Meet the Team | The Hope Ranch Recovery Center

— Founders & Leadership

Built by people who have lived this.

The Hope Ranch was co-founded by a father and daughter — Lou and Maggie Scotto — whose family experienced addiction firsthand. Their leadership team combines business acumen with clinical expertise and deep personal understanding of recovery.

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

Lou Scotto

Lou Scotto built The Hope Ranch out of one of the hardest chapters of his life. As a father, he watched two of his children struggle with addiction — his daughter Maggie from the age of 12, and his son who returned from military service in Iraq dealing with PTSD and substance use. Having already lost one daughter in a car crash, the thought of losing another child to addiction was unthinkable.

Over the next decade, Lou and his wife tried everything: rehabs, treatment centers, detoxes, therapies, and every resource they could find. When Maggie found lasting recovery through a holistic approach, Lou channeled decades of entrepreneurial experience into building something the family had always wished existed — a place that truly felt like home. He is present on-site, invested in every detail, and personally committed to the mission of The Hope Ranch every single day.

🏡 Co-Founder 📋 CEO 💼 Decades in Business Operations

Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder

Maggie Scotto

Maggie Scotto is a person in long-term recovery — and the living proof that The Hope Ranch works. She struggled with addiction from the age of 12 and spent years cycling through treatment systems that felt clinical, impersonal, and disconnected from the whole human being.

What changed everything was holistic healing. Yoga, breathwork, spirituality, and meditation gave Maggie something other programs hadn't: a reason to stay. She traveled to India alone and studied at an Ashram under a Yoga Guru, then became certified in Reiki and Sound Healing. She has worked six years in the addiction treatment industry and is pursuing an academic education in behavioral health and human services with a concentration in mental health.

As COO, Maggie shapes every clinical and holistic program at the ranch. She designed a treatment experience around the things that actually worked for her — because she knows, from the inside, what it takes to get well and stay well.

🧘 Yoga Certified ✨ Reiki Certified 🎵 Sound Healing 📚 Behavioral Health Studies 🏡 Co-Founder

— Licensed Clinical Staff

The clinical team behind your care.

Evidence-based treatment requires credentialed professionals. Our clinical team brings licensure, specialized training, and years of experience in addiction medicine and behavioral health.

Medical Director

Dr. William Stanley

Dr. Stanley leads all medical oversight at The Hope Ranch, ensuring that every client receives safe, clinically sound care from the moment they arrive. He manages medication-assisted treatment protocols, medical assessments, withdrawal management, and coordinates with the clinical team to integrate physical and psychiatric health into each personalized treatment plan. His presence ensures that the ranch's holistic approach is grounded in rigorous evidence-based medical practice.

🩺 Medical Director 💊 Medication Management

Clinical Director

Elizabeth Winchell

Elizabeth Winchell serves as Clinical Director, overseeing all therapeutic programming and treatment planning at The Hope Ranch. She leads the clinical team, supervises individual and group therapy services, and ensures that each client's care plan addresses the root causes of addiction — not just its symptoms. Elizabeth brings deep expertise in trauma-informed care and is committed to creating a therapeutic environment that is both structured and compassionately human.

🧠 Clinical Director 🌿 Trauma-Informed

Program Director

Nicolas Weber

Nicolas Weber directs the day-to-day operation of all clinical and therapeutic programs at The Hope Ranch. He coordinates scheduling, group programming, and the integration of holistic modalities — equine therapy, yoga, meditation, and the Purpose Project — with traditional clinical services. Nicolas ensures that every client's experience at the ranch is cohesive, intentional, and responsive to their individual needs throughout treatment.

📋 Program Director 🐴 Holistic Integration

Primary Therapist

Krysta Young

Krysta Young works directly with clients as their Primary Therapist, providing individual therapy sessions, co-facilitating group work, and supporting each client's personal treatment plan. She specializes in trauma-informed modalities and utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients build lasting coping skills and emotional resilience. Krysta creates a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can do the hardest — and most meaningful — work of their lives.

💬 CBT 🧩 DBT 🌿 Trauma-Informed

Family Therapist

Laura Alvarado

Laura Alvarado leads family therapy services at The Hope Ranch, recognizing that addiction does not happen in isolation — and neither does recovery. She works directly with family members and loved ones to rebuild trust, improve communication, and create a home environment that supports lasting sobriety. Laura helps families understand the dynamics of addiction and equips them with the tools to be genuine partners in their loved one's healing journey.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Systems 🤝 Relational Therapy

— Medical & Nursing

Around-the-clock medical care.

Our nursing team provides continuous medical monitoring, medication administration, and immediate response — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so clients are never alone in a medical moment.

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Brenda Nieto

Brenda Nieto brings skilled nursing care and a compassionate bedside manner to every client interaction at The Hope Ranch. As an LVN, she assists with medication administration, monitors vital signs, manages medical documentation, and serves as a critical link between clients and the Medical Director. Brenda's attentive, consistent presence helps clients feel safe and supported during the physically vulnerable early phase of recovery.

