We know all the hurdles and pitfalls of reaching recovery, so we're able to effectively develop an integrative business plan that includes diverse options for patients suffering from addiction.
Douglas M. Leech
Founder and CEO
Douglas M. Leech
Mr. Leech also founded West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL), a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) non-profit, operating recovery residences, job creation and reintegration programming, and a network of peer recovery coaches providing broad community support for SUD throughout West Virginia.
Brandon George
Vice President
Brandon George
Vice President
Prior to joining Ascension RS, Brandon served as the Vice President for Recovery and Advocacy Programs for Mental Health America Indiana and the Director of Indiana Addiction Issues Coalition, which advocates for recovery through public policy and education. Brandon has consulted throughout the country on both policy and recovery infrastructure. His effort around increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder has been acknowledged widely having contributed to Johns Hopkins School of Public Health’s publication on this topic and Georgetown Law O’Neill Institute’s toolkit on MOUD in corrections.
Brandon has been a consultant for SAMHSA’s Opioid Response Network, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and is a contributor to Harvard’s Law Blog. He served as a trusted advisor to the National Judicial Opioid Task Force, on the leader’s council for Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and worked with the White House for the Office of National Drug Control Policy to create model law. Brandon graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Addictions Counseling from Indiana Weslyn University and lives in Noblesville, Indiana with his family.
In 2023, Brandon received the Sagamore of the Wabash award which is one of the highest honors in the State of Indiana given by the Governor. The title is awarded to those who have made a significant impact to Indiana life: Past recipients have included astronauts (Gus Grissom), athletes (Michael Brinegar, Ray LeBlanc), comedians (David Letterman), musicians (Willie Nelson), and president (George H. W. Bush).
Kyle Phillips
Chief Financial Officer
Kyle Phillips
Chief Financial Officer
Kyle brings over 15 years of Accounting and Finance experience in healthcare and public accounting to the team. He started his career with Deloitte & Touche where he worked as an audit manager. He then transitioned to healthcare and spent 5 years with Touchstone Medical Imaging in Franklin, TN, as the Chief Accounting Officer and VP of Finance. Most recently Kyle was the VP of Finance and Accounting at Covenant Physician Partners in Nashville, TN. Kyle is a CPA and holds both an Undergraduate and Master of Accountancy from the University of Tennessee. Kyle is an avid sports fan, and he lives in Brentwood, TN, where loves spending time with his wife and children
Charm Lea
Vice President of Human Resources
Charm Lea
Her career has focused on building and growing HR teams in various healthcare organizations, including specialty pharmacy, inpatient & outpatient healthcare, and urgent care & occupational medicine. She also served in the United States Air Force, where she worked as a Mental Health Alcohol Rehabilitation Technician.
Lauren DeWitt
Business Development Manager
Lauren DeWitt
Morgan Henson
Senior Director
Morgan Henson
Kathryn Sullivan
Director, Compliance and Operational Excellence
Kathryn Sullivan
Sharon Leech
Office Manager
Sharon Leech
Office Manager
Angela Kudurogianis
Human Resources Manager
Angela Kudurogianis
Human Resources Manager
Joey Ferguson
Director of Business Development and Patient Access
Joey Ferguson
Director of Business Development and Patient Access
Chris Watras, LCSW, LSATP, MAC
Manager, Consulting Services
Chris Watras, LCSW, LSATP, MAC
Manager, Consulting Services
Chris is a Manager of Consulting Services for Ascension RS. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor with over 20 years’ experience working in human services. Prior to working with Ascension RS, Chris lived in Washington State where he developed and implemented the addiction medicine program for the largest federally qualified health center in the country.
In recent years, Chris’ work has been featured on NBC News Left Field and the Seattle Times for advocating better access to substance use disorder treatment. Chris was the 2020 Helping Us Help You award recipient from the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association for his work in developing the Responding to the Opioid Epidemic Conference and Healthcare Provider & Staff Resiliency During Covid 19 webinar series in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington State.
Chris currently resides with his wife and daughter in Richmond, Virginia where he focuses on project management for Ascension RS.
