Team ZRC

A New Mexico Native, Ryan grew up in southern NM. After graduating from NMSU in 2006 he decided to stay in Las Cruces and begin a career in the family business as well as grow his company with his brother. After a few short years it was time to say goodbye to the family business and continue with his own company. He and his brother created a clothing label which went on to see national recognition among its target demographics.

Soon enough personal struggles with addiction settled in. Ryan has experienced many modalities of the Addiction Treatment Industry. In 2015 he participated in a nationally accredited program which completely opened his eyes. He learned that serving others with what he had been blessed with was the only true way to gain meaning and purpose. Ryan latched on to every aspect of the program. He became well acquainted with the organization and its people, learned the ins and outs of the program structure, and gained permission to bring it to New Mexico and share it. To help others just like he was helped.

With his background in business development and organizational structure, he was able to merge his heart for recovery with a viable model and foundation so that others could have the same opportunity he had. In four short years ZRC has grown from a small Sober Living Home operation to a full scale multi-level Treatment Center. Las Cruces and Southern NM needed a void filled. ZRC took up the position.

Daniel received a bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Management from New Mexico State University. His professional background is in Sales and Marketing as well as the Hospitality Industry were a natural transition into the Substance Abuse Industry.

Daniel’s transition into the Substance Abuse industry is made clearer knowing that he has been involved in the local recovery community for over fourteen years. It is in part due to this intimate involvement that he realized the lack of professional substance abuse services in New Mexico. Daniel’s desire to bring sick and suffering addicts and alcoholics into recovery became his life’s mission long before the conception of ZRC. Zia Recovery Center has become the vehicle to serve many more individuals seeking recovery.

It seems that all paths have led Mr. Smead to his career with Zia Recovery Center. About six years ago Daniel met Ryan Brewer. The two realized very quickly that they held a similar desire to serve others in a meaningful way. Together they have laid the groundwork for a rapidly growing substance abuse treatment center in the Las Cruces area. The dream has become reality.

Armando started working at Zia Recovery Center as a Group Facilitator in July of 2020.  Afterward, Armando was hired full time in March of 2021 as the Admission Coordinator and Primary therapist.  Three months later Armando was promoted to Program Director.  Armando has a passion for working in recovery and substance abuse. He recently became a Certified Addictions-Informed Mental Health Profession to understand the complexities of treating addictions in clients.

Furthermore, Armando will continue to focus his studies on addiction to enhance his knowledge in the connection and interplay of addiction and trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, and mental health.  Armando earned his master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2017. He finished his internship at Peak Behavioral Health Services where he worked as a licensed therapist from 2017 to 2021 full time.  Armando also holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology that he obtained in 2014 with a concentration in advanced studies and clinical assessments.

Armando has provided direct services through therapy to adults, adolescents, and families to overcome barriers of mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, and many other life obstacles.  Armando also has experience working with families in a group setting with focuses on populations including children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with a variety of disorders such as Adjustment Disorders, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Cognitive Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder.  Armando is passionate about providing people with the help they need to meet their goals and ambitions.

Ginger Shannon is Zia Recovery Center’s Director of Case Management. In that role, she supports clients and families linking them to community resources which can assist them in recovery from substance use, mental or physical illness. She helps provide clients with access to services such as financial assistance, legal support, coordinating activities with courts, probation officers, housing, education, and employment. Ginger is a Certified Peer Support worker (CPSW), Comprehensive Community Support Specialist (CCSS), and Certified Crisis Counselor. 

At Zia Recovery Center Ginger works closely with the clinical team, along with supervising the case management team and CPSW activities. She facilitates and supports clients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome and recover from illnesses, dependencies and overcoming barriers. Ginger also plans and helps implement follow-up or aftercare programs for clients to be discharged from treatment programs and adjust to life outside of Zia. She also establishes and maintains relationships with other agencies and organizations in the community to meet community needs and resources.  

Ginger is also a Board Member of New Mexico Credentialing Board of Behavioral Health Professionals NMCBBHP; CEO of Angels with Broken Wings Ministry; Completed a biblical ordination course and is an Ordained Minister through End Time Ministries and Glory Bound Ministries.

Ginger has a real heart for the people,  always a helping hand.

