This is a  staff list for Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane, UT

(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)

 

We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at Diamond Ranch Academy.  For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm.  If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Diamond Ranch Academy, you have the right to take action. 

 

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Diamond Ranch Academy, please contact info@heal-online.org if you remember the long-term employees and from which years.  This will help!   Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.

 

 

Please don’t place your loved one in Diamond Ranch Academy and rescue them if they are there now.

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Dennis Mitchell Medical Director Mitchell has been with DRA since 2006.  There is only one Dennis Houston Mitchell licensed as a physician assistant, in Utah.  This may or may not be the same person.  Mitchell is not a licensed medical doctor nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jan Bills Nurse Janet A. Bills is a licensed Registered Nurse in Utah and has been since 1981.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Shawn Gierman (female) Admin Asst. Gierman holds no professional licenses in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Maurie Simons Admissions Simons is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Danny Borchardt Admissions Borchardt is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ricky Dias Program Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tayleigh Hann Campus Director Hann is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Melanie Fox Campus Director Fox is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Paul Taylor Asst. Campus Dir. HEAL requires Taylor's full name to verify whether or not he holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Brigham Mclaws Campus Director Mclaws is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Steve Feltner Transition Coordinator Feltner is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Travis Bentley Campus Director Bentley is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Bo Iverson Academic Director Iverson is a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Reeve Knighton Administrator Knighton is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mindy Rawlins Registration Rawlins is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Steve Force Teacher Force is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Jodie Franden Teacher Franden is a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Doug Heideman Teacher Heideman is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Jasson Hansen Teacher Hansen is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Ashley Riddle Teacher Riddle is a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Gary Dean Teacher There are two Gary Deans licensed as educators in Utah.  HEAL requires Dean's middle name for verification purposes. 
Geoff Myers Teacher Myers is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Jamie Harline Teacher Harline is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Gary Ferguson Teacher/ Ferguson is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Cory Fonnesbeck Special Ed. Fonnesbeck is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Sean Elsmore Academic Para Pro Elsmore is not a licensed educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from Utah State Office of Education.
Fotuopala'au Soliai Executive Director Soliai is a licensed clinical social worker and has been only since 2008.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ephraim Hanks Clinical Director Hanks is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2008.  Hanks is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been only since April, 2010.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kade Mathews Therapist Daniel Kade Mathews (may be a different person) is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since April, 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
M. Caleb Steele Therapist Michael Caleb Steele is a licensed clinical social worker and has been only since April, 2010.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Stuart Squires Therapist Squires is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Nathan Meng Therapist Karl Nathan Meng (may be a different person) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been since August, 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lorneta H. Ferguson Therapist Ferguson is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since 2006.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jan AuBuchon Instructor AuBuchon is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Rebecca Phillips Therapist HEAL requires Phillips middle name in order to verify licensure, if any.
Steven DeMille Therapist DeMille is licensed as an associate professional counselor only and has only been licensed since March, 2010.  DeMille also "earned" his degree at the University of Phoenix.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html

"The Justice Department announced today that the University of Phoenix has agreed to pay the United States $67.5 million to resolve allegations that its student recruitment policies violated the False Claims Act.  This case began as a whistleblower action filed in the Eastern District of California under the False Claims Act, which permits private citizens to bring lawsuits for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Whistleblowers Mary Hendow and Julie Behn, two former University of Phoenix employees, alleged that the university accepted federal student financial aid while in violation of statutory and regulatory provisions prohibiting post-secondary schools from paying admissions counselors certain forms of incentive-based compensation tied to the number of students recruited. Though the United States did not intervene in this action, the Government provided support and assistance to the whistleblowers at many stages of the case, including filing friend-of-the-court briefs when the case was on appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The two whistleblowers will receive $19 million from the settlement."

The University of Phoenix does not have the specialized accreditation necessary for degrees in psychology.  (Source: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx)   It is accredited for teaching and nursing degrees.
Joseph L. Keate Therapist Keate is a licensed clinical social worker and has been since July, 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jessica Clark Admin. Asst. HEAL requires Clark's full name/married name in order to verify any professional licensure in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Shane Johnson Supervisor (Isolation) Johnson is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html  This is a serious concern given Johnson's position in supervising the isolation unit.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires that mental health/medical professionals be in charge of and supervise any use of isolation. 
Paul Lauritzen Parent Coordinator Lauritzen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Cody Fonnesbeck Case Manager Fonnesbeck is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
John D. Fullwood Medical Manager Fullwood is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Melissa Harrison Medical Technician Harrison is not a licensed medical professional in Utah.  HEAL requires Harrison's full name/married name to determine mental health or other professional licensing, if any.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Robbie Dias Athletic Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Betsy Kimber Asst. Athletic Dir. Kimber is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Cody Wardle Coach Wardle is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mckel Abbot Coach Abbott is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Bryce Zundel President/CFO Zundel is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  (Zundel is a certified public accountant) Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Rob Dias Founder/Owner Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sheri Dias Executive Director Dias is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
This program uses the "Real Life Transition Program"--registered trademark of the basic level-system/brainwashing model.
HEAL Reports: Contract Review, EPA Violations, & Survivor/Family Reports
Diamond Ranch Academy also uses Positive Control Systems methods and the same is used by Eagle Ranch Academy and WWASPS.
Death @ DRA: James Richard Shirey died at Diamond Ranch Academy in January, 2009. 
Radio Show: BiPolar Nation LA Talk Radio Discusses Diamond Ranch Academy--March 18th, 2012 

 *(Diamond Ranch Academy, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices.  Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience.  Thank you for your help.)

 Last Updated: April 22nd, 2012

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