

NATE SLAUGHTER|Facilities Director

As a native to Utah, Nate has lived most of his life in the Salt Lake Valley. Raised by parents who taught him to love the outdoors, Nate enjoys spending as much time as possible, camping, fishing, and snowboarding. Nate graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. Professionally, Nate has worked in Sales and Sales Management for over 20 years, in industries ranging from outdoor recreation to hearing aids and everything in between.

As a self-taught chef, Nate has been cooking since the age of 9. With a love of working with his hands and a need for creative expression, Nate has decided to leave the corporate world and dive into his one true passion…cooking delicious food for people who can appreciate it.

When Nate is not cooking at EVNSQ or spending time outdoors, he can be found in his home kitchen cooking for his wife, listening to Depeche Mode, and watching YouTube videos about 4X4 van modifications.

LOGAN MCGOODWIN, NASM CPT | Personal Trainer

Logan is originally from Dallas, Texas. He struggled with addiction for most of his life and had no idea how to live as a responsible man while in active addiction.  He is a Balance House alumnus and an active member of a 12-step fellowship in Salt Lake City. He loves participating in the sober sports leagues in the Valley, and he is passionate about helping other men find their self-worth in early recovery.