Kevin Massie, MBA
Manager, Financial Analysis
Kevin Massie, MBA
Manager, Financial Analysis
Jennifer Lapshin
Controller
Jennifer Lapshin
Controller
Lauren Warr
Senior Staff Accountant
Lauren Warr
Senior Staff Accountant
Jessica Gliesman
Human Capital Consultant
Jessica Gliesman
Human Capital Consultant
Grant Geiss
Sr. Finance & Accounting Consultant
Grant Geiss
Sr. Finance & Accounting Consultant
Grant received his BS from Indiana University-Bloomington where he studied Business and Public Financial Management. Before joining ARS, Grant worked 11+ years in the public sector, where he held financial leadership roles with the City of Indianapolis, and most recently with the State of Indiana where he received a Distinguished Hoosier award from the Office of the Governor. Grant has experience in developing and adjusting short and long-term financial objectives, producing pro forma statements and fiscal forecasts, and serving as a strategic partner with executive management to implement business solutions.
Grant lives in Indianapolis with his wife and their two cats and dog. He enjoys traveling, exercising, and volunteering throughout the recovery community.
Jaime Cantley
Senior Clinical Consultant
Jaime Cantley
Senior Clinical Consultant
Jaime is a graduate of West Virginia University where she received a B.S. in speech pathology and audiology with a minor in communication studies and gerontology. In 2014, she received her master’s in health care administration from Ohio University. She is a state and nationally-certified addiction counselor. She has over 13 years of direct practice and leadership experience in outpatient, IOP, residential, and managed care.
She serves on the WV Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals Board where she is Co-Chair of certification.
In 2022, she was awarded the WVAADC Bill Perkins Presidential Award for her service and commitment to the field of addiction.
Rachel Blasko
Chief Operating Officer
Rachel Blasko
Chief Operating Officer
Rachel is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her bachelor's degree in health and rehabilitation sciences and went on to complete her master's degree in health administration. To further enhance her expertise, Rachel completed a healthcare administrative fellowship at the University of Kentucky.
Prior to joining Ascension RS, Rachel held various leadership positions at WVU Medicine, culminating in her role as the Vice President of Operations at WVU Medicine Children's. In this capacity, she oversaw daily operations, strategic planning, and the construction of the new WVU Medicine Children's Hospital. Rachel also served as the administrator for the WVU Department of Otolaryngology and the WVU Medicine Fairmont Gateway Clinic. Her exceptional leadership skills were instrumental in successfully leading the construction efforts and operations of the WVU Medicine Fairmont Gateway Clinic, the WVU Medicine Center for Hope and Healing, and the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Innovation Center.
Rachel is a recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives Regent’s Award (WV Chapter) and currently serves on the advisory board for West Virginia University’s MHA Program.
Jordanna Windemiller
Senior Clinical Consultant
Jordanna Windemiller
Senior Clinical Consultant
Jordanna Windemiller serves on the Ascension team as a Senior Clinical Consultant. She is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in Texas and earned her counseling degree from Lamar University. Having worked in addiction care since 2005, she has extensive experience in counseling and program development across the full continuum of care, including criminal justice initiatives and sober living programs. With a commitment to person-centered best practices, Jordanna strives to expand treatment access, close service gaps, and raise quality of care standards for every patient, everywhere.
Ayeesha Shakoor
Senior Clinical Consultant and Relationship Manager
Ayeesha Shakoor
Senior Clinical Consultant and Relationship Manager
Kia Simmons
Senior Project Manager
Kia Simmons
Senior Project Manager
Kia earned her bachelor's degree in mass communication and completed her master's degree in healthcare informatics from the University of Central Florida. To expand her expertise in executive leadership, Kia is a doctoral candidate for a doctorate in business administration on track for 2024 completion.
Kia is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) able to develop and streamline operational processes to ensure efficiency and quality assurance. Kia has experience partnering with national and global organizations across industries providing strategy, project management, and business process optimization. Her versatile skillset and competency in various methodologies equip her to transform complex strategies into practical action steps.
Alberic Rentas Muller
Accountant
Alberic Rentas Muller
Accountant