🩺 LVN 💊 Medication Admin

Nurse

Christa Dennison

Christa Dennison provides nursing support across all shifts at The Hope Ranch, ensuring that clients receive consistent medical monitoring and compassionate care throughout their stay. She works closely with the Medical Director and clinical team to track each client's physical health and respond swiftly to any medical concerns that arise during treatment. Christa's steady, warm presence is a cornerstone of the safety and trust that define life at the ranch.

🩺 Registered Nurse ❤️ Patient Safety

— Behavioral Health Technicians

The people in the room with you.

Behavioral Health Technicians are the heartbeat of daily life at The Hope Ranch. They are present in every group, every meal, every difficult moment — and often the first to notice when a client needs extra support. Many have lived experience with addiction themselves.

Behavioral Health Technician

Scott Vincent

Scott is a dedicated BHT whose calm and reliable presence creates safety and predictability for clients during an unpredictable time. He assists with daily therapeutic activities, supports clients through difficult moments, and brings the kind of consistent, honest care that clients remember long after they leave the ranch. Scott is one of the reasons clients feel at home here.

Behavioral Health Technician

Arianna Annet

Arianna is a consistent, grounding presence for clients at the ranch. She supports daily structure, facilitates therapeutic activities, and ensures that each client feels seen and supported through the challenges of early recovery. Her energy and genuine care for clients make her an important part of the Hope Ranch community.

Behavioral Health Technician

Tyrone Pratcher

Tyrone brings strength, steadiness, and real talk to the Hope Ranch team. He works alongside clients through the hard parts of daily recovery life — providing structure, accountability, and the kind of authentic encouragement that only comes from someone who takes this work personally. His dedication to clients is evident in everything he does.

Behavioral Health Technician

Tonya Martin

Tonya is a caring, attentive member of the behavioral health team whose warmth makes an immediate impact on clients from their very first day. She helps facilitate group activities, supports therapeutic programming, and is quick to offer a listening ear or a word of encouragement when it matters most. Tonya embodies the Hope Ranch commitment to genuine human connection.

Behavioral Health Technician

Leanna Pearson

Leanna is a caring, attentive member of the behavioral health team whose warmth makes an immediate impact on clients from their very first day. She helps facilitate group activities, supports therapeutic programming, and is quick to offer a listening ear or a word of encouragement when it matters most. Leanna embodies the Hope Ranch commitment to genuine human connection.

Behavioral Health Technician

Shawna Pearson

Shawna is a dedicated BHT whose calm and reliable presence creates safety and predictability for clients during an unpredictable time. She assists with daily therapeutic activities, supports clients through difficult moments, and brings the kind of consistent, honest care that clients remember long after they leave the ranch. Shawna is one of the reasons clients feel at home here.

Behavioral Health Technician

Mariah Mciver

Mariah is a dedicated BHT whose calm and reliable presence creates safety and predictability for clients during an unpredictable time. She assists with daily therapeutic activities, supports clients through difficult moments, and brings the kind of consistent, honest care that clients remember long after they leave the ranch. Mariah is one of the reasons clients feel at home here.

Behavioral Health Technician

Monica Estanislao

Monica is a dedicated BHT whose calm and reliable presence creates safety and predictability for clients during an unpredictable time. She assists with daily therapeutic activities, supports clients through difficult moments, and brings the kind of consistent, honest care that clients remember long after they leave the ranch. Monica is one of the reasons clients feel at home here.

— Why Our Team Is Different

Expertise, experience, and heart.

Clinical Credentials

Our medical director, clinical director, program director, and therapists hold active professional licenses and specialized training in addiction medicine, trauma-informed care, CBT, and DBT. Clinical care at Hope Ranch is never delegated to unqualified staff.

Lived Experience

Our founders — and several staff members — have personal experience with addiction and recovery. This is not marketing language. It shapes every clinical and operational decision made at the ranch, because people who have been through it make better guides.

Family Ownership

The Hope Ranch is not a corporate chain with a revolving door of staff. Lou and Maggie Scotto are present, hands-on, and accountable. The people you meet during a tour are the people who will care for you or your loved one throughout treatment.

— Join Our Team

Do you believe in this work? So do we.

The Hope Ranch is always interested in meeting licensed clinicians, behavioral health professionals, and support staff who share our commitment to compassionate, holistic addiction treatment. If you want to work somewhere that actually lives its mission, we would love to hear from you.

Get in Touch →

— Take the First Step

Ready to talk to a real person?

When you call The Hope Ranch, you reach our admissions team — not a call center. Every conversation is confidential, and there is no obligation. We understand what this moment feels like, and we will meet you with the respect you deserve.

📞 Call (951) 577-2203 Verify Insurance → Our Story

100% HIPAA Confidential · We do not accept Medicaid or Medi-Cal