Chris Yingling - Chief Executive Officer
Chris Yingling, Chief Executive Officer of ABC Recovery Center has 13 years of experience in the addiction treatment field. Chris has a broad knowledge of the CARF Accreditation process, California Department of Healthcare Service Standards, Drug Medi-Cal Program Administration, and has successfully led substance-use treatment efforts in the Coachella Valley for the past nine years.
His past work as Sunspire Health Desert Palm’s Executive Director and Sunspire Health Desert Palm’s Recovery and Quality Manager, ideally positioned him to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer at ABC Recovery Center in 2016. For the past seven years, ABC Recovery Center has increased its annual profits, recruited a skilled, professional staff, and transformed the organization from a social model non-profit to a holistic recovery center. Today, the organization provides evidenced -based, cutting edge treatment rivaling most for-profit providers.
Raised in Southern California, Chris holds a degree in Human Services and continues to pursue a degree in business.
Sandra Spence - Chief Financial Officer
Sandra Spence came to ABC Recovery Center as Chief Financial Officer in April of 2019. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Redlands and holds an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Prior to joining ABC Recovery Center, she worked in public accounting before joining the not-for-profit industry where she could be more involved in her local community. She obtained her knowledge of the healthcare industry through her experience working for Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHC). It has been through these experiences that she obtained her knowledge of the behavioral health and addiction treatment industry.
Ally Anderson - Director, Programs
Ally is the Program Director at ABC Recovery Center and has been with the organization for 8 years. Ally received a Bachelor of Arts in Family Life Education from California State University at Long Beach and previously worked with families and children in the medical field as a child life specialist for seven years. Ally is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been certified in the Matrix Model Outpatient Program. She has helped with our perinatal program and currently oversees the operations of our services to ensure all programs are meeting the standards of our accreditation and state requirements.
Johnny Courreges, CADC II - Manager, Transitional & Sober Living
Johnny has been a part of the ABC Recovery Center story as both a client and employee. After struggling with addiction for years, Johnny sought sobriety at ABC Recovery Center and with other addiction specialists. Once sober Johnny wanted to use his sobriety to help others. Johnny has over twelve years in addiction recovery experience, and has ten of those years at ABC Recovery Center where he began as a tech and after getting the experience and education necessary, he has become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. These days, Johnny enjoys life as a husband and father, and helping others find their sobriety while creating an environment for them to thrive in.
Maureen Girouard - Director, Development & Communications
Maureen has more than twenty years’ experience in the development industry, garnering non-profit experience from national industry leaders. Her experience has been diverse providing significant experience as a fundraising generalist, concentrating on major gifts with a unique skill set involving collaborative marketing opportunities for donors with visible brands. The greatest portion of her development work comes from fourteen years at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
Maureen was a part of CHLA’s $1 billion Living Proof campaign for its duration, launched in 2002 and concluding in 2011. Through the course of that campaign, she was a member of multiple foundation departments, building a skill set from which she was able to learn from some of the industry’s best fundraisers at one of the country’s largest healthcare institutions. Prior to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Maureen began her non-profit career at the American Heart Association.
Since CHLA, Maureen has headed development and communications for Professional Child Development Associates (PCDA) in her hometown of Pasadena. Maureen relocated to the desert in Spring of 2020 and retained her position at PCDA after the move. She then took the position at ABC Recovery Center in January 2022. Maureen is tasked with building a fundraising department from “scratch” as ABC didn’t previously have dedicated development or communications staff.
Brock Jenikovsky, CADC-II, ICADC, CAMS-II, CFRC - Director of Operations
Brock joined ABC Recovery Center as the Director of Operations in June of 2022. With over 7 years of experience in the behavioral health field, he has held positions within nearly every department making him a suitable candidate for the role. The skills he developed while working as a member of an experienced clinical team, translated into a successful approach to management as he was previously the Program Director for Bella Monte Recovery Center. In a field that is constantly changing, his ability to remain teachable has allowed him, and the companies he works for, to thrive.
Early in his career, he completed his AOD education requirements at California Nurses Educational Institute (CNEI) where he graduated as Valedictorian. Since then, he has achieved dual accreditation through CCAPP as a CADC-II and an ICADC. During his time as a counselor, he became a Certified Anger Management Specialist-II (CAMS-II) through NAMA. He also developed a passion for working with the first responder population as he completed the requirements to become a Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC). He is currently continuing his education in Psychology at College of the Desert with a goal of becoming a licensed clinician in the future.
Joe Knyvett – Manager, Facility Performance
Joe Knyvett began his first position at ABC Recovery Center in June of 2016 as a Behavioral Health Technician (BHT). Within a short period of time he was promoted to Case Manager and shortly after his first full year as ABC staff, he was promoted to Program Manager, a position he held for five years. Joe was recently promoted to Facility Performance Manager where he can build a well-rounded skill set by expanding his hands-on clinical knowledge and develop experience in operational best practices including policies, procedures and compliance building a significant foundation from which to advance his career.
Elsa Mexia - Human Resources Generalist
Elsa Mexia joined the ABC Team in September 2020. Prior to joining ABC Recovery Center, Elsa worked in Human Resources for the agriculture greenhouse industry for over 10 years where she managed key components of employee needs that included; safety/risk management, benefits, recruitment, onboarding, training, counseling, record keeping, worker’s comp claims. Before beginning her career in human resources, Elsa worked as administrative support for several for-profit companies.
Elsa’s first professional position was with the Betty Ford Center as the Family Program Secretary where she gained a better understanding of addiction and the disease as well as compassion for the families and children affected by it. Raised in the Coachella Valley, Elsa and has lived in various parts of California including the Bay Area, and San Diego. She attended College of the Desert and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Elsa’s dedication and hard work are an asset to ABC Recovery Center.
Monique Rodriguez - Director, Admissions
As the Admissions Director at ABC Recovery Center, Monique offers 15 years of professional experience in addiction treatment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services. Her combined education and experience provide the unique and personalized approach she gives to clients and their families. She prides herself in seeing the clients begin their journey to thrive in recovery and is always available to assist.
Lisa Wolfe - Program Manager
Lisa has over 16 years of experience working in the addiction field. She came to ABC in 2016 as a Primary Substance Abuse Counselor and has assisted with the Family Program from 2017-2020.
Lisa has a degree in Psychology and is Certified as an Addiction Counselor through CCAPP. Prior to ABC Lisa worked as a residential counselor for the SHAWL House (VOA) a non- profit organization for those struggling with addiction and domestic violence. In 2009 Lisa served as the Domestic Violence Counselor for Substance Abuse Foundation in Long Beach.
With years of experience, Lisa was certified through the Los Angeles County probation department to facilitate domestic violence batterers groups and has aided individuals struggling with domestic violence and anger management issues.
