BIO
Sam received his B.S in psychology at the University of Utah. He then attended Brigham Young University where he completed his M.S and Ph.D in marriage and family therapy. Sam has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and their families.
Sam spent the first 22 years of his life growing up in the Bay Area (Campbell, CA). He has now been living in Utah for over 25 years. He has also been married to his wife Melanie for that same amount of time (he followed her to Utah). Together they have three beautiful daughters: Haylee, Kambrie, and Gwen. Sam’s family enjoys many outdoor activities together, with snowboarding and wakeboarding/wakesurfing as some of their favorites. Sam has been snowboarding since 1989 and wakeboarding since 1997.
Sam is one of the three founders that started Crossroads Academy in the summer of 2007. It has been a dream of his to create a program where young men can learn the importance of working hard, and then playing hard.
BIO
Derek Bowles is a founding partner of Crossroads and has been a primary therapist since its inception. Derek attended Brigham young University and completed a master’s program in clinical social work. Derek and Cariane, his wife of 20 years, have 3 children: Madison, Myken and Jonah. Derek is an avid fly-fishermen and a mediocre golfer.
BIO
Eric worked in the high-tech industry for 20+ years, with the last 15 years in Engineering Management with Seagate Technology, a Fortune 500 company, where he earned US Patents and Technical achievement awards.
"Although working in the high-tech field was challenging and rewarding, the decision to leave and start Crossroads Academy was not a difficult one. I have enjoyed working with the youth in my community in both Boy Scouts and church organizations for the past decade. This opportunity to work full-time with struggling adolescents, helping them make positive changes in their lives, brings much more personal joy and satisfaction than anything I could have ever experienced in my previous career."
Eric enjoys many outdoor activities, including wakeboarding, skiing, mountain biking, and scuba diving. He is a competitive racquetball player, sponsored by Head, and passionately believes in the physical and emotional health benefits of proper nutrition and exercise.
BIO
Ian has a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Brigham Young University. His research emphasis was on implicit process rules and their effects on adolescent symptomology such as depression and anxiety.
Ian also received his B.A. in psychology with an emphasis in recreational therapy from the University of Utah and a M.S. in marriage and family therapy from the University of Kentucky.
Ian’s clinical experience at the University of Kentucky included working with couples, individuals with depression, lower SES families, and juvenile sex offenders and their victims. After completing his master’s degree, Ian worked at Turn-About Ranch in Escalante, Utah. While at Turn-About, Ian gained an appreciation for the experiential therapeutic potentials of working with adolescents in a residential treatment/ranch setting. He became more interested in working with adolescents and their families. While at Brigham Young University, Ian specialized in working with adolescents and their families, premarital couples, those struggling with addiction, juvenile sex offenders, and trauma survivors. Ian also pursued more training in psychodynamic and developmental theory. This has helped shape his approach to individual issues and complements his systemic background that is entrenched in family therapy theory. After Ian attended BYU, he sought out a job with and worked for Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne Utah. While at Second Nature, Ian was able to truly develop and come into his own as a therapist. He had the opportunity to work with both adolescent boys and girls. It was at Second Nature that Ian developed a passion for the conceptualization of adolescent issues and an appreciation for the hurdles that youth are faced with in today’s society.
Since leaving Second Nature in April of 2007, Ian has worked for various programs and has done some private practice work. Ian was able to run one residential program for adolescents in addition to consulting for and developing two other programs. Ian is excited to be working at Crossroads and has dedicated himself to continued education and skill development both clinically and personally.
Additionally, Ian has conducted and facilitated discussions and has presented research and theory related to family differentiation and eating disorders, family leisure patterns, family of origin and adult alcohol use, juvenile sex offenders, and the effects of marital quality on individual health at national and regional conferences. Ian has also published papers relating to family literacy, family rules, and family and child well-being and has submitted several publications related to family process rules, the effects of sex abuse on male victims, and the epistemologies of learning and knowing.
In addition to Ian’s clinical background, he also has a degree in fire science as he once pursued a career as a fire fighter. He also spent ten years as a river guide in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Besides having a substantial effect on his own life, his experience as a river guide helped Ian to notice the effects that wilderness and experiential learning has on individuals as well as family systems. This influenced him as he pursued his career as a therapist and has shaped his thoughts and feelings regarding change and each person’s potential.
Ian still loves to run rivers, snowboard, wakeboard, ride his mountain bike, rock climb, and eat ice cream. Ian is the oldest of five children and an avid Portland Trailblazers fan. He is fluent in French and loves to travel when he can.
BIO
Mike has over 15 years of experience in the mental health field. He specializes in working with adolescents by creating a therapeutic alliance with clients built on authenticity.
After graduating from East Stroudsburg University, Mike began his search for a career in the outdoors working as a counselor at a wilderness therapy program for juvenile offenders in Florida. Impassioned by his experience in Florida and seeking to improve his clinical skills, Mike joined the Second Nature Entrada team (now Evoke at Entrada) in 2007 and worked as a field instructor for three years before returning to school to pursue a graduate degree in counseling psychology. Mike received his M.Ed. at William Paterson University in professional counseling. During graduate school, Mike worked at a community mental health agency where he split his time between the family counseling program and the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). After graduating, he worked as a wilderness therapist for over seven years.
