The Team

Robert Fox serves as Recovery Syndicate’s CEO, responsible for bringing vision and leadership to the program. He has over 5 years of experience as Program and Operations Director for a sober living home program in the Chandler area and excels at problem-solving, community outreach, and advocating for quality treatment for all patients. After many years of experience in the field, he saw the need for quality treatment and aftercare for people leaving residential treatment and is passionate about bringing robust support systems to those working towards long-term recovery.

Christine Fox serves as Recovery Syndicate’s Administrator and Client Advocate. She earned her Associate of Science and Social Services degrees and is passionate about carrying a message of hope to those suffering from substance use disorder. She brings compassion, personal knowledge, and clinical experience to the team and finds joy in helping people to grow in mind, body, and spirit and live a productive, rich, sober life. Chemical Dependency, AAS Social Services

James Currier has been a part of the behavioral healthcare field since April 2015. He started working for Recovery Syndicate in March of 2023. James’ primary focus is to ensure that our patients achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. He incorporates his intimate knowledge of addiction and his educational background to ensure that patients receive optimal medical and clinical care. James has dedicated himself to understanding addiction’s clinical component and will finish his MS in Addiction Psychology program in 2024. James will be pursuing clinical licensure after earning his master’s degree. As executive director at Recovery Syndicate, he works closely with the team to provide excellent patient care while supporting the staff. Working in the treatment industry has helped him gain extensive knowledge and skills to find solutions to challenges while efficiently creating effective processes.

Edward graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Edward is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He was a fellow in the ASU Interdisciplinary Training Academy which focused on the opioid epidemic, effective ways to care for people who use drugs, and resources for individuals and families impacted by addiction. He has completed training specifically on medications for addiction treatment provided by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Edward has served the recovery community since 2016, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Edwardis passionate about helping patients along their journey to recovery because he saw firsthand how addiction can devastate families when he was still young.  Edward begins by dedicating time to truly understand his clients; delving into their life history, challenges, and goals. Then, he collaborates with clients to create a realistic, evidenced-based treatment plan that is effective for their unique needs.  Edward prides himself on being approachable and understanding, creating a comfortable space for open dialogue.  Edward was born and raised here in Arizona. He is honored to care for the patients at Recovery Syndicate, and be an advocate for them.

Dr. Kim has completed her undergraduate work at the University of California, Riverside 2004, with a degree in Biochemistry and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine in 2008 at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ. Her main drive for deciding to enter the Naturopathic profession was to answer her lifelong calling of being a champion of the health for all that cross her path at all levels of self: mind, body and spirit. With a profound reverence for nature’s wisdom when it comes to optimal health, Dr Kim helps patients heal with a balance of conventional as well as non-invasive, naturopathic modalities including, but not limited to: Homeopathy, nutrition (IV and Oral), herbal medicine, naturopathic manipulation therapy, environmental medicine and nature cure. She is honored to serve as a professor at various institutions of higher learning for healthcare professionals and has been in service of the recovering community through direct patient care and medical directorship for over 12 years. Her impact in the healthcare field is now strengthened from her own transformative healing journey from Cancer. In her free time, she loves to practice yoga, meditation, and enjoys indoor cycling and hiking with her husband and their furbaby, Andre.

Brad has over 24 years of experience working in the addiction field as a therapist. Brad is well-versed in Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Brad is also educated in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Brad is known for meeting the client where they are at in terms of the stages of change model and building rapport with his clients. Brad currently has a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, LISAC credential per the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Brad has a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Brad has over 24 years of sobriety. Brad is very passionate about helping others and connecting with his clients and helping them look within themselves to discover their own identity.

John, a distinguished graduate of Rio Salado College, holds an AAS degree in Addiction and Substance Abuse Counseling. Currently, he is pursuing a BA in Addiction Counseling at Ottawa University, with an expected completion date of April 2024. John’s academic journey has been marked by excellence, as evidenced by his impressive GPA of 3.887. Additionally, he has obtained certifications in Substance Use Disorder Counseling at both Level I and Level II. With three years of experience in the industry, John is dedicated to helping individuals discover the same sense of fulfillment he has found. His unwavering commitment to client care perfectly aligns with Recovery Syndicate’s mission of equipping our clients with the tools and support necessary for long-term recovery and lasting success.

