Our Staff

Lee Yaiva is a proud Hopi from the Village of Soongopavi in Northeastern Arizona and a member of the Water Clan (Patkiwungwa). He is the CEO of Scottsdale Recovery Center, the owner of HNIC, LLC, the founder of Reztoration Health and Healing 501(c)(3), and serves on local and national boards that ensure equitable access to high quality care. With 20 years of expertise in behavioral health and addiction treatment, Yaiva is known for blending clinical acumen with business insight, driving innovative solutions to address evolving trends in therapeutic interventions and service delivery.

Named one of Arizona’s Most Influential Minority Business Leaders by AZ Big Media and featured in Az Business Leaders Magazine, Yaiva is a sought-after national speaker who focuses on empowering minority and underserved communities. His leadership is distinctive, characterized by a meticulous approach to achieving organizational goals, and he leads with precision and purpose. Navigating the complexities of the industry with confidence, Yaiva makes data-driven decisions that not only elevate the standard of care but also ensure sustainable growth and success.

Michelle Sproule is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Arizona. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2006 and received a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Phoenix in 2014. Michelle initially began her career working with adults who suffer from mental illness. Her path later led her to begin working with adolescents with dual diagnosis mental health and substance abuse concerns in nonprofit behavioral health before becoming a therapist at SRC^® in 2017. She is trained in various trauma modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting (BSP). Michelle is passionate about leadership and thrives on working collaboratively with leaders, clinicians, and clients to enhance motivation and drive for creating a new identity in recovery. She strives to live out the principles of the Four Agreements and challenges her peers, clients, family, and friends to do the same. Outside of her professional life, Michelle enjoys practicing yoga, reading, and listening to self-improvement podcasts.

With over three decades of experience in accounting and recently focusing on behavioral health, Cheryl is a seasoned financial professional who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field.

Cheryl began her career in accounting in Southern California in 1991, developing a strong foundation in financial management, reporting, and analysis across various industries. Her meticulous attention to detail and analytical skills have been honed through years of handling complex financial data and ensuring accuracy in all areas of financial needs.

In 2016, Cheryl moved to Arizona to the Scottsdale area where she made a strategic shift to focus on the behavioral health sector, recognizing the growing importance and unique challenges of this field. This transition allowed her to combine her extensive accounting background with a deep understanding of the specific financial intricacies faced by behavioral health organizations.

Cheryl’s unique blend of long-standing accounting experience and specialized knowledge in behavioral health has made her a trusted advisor and leader in this critical sector of healthcare.

Dr. Gelow is the current Medical Director for Scottsdale Recovery Center. Originally born and raised in Michigan, Dr. Gelow received his Medical Doctorate (MD) degree from American University of the Caribbean. After getting a taste for the sun, and moving around the country a bit, he has found his way to Scottsdale, Arizona and completed his Residency at Scottsdale Healthcare (now HonorHealth) in Family Medicine. His motivation and varied interests in medicine show as he advocates for his patient’s health and success. Dr. Gelow’s knowledge is built upon his extensive experience in substance abuse addiction disorders as well as medications pertaining to addiction treatment and recovery. Dr. Gelow holds his DATA Waiver and has been with Scottsdale Recovery since October 2015.

After becoming a Nurse in 2016 Shandel began her career as a Correctional Nurse. It was at the Penitentiary where she discovered her passion for substance abuse and mental health disorders. Seeing how the system was broken and people with addiction were not given proper rehabilitation, Shandel decided it was time to move on to a place that specializes in those areas. It is her compassion, determination, and drive to help her community that makes Shandel perfect for Scottsdale Recovery Center. Each day Shandel gives her all into caring for her patients and makes each feel like they have a second chance at recovery, a second chance at life.

Brittni Sunbury is Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as both a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Brittni found her passion in the medical field when she joined the US Army as a combat medic. After separating from the Army she continued her education and attended Grand Canyon University, where she completed her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing. She started her nursing career at Mayo Clinic, and decided to further her education, obtaining her Master’s of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Brittni worked as a primary care provider for a few years, but had a strong passion for addiction medicine. In 2017 she took a position at The Meadows, where she was able to use her primary care skills in a treatment setting, while gaining knowledge and experience in addiction medicine. She quickly knew that she had found what she loved to do. She went on to obtain her Post-Master’s Certification in Psychiatric Mental Health. Brittni believes that optimal health is achieved when physical, emotional, and spiritual health are all addressed, and a whole-person approach is used to treat patients. Brittni holds her DATA Waiver and has been with Scottsdale Recovery since July 2020.

Aymet is a Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Therapist (LASAC) in the state of Arizona. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kansas Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Initially she began a career working in a behavioral health clinic and transitioned to work in substance abuse treatment in 2019.  Her family experiences helped create a passion to help those struggling with substance use disorders. Aymet has experience with running a MAT program and practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques with clients. She enjoys watching sports and being active such as outdoor activities.  She also enjoys learning new approaches and therapy techniques to help the community to better herself and others.

Roberto received his Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation from the University of Arizona and Master of Social Work from Arizona State University. He has been counseling for 4 decades working in corrections and substance abuse. Roberto has been involved in individual, family, and couples therapy. He also has worked with challenging personalities and populations in high-risk situations. He found addiction to be the most complex and challenging. Roberto facilitates a unique blend of therapeutic interventions which include Existential, Experiential, and Neurobiological approaches. His most recent work has been in more fully understanding the addicted brain. He believes that when clients better understand the underpinnings of their addiction experience, the greater their chance of learning to interrupt the discomfort associated with addiction. This in turn will allow them to embrace the power to interrupt the cravings, providing them a greater chance of experiencing a fuller measure of freedom from addiction. Freedom is a significant reality that runs through Roberto’s work. His mantra is “I’m not here to help you, I’m here to free you, by leading you back to the freedom you have been distracted from since childhood.”

I am originally from Washington State but have called Arizona my home for 42 years. I began working with individuals dealing with adversities due to substance abuse/co-occurring issues in 2005 after I myself went through treatment. I continue my education to make sure I provide the best assistance for the individuals I am helping and have successfully obtained the following certifications: Peer Support Specialist, Direct Support Professional, and Behavioral Health Technician.

Christina moved to AZ in 1998 from California. She has been working in in the recovery community since 2017. She started in the accounting department and has now moved into admissions since she is passionate about helping others. Christina hopes that she can use her story to inspire those that are struggling with their addiction. She has overcome the hardship that came from being incarcerated and is a valuable member of the recovery community and has 11 years of sobriety.

Doris is an integral part of Scottsdale Recovery Center. She is very passionate about recovery and helping others.

Andrea was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She became part of the SRC^® family January 2019 after completing our treatment program in 2018. She understands the struggle of addiction and shows our clients firsthand that recovery is possible. She attended Northern Arizona University to study business management and has a strong passion for helping others. She has over 10 years of customer service experience and uses her Bachelor of Business Administration degree to support our front office operations. She enjoys playing golf, playing the piano and wake boarding in the summer. Her positivity and sunny disposition keep our clients and staff in high spirits whenever possible. She is passionate about her career and was our 2019 Employee of the Year.