Staff Members

Donate Now. Soroptimist House of Hope. Addiction Recovery Center. Helping women establish and maintain sober and healthy lives.

Rebecca Norton

Executive Director
CADC-II, ICADC
Employed since 3-1-16
Volunteer since 2-1-15

Cynthia A. “Oma” Gray

Executive Consultant
CADC-II, ICADC since 2005
Retired Executive Director since 1-31-20
Founding Member and Board Member of CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals) since 2010
Employed since 8-1-99

Lupe S. Stoneburner

Director/Program Manager – Treatment Program
Desert Hot Springs
CADC-II, ICADC since 2005
Founding Member CCAPP Credentialing Board since 2011.
Employed since 1-2-02

Leslee B. Blake

SUD Counselor II, CADC-II, IC&RC
Treatment Program – Desert Hot Springs
CADC – II, CA since 2013
Employed since 8-20-09

Cindi Handwerk

SUD Counselor I
CADC – CAS since 2014
Volunteer since November 2012
Employed since August 2013

Alexcia Ramirez

RADTI

Night Attendant

Volunteer Since 2016

Employed Since 4-1-17

Elizabeth Buss

RADTI

Weekend Night Attendant

Volunteer Since 2007

Employed Since 4-1-17

Kirbie Beltran

RADT1

Transportation Specialist

Employed Since 1-1-20

Christine Rivas

Recovery Residence Manager

Employed Since 1-1-20

Christopher Francisco

Grant writer
30+ years in non-profit sector
Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, USC
Member, Board of Directors of Coachella Valley Repertory Theater
Certified in Non-profit Marketing & Fundraising – Cal State Long Beach

Mitchel D. Claire, Pa

Physician’s Assistant

Linda Blumenthal, AMFT

Parenting and Co-Occurring Disorders Education Instructor

Margaret Henderson

Volunteer Payroll Preparer

Robert Jones, LCSW

Clinical Supervisor and On-Call Therapist

Monica Werner, Marketing Coordinator, Soroptimist House of Hope. Addiction Recovery Center. Helping women establish and maintain sober and healthy lives.

Reverend Dr. Braveheart Cordova, D.D., CADC-II

Grief/Forgiveness/Life Skills Instructor

Rev. Dr. Braveheart Cordova is a non-denominational ordained minister. Since 2008, he has served as a hospital chaplain as well as a hospice home companion. In 2010 he completed his doctorate degree in divinity with concentration in spiritual counseling. During this time he also obtained advanced certifications as a Grief Counselor and Life Coach. In 2022, Dr. Braveheart further expanded his education training and became a CCAPP certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Since 2013, he has been doing ongoing workshops and support groups on grief forgiveness and life coaching principles for drug treatment centers and people in recovery. In 2016, he became a Bereavement Group Coordinator for a trauma hospital in which he facilitates an on-going support group to help people who are suffering from grief and loss.

Mark Guidry

Bookkeeper

Dr. Kenneth C. Russ, MD

Medical Director

Affiliations

CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals)
State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
F.I.N.D. Food Bank – Coachella Valley
Desert Best Friends Closet
Family Services of the Desert
Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility RSAT (Residential Substance Abuse Treatment) Program
Cultural Alliance for the Arts – Banning
Banning Women’s Club
Veteran’s Association Desert Hot Springs
City of Banning
City of Desert Hot Springs
Riverside Latino Commission on Drugs and Alcohol – Coachella Valley
Riverside County Community Healthcare Centers
Riverside County Substance Abuse Providers Network
Riverside County Parole and Probation Departments
Riverside County Child Protection Services (Mom’s Programs)
The Awareness Program – Indio
Department of Public Social Services
California Suicide Prevention Network

Awards, Certifications and Other News

Lupe Stoneburner, Shining Star Award CCAPP 6th Annual Conference 11-2019
Cynthia “Oma” Gray, Guiding Light Award (President’s Choice) CCAPP 6th Annual Conference 11-2019
Licensed and Certified by the State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) – 1984 to present
Co-Founder Brigitte Page first recipient of the City of Banning Ring of Honor
Cynthia A. “Oma” Gray Soroptimist Women Helping Women award 2001 (S.I. Desert Hot Springs)
Cynthia A. “Oma” Gray Soroptimist of the Year 2006-2007
Lupe Esparza, Soroptimist Women Helping Women Award 2003 (S.I. Desert Hot Springs)
Lupe Esparza, Counselor of the Year 2004
Pat Callahan, Counselor of the Year 2010
Jean Vavao, Counselor of the Year 2011
Leslee Blake, Counselor of the Year 2012, 2013
Lupe Esparza, 3^rd Place Audience Favorite, Dancing with Our Stars (fundraiser for SHOH)
Cindy J. Handwerk, Counselor of the Year 2014
Cindi J. Handwerk. Counselor of the Year 2016
Leslee Blake, Counselor of the Year 2017
Elizabeth Buss, Counselor of the Year 2018
Alexicia Ramirez, Counselor of the Year 2019