About Us

Stephani Sutherland has served on the IVRS board since 2018, and is a member of the Program Committee and chair of the Fund Development Committee. She was proud to serve on the ad-hoc committee to re-write IVRS’s mission statement in 2019. She brings scientific expertise in pain and addiction and extensive communication skills to her position at IVRS.

 Stephani recently returned to her native Claremont after 20 years spent living in the Pacific Northwest and Long Beach, CA. A graduate of Claremont High School and Cal State University, Fullerton, Stephani earned her PhD in Neuroscience at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland in 2001. Since then, she has worked as a science communicator for newspaper, magazine, television, radio, and online formats for all audiences, as well as teaching at the university level. As a freelance journalist, Stephani now focuses on covering the field of chronic pain and pain research. Her work appears regularly in Scientific American and RELIEF.news. Stephani practices yoga, and she enjoys cooking, hiking and camping with her husband and two tween-age kids. @SutherlandPhD

Andy began his career with Edward Jones in 2017.  He works with families and businesses to help plan, prepare for, and live in retirement.  He also has enjoyed mentoring many of the new advisors that have come to the firm.  He became a partner in 2023.  In the community, Andy is a board member with the Upland Chamber of Commerce, Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce, and the Estate Planning Council of Pomona Valley.

 He is honored to serve on the IVRS board, as the organization’s mission and commitment to meaningful, lasting community impact align closely with his own beliefs in service, stewardship, and strengthening our communities both now and for the future.

Andy and his wife Heather have been married since 2002, and have three teenage children.   He loves to travel, hike with his son, and is involved with their homeschool group.

Chief Marcelo Blanco was born in Mendoza, Argentina. At age 5, his family moved to Madrid, Spain, where he lived for two years before immigrating to Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the L.A. area, and during his junior year in high school, his family moved to Upland, eventually graduating from Upland High in 1991. During his senior year in High School, he took an ROP (Regional Occupational Program) class where he was assigned to work at the Upland Police Department in the Crime Prevention Unit. He used to ride his bike from Upland High to the Upland Police Department. Upon graduating high school, he was hired as a Police Cadet working in evidence. After two and a half years as a cadet, he was hired as a full-time CSO (community service officer). He spent six months as a dispatcher and eventually became the first civilian Crime Prevention Officer. Chief Blanco attended the extended police academy and was hired as a police officer upon graduation in May 1996. As a police officer, he worked patrol, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Instructor, and as SRO (School Resource Officer) servicing all of Upland’s elementary schools. Shortly after 9/11, he was assigned to the California Department of Justice Terrorism Task Force and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. While at the FBI JTTF, he obtained his security clearance. Some collateral duties he held as a police officer were first aid and CPR instructor, crisis and hostage negotiator, Explorer advisor, and president of the Police Officers’ Association.

In October of 2005, he was promoted to Detective, where he worked on various investigative assignments, including commercial/metal theft, missing persons, auto theft, child/elder abuse, and sex crimes. As a detective, his collateral duties included being the terrorism liaison officer, explorer post advisor, and mobile field force member. He was promoted to Sergeant, where he was a field supervisor and community resource unit/homeless outreach program supervisor. His collateral duties as a sergeant included: mobile field force team leader, explorer post coordinator, and terrorism liaison. On September 11, 2016, he was promoted to Lieutenant, where he worked as a patrol watch commander. Shortly thereafter, he advanced to Captain, where he has been the administrative service commander overseeing investigations, special teams, homeless outreach, records, code enforcement, animal control, police facilities, and budget.

Marcelo was a career technical education instructor for over 15 years and currently possesses a vocational teaching credential through California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. In addition, Marcelo served on the executive board as the treasurer of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) and other chapter boards and committees for over 10 years. In this capacity, he assisted in furthering legislation to assist police officers statewide by participating in lobbying activities at the State capital and Washington D.C.

His formal education consists of an associate degree in liberal studies from Chaffey College. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from California Baptist University. In addition, Marcelo is fluent in Spanish.

His professional certificates include Sherman Block’s Supervisory Leadership Institute – Class 332, Peace Officer Standards and Training Management Certificate, and California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker Certificate – Class 3.