Mike is known for his high energy, creativity, and ability to build rapport. These qualities allow him to break through barriers and reach clients effectively. His approach is built around the therapist-client relationship. Adolescents who are often turned off by traditional approaches appreciate Mike’s authenticity. The therapeutic alliance Mike is able to cultivate provides the support necessary for self-exploration, reflection, and acceptance. This skill also allows Mike to utilize confrontation and generate growth through discomfort. Mike’s focus on empowering his clients maximizes the effectiveness of his therapeutic interventions.
Mike works well with impulsive, defiant, aggressive, and substance-using adolescents. He works from the model that these conspicuous behaviors tend to camouflage deeper issues often related to identity development, self-esteem, trauma, and peer and family relationships. Mike excels at addressing these behaviors while exploring the underlying causes. His enjoyable and engaging nature matches well with the adolescent male population who benefit from a healthy balance of hard work, intensive therapy, and fun.
Mike is an avid distance runner who loves running in the beautiful Utah mountains. He used to play guitar in a punk rock/rock & roll band, and although his days of bright lights, roaring crowds, and big stages have long since passed, he still enjoys plugging in once in a while and reliving the dream. He is also an avid sports fan, some of his favorite teams being the NY Giants and NY Knicks. Mike was a graffiti artist for many years and enjoys all kinds of creative expression.
BIO
Tyson joined the Crossroads team late 2015 as an intern striving to achieve a long-time dream to be a substance use disorder counselor.
In 2016, Crossroads officially offered Tyson a position as staff while he continued to earn his bachelor’s degree in human services through the University of Phoenix with a concentration in addiction and substance use disorders. After much hard work and dedication, his dreams became reality as he became an SUDC for Crossroads.
His entire life Tyson has lived a very active lifestyle from playing soccer, wakeboarding, and snowboarding, competing in Judo nationally, and teaching youth competition Judo in the local community. When Tyson found Crossroads Academy, he knew this was the place for a career in helping others. As someone who learned the hard way about substance abuse as a teen, Tyson has a special place in his heart for helping others facing similar challenges. Through his own experiences, he learned that he was able to find joy in life without the use of drugs or alcohol and loves seeing young men find their own healthy lifestyle.
Today, when he is not helping others, Tyson enjoys sharing his active lifestyle with his wife and two boys as they discover and pursue their passions.
BIO
Cindy's objective at Crossroads Academy is to better prepare your child for his future by attending to his schooling and career aspirations. She works closely with Northridge Learning Center/Dorius Academy to ensure communication between student, therapist, staff, and parents.
Cindy coordinates ACT/SAT registration, tutoring, and college tours. She oversees the education supervisors at each house. Together, the education team works to keep the students progressing, learning, and planning for future options.
Cindy studied recreational leadership at BYU-Idaho as an undergraduate and still actively participates in all things outdoors. Cindy regularly hikes, backpacks, skis, climbs, and road bikes. She furthered her education studying experiential education at Minnesota State University - Mankato. There, Cindy applied her background and skills teaching outdoor recreation to a classroom setting. She is devoted to relevant learning and strives to make it a part of Crossroads Academy. Foremost, she loves working with young people and using the outdoors as a learning platform.
BIO
Coultin graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor’s in communications. Coultin has a passion for the self-discovery and "natural highs" that skateboarding provides and loves to share it with teens struggling with addiction. In addition to skateboarding, Coultin loves exploring the mountains, loud music, traveling and spending time with his wife and twin sons.
BIO
Before joining Crossroads, Micky was a mechanical designer in the Silicon Valley working for Johnson and Johnson in the research and development department. In addition to mechanical design, Micky has professionally taught skateboarding to a wide range of students.
Ranging from first timers to professionals such as Nyjah Huston, several of Micky’s students have gone on to become sponsored skateboarders. Micky is the designer of the Crossroads Skate Park, along with the skate features at all the Crossroads properties. If a boy that attends Crossroads is interested in learning these skills, he is given the opportunity to work with Micky on such projects. Every ramp, rail, or park made for Crossroads has incorporated the new skills of a student with Micky as teacher. Because of Micky’s mechanical background, he has taught valuable skills to the students such as wood and metal work, welding, fabrication, design, analytical cost of materials, and team work.
In addition to being the recreational director and teacher, Micky is also the CPR/ First Aid and PCS certified instructor for the staff at Crossroads Academy. He is also the designer and co-owner of The Skateboard Tool company. This company’s team riders include professional skateboarders like Steve Caballero, Jason Adams, Caswell Berry, and Louie Barletta.
"Over the years, board sports have been my escape. These are sports that constantly challenge us and have helped provide me with a healthy escape from the pressures and trials of life. I have used these sports to help overcome my own personal struggle with substance abuse in my adolescent and young adult years. I believe that it is imperative for anyone who is trying to conquer hardships and/or addictions in his/her life to have some healthy form of escape—an activity that is good for the body and soul. For me, this escape has always been boarding. Board sports have helped me replace the bad with the good and provided a way to keep the world from conquering my spirits in dark times. I have been fortunate enough to see this type of escape also work in the lives of many of my students. I still get Christmas cards/letters from grateful parents and students of years past. I love this work. It has been very rewarding to see the positive changes in the lives of these awesome youth! Now as a parent, I understand more fully the importance of good role models, good friends, and healthy escapes in the lives of our children."
