Door to Hope | Addiction Recovery Program

Door to Hope
About
Management Team

Management Team

Board of Directors

Door to Hope remains incredibly fortunate to have a Board of Directors totally committed and fully supportive of our mission. These generous individuals have been key players in the phenomenal growth of the organization over the years.

Paddy Grinstein, Esq.

President

Susan Gibbons

Secretary

Meredith Sillman, Esq.

Board Member

Pamela Brown, Esq.

Board Member

Key Professional Staff

Door to Hope's seasoned professionals have years of experience, education and training. They also have tremendous hearts. Serving the complex needs of clients in ten programs requires a vast constellation of skills. Each day, our 70+ health professionals and mentors meet the diverse challenges with expertise and joy.

Chris Shannon

Executive Director

Denise Felix

Director of Finance

Jessica Ortiz

Director
of Human Resources

Anna Marquez, CADC II

Intake/Authorization
Supervisor

Chris Shannon

Executive Director

Chris Shannon is Executive Director and co-founder and Executive Director of MCSTART. She holds a Master's as a Chemical Dependency Practitioner and developed the Successfully Parenting At-Risk Kids (SPARK) curriculum. Previously, she worked extensively with professional athletes and was the Player’s Assistance Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for 25 years. Among other things today, she specializes in children prenatally exposed to alcohol and/or drugs. In 2006, the Monterey County Child Abuse Prevention Council honored Chris with the State Department of Social Services Award.

Denise Felix

Director of Finance

As a graduate of Door to Hope and a person thriving in long-term recovery, Denise Felix's connection to the organization is deeply personal. Her background in accounting includes being a registered CTech Tax Preparer, and a recent graduate from the LEAD Institute in non-profit management. Having been a client, Denise appreciates how caring and invested the staff members are.

Carolina Cortez, LMFT

Development Director

For over 25 years, Carolina Cortez has worked in behavioral health care. She holds a Master's in clinical psychology, a license for marriage and family therapy and a teaching credential. While teaching, Carolina experienced a student overdosing, which motivated her to study substance abuse disorders. Today, she specializes in addiction, mental health, adolescents and children affected by trauma, and families in crisis.

Jessica Ortiz

Director of Human Resources

Jessica Oritz has a long and impressive history of working with children with special needs, educational institutions and insurance organizations. From this foundation of caring experience, education and business knowledge, she began with Door to Hope as a Family Resource Specialist. Today, she serves as Director of Human Resources and works behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. "It's rewarding to see and hear that the counselors are helping children and clients."

Anna Marquez, CADC II

Intake/Authorization Supervisor

Anna Marquez brings a compassionate blend of experience, education and optimism that "change is possible, even for those who don't quite yet believe in themselves." Anna worked at Nueva Esperanza, Women's Residential and Outpatient Services, which provided her practical insights into what clients experience. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from California State University, Monterey Bay and is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor II.

Kathy Burrola, LMFC

Clinical Director

Kathy Burrola loves making a difference in people's lives, and brings a wealth of experience to her role as Clinical Director. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Master's in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, and is trained in Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy). Previously, Kathy worked in group homes, women’s crisis, a private practice and as a domestic violence expert for the county.

Valerie Catania, LAADC, CCS, CADCII

Quality Manager

Over 20 years ago, Valerie Catania embarked on a path of recovery ─ and a profession in drug and alcohol treatment. Inspired to become a counselor, she achieved certification in Drug and Alcohol studies and interned at the County of San Bernardino Behavioral Health Outpatient program. She earned her education as a Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II and a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She also created an adolescent program, specialized in HIV/AIDS prevention and co-occurring disorders and worked as a Treatment Coordinator and Chief Program Officer.

Lisa Ortiz

Vice President

An attorney who specializes in child support, Lisa Oritz joined the board from a desire to help the community, particularly with issues concerning children. Lisa holds a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA and a Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School. She's worked for the District Attorney's Office in Los Angeles and Monterey County, and the Monterey County Department of Child Support Services.