John T. Chapman is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at San Antonio Regional Hospital (SARH) in Upland, California. Mr. Chapman joined the hospital in 2018 and is currently serving as the seventh President and CEO in the history of the hospital. SARH has 363 beds, a staff of over 500 physicians, 2,000 employees and 300 volunteers. The hospital offers advanced patient care throughout the Inland Empire. John is LEAN certified and represents in the Inland Empire as its Board member for the Hospital Association of Southern California.

John has served as an experienced hospital executive for over two decades. Prior to arriving at San Antonio, he served as Chief Operations Officer at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. John was not only in charge of operations at this 169-bed general acute care hospital, but also led the clinical and support services for the Alameda Health System. Some of his accomplishments included Alameda’s accreditation as a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Baby Friendly designation and the construction of a 9-story patient tower.

John is a clinical microbiologist by training. Prior to joining the Alameda Health System; John served as Executive Director of Clinical Services, Director of Laboratory Services, and held other leadership positions at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. In these roles, among other things, he served as the director of the medical center’s service lines including its Orthopedic Institute and Heart and Vascular Institute.  He also led a variety of strategic planning processes and UC system-wide operational initiatives.

John earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of California – Berkeley and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix. John, his wife Arnin, and daughter Nicole are avid dog lovers and enjoy whitewater rafting. John’s hobbies include traveling, basketball, and renovating homes. In fact, he has built his own home in Northern California.

Linda Trawnik is a dedicated community leader, business owner in Upland, and President-Elect of the Upland-Foothill Kiwanis Foundation. She also serves as President Emeritus of Historic Downtown Upland, where she has played a key role in supporting local businesses and promoting the vitality of the city’s historic core. In addition, she serves as Secretary for the IVRS Board of Directors. With a strong commitment to civic engagement, Linda is actively involved in grant review, community outreach, and nonprofit support, helping direct resources to programs that benefit youth and families. She is known for her thoughtful leadership, attention to detail, and passion for strengthening connections across the Upland community.

Richard E. Simpson, Ph.D. has been a member of the IVRS Board of Directors since November 2011. He has held all the board officer positions at least once and has been a longtime member of the board’s finance, audit, and development and recruitment committees.

Richard has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, three master’s degrees in business and management, and a doctorate in executive management from Claremont Graduate University.

Richard had a successful career with the U.S. Government in Washington, D.C. as well as in industry in Southern California. In early 1997 he began teaching at the University of La Verne as an adjunct and then at California State University, Fullerton as well. On January 1, 2000, he became a full-time member of the faculty at the University of La Verne. While there, he held several important leadership roles and was recognized for his teaching as well as his service to the university community and the larger community. He has been recognized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino as well for his service to the community. His area of expertise is strategy, but he also has taught extensively courses in ethics, leadership, and entrepreneurship. He retired from the university on June 30, 2017 and was honored as Emeritus Professor of Strategic Management. He still occasionally teaches in special programs for the university. He also teaches in several programs for the Diocese of San Bernardino, including church history, introduction to moral theology, and preparing liturgical readers for their ministry.

Richard has ordained a permanent deacon in August 2017. He teaches several religious education courses at his home parish of St. Anthony in Upland.

Chris Cox joined the IVRS board in 2023, and he is excited to serve in this capacity. Chris serves as an Assistant Chief of the Fire and Rescue Branch, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and he worked 32 years at the Corona Fire Department, with his last position as the Deputy Fire Chief. Chris was an active participant in numerous programs within
the department throughout his career. While working for Corona, Chris served as the Safety Officer on a Cal Fire Incident Management Team for 12 years, and he responded to and helped
manage the largest incidents all over California. Chris is a past president of the Riverside County Training Officers Association, the Riverside County Operations Chiefs Section, and the Inland Empire Fire Explorer Association. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Administration from Cal State Los Angeles and was awarded the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing; Center for Public Safety Excellence in 2018. Chris and his wife Heidi live in Rancho Cucamonga and enjoy activities with their grown children and their families, as well as cooking, traveling, fishing, and restoring and operating antique fire
engines.

Jennifer A. Rudnicki joined the IVRS Board of Directors in 2020. She is unique to this position having experienced going thru the program herself over 23 years ago. The program helped propel her into many successful business endeavors. As a mortgage loan professional for almost 20 years, she prides herself in the fact that she can provide help and guidance to those who most need it. She is passionate about workplace diversification and equality. Jennifer leads the Hospitality Ministry at her home parish of St. Anthony in Upland.