Tony has maintained his commitment to being clean and sober since 2012 and now channels his experience into his role as the Director of Operations at Recovery Syndicate. His path to recovery deeply informs his professional approach, blending a profound sense of empathy with his extensive expertise. Noted for his precise attention to detail and unwavering dedication, Tony upholds the highest operational standards at the center. Driven by a personal understanding of the challenges faced in recovery, he is fervently committed to guiding others on their journey to wellness. Tony’s leadership style is marked by humility and a deep-seated curiosity, creating an environment where healing and hope are the cornerstones.

Sylvia Mendez Lopez is a Family Therapist with five years of experience working with victims and survivors of sexual assault, families struggling with addiction, and incarcerated populations. She holds a BA in Psychology, a Master’s Certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling, a Master of Social Work, and Rural Community Social Work. Sylvia also has specific certifications in Domestic Violence Training, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), and is soon to be White Bison Wellbriety trained. Sylvia’s specialty within her company is Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) with strong cultural competency and awareness in tune with native approaches to healing addiction. She understands that a supportive family environment can play an important role in the recovery process, and she is passionate about seeing families grow and change as they work through their issues and develop healthier communication patterns and relationships. Sylvia is a Southern California native who has lived in rural NM for 15 years and is now a new Arizonian. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate with both of her higher education degrees and believes that healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgment. She is bilingual, creative, has a great sense of humor, and has a down-to-earth, realistic approach when assisting clients. Sylvia enjoys exercising (having completed 5 Los Angeles Marathons), gardening, and spending time with her family for self-care. She wants potential clients to know that she is dedicated to helping families and individuals heal, and she believes that everyone has the potential to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

Daniel has been working in the behavioral health field since 2017. Daniel grew up in Northern California and established himself in the hospitability industry. Daniel moved to Arizona in 2011 and began working for Tesla Solar before shifting career paths after finding recovery and discovering that he wanted to help people recover from a seemingly hopeless disease. Daniel understands that no single approach is the right one for every client and goes to great lengths to ensure that each of our client’s needs are met and that they are being provided the care they need and deserve. Daniel believes that showing compassion and empathy helps create a strong connection with our clients, builds trust, and shows them that Recovery Syndicate is here to help them achieve their goals and live a happy, joyous, and free life.

With over 7 years of experience in the recovery industry, Jenn focuses on client counseling, helping people grow and develop their spiritual lives. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University and her Master’s of Divinity from Methodist Theological School of Ohio, and has additional training and certifications in Bereavement Counseling, Meditation Instruction, and Incident Stress Management.

Dana has over 10,000 hours of experience as a life coach. She specializes in addiction recovery coaching, relationships, communication, cognitive behavior therapy, and emotional intelligence. In addition to her formal education, Dana has over 30 years of personal recovery from addiction and codependency. Her experience spans people from all walks of life, facing unique struggles and situations. Her mission is to help our clients discover and embrace the best version of themselves. Dana’s broad education and intimate familiarity with the struggles of substance abuse recovery have given her a unique perspective to help individuals discover their own capacity for healing.

As a former coach in the National Football League for 11 years, as well as an extensive tenure of 18 years as an assistant coach at the major college level, Carl Hargrave coached three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as an Offensive Consultant in 2004. In 2005, Hargraves contributions helped the Cardinals’ finish the season with the 8th ranked overall offense in the NFL, and the #1 passing offense (4,437 yards/277.3 yards per game) for the first time in team history. Currently vetted in the Recovery Community, Carl is Owner/Coach of “Fit Four Recovery” addressing the fitness component at various Recovery Centers nation wide, where his passion for coaching has evolved from the playing field to the field of life. “I love the energy and the excitement in helping a person who has lost all hope to find a new life in sobriety.” Carl is an intricate part of the men and women whose lives are mired in the pains of addiction, encompassing all levels and ages.

Jacob Daffner provides yoga and meditation services specifically geared to those in varying stages of the addiction recovery process. Jacob is in recovery himself and has a deep understanding of the recovery process. He incorporates this experience and knowledge into the yoga and meditation classes he teaches. He is certified in yoga and meditation and has undergone specific and intensive training to provide the best possible experience for people in the early stages of the recovery process detox, inpatient, and outpatient treatment. While yoga helps with the body, meditation helps with the mind. Creating clarity and serenity before patients make what are bound to be life changing decisions. Also, leaving them with tools to use on their own when they are done with the treatment program.

Heather currently works in administration, helping with compliance and special administrative projects and acting as a dedicated support to our clients. She is very organized and does everything she can to remain solution focused. Not only does she devote a lot of time to helping our clients she is currently going to school for a degree in human resources. Heather has been sober since 9/24/2017 after putting in much effort to overcome addiction and the turmoil that surrounds it. She knows intimately how addiction can impact someone’s life and uses that experience to form meaningful connections with our clients. The owners of Recovery Syndicate have been a vital part of my recovery. They helped me through the most difficult situation I have ever had to face. I see them and every employee in the company involved in helping clients through similar situations with compassion.

