STAFF & LEADERSHIP

The Founders

Larry Olsen (Yellow Wolf)

Born in 1939, near Jerome, Idaho, Larry’s unquenchable curiosity in Native American cultures lured him to the great desert wastelands of the Western United States and their ancient inhabitants. As a boy, Larry trekked into remote canyon areas and became adept at living off the land. Read more…



Ezekiel C. Sanchez (Good Buffalo Eagle)

Ezekiel C. Sanchez, a Totonac Indian from Mexico, is the second oldest of sixteen children. At a young age Ezekiel learned to work and gather wild edibles from the desert to supplement his family food supply.

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Administration

Michael J. Merchant Chairman of the Board Michael J. Merchant is the Chairman of the Board at Anasazi Foundation, a non-profit and nationally accredited behavioral healthcare provider for youth, young adults and their families. Mike served as Anasazi’s Director of Operations from 1990 to 1999 and Executive Director/CEO from 2000 to 2017. Mike has chaired numerous councils and committees on best practices for the treatment of the adolescents in the care of behavioral healthcare providers. He is an expert in strategic communications, and in 2004 developed the communication component at the heart of the Emmy-nominated “Take Time to Talk” substance-abuse awareness and prevention campaign currently used by the Partnership for Drug Free America. He is a co-founder of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council and a past president of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and the recipient of the 2017 NATSAP Leadership Award. Mike is a Senior Executive Consultant for The Arbinger Institute. Since 1993, Mike has consulted and facilitated internationally with senior leaders of corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies on the topics of leadership development and influence, change management, conflict resolution, strategic alignment and execution, and improving personal and organizational performance. Mike coaches NGO leaders worldwide on measuring, improving, and reporting social impact and facilitates for the Forever Young Foundation Nonprofit Institute. Mike is a past president of the Arizona Management Society. Mike is a graduate of Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management where he was named the 2016 Outstanding Professional. He and his wife Gaylene are the parents of seven red headed and musical children three of which form the Country Music trio Firefly.

Nathan Mitchell Co-Executive Director Nathan earned his master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s in fine arts/acting from Brigham Young University. He came to ANASAZI from a Utah-based therapeutic boarding school, where he served as a therapist and developed the school’s drama therapy program. He worked previously as a professional film actor, a life-skills instructor in a cognitive restructuring program, a psychiatric clinical assistant, and as an adolescent life coach in another residential treatment center. Nathan is also a facilitator for ANASAZI’s parenting program. He enjoys spending time with his wife and four children and is an avid woodworker, hiker, and fisherman.

Sean-Paul Smith Co-Executive Director Sean-Paul manages ANASAZI’s day-to-day business operations, serving as corporate controller and supervisor of admissions, human resources, logistics, and facilities management. He was previously a director at the small business accounting/management firm Responsive Management Outsourcing and has extensive experience in medical billing/consulting. Sean-Paul earned his B.A. degree in Consumer Studies from the University of Utah. He and his wife Ariel are the proud parents of two beautiful girls.

Sean Rourke Outreach & Admissions Director Sean is primarily responsible for the development of ANASAZI’s annual scholarship fund, which provides assistance for financially challenged families in need of ANASAZI’s services. He also oversees ANASAZI’s marketing and social media efforts. Sean brings to ANASAZI more than 25 years of experience in strategic marketing management, public relations, and proposal development. A native of Oklahoma, Sean earned degrees in business administration and mass communications from St. Gregory’s College and Northeastern State University. He and his wife Lori have two sons.

Lori Guthrie Admissions Lori Guthrie is a native of Oregon where she spent the majority of her adult life working in law enforcement. She moved to Arizona in 2010, where she went back to school, volunteered, and pursued a career in Outdoor Recreation. She was introduced to ANASAZI through a Recreation class at Mesa Community College. She began working at ANASAZI as a TrailWalker in 2015. She transitioned to the office in 2016, and has made a huge impact in fundraising, admissions, auditing, and outreach and development. She currently lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband Greg (who was also a TrailWalker) and their dog, Dod.

Clinical Team

Merrill Heslop, LCSW Clinical Director Merrill Heslop has worked full time in the mental health field since 1991, with teenage, young adults and adults. He specializes in individual and family relationship counseling, marriage, divorce, depression, addiction, sexual issues, and grief counseling.

