Summer Sky Treatment Center is pleased to announce new additions to their Executive Team.  The members of this team bring at least 45 years of clinical and business development experience specific to the treatment of alcoholism and addiction to other drugs.

Stephenville, TX – August 17, 2009 – Summer Sky Treatment Center, a freestanding Texas inpatient drug and alcohol facility since 1985, is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to the Executive Team.  Each member brings an exciting new vision in providing top rated services to those individuals, and their family members, who need help with chemical dependency.

President & General Counsel:  Richard G. Worthy, BBA, JD – (Start Date:  April 15, 2009) Richard’s route to a new career in chemical dependency treatment has taken some unusual twists and turns.  Upon graduation from The University of Texas at Austin Schools of Business and Law in 1973, he began his professional career as Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas.  Before becoming Chief Felony Prosecutor of Major Commercial Fraud he prosecuted 100’s of cases that stemmed from drug and alcohol abuse and addiction including DWI’s, possession or distribution of controlled substances.  However, the criminal justice system paid little attention to the underlying sicknesses of defendants or the treatment that may have prevented such crimes in the first place.  After a short stint in private practice, in 1983 he became President and General Counsel and eventually owner of a small commercial finance company that grew during his 23 year tenure to one of the largest of its kind in the nation.  Upon his planned semi-retirement Richard established a small company to pursue his creative interests in furtherance of his passion for the State and The University of Texas.  In April 2009, in the course of doing legal work for Summer Sky, owner Ms. Shaun Conlan determined that the best interests of Summer Sky and its current and future patients would be served by appointing Richard as President.

Director of Clinical Services:  David Houke, LMSW, LCDC – (Start Date:  August 3, 2009)  David’s management experience extends over thirty years with the last eighteen years at a Texas based treatment center near Kerrville.  Moving from Case Manager, to Family Program Director and then to the Adult Program Director, David has been a part of a leadership team since 1991.  He was a key member of the team that created an electronic charting system currently used by the former facility, and plans to assist in upgrading Summer Sky’s medical records to a state-of-the-art system.   David completed his Bachelor’s Degree at Southern Illinois University and his Masters in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.  He is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers and has served as a member of the steering committee for the NASW San Antonio Unit.  His philanthropic work has also included service and Board President of Charisse Community Health Care in Austin, and Board Member for the House of Hope in Kerrville. 

Director of Marketing & Operations:  Gena K. Teer – (Start Date:  May 11, 2009) Gena has over fifteen years of experience in the field of chemical dependency treatment and prevention.  Beginning her career in the marketing and operations department of a Texas based treatment center, she served as Community Relations Coordinator, Assistant Marketing Director, and Director of Public Relations.  In 2004, Gena began working with high schools in Texas to promote the Shattered Dreams program.  This two-day program promotes responsible decision making by high school juniors and seniors regarding drinking and driving by showing them how irresponsibility can end all dreams.  Gena is the past and current chair for the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP) Annual State Conference on Addiction Studies (2009 – 2010), and was awarded the First Annual Recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award from TAAP (2008).  She has been an active member of Rotary International since 2004, received The Edward M. Schlieter Rotarian of the Year Award (2007 – 2008) from the Kerrville Noon Rotary Club, and became a Paul Harris Fellow in 2009.  The knowledge and experience Gena brings to Summer Sky Treatment Center enhances the continued growth and development of each facet of the facility.

Director of Community Relations:  Scott Kelley, LCDC – (Start Date:  July 8, 2009)  Scott has over eleven years experience in the field of chemical dependency and brings fifteen years of personal recovery to the team.  Scott is the Vice President of the Texas Addiction Professionals Peer Assistance Network (TAPNET), President of the Waco Chapter of the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (2000 – 2009), a member of the National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), and Exhibitors/Sponsorship Chair for the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals State Conference on Addiction Studies.  Scott is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor who specializes in intervention services for Summer Sky Treatment Center.  

Summer Sky is a 72 bed facility located in the small rural town of Stephenville, Texas and is privately owned and operated.  There are age and gender specific programs for male and female adults and for male and female adolescents, 13 – 17 years of age.  To enhance each patient’s treatment plan Summer Sky has recently added Equine Therapy, low and high ROPES courses, Music Therapy and Art Therapy and a variety of physical exercise opportunities including the use of an Olympic-sized indoor/outdoor swimming pool.  Summer Sky Treatment Center continues to improve and enhance its treatment programs to provide innovative ways to challenge our patients to reach their goals for enjoying life while maintaining continuous sobriety.