Krista Miller-Tsosie is Zia Recovery Center’s Clinical Director and provides leadership and oversight to the clinical team to ensure that the highest levels of care are available and maintained. She oversees management of treatment programs, assessing strengths and needs of each client. Krista is responsible for clinical staff training, risk management, continuous program improvement, certification, regulatory requirements along with interfacing with external community partners and agencies.

She supervises treatment plans and assessments, and develops, coordinates, implements, and evaluates prevention and educational activities for both clinical staff and clients. Krista’s principal function is to lead a team of compassionate staff to care for individuals suffering from addiction and/or co-occurring disorders. She has more than a decade of experience working in both community counseling and substance abuse treatment centers, including outpatient, intensive in-home, and residential care for all age groups, She holds a master’s degree in community counseling and is dual licensed in both New Mexico and North Carolina. She is part of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) review team in the Southwest.

Martin is a Mesilla Valley native and a graduate of Western New Mexico University (WNMU) holding a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling.  Martin started with Zia Recovery Center as an entry level Rehabilitation Technician.  Within a year’s time Martin became a Lead Tech in a management position.  Martin was then promoted to Admissions Coordinator with the organization.  Martin assisted in the creation and implementation of a system in the admissions process that reflects upon his own journey in recovery and the vision put forth by Zia Recovery Center.  As admissions coordinator Martin is often the first Zia Recovery Center team member with whom our clients interact. Martin gets to meet our clients where they are at. He uses his personal experiences, his education in the Chemical Dependency field, and his time in military service to relate to clients and guide them through the admission process. As admissions coordinator Martin is guided by the spiritual principles of love, integrity, patience, and compassion.  He also relies on the amazing team that works alongside him. 

Martin states, “My journey at Zia Recovery Center started off as a part time technician and has turned into a growing passion for helping people. My goal is to help facilitate an environment for addicts seeking recovery that has a strong emphasis on the altruistic nature of one addict helping another. Recovery has allowed me to become a proud father, husband, and motorcycle enthusiast.  I get to help people who are ready to change their lives.”

-Martin Medina LSAA, CPSW

Matthew began his career with Peak Behavioral Health in Santa Teresa, NM. Matthew came to us through contract work and his talents were noticed immediately. Mr. Bryan is now our most recent addition to our in-house FT Therapeutic team.

Background in Therapy for dual diagnosis, Mental Health and Chemical Dependency, and Crisis Intervention and Admissions. Matthew graduated from the University of Texas El Paso with his Bachelor’s of Social Work in 2018 and earned his Master’s of Social Work from the same college in 2019.

Rita started working at Zia Recovery Center in August of 2020. Before that she worked primarily in the retail field.  She was brought into the organization as an administrative assistant. Rita takes on new challenges as the organization grows and changes.  Rita’s devotion to the mission at Zia Recovery Center is showcased through her interactions the clients daily. Rita is a team player and admired by her colleagues and ZRC’s clients alike.

Rita states, “Although this is a very different pace than the retail space, I truly enjoy working with the clients and staff. The clients bring a lot of diversity into the program, each with their own struggles in life.  It is a pleasure to grow alongside them.  The rewards of working at Zia Recovery Center are many and priceless.”

Sarah started her career as a billing specialist after nearly three decades in the food service industry in Las Cruces, NM.  She attended Vista College Career Center where she studied to be a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist and Office Administrator. Sarah graduated with honors in 2019. After graduation in the winter of 2019 Sarah was hired as the front office receptionist here at Zia Recovery Center.  Two months later she began using her coding and billing knowledge to help Zia Recovery Center build a robust in-house billing system that has helped the organization grow into the amazing organization it is today.

Sarah has been married to her best friend for over 23 years now and is a mother to three wonderful boys. Sarah is also a grandmother to a wonderful baby girl. Sarah’s faith and family continue to make her grateful for her life today.

Sarah states, “Zia Recovery Center has not only given me the job of my dreams but also a family of people who understand recovery from addiction.”

Stephanie has been serving in the medical field since 2013. Stephanie’s skill set allowed her to be part of building out a successful billing and coding system for two other organizations in Albuquerque before relocating to Las Cruces.  Stephanie joined the Zia Recovery Center Family in the summer of 2020.  She has assisted in refining the billing processes that ZRC currently utilizes to adhere to ethical billing and reimbursement.