Mary Thompson, MA, LAC, LASAC, BHP Family Therapist/Shadow Mary has worked in the behavioral/mental health field for 15+ years. She started her journey in forensics and working in hospital settings and halfway houses. Mary found her niche was in helping families heal. She began working in a wider range of settings that led to her employment in a level I residential environment. It was there that Mary had an opportunity to work directly with children and families, to assist with the creation and growth of a respite program that now serves thousands of families, and the development of a training curriculum/department that taught other professionals how to apply best practices. Mary is excited to be part of the ANASAZI team and to continue helping families heal.

Candice Bahm Family Therapist/Shadow Candice earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Utah State University. Her clinical experience includes working with children/adolescents and their families in the school setting and adults in community mental health. Her wilderness therapy journey began as a trail walker for a program based out of Utah in 2004, which planted the seed for the desire to work with adolescents and their families in a wilderness setting. A native to Utah, Candice has a passion for the outdoors and feels ANASAZI is the perfect fit for her love of helping others and being outside.

Rachel Weinstock, LMSW Family Therapist/Shadow Rachel has an undergraduate degree in sociology and a masters degree in social work. As a social worker, her clinical experience includes working in substance abuse treatment in the Utah State Prison, and at Alpine School District with children, adolescents, families, and communities. Rachel’s love for the outdoors and for ANASAZI came from previously working as a TrailWalker on ANASAZI’s direct care staff. She considers working at ANASAZI a way to give back to the many insights and life changes she gained while on the trail. She enjoys teaching primitive skills, playing sports, experiential learning, traveling, and backpacking.

Sulay Tovar, LCSW Family Therapist/Shadow Sulay earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in social work (MSW) from Brigham Young University. A native of California, she worked previously as an elementary/high school special education teacher for the Mohave Unified School District. Sulay’s clinical experience includes work with West Ridge Academy and the Utah State Hospital’s forensics unit. Fluent in Portuguese, she served an 18-month humanitarian mission in Brazil after working previously as a TrailWalker on ANASAZI’s direct-care staff. Sulay loves working with young people and considers her work at ANASAZI to be her ideal job. She is the proud owner of Tumbleweed and Baer, two puppies who found her on the road to the ANASAZI trail.

Garrett Bedford Family Therapist/Shadow Garrett earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University with an emphasis in working with youth and families. His work involvement includes the Department of Child Safety, therapeutic group homes, community mental health, and in-home family therapy. His dream of combining experiential therapy with the wilderness became a reality in 2016 upon being hired by Anasazi. On his off days Garrett can be found wrestling with his two little munchkins or hiking with his wife. He considers his family and his work at Anasazi his greatest blessings.

Operations Team

Tate Peschka Field Director Tate joined ANASAZI in 2006, serving first as a TrailWalker, then in various positions of field leadership. He brings his unique way of inspiring young people to his role as leader of Alumni Services, which provides services to young people and parents once they leave the trail. Tate also oversees intake, family camp, and discharge operations, and he conducts ANASAZI’s weekly parent-support call. A native of Oklahoma, Tate and wife Cristi are parents to a wonderful 10-year-old daughter and a newborn son.

Stephanie Bunker Field Director Stephanie Bunker is Anasazi’s Field Director and oversees Trailwalker Training.

Carley Nelson Education & Research Coordinator Carley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Recreational Managment from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2009. With a love for the outdoor’s and education, Carley is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Adventure Education through Prescott College. Being passionate about humanitarian aid, Carley has also worked with Alliance for Youth in Bolivia and International Language Program in China to help fulfill the organization’s various mission statements. In 2009 Carley started at Anasazi as a Trail Walker. She is currently the Reseach and Education Coordinator. When she is not helping Young Walkers receive school credit for their walking or furthering research in the industry, Carley enjoys teaching yoga, playing guitar, hiking, or longboarding. Carley has three little spunky children named Tate, Sky, and Harper who love to give her hugs, kisses and keep her on her toes.

Medical Staff

Rebecca Thompson, RN Nursing Director Rebecca Thompson is the Nursing Director at ANASAZI Foundation.

Dr. Gregory S. Allen, MD Medical Director Dr. Allen graduated from the Faculty Of Medicine Unive in 2003. Dr. Allen works in Mesa, AZ and specializes in Family Medicine. Dr. Allen is affiliated with Banner Baywood Medical Center. He is a family medicine doctor in Mesa, Arizona and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Gateway Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and has been in practice for over fifteen years. He is one of 110 doctors at Banner Baywood Medical Center and one of 90 at Banner Gateway Medical Center who specialize in Family Medicine.

Board of Directors