Michael Dinneen | LCSW, CSAT, CMAT | Founder & CEO

Michael has worked in the mental health field for over 25 years, primarily focused on addiction, trauma, and co-occurring disorders. Prior to cofounding VL and DCC, Mr. Dinneen served hundreds of patients at CeDAR for over a decade and was responsible for designing and implementing key parts of the clinical programming, including the 30 day Primary Program, the 60 day Extended Care Program, the 71 day Professionals Program, and the Intimacy Disorder track. Mr. Dinneen is an author, an international trainer and mentor for substance abuse counselors, and regularly presents at industry conferences across the U.S. Mr. Dinneen earned a B.A. in education at Boston College, and a Masters of Social Work at the University of Denver. Michael has been happily married to Jill for 20 years, and is a father of two high school aged children. He loves outdoor adventure, travel, and spiritual development.

Dustin Knutson | Executive Director

Dustin Knutson serves as the Executive Director at Valiant Living. He holds a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University and has over 15 years of experience in various leadership and advisory roles across government, for-profit, and non-profit sectors. His career is marked by successful strategic initiatives, guiding executive decisions, and mentoring individuals and businesses to reach their full potential.

Dustin’s professional journey has taken him across the globe, where he has advised executives at the world’s largest company, Saudi Aramco, and undertaken international assignments spanning South America, Europe, and the Middle East. He has been fortunate to learn from esteemed global executives, academics, and industry experts who’ve deeply influenced his leadership approach and servant leadership philosophy.

At Valiant Living, his motivation is to lead with purpose, facilitate transformation, and empower individuals and families to reach their full potential.

Peter Boland | Chief Marketing Officer / Admissions Director

I am Peter Boland, the Chief Marketing Officer at Valiant Living. I lead the Admissions, Marketing, Business Development and Alumni teams in our collective effort to help those in need find help. I bring 25 years of business development and marketing experience to our program and I am honored to be able to devote my talents to the deeply purposeful and transformational work we do at Valiant.

My previous roles at Valiant in Housing, Case Management and Admissions, have afforded me a wide angle view of the healing process that our clients experience during their time with us, from that difficult first call to the many victories that are achieved along the way. Being able to contribute to healing trauma, overcoming mental health challenges and putting people and families back together is the most rewarding and purposeful work I have ever done. 

Dr. Arshad William | Medical Director

Dr. Arshad William received his medical degree from University of Benin College of Medicine. He was Chief Resident at the University at Harlem Hospital Center, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia.

Dr. William is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, board certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), and Member of the Colorado Psychiatric Society.

DR. Laura Martin | BOARD CERTIFIED ADDICTION PSYCHIATRIST, MD | Psychiatric Consultant

Dr. Laura F. Martin received a B.S. in Psychology from Duke University and her M.D. from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She completed Psychiatry Residency training at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (UCSOM) and a Research Fellowship at the Denver Veterans Medical Center. She was employed with UCSOM full-time until joining Valiant Living in 2019. Her professional roles at UCSOM included Medical Director at the Center for Dependence, Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR), Medical Director of the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program, Associate Program Director of the General Psychiatry Residency Training Program and Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship. 

She has served as the President of the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine and Co-chair for the Treatment Workgroup of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention. She is Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. She has published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts in both general and addiction psychiatry and as a reflection of her commitment to her work, she has been recognized as a member of the American College of Psychiatrists, a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

She is excited and honored to be able to synthesize her many prior work experiences in her role as Medical Director at Valiant Living.

Travis Simmons | Director of Operations

My name is Travis Simmons and I am the Director of Operations at Valiant Living as well as the compliance and quality improvement officer.  I have performed several roles within the company in direct client care, recovery housing, and operations.

My area of expertise is working with our teams to ensure that our systems and processes run smoothly so that the best possible care can be provided.  Having experienced my own recovery journey is what drives me to give back to our community and those in need of our services. I believe that our collective experience is something that can make a tremendous difference in the world.

Dr. John Otte | PsyD | Psychologist 

Dr. John Otte is a seasoned psychologist with over 35 years of experience, specializing in depression and addictions. As a dedicated practitioner, he has embraced a spiritual orientation in his approach to psychotherapy, emphasizing open-mindedness rather than religion. Dr. Otte draws from various therapeutic orientations, including Family Systems, Jungian theory, CBT, and mindfulness, to facilitate the healing process for his clients. Graduating from Calvin College and earning a Psy.D. degree, he has contributed to diverse clinical settings, including an Employee Assistance Program, Denver County Jail, and hospitals. Dr. Otte’s unique journey, shaped by a family history of addiction, led him to integrate spirituality into his practice, transforming his therapeutic approach. Known for his warm, irreverent, and compassionate style, he continues to be inspired by the resilience of the human spirit. In addition to individual therapy, Dr. Otte has offered group psychotherapy throughout his career, reflecting his belief in the potential for healing and happiness in every individual’s life.

Malissa Fantanarosa | Wellness Director

Malissa Fantanarosa is the Wellness Director at Valiant Living. She has worked in the areas of wellness, fitness, and mindfulness for more than 20 years focusing on physical movement, meditation, spirituality, balanced lifestyle, and intentional connection to self. 

