Matt Brown
Director of Admissions
Matt Brown comes to the Arbor with eight years of personal recovery experience and a background in intervention work. A certified interventionist with training in both surprise and invitational models of intervention, Matt understands the process of helping families get their loved ones into treatment. Ten years ago Matt’s family tried to get him into treatment unsuccessfully by way of a family intervention. Through education and experience Matt now uses the tools that he has been given to help families find help.
Mary Lynn Szymandera, LCDC, CEIP
Director of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
With over 20 years of personal recovery, Mary Lynn’s professional experience includes 17 years at Pavillon International in North Carolina, as a senior counselor and from 2008 to 2009 as the Outpatient Program Manager. In 1999, Mary Lynn developed the Equine Therapy program for Pavillon and served as the Equine Program Director until she moved to Texas in 2010. She is a Certified Equine Interactive Professional (CEIP) through the Commission for Certified Equine Facilitated Mental Health & Education Professionals.
Kay Vossler, MEd, MA, LPC, LCDC
Director of Family Services
Kay has worked in the recovery field for 22 years. Her passion is working with family members affected by addiction.
She is a former clinician at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California, and has provided business development services for their facility as well their Five Star Kid’s program in Dallas. Kay has also been affiliated with other behavioral healthcare treatment providers including Vista Del Mar and National Therapeutic Systems, both in California. She holds a Masters in Education from Angelo State University and a Master of Arts from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. She has a private practice in Georgetown, and works with interventionists nationwide to provide counseling and support to family members in the intervention process.
Jane Bohls, MSW
Women’s Recovery Manager
Born and raised in Austin, TX, Jane has had a deep commitment and passion for recovery for close to twelve years. She has been actively involved in the 12 Step community doing service work and for the past three years, Jane was the Volunteer Coordinator at Austin Recovery. She graduated from St. Edwards Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Social Work and is currently pursuing her Masters. In her position at The Arbor, Jane will be able to utilize her personal, professional and educational background to help women regain their health and to facilitate the healing process that occurs in 12 Step recovery.
Gina McWhorter, MA, LPC
Counselor
Gina McWhorter graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, with a master’s degree in counseling and has been practicing counseling for 18 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Gina specializes in trauma resolution, sex and relationship addiction, and eating disorders. Through the use of EMDR and somatic work, she helps clients to integrate painful experiences and connect with their wholeness. Her professional experience in a treatment environment is extensive and includes Sierra Tucson, Mirasol and The Meadows. Gina is trained in Patrick Carne’s model on sex addiction and Pia Melody’s codependency model.
Cecil Ruby, LMSW
Counselor
Cecil brings a wide spectrum of hope, strength and experience to his position as a counselor at The Arbor. He has had a long term career as a small business owner, and has worked, both as an intern and volunteer, with the homeless and criminal justice populations. Cecil has an undergraduate and graduate degree in Social Work from UT Austin. His extensive work experience, quality education, and 14 years of 12 Step recovery give him a unique perspective that is highly valuable to the men he works with at The Arbor.
Pam Nemir, RN
Director of Nursing
Pam has been an RN in Austin area hospitals for over 26 years with a variety of experience, primarily in the intensive care areas. Most recently she worked at a 28 bed detox/treatment center in the Austin area. In addition, Pam is a Stephen Minister, working one to one with people in crisis, and has worked as a bereavement counselor with the Austin Center for Attitudinal Healing. At The Arbor, she is committed to making sure that each person’s care is individualized and helps them to feel they are in a safe environment to make important life changes. Watching the transformation and growth that occurs for those who come to The Arbor is the most gratifying result of her work. Pam is the proud Mother of two grown children and one grandchild.
Anne McAllister, LVN
Nurse
Ann has worked the field of chemical dependency since 1979. Her experience ranges from counselor to nursing. Ann has had the opportunity to work with both adolescents and adults over her career and comes to us from a well known hospital in Houston where she a was a charge nurse on a 24 bed detox unit.
Ann has three grown children and moved to Austin to work at The Arbor. She is a dedicated and spiritual woman who prides herself in compassionately helping the alcoholic and addict find a new way to live.
Don L. Mabry
Facility Manager
Don L. Mabry is a recovering alcoholic with over seventeen years of continuous sobriety. He has worked for the past four years in the addiction recovery field. He understands the addict/alcoholic mind set and believes that long term in-residence treatment along with intensive work of the 12 Step recovery process helps to better the individuals chances at permanent sobriety. He looks forward to assisting all of our clients with the journey from active addiction to active recovery.
Mike Stiborik
Business Development Specialist
With a background of over 30 years experience in the advertising/marketing field, Mike is responsible for Business Development and Community Relations for The Arbor in the Houston metropolitan area. He works daily with individuals and organizations in all aspects of the recovery field. As a native Houstonian, he is extremely active in the 12 Step Community and is passionate about helping alcoholics, both recovering and suffering. He looks forward to fostering The Arbor’s Alumni Association in the area.
Mike’s hobbies include all outdoor’s activities and spending time with his wife Linda, three daughters and their families – which include six grandchildren.
Lex Townes
Executive Chef
Lex Townes is an award-winning chef with over 25 years of fine dining experience. Trained at The New York Restaurant School in New York City, he apprenticed at The Four Seasons Hotel in New York, and as Executive Chef at The Renaissance Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, earning a 3 star review from The Miami Herald.
Lex has many years of 12 step recovery experience, takes great pride in creating delicious, nourishing and healthful menus for the clients and staff at The Arbor, and believes that food can be both healing and enjoyable. He brings all of his passion to make the recovery journey of each client a memorable experience.
Christine Calvert, LCDC
Counselor
Christine has experience counseling adults and adolescents. She has worked with program development for both a gender specific collegiate program and an adolescent program at a chemical dependency treatment center in Center Point, TX. She is training to be a facilitator in Holotropic Breathwork through Grof Transpersonal Training, and was involved in co-creating Courage, Inc., a mentoring program for women seeking transformation. Christine also has training in Insight Meditation, as well as other experiential methods of healing. With her professional experience and personal recovery journey, she is passionate about supporting others on their path towards wholeness.
Greg Arnold
Recovery Manager
Greg has worked in prominent recovery centers for the past four years in both admissions and the 12 Step recovery process. With 24 years of sobriety, he is passionate about working with alcoholics and addicts and carrying the message of recovery. Greg’s goal is to show others how to live to their full potential and achieve their dreams without alcohol and drugs…just as others did for him.
As well as providing service to those in Austin and surrounding Texas areas including San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, The Arbor services clients and their families throughout the United States and internationally.
