The Life Change Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been providing recovery services for heroin and prescription medication abuse concerns since 1998. We offer a variety of services to help people make the changes necessary to beat their drug addiction.

Our recovery program is based on two primary themes:

Empowerment & Improving Quality of Life

We have a talented group of staff members with expertise in recovery from opioid addictions.

Our Programs

The success rate of The Life Change Center is currently at 75%.

Yes, 75% overall and 87% of the individuals seeking help have been able to stop using opioids within the first 60 days.

The recovery program of The Life Change Center takes medication assisted treatment one step further— including specialized counseling in addition to medication and case management.

2020 TLCC annual report

Sobriety Average Over 3 Years

Success Rates

Heroin and prescription pain killer abuse has increased to epidemic rates, and alarmingly high rates among young people. The problem is growing and the social costs are skyrocketing.

In response to this epidemic, researchers have shown that the rates of recovery without any treatment at all are around 20%. Yet, medication assisted treatment models exceed 55% drug free. Medication assisted treatment models have been the best practice for treating opioid addictions since the models were first introduced in 1968.

Team Members

At The Life Change Center, we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff. Our team members are experts in heroin, fentanyl, and prescription medication addictions. The expertise is a result of their years of working with the people we serve and years of looking for the most effective paths to recovery.

While our team consists of many disciplines, they work together to ensure that people in our community have access to the life-saving services we offer. They have on the front lines of the opioid epidemic through the COVID times and will be there every day in the future.

Leadership Team

John Firestone
MSW, LADC, MBA
Executive Director, Counselor

Eric Hare
MA, CADC
Operations Director

Marilyn Stephan
Nurse/Nursing Supervisor

Ryan Zeller
D.O.
Medical Director & Licensed Physician

Steven Hammonds
LMSW, CSW-Intern, LADC
Workforce Development Director

Sarah McGill
LCADC, LCSW
Clinical Director

Sparks
  • Keanu Carmean BA, CADC-Intern Counselor Intern
  • Jesse Fredzess MSW, LADC Grant Manager/Counselor
  • Amy Gigliotti Counselor Intern
  • Doris Lopez Nurse
  • Maria-Secilia Madera-Muñoz MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist
  • Cindy Mancuso BA, CADC-Intern Assistant Site Director
  • Ayla Miller BA, BS, CADC Site Director
  • Michelle Moreno MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist Supervisor
  • Johnathan Saderlund CPRSS Peer Recovery & Support Specialist Supervisor
  • Tina Serrano LPN Nurse
  • Mary Smith MSW, CADC-Intern Counselor Intern
  • Bethany Sumpter Peer Recovery & Support Specialist
  • Serena Timoszyk MS, CADC-Intern Counselor Intern
  • Bryan Wildman MA, CADC Counselor
  • Kaitlyn Witt BA, CADC Grant Manager Assistant/Counselor /Health & Safety Officer
  • Aurora Zarate-Colima MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist

Carson City
  • Charlie Aperule MS, LADC Site Director
  • Lauren Cottrell BA Receptionist
  • Chelsea Cribbins CPRSS, CCHW Peer Recovery & Support Specialist/Health & Safety Officer
  • Gabriel Cruz BSW, CADC-Intern
  • Lauren Dibble LPN Nurse
  • Cheyenne Fletcher RN Nurse
  • Ruth Fox RN Nurse
  • Jennifer Gooch RN Nurse
  • John McElveney MS CADC-Intern
  • Tonya Stone BA, CADC Counselor
  • Dawn Wheeler BS CADC-Intern
Reno
  • Gregg Anderson CPRSS Peer Recovery & Support Specialist
  • April Casey LPN Nurse
  • McKenzie Day Counselor Intern
  • Heather Gonzales BA, CADC Site Director
  • Julie Greig LPN Nurse
  • Alma Hernandez MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist
  • Papaasi Maveni MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist
  • Vanessa Mota Receptionist
  • Brianna Oki BSW, CADC-Intern, Counselor Intern
  • Bill Pence LADC Assistant Site Director
  • Kiara Reyes CADC-Intern Counselor Intern
  • Heather Rodriguez MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist
  • Ryan Rooney BS, CADC-Intern Assistant Site Director
  • Susan Soller LPN Nurse
  • Liz Spandau CPRSS Peer Recovery & Support Specialist
  • Cheyenne Sweeney BSW, CADC-Intern Counselor Intern
  • Brennan Tica BA, CADC CADC-Intern
  • Cynthia Whittall Nurse
  • Ellen Woods MA Medical Assistant/Receptionist

Medical Team
  • Caren Jaggers DNP, MSN, APRN-C/FNP Nurse Practitioner
  • Clarisse Robert APRN Nurse Practitioner
  • Megan Seivert PMHNP Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Dan Snow MD Doctor
  • Marilyn Stephan LPN Nursing Supervisor
  • Keith Swanson MD Doctor
  • Ryan Zeller DO Medical Director

Administration
Ana Arias Billing Specialist
Sara Berman BS Full Charge Bookkeeper/Executive Assistant
John Firestone MSW, LADC, MBA Executive Director
Steven Hammonds LMSW, CSW-Intern, LADC, Workforce

Development Director
Eric Hare MA, CADC Operations Director
Cheyenne Howell BS Utilization Review Specialist
Jodie Park Media Consultant
Sarah McGill LCADC, LCSW, Clinical Director
Jake Sanford M.Acc, CPA Accountant
Monica Serrano Billing Specialist
Liza Stellato Billing Supervisor