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Meet the Team

We're here to support and empower you on your journey.

Our expert team is here to provide the top-notch addiction and mental health treatment you deserve, tailored to your needs, and driven by compassion and expertise.
Desert Star Facility Exterior

At Desert Star Addiction Recovery Center, we believe our role in the client’s recovery process is to be there to support and empower them on their own journeys. Our clients are incredible people, resilient to the core, and we are so proud and honored by each person that shares their journey with us. We choose our team carefully to ensure they reflect these supportive values and encourage all members of the team to continue their own growth and healing process so we can all move forward together.

Richard J. Poppy, MA, LISAC, Owner, Chief Executive Officer

Owner, Chief Executive Officer

Richard Poppy is the founder of Desert Star and a graduate of the University of Washington and Seattle University. He is a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor in the State of Arizona and has been involved in substance abuse and mental health treatment in a variety of settings since 1993. Mr. Poppy’s professional involvements include advocating for mental health and addiction treatment at the local, state and national levels. Mr. Poppy’s past involvements include NIDA’s clinical trials network, NIDA’s blending/steering committee, the ATTC (Addiction Technology Transfer Center), adjunct professor at ASU School of Social Work, co-founder and president of TPAA (Therapeutic Practitioner’s Alliance of Arizona), a nonprofit advocacy group that worked with community stake holders, and the BBHE to bring about legislative changes for Arizona state mental health professionals licensing requirements.
Amy Tilley, PsyD, Chief Clinical Officer

Chief Clinical Officer

Amy Tilley graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2007 and has over 20 years in the mental health and addiction recovery field. She is the Chief Clinical Officer at Desert Star and has worked at Desert Star for 15 years. She trained in inpatient and outpatient settings in Chicago, IL, working with children, adolescents, families, and adults, and completed her pre- and post-doctoral internship in Tucson, AZ. She is skilled in utilization review and coordinating with insurance companies to ensure coverage for client’s treatment. Dr. Tilley’s clinical interests include working with young adults and adults diagnosed with co-occurring conditions, in outpatient settings, running psycho-educational and process groups, as well as working with clients who have a history of trauma.
Nicole Velasco, PhD, Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Nicole Velasco has been with Desert Star since 2014. Nicole has held various positions while at Desert Star. Currently she has administrative and clinic management responsibilities, along with insurance billing for Desert Star. Nicole has been working with insurance companies and billing since 2015, when she began to specialize in the field of Behavioral Health. She received her PhD in Business Administration in 2018 and continues to pursue ways of advocating for clients with insurance companies.
Troy Bowers, Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant

Troy’s professional passion is to be able to help those around him and better the community little by little. His hope is to bring others the joy and comfort they deserve in these trying times. What brings him joy is seeing people progress in their journeys and he hopes to one day share that joy through his art!
Lola Heckman - Business Development & Marketing Consultant

Business Development & Marketing Consultant

Lola brings a wealth of business development and marketing expertise to Desert Star. With experience as a patient advocate and a marketer at both multi-state treatment centers and local organizations, she has honed her skills. Lola is also dedicated to training the next generation of business development professionals and marketers, always ready to connect potential referents.
Judy Hileman, NP, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Judy Hileman draws from a vast and varied experience to improve the mental health and functioning status of Desert Star’s clients. Attending both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, Judy became a nurse practitioner in 1987, before many in the state had ever heard of the profession. She worked and taught in the medical area until 2000, at which time she completed her post master’s degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and has been working in mental health ever since.
Kelly Linebaugh, DNP

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Kelly has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2002, and received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2013. With 16 years of practice in various inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, Kelly approaches mental health care by seeking to fully understand a person’s past and current cumulative stress load (physical, spiritual, and mental) and how this impacts their mental health and ability to cope with stress. From there, she forms collaborative relationships with clients to support and guide their journey to improved mental health.
Marla Perry, Ph.D, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Marla is a Rehabilitation Ph.D. and board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who utilizes trauma-informed approaches. She practiced in general psychiatry, residential and out patient addiction recovery settings, and previously served as faculty at University of Arizona, College of Nursing. Marla studied Buddhist Psychology in Bhutan and India, and loves to garden and feed carrots to her neighbor’s burros.
Drew Coffman Ebivdbb83y0 Unsplash