As the Alumni Coordinator for Recovery Syndicate, Dave’s job is to establish and maintain an active role in the lives of the current clients to help provide a smooth transition into “life after treatment” – alumni. He believes that staying  connected is key to not only our sobriety, but our overall sense of happiness and wellbeing.

“The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. The opposite of addiction is  connection.”
~ Johann Hari, from his book Chasing The Scream

Dave is a 2020 graduate of Tacheria Interfaith School of Spiritual Direction and a Spiritual/Life Coach, as well as a certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist. After 25 years of operating his own small business, he became passionate about working with those in recovery and joined the exceptional team at Recovery Syndicate.

He’s been trudging the path of continuous sobriety for over 29 years, sharing his experience, strength and hope along the way.

“Family dysfunction rolls from generation to generation like a fire in the woods, taking down everything in its path until one person in one generation has the courage to turn and face the flames. That person brings peace to those who came before, and spares the generations that follow.”
~ Terrence Real, Fierce Intimacy

Jessica has been in recovery since 2016, and having gone through the recovery process herself, she understands the challenges and struggles that come with addiction. She is committed to helping others on their path to recovery and is always there to offer a listening ear or word of encouragement. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and has extensive financial management knowledge. She provides our clients with the support they need to achieve their financial goals. As well as working as the Client Financial Coordinator, Jessica works as a BHT, Admissions Coordinator, and Business Development team member.

Jeremy is a highly experienced professional who has spent the past 12 years working in various roles within the drug and alcohol recovery industry. Throughout his career, he has been committed to helping individuals overcome addiction and reclaim their lives. Jeremy’s approach is heart-focused, and he is known for his compassionate nature and genuine care for those he works with. In addition to his expertise in recovery and addiction treatment, Jeremy is also an incredible team player who brings a positive attitude and a strong work ethic to every role he takes on. His dedication to his work and his clients has earned him a reputation as a trusted and respected member of the recovery community.

Zac has been serving the Arizona behavioral healthcare field for the past 5 years in various capacities, driven with a passion created by personal experience for helping those afflicted with mental health and substance use disorders. His background prior to entering the behavioral healthcare field was centered on entrepreneurial ventures into technology, webmastery, marketing, and business development. Joining Recovery Syndicate in 2023, he specializes in identifying synergistic business opportunities for Recovery Syndicate, networking to increase brand awareness within the local and national recovery community, and creating strong partnerships with a focus on providing access to excellent patient care.

Eric is completing his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health to become a board certified Licensed Professional Counselor and has been working in recovery since 2019. Eric has experience working with indigenous communities with a strong understanding of the obstacles and barriers that need to be addressed for successful treatment. Integrating a multicultural approach Eric strives to use ethical decision making, collaboration rather than confrontation, empathy and personal experience with substance use to help clients identify strengths and promote autonomy to achieve their recovery needs with empathy, compassion, and accountability.

Been in the industry for about 8 years. I am passionate about working in recovery helping other to better their lives. I feel honor to have the opportunity to help addict and alcoholic. Some of my key characteristics that make me great at what I do are having the ability to be compassionate, empathetic & supportive.

Certified Medical Assistant, CPR/First Aid Certified, one year of House Management for sober living.

I am passionate about working in recovery because I want to be able to help those struggling with addiction to see there is a way out and a brighter future ahead. I believe that waking up every day and helping another addict not only gives me a sense of purpose but helps me in my recovery as well.

One of the key characteristics that make me great at what I do is empathy and patience. I believe focusing on Mind, Body, and spirit is the best way to heal from past trauma and addiction, and I use my position here at Recovery Syndicate to encourage clients to use the tools provided here, as they are the tools that have helped me on my own recovery journey.

Skye Barnett is a Peer Support Specialist with two years of experience in the industry. She holds a high school diploma and has completed some college courses. Skye is also a certified Peer Support Specialist, which enables her to assist individuals struggling with addiction on their journey to recovery. As a recovering addict herself, Skye is passionate about her work and finds purpose in helping others find a new way of life. She believes that working with other addicts is crucial for her own recovery and strives to create a supportive and empathetic environment for her clients. Skye specializes in providing recovery support. She believes that being genuine, empathetic, and open-minded are key characteristics that make her effective at her job.