Stephanie’s education includes an associate of applied science in Health Information Technology as well as many years of experience in the billing and coding space.  As a billing specialist, she enjoys working with individuals who are suffering from addiction and ensuring those individuals can receive services.

Tacy has worked as a counselor in the addiction and substance abuse field since 2015.  She has worked with adults involved in the federal and state criminal justice systems as well as with clients who were not mandated to seek treatment.  Tacy joined the Team at Zia Recovery Center as a full-time Primary Therapist in 2021.  She is responsible for crisis intervention, assessment and diagnosis, group therapy facilitation, and individual counseling.  Tacy’s clinical interests include trauma-informed therapeutic modalities; neurobiology of trauma, substance use disorders, and mental health disorders; the effects of substance use disorders and other dysfunction on family systems; cognitive behavioral therapy; rational emotive behavioral therapy; and reality therapy.

Tacy earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  She became an independent Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in Texas in 2018.  In 2021, Tacy became an independent Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New Mexico.  She is pursuing independent licensure for mental health counseling in New Mexico and Texas.

Bill started with the Zia Recovery Center in the summer of 2017.  Originally hired to cut down trees in the backyard, he continues to prove his value to the organization day after day.  Bill possesses the unique ability to relate to clients on a recovery level.  His unquestionable skills and service to the company and clients have put him in a position not many others could manage.  Responsible for every operational dynamic at our three different locations.  Bill leads an amazing Staff.  Bill also facilitates our 12-step curriculum.

Bill states, “I’m a Texan thru and thru, I’m in recovery myself and love sharing it with others.  I’m a CPSW along with every other hat I wear for the organization.  A real company man!  I helped and continue to help in designing several of the locations, the operations at the locations, roles for techs, maintenance, and anyone else that has needed help growing with the organization.”

Elliott Birkman was a previous client turned employee at Zia Recovery Center.  He came through the program when it was in its infancy.  The only service provided at that time was Sober Living.  Elliott does not say much, but what he doesn’t say, he does!  Action is the key word for Mr. Birkman.  Elliott went on after his treatment at ZRC to work in the community and anchor himself in the recovery community.  Elliott came aboard with ZRC as a rehabilitation technician and has gained a certificate as a Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW).  He is now one of three Lead Techs for the organization.

Elliott states, “As a current employee of Zia I have been given the opportunity to grow in a life of recovery and service. As a lead tech and CPSW I strive to provide our clients with the help they need to reach their goals

Orenzo Daniels III has worked in the Recovery Field since 2017 and is currently the Lead Rehabilitation Tech of the Intensive Outpatient residence At Zia Recovery Center. Driven by many of his own experiences, he strives to become the best version of himself mind, body, and spirit. In addition to his primary duties, he is also a certified personal trainer. He uses his knowledge and expertise in fitness to facilitate groups focused on the importance of physical activity and nutrition.

Orenzo states. “If you are persistent, you will get it.  If you are consistent, you will keep it.”

“They said find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life! Today I am living that! I love working for a company that cares about and believes in every person who not only comes through the program but who also works here.”

Four years ago, Dave began his journey with Zia Recovery Center as a client. We had the pleasure of welcoming Dave and his service dog Zachary Taylor as they entered into recovery, together they are part of the wonderful culture of change here at Zia Recovery.

Davis aCPSW/CCSS.He currently serves as one of the case managers for Zia Recovery Center where it is his job to be an advocate for the clients and present them with viable resources to help them in their recovery journey. Dave is a local to Las Cruces and claims this as his hometown. He was part of a military family that traveled and lived in many different places. This has contributed greatly to his cultural humility. In1994Dave joined theUS Air Force where he attended their ForceAcademyandgraduatedwith his Bachelor of Science in Biology. He was a medical professional in the Air Force for 15 years. Dave also attained his degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio in 2000 as a medical doctor. Dave is currently pursuing his master’s degree in counseling from Western New MexicoUniversityto even further grow his ability to serve the clients at Zia Recovery Center and beyond.

Dave States, “Zia Recovery Center has changed my life and it continues to positively affect my personal and professional life.”