BIO
Malinda wants to live in a world where you get to snowboard fresh powder and golf in the same day. As a Crossroads house manager, she puts years of business management skills to use with her desire to create opportunities for her students.
When she’s not snowboarding, golfing, camping, mountain biking, fishing, or playing a friendly competitive game of pickle ball with her family and friends, you can find Malinda at the theater enjoying a bucket of popcorn and critiquing the latest films. One of her favorite things about working with the Crossroads students is being able to help teach and share some of her passions and hobbies. She wants her students to experience something new, learn a new hobby, develop new skills, get their first job, and experience joy in healthy pursuits. To her, it is the best feeling to see a student that thought they would never be able to do something or get any enjoyment out of it smiling and enjoying something that they never thought possible. “Seeing a student get that genuine feeling of self-accomplishment and the impact that one thing has on other areas of their lives—it’s really cool to witness. I love it!”
BIO
Hunter Taylor has been with Crossroads Academy since 2013. Hunter grew up in the Ogden area, has enjoyed exploring all it has to offer, and is engaged in helping his neighbors and the community.
Hunter likes to involve the boys in service opportunities for individuals and community to feel what it is like to focus outwards on others and make a difference in their lives. Hunter and his staff focus on maintaining a healthy structure at the house to support success in the boys’ education and development of life skills. He shows his interest in each of the boys while getting to know them better individually.
Having overcome serious injuries and challenges in his own life, Hunter can relate to the boys and can speak credibly to the benefit and consequences of different choices. He enjoys spending time with his family and is admired by his nephews and nieces who love the time and attention he gives them. His constant companion is a handsome golden doodle named Rusty.
Hunter is still a natural thrill seeker; if something is fast, loud, challenging, or cool, he is there! His adventures include winter sports, boating, scuba diving, road course car racing, and riding motocross and street bikes. When not driving or riding them, he is spinning wrenches on his and his friends’ motorized toys.
BIO
Tyler Becker graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County where he studied Economics and Psychology. He was born in Washington DC and grew up in Maryland so he understands the benefits that new places have to offer to a person's life.
Tyler has overcome struggles and challenges in his own life which led him to Crossroads Academy. Through his experience at crossroads, including working as a staff member since 2018, Tyler is able to relate and empathize with our students on a personal level. He strives to help students find what makes them light up and work toward it, while navigating the natural ups and downs of life.
Tyler leads an active lifestyle and loves all that the outdoor community of Utah has to offer. This includes; snowboarding, wakeboarding, rock climbing, camping, and much more. He believes that the outdoors are more important for mental health than most people realize. He wants to share these passions with our students and teach them new life skills to help create a more optimistic outlook on life.
BIO
Kenneth Russell has been a valuable team member since 2007. He is able to relate to young adults through his outstanding talents on any kind of board.
KC loves interacting and sharing his passions of skateboarding and snowboarding and feels it is a great way to build relationships and express oneself in a positive manner. KC is a loving husband and a great father to his two children. You can usually find them on the boat at Pineview Reservoir or up at Snowbasin ski resort enjoying everything that Ogden Valley has to offer. KC works just as hard as he plays. From teaching students how to paint an apartment to how to change brakes on a vehicle, KC has the skills and knowledge to complete the task at hand. KC is a great role model that adolescents can aspire to be like through hard work and a positive outlook.
BIO
James received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. He is licensed as a clinical mental health counselor in the state of Utah.
James grew up in New Jersey and at 17 years old attended a wilderness program in Utah. Afterwards, he attended a therapeutic boarding school in Utah for the duration of his senior year of high school. These experiences laid the foundation for his desire to work in the field of mental health, specifically wilderness and residential treatment for adolescents. The experience was life-changing and has inspired him to be a part of these interventions professionally for adolescents and families in need.
After studying psychology and philosophy as an undergraduate, James decided to move back to Utah to work as a wilderness staff with the intent of “paying forward” the experience he had in the wilderness as a teenager. James worked as a wilderness staff for two years before taking some time off to hike across Spain solo. Afterwards, he worked as a staff in two residential treatment centers for teenagers in Utah.
James returned to school to study mental health counseling at the University of Pennsylvania. During his time at school, he completed a yearlong internship as an assistant wilderness therapist as well as a yearlong internship as a therapist in a private psychiatric family practice. Following graduate school, James returned to Utah to work full-time as a wilderness therapist for teenagers and young adults.
James believes in the power of the great outdoors to not only heal, but to invigorate lives. Utah provides abundant opportunity to create meaningful outdoor experiences in some of the most beautiful scenery there is. James has found that treatment in this setting can produce qualitatively different outcomes than more traditional settings.
In his spare time, he enjoys snowboarding, lacrosse, football, playing music, making art, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
