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 has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and worked at Ernst & Young in Pittsburgh before returning to Morgantown, West Virginia and founding Ascension RS. Through his own struggles with addiction and subsequent recovery, Mr. Leech developed a passion for helping those suffering from the disease of addiction and set out to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across West Virginia and the United States. Mr. Leech has built Ascension RS into the national leader for developing comprehensive behavioral health systems that provide the highest quality clinical care with a sustainable business model. 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. Mr. Leech is the 2020 recipient of the Milan Puskar Entrepreneur of The Year award and also serves on a number of boards of directors in leadership positions. Mr. Leech was recently featured on Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren, sharing his story of recovery.
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.
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
Brandon George
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Brandon George
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
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).
Charm Lea
Chief Human Capital Officer
Charm Lea
Charm serves as the Vice President of Human Resources and has over 20 years’ experience in human capital management with a strong focus and commitment to organizational culture, strategic leadership, and talent development. She has a bachelor's degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from The Pennsylvania State University. Her career has focused on building and growing HR teams in various healthcare organizations, including specialty pharmacy, inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities, and urgent care. She also served in the United States Air Force.
Angela Kudurogianis
Human Resources Manager
Angela Kudurogianis
Human Resources Manager
Jessica Gliesman
Senior Human Capital & Strategy Consultant
Jessica Gliesman
Senior Human Capital & Strategy Consultant
Jasmin Johnson
Payroll and Benefits Administrator
Jasmin Johnson
Payroll and Benefits Administrator
Jennifer Lapshin
Controller
Jennifer Lapshin
Controller
Kevin Massie, MBA
Manager, Financial Analysis
Kevin Massie, MBA
Manager, Financial Analysis
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.
Lauren Warr
Senior Staff Accountant
Lauren Warr
Senior Staff Accountant
Alberic Rentas Muller
Accountant
Alberic Rentas Muller
Accountant
Patricia Toro
Accountant
Patricia Toro
Accountant
Lauren DeWitt
Business Development Manager
Lauren DeWitt
Morgan Henson
Senior Director
Morgan Henson
Morgan Henson, MHA, holds a Master of Health Administration from West Virginia University. Since 2018, she has been a key member of Ascension Recovery Services, contributing significantly to various operational aspects within the organization. With a focus on residential and outpatient healthcare facilities, Morgan ensures smooth operations and efficiency. Additionally, she offers consultancy services, guiding clients through the complexities of establishing and managing multi-state behavioral health programs. Her steadfast commitment to improving healthcare access and quality reflects her lifelong dedication to serving communities, especially in West Virginia.
Kathryn Sullivan
Director, Compliance and Operational Excellence
Kathryn Sullivan
Katie joined Ascension RS in 2021, as a Program Manager and based on her experience, knowledge and leadership was quickly promoted to Regional Operations Director and ultimately Director of Operations, Compliance & Operational Excellence. Katie started her career as a therapist, treating adolescents, adults, individuals and families at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA ultimately becoming the Manager of Clinical Services for the hospital. Katie also held the position of Clinical Supervisor at the Psychology and Learning Center near Pittsburgh, PA and completed her clinical internships with two different school districts. Katie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Mercyhurst University and her Masters in Professional Counseling from Carlow University in Pittsburg, PA.
Joey Ferguson
Director of Business Development and Patient Access
Joey Ferguson
Director of Business Development and Patient Access
Sharon Leech
Office Manager
Sharon Leech
Office Manager
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.
Ayeesha Shakoor
Senior Clinical Consultant and Relationship Manager
Ayeesha Shakoor
Senior Clinical Consultant and Relationship Manager
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.
Jordanna Windemiller
Senior Clinical Operations Consultant
Jordanna Windemiller
Senior Clinical Operations Consultant
Jordanna Windemiller serves on the Ascension team as a Senior Clinical Operations 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.