Melissa has been working in the substance abuse field since 2012. She has been working at Inland Valley Recovery Services for since 2018, where she started in the perinatal program working with woman and children, where she was promoted to senior counselor and then promoted to San Bernardino Outpatient Coordinator in March 2023. Her passion for helping others overcome their addiction and discover that there is so much more to life then active addiction. She is motivated to help other families understand addiction and re-build their life in recovery. She has three daughter that she has watched come through her addiction and thrive in their lives due to her finding recovery. In her free time she loves spending time with her husband and their fur babies, just being present and enjoying life.

Patty is the Program Coordinator of Outpatient Services at the Upland Recovery Center (URC). She oversees the daily operations at URC which includes scheduling and implementing new and innovative services for our clients. Additionally, we operate Mystic Coffee Shop where we provide a myriad of prevention and supportive services to clients and the community.

She has been working in the field of Recovery for 25 years in many positions and with a variety of clientele. Her experience began with her working as a child care coordinator and moving her way through the recovery system as Counselor, Supervisor and a Program Coordinator for organizations throughout the Inland Empire.

She was introduced to this field of work after her own battle with addiction, and has spent the last 25 years providing guidance and encouragement to those seeking a new and different way of life. She enjoys her job and truly believe in the work she does. She believes that every experience is not a challenge, but an opportunity to grow and learn. She is very excited about her journey with Inland Valley Recovery Services, and wants to continue to provide excellent services to those who seek a new way of life.

Yvonne has been with the IVRS since December 2018 arriving as a certified counselor CADC II. She was promoted to Senior Counselor shortly after, and now recently promoted to program coordinator at the women residential.  She has 14 years working in substance abuse and remains open to learning new things every day.  She is currently working towards a Bachelors in Human Service.

Born and raised in East Los Angeles, She believes it’s through her experiences and education that she was led down this path to be the person she strives to be today, helping others. She has a deep passion for helping others when the opportunity presents itself. In her current position and outside of work as well, she is always looking for opportunities to continue learning and growing in all areas of her life. One of her favorite pass times is spending time with her fur babies, who absolutely  love her unconditionally. She enjoys spending time with her family in Vegas. Her son and his wife are adding to the family tree, a brand new grandchild she can spoil. By the way, good, bad or indifferent she is  a huge Dallas Cowboys fan!

Jessica has been employed with IVRS since 2015. She started as the Career Developer for both residential programs and was then promoted a year later to Program Coordinator in the men’s residential program. Currently she is the Admissions Coordinator for residential services. Most of her career has been working with residential treatment settings, as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor or as a Manager. She has been a certified drug and alcohol counselor with CCAPP since 2004. With over 20 years of experience in the field of Substance Abuse, she understands the impact addiction has on individuals and their families. Jessica has been married to her best friend Raul for 17 years. They enjoy traveling together, being adventurous and exploring new places. She loves spending time with her family and her fur babies.          

Michelle Castillo is new to the team and is very excited to be part of the IVRS family. She has a background in nursing and mental health. She has collaborated with San Bernardino and Riverside counties to support mental health programs for children, teens, and their families.  Michelle has a personal connection and passion for mental health and recovery. She is a very committed woman to her family and career. Camping and off-roading are her and her family’s favorite hobbies. Let’s not forget to mention she has a huge heart for animals and animal rescue.

James joined the IVRS team in November 2022. He brings with him 20 years of experience in the Food/Beverage/Hospitality industry. James and his team ensure that all clients are well nourished and help to provide a path to recovery through a caring and healthy diet. James and his team are working on helping to develop client skills that translate into food preparedness for every day meals and to learning the basics about the food industry.  James can usually be found working closely with his team in the kitchen or checking in on the people he serves on a day to day basis. 

James passion for food and hospitality are evident in the meticulousness shown in the meals/menus he prepares and his patience and compassion for the needs of his clients.  A career that spans working at illustrious restaurants like the White House in Anaheim,  owning his own catering company, working as a private chef for many well-known people in Southern California, running the Food and Beverage operations at various golf courses, and consulting for major service industry companies such as Shamrock Foods and Chefs warehouse. James looks to shape IVRS into a diverse nutrition provider for those looking to better their lives.

