Team

Prior to the launch of Alpha 180™, Bob Ferguson has served as founder and CEO of Jaywalker Lodge since 2004. Jaywalker Lodge is an extended care residential treatment and recovery community for men located in Carbondale, CO. Before that, Bob served for over 10 years in senior management positions at a number of the leading treatment providers in the addiction & recovery field including: Jaywalker Lodge, Promises Treatment Centers, Crossroads Antigua, and the Hazelden Foundation.

In addition, Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) since 2011. He is currently beginning his second two-year term on the Executive Committee, serving as Secretary for the NAATP Board. Bob also serves as Chairman of the Board for A Way Out, an Aspen-based 501c3 providing crisis referrals and treatment scholarships for families and residents in Western Colorado.

Bob divides his time between Austin, TX and his home in Snowmass Village where he lives with his wife and two college-aged kids. When he’s not at Alpha 180, Bob stays busy as a grateful participant in his own recovery from addiction, which began – one day at a time – on Feb. 12, 1992.

The Short

Nico Doorn serves as Executive Director, guiding our vision, values, and culture. Nico views his personal mission as creating healing communities and has been pursuing this goal for over a dozen years as a mental health professional. He has three kids, a fiery wife, and is guaranteed to mention his love for running within five minutes of meeting.

The Long

Nico was born in ‘s Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, but grew up in North Carolina. His multicultural upbringing, as well as being raised in a split household as an only child, made Nico an observant and curious person. After struggling with severe mental health and addiction issues as a teen, he sought to answer the question he had long been pondering: How do you become truly happy?

Upon finding sustained recovery at age twenty, with only a ninth-grade education, Nico made some changes. He embraced a welcoming recovery community, learned how to hold a job, and decided to pursue a college education.

Ultimately, Nico went on to graduate as valedictorian with a BA in Psychology from Lipscomb University and with highest honors with an M.Ed. in Human Development Studies from Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville, Tennessee. Nico has held roles ranging from clinical care and admissions to business development and executive leadership, developing multiple young adult programs for residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment centers, and college campuses. He serves on the board for the Young Adult Transition Association, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers’ conference committee, and is a TEDx speaker.

Today, Nico takes incredible pride in ensuring every family Alpha serves is warmly welcomed into our community. Nico is obsessed with his three kids Aedin (15), Bodhi (3), and Lhotse (1), as well as running. He’s completed multiple marathons and ultramarathons and leads The Outliers, a run club supporting mental health here in Austin. He’s found his answer to how to become truly happy: challenge yourself to be your best every day while surrounded by people that love you.

Wes’s experience in recovery began in October 2005. After going to a treatment program, he got involved with a recovery community and began to rebuild his life. He acquired his Bachelor degree from Schreiner University in Kerrville. Wes enjoyed college and the inspirational environment it provided. He moved to Austin to attend Texas State University and graduated with his Master of Business Administration. He has worked in the addiction treatment field in both direct care and operations roles, and has a passion for helping individuals in recovery improve their lives. Wes lives in Austin with his wife Veronica. He enjoys reading, hiking, and building things.

My name is Meredith Mullens Meurer and I serve as the Clinical Program Manager at Alpha 180. I grew up in the Houston, Texas, area and moved to the Austin area after high school. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling. For nearly a decade, I’ve worked in a variety of roles from counselor, Clinical Supervisor and Program Director in a residential treatment program for adolescents in the Austin area. I’m passionate and committed to helping those in early recovery discover who they are, heal, grow and find their way to living a full life. In my free time I enjoy traveling with my husband, spending time with my pup, Piper, and being a podcast nerd.

My name is Amanda Allard, and I am a Primary Therapist. A second career, I received my Master of Art Therapy from Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. I’m a “Navy Brat,” and so where I’m from is always difficult to answer, but I consider Gainesville, Florida my home. I am also an adjunct faculty member in the History Department at Austin Community College. I’ve been teaching history to all ages since 2007. I’m obviously passionate about art, in life and healing. You can find me outside in my free time, adventuring with my daughter, cycling, playing disc golf, gardening, paddle boarding, and sun worshipping.

My name is Jillian Owens and I serve as an Operations Coordinator at Alpha 180. I grew up in Louisiana and at seventeen years old my path to sobriety led me to Austin Texas. I started working in the addiction treatment industry because my life was transformed as a result of recovery and I wanted to help others who were struggling with the same disease. I have worked in various roles in this field from behavioral health technician, to alumni coordinator, and now operations. I’m extremely passionate about helping young people find freedom through recovery. In my free time I enjoy cooking, traveling with friends, making art, and taking my puppy to the park.

My name is Andrew Warren and I serve as the Outreach and Admissions Coordinator at Alpha 180. I was born in California and grew up in Southern California. I am currently a student at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Human Dimensions of Organizations and minoring in Business. I previously worked in direct client care at Alpha 180, but found my true passion was working with families and developing the program. In my free time, I love playing golf, running and watching shows on HBO.

My name is Moore Woltz and I serve as the Case Manager at Alpha 180. Using a hands-on approach, I help our guys explore the possibilities of what a life in sobriety can bring while developing important life skills along the way. I attended NC State before transferring out to the University of Colorado at Boulder to participate in their Collegiate Recovery Program. I moved from Nashville to Austin in May of 2021. I’m passionate about working with people in early recovery and enjoy seeing our guys achieve, and exceed, goals they set themselves. In my free time, I like to exercise, do yard work, and play with my dog, Mabel.

My name is Drew Chibib and I’m a Resident Advisor at Alpha 180. I was born here in Austin, and after running away to pursue physics at Reed College in Portland, I came back to Austin to get sober. With Alpha 180’s help, I found long term recovery, a supportive community, and transferred into the University of Texas at Austin, where I am a senior majoring in Anthropology with a minor in philosophy. After I graduate, I plan to pursue law school. Experience with Anthropological fieldwork and recovery have taught me that learning and growing are intersubjective activities; New self-understanding and new passions or hobbies are only meaningful insofar as they are shared, as they influence and are influenced by other people. To which, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to share in others’ epiphanies and their problems every day, as I think that solidarity for young men in recovery is crucial. In my free time I enjoy cooking, making music, golfing, playing cards, and reading.

Lauren is founder and owner of Boutique Educational Services. After getting her masters degree in special education from The University of Texas at Austin, Lauren taught Special Education in AISD, where she helped coordinate the work of teachers, paraprofessionals, and related personnel in order to meet the individual needs of Special Education students. During that time she designed and implemented Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and attended Academic Language Therapy training, a systematic dyslexia remediation program. In addition to teaching, Lauren has experience consulting with program directors in private and independent schools, helping them develop best practice methods when identifying and accommodating students.

Currently, Lauren specializes in helping families prioritize next steps when their child is struggling emotionally, academically, or behaviorally. Lauren’s practice focuses on school avoidant children, particularly those struggling with debilitating anxiety and other related mental health challenges. Lauren is humbled by her own three vivacious daughters, and has a deep appreciation for the parenting experience. Lauren loves reading aloud to her girls, walking her dog, and cooking with her husband. She serves on the board at All Saints’ Episcopal Day School and Generation SERVE and is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator. Lauren also represents children’s best interests in family law cases as a Guardian Ad Litem in Travis County.