Sonny began his career working with at-risk teens in 1996. He has worked closely with youth as the program director/administrator for multiple state & private residential programs. Sonny is excellent at cultivating relationships with young people. He is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children and their families. He has excellent working knowledge and creative ideas for running a successful mental health treatment facility. His professional abilities and love for youth strengthen the Red Hawk Academy for Girls program.

Glen Horlacher has been a licensed marriage and family therapist for 23 years and is licensed in Arizona and Nevada. He has worked with adolescents in the Nevada Mental Health Early Childhood and Adolescent departments. His love for helping people led him to start a private practice working with couples and their children. Glen most recently spent two decades working in private therapy practice helping families and their children. He specializes in anger, domestic abuse, victim, and substance abuse-related issues. Glen’s extensive experience with families and youth makes him a significant part of the Red Hawk Academy for Girls team. In his personal life, Glen has been married to his wife, Kellee Anne, for 30 years. Together they have raised four sons who are now out in the world discovering their own lives.

Valerie completed her Master’s degree at the University of Utah in Social Work and her Bachelor’s Degree at Brigham Young University in Sociology. She has worked with troubled adolescents in numerous settings. She loves to work therapeutically with teens and help them develop self-worth and promote growth. Valerie’s favorite time with youth is spent outdoors doing recreational therapy and seeking adventures. Valerie is an avid gardener in her free time, enjoys spending time with her three children, and volunteers as a volleyball coach for youth club teams.

Melanie is EGALA certified to provide therapy with horses. She grew up near Las Vegas riding horses daily and spending lots of time team roping and riding for the past 18 years. Her passion is to help facilitate the use of these beautiful creatures as proven and powerful therapeutic tools for struggling teens. Melanie enjoys spending time outdoors with the youth she works with.

James has an extensive educational background of 39 years. He was a principal for 27 of those years. He earned a Doctorate of Education degree from the University of Utah. He is particularly motivated to help youth in alternative educational settings access educational needs specific to their situations. Jim is an excellent addition to the Red Hawk Team!

Junior Uiva’a has 30 years of experience as a master chef working with big restaurants and Universities. He spent most of his career working for Bringham Young University in Honolulu, Hawaii. Junior was in-charged of all the University’s Donors and Country leaders. Junior was also the owner-operator for his Restaurant and Catering company. He enjoys teaching the girls proper culinary skills and requirements for preparation for independent living skills. Junior teaches food budget, table settings, meat cuts, proper use of knives, cooking meals, and baking with the girls at Red Hawk Academy.

Author of Near Death Survivor Conquers ALS, Depression, Grief, Suicide & More, Dr. Joyce Brown, knows something about suicide because she’s been suicidal before. In fact, for years, Dr. Joyce Brown was sick and suffering and desperately wanted to die.

Now recognized as a Diplomate by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress®, Dr. Joyce is the Founder and President of Stress and Grief Relief, Inc., a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to fighting depression and preventing suicide with a unique focus on youth.

Dr. Joyce’s story is transforming people’s lives and helping curb suicide in Nevada, where she lives, across the U.S. and multiple countries worldwide. Working with Dr. Joyce at Red Hawk Academy is an honor; our girls love her, and she’s making a change.

Ms. Valorie L. Lystrup is a Dual Diagnosis Counselor at Red Hawk Academy with special training and skill in diagnosing and treating addiction and mental health disorders responsible for life-controlling issues. As a Dual Diagnosis Counselor, Valorie L. Lystrup, CADC, CPGCI, treats teens with dual diagnosis. Dual Diagnosis Counseling is a medical specialty that researches and treats disorders.

Significant diseases and conditions treated by Dual Diagnosis Counselors include medical tests, procedures, and therapies such as:
* Conducting resident interviews.
* Administering tests.
* Creating individual and personalized plans.
* Participating in therapy sessions.
* Refer patients to other medical specialists for higher or step-down care.

Valorie is making a significant impact on these young girls’ lives.

Lisa started her career as a Recreational Therapist and has spent many years working with at-risk youth. She returned to school at Southern Utah University to complete a second Bachelor’s degree in nursing and then at Eastern Kentucky University to complete a Master’s Degree in nursing, specializing in mental health. She is board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and is licensed in Utah and Arizona as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Lisa enjoys gardening, sewing, and reading, especially listening to audiobooks to multitask. Born and raised in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Lisa loves spending time outdoors with her husband and four children.