Vickie began her official career with IVRS in February 2021 after working with the organization from  a different perspectives for over 20 years. Vickie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne and then went on to pursue her childhood dream and earned a Juris Doctor from Trinity Law School.  After completing her Law Degree, Vickie soon realized her true passion is working in the field of substance use disorder and implementation of systems and ways to benefit the population served by IVRS. Vickie loves what she does and admires each and every person who walks through the doors at IVRS, whether it be a member of the team or a client or family member. Vickie is married to Jesse, has two adorable dogs she loves to pieces and has a son and the four best grandchildren in the world. She loves to travel this great country we live in on her spare time.

Carina has been deeply committed to the field of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment since 2012, bringing over a decade of firsthand experience, leadership, and compassion to her work. Her journey began at Inland Valley Recovery Services (IVRS), where she has served in numerous capacities across all facility locations, including roles in residential treatment, outpatient services, and operations management. This broad exposure has given Carina a unique perspective on the treatment continuum and allowed her to play a pivotal role in shaping client-centered programs that promote long-term recovery and wellness.

Certified as a substance use counselor since 2014, Carina continuously seeks to grow her knowledge and leadership capacity. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Management in 2018 and went on to complete her Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Management in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Management with a specialization in Organizational Leadership. Her academic focus reflects her passion for organizational development, culture change, and building effective leadership systems within behavioral health settings.

Carina’s commitment to the work is deeply personal. As an alumna of IVRS, she credits the program with playing a critical role in her own recovery journey. That lived experience fuels her dedication to helping others navigate the path to healing. Whether mentoring staff, overseeing operational improvements, or engaging directly with clients, Carina leads with empathy, accountability, and a strong sense of purpose.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Carina is a devoted mother to her daughter, who remains the driving force behind her determination and success. She strives to set an example of perseverance, education, and service, not only for her family but for the many lives she touches through her work. Carina is a powerful example of what’s possible in recovery, and she remains steadfast in her mission to break the cycle of addiction and uplift others through compassion, structure, and hope.

Laurie has been with the agency since March 2000. She holds Bachelors degree in Business from Cal State Fullerton and has nearly 20 years experience with MAS90 Accounting Software. She is devoted to her family of eight (8) and her husband, Eric is her very best friend. All of the kids are active in both sports and school, and recognize the most important family member as RAMBO (their English Bull Dog)! “Our family works together and plays together just the same”, says Laurie, “And I always count my blessings”. Last, but certainly not least, Laurie is a big Dodgers fan, and Lakers fan!

Timothy Dauwalder, D.O. has been with IVRS since 2004. He is Board certified in Hospice & Palliative Care of Southern California, and serves as medical director overseeing the medical aspects of IVRS’ client care. Though he has dedicated his practice and extensive community involvement to the field of Palliative Medicine he is well versed in addiction treatment and serves as medical director and consultant not only for IVRS but for several local hospitals and clinics. It is a pleasure to know and work with Dr. D and we are proud to call him our medical director!

Tina is highly recognized among her colleagues in the field of treatment for substance use disorders, a field she has worked in since 1995. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services Management from Phoenix University; and a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor LAADC credential from California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).  Tina is very active in the community. She is a member of CCAPP; San Bernardino County’s Association of Community Based Organizations (ACBO); and the Upland-Foothill Kiwanis service organization.

She began her tenure at IVRS in administration as executive assistant back in March 2006. She quickly proved herself and was promoted to program management. She has supervised both residential and outpatient programs, including New House, Inc. during IVRS’ attempted merger back in 2011. Tina is a go-to gal. In addition to her program management duties she also served as quality assurance coordinator and liaison to IVRS’ IT contractor – coordinating all aspects of technology installs and repairs. She also served as Director of Operations before being promoted to Chief Executive Officer. As a result of many years of hands-on experience, Tina is a seasoned professional.

She is a profound leader, with a vast array of positive qualities and character, which are integral components for maintaining a high level of client care for individuals suffering from substance use disorders. On a personal note she is married to her best friend, and loves her family and her  7 grandchildren.  In her spare time she loves to quilt.