Therapist

Craig came to Tucson in 1989 from Connecticut. He received his undergraduate degree from Prescott College and his master’s in social work from Arizona State University. He has had several clinical and managerial positions in Tucson’s public behavioral health system and the private sector. Craig is passionate about introducing the joy of sobriety to his clients. He enjoys backpacking, golf and music. His crowning achievement and the light of his life is his son, Ian.
Devyn Van Ardoy, BS, Meal Tech and Administrative Assistant

Meal Tech and Administrative Assistant

Devyn is a graduate of the University of Arizona and studied Nutrition with an emphasis in Dietetics. She is currently working towards her credentialing as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and has a special focus in eating disorders and how diet can improve mental health. Born and raised in Tucson, Devyn enjoys working at Desert Star on the administrative team to help heal the community.
Susan O’Day, MS, ICADC, CMKP, Therapist

Therapist

Susan O’Day has a Master of Science Degree in Psychology with a specialization in addiction from Capella University. Her special areas of interest are sexual addiction and the ways in which addressing childhood abuse can contribute to recovery from addictive disorders. She started working in this field in 1989, and joined Desert Star after many years of working in residential settings. She also assisted South Pacific Private in NSW, Australia with program and staff development. Susie is experienced in the practice of equine assisted therapy. She has been with Desert Star since 2010, and currently works as a therapist in multiple programs.
Rose Chaboya-Balboa, M.Ed., B.C.C., Therapist

Therapist

Rose brings her passion and experience working with individuals in early recovery to Desert Star! Rose holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Rose blends her bi-cultural heritage and experience in substance abuse treatment and prevention as well as behavioral and mental health diagnoses to the groups she facilitates.
Arturo Torres, MA, Therapist

Therapist

Arturo Torres is bilingual in English and Spanish. He has a bachelors in psychology and a masters in addiction counseling from Grand Canyon university. Arturo is also a former Paralympic Athlete whose focus is on the importance of staying physically active to improve mental health. He has mentored kids and adults with disabilities, addictions and in gang prevention. Arturo has also volunteered with the university of Arizona wheelchair youth sports program.
Stephanie Speake, MSC, NCC, LAC, CYT-250, EMDR Certified Psychotherapist/Somatic Therapist

Certified Psychotherapist / Somatic Therapist

Stephanie is a native Tucsonan and life adventurer. Stephanie earned her Masters of Science degree in Counseling from Prescott College with an emphasis on somatic therapies and substance abuse disorders. Stephanie is a licensed associate counselor holding several additional certifications. Stephanie brings into her work a heartfelt and integrative approach of care that is rooted in trauma-informed, present-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused therapies.
Calley Steel, MA, LPC, NCC, Therapist

Therapist

Calley is a therapist with diverse experience and a special interest in the treatment of eating disorders. Bringing energy and focus to Desert Star’s Mesquite program, Calley also runs groups in other Desert Star programs and provides individual counseling. Additionally, she teaches yoga in the Tucson community.
Marie Martinez, MS, LAC

Therapist

Marie earned a Bachelors degree in science in counseling and a Masters of Science in Professional Counseling both from Grand Canyon university. She is currently working toward the Doctor of Philosophy in general psychology from GCU. She has been working at Desert Star since 2021 as a therapist in multiple programs. Some of her hobbies include running, diamond art paintings and traveling. She is a deacon and leader of the dance ministry at her church.

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Get the help you need without putting your outside commitments on hold! We individualize treatment for every client and can combine groups from different programs to suit your unique needs. We offer varying levels of structure and support, from partial hospitalization to intensive outpatient to once-weekly outpatient groups.

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