Malissa is both a practitioner and a teacher of various forms of yoga including Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, and Yoga Nidra. She believes that embodying the practice is a way to live a more meaningful, productive life, so she employs these lifelong skills to create programs that lead clients on their path to freedom, self discovery, purpose, passion, and potential. 

And, because no two individuals are created the same, Malissa firmly believes in customizing a mindfulness practice that is sustainable well after formal treatment ends. Breathing exercises, guided visualization, emotional freedom technique, yoga at the wall, aromatherapy, walking meditation, forest bathing, sensory meditation, journaling, integrative somatic therapy, mantra development, chanting, sound bathing, and yoga Nidra are just a handful of the modalities taught to Valiant’s clients. 

When she’s not leading weekly groups or working with clients to cultivate their spiritual practices, Malissa is moving in the great outdoors.  She thrives on developing wellness, yoga, and experiential programs utilizing the beauty of Colorado and nature as a way to help clients reconnect more intentionally to their authentic nature.

Malissa is passionate about nature and the future of our planet. Her love language is quality time with others which generally means playing outside, hiking, biking, paddleboarding, trail running, camping, skiing or traveling.

briana shawcroft | NCC, LPC, LAC | Primary Therapist 

Jill Gallegos | LPC, LAC, CSAT, CPTT | Lead Clinical / Audit / Family Therapy Coordinator

Jill Gallegos is the Lead Clinical Audit/Family Therapy Coordinator at Valiant Center. She holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Phoenix and completed Addiction Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy courses at the Colorado School for Family Therapy. As a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), she’s also certified as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and Certified Partner Trauma Therapist (CPTT) through IITAP.

Jill combines medical knowledge and crisis intervention training to conduct specialized assessments and address complex psychiatric, mental health, and substance use disorders using research-based models and clinical interventions. She adopts a multimodal approach, recognizing the uniqueness of each person’s recovery journey, and emphasizes a system’s approach, acknowledging that healing within interconnected family systems requires not only individual work, but work from the entire family system. Jill places great importance on self-appreciation, forgiveness, and love in the recovery process and enjoys assisting clients in discovering these essential attributes within themselves.

In her free time Jill treasures spending time with her family and pups, traveling, camping, and being in nature. 

Cody Kovash | Housing Technician

Cody leverages his personal experiences with substance use and trauma in his role at Valiant Living, functioning as a housing technician to support and guide men through their recovery process. His past challenges have equipped him with the insight and understanding necessary to connect with and assist others in similar situations. Cody’s engagement in various recovery fellowships, including Anonymous groups, Recovery Dharma, and AFR, compliments his hands-on approach with a broad spectrum of recovery methods and philosophies.

Cody recovers out loud so that others don’t have to suffer in silence. After losing his dad to the disease of addiction, he was eager to get on track and be able to help others through their darkest days. His involvement in multiple support groups brings a wealth of recovery strategies to the table, enabling him to address the diverse needs of those he assists. Cody’s commitment and enthusiasm, akin to the dependable and energetic nature of a golden retriever, play a crucial role in the recovery and progress of individuals under his care, emphasizing results and resilience.

Tyi Reddick | Head Of Case Management

Bio coming soon!

Bridget Filardi | Therapist

Bridget Filardi is a Primary Therapist at Valiant Living. She obtained her graduate degree in counseling from Regis University in 2013.  For the last 10 years, her experience includes treatment centers, community mental health, group practice, and treating incarcerated women.  Bridget is certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), and is trained in EMDR.  She has a deep passion for helping people with addiction and trauma, believing the two are inextricably linked.

Bridget is also certified as a Daring Way Facilitator, and often utilizes Brene Brown’s work in both group and individual sessions.  Bridget is a strong believer in the importance of the mind/body connection. She uses approaches from Polyvagal Theory which help clients befriend their own nervous system in order to practice self-regulation skills.  Bridget has both a calming presence and a fun sense of humor that help clients feel at ease as they begin the journey of recovery.

Dan Meyer | Therapist

Dan Meyer is entering his second year with Valiant Living. He has held several positions in the company from housing to case management. Dan is also currently a candidate for certifications as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) through the Colorado School of Family Therapy, as well as being a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) Candidate through IITAP. 

Dan is passionate about working with men with addictions, especially those with intimacy disorders. He believes sex addiction is a highly misunderstood disease that deserves to be addressed and brought into the light. He is passionate about supporting men who struggle with lack of empathy, compassion and vulnerability, fear, shame, and guilt associated with their addiction whether it is substance or process based. 

Prior to joining the Valiant team, Dan worked for 26 years as an elementary teacher, high school athletics coach, and an athletic administrator at the high school level in Indiana. He holds a BS in Elementary Education from Ohio University and a Masters in Counseling from Indiana University. 

Outside of work, Dan enjoys playing golf, sailing, and other outside activities. He’s a college basketball and football fan and fervently supports The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Payton Smith | Director of Housing

Hey there! My name is Payton Smith. I am a person in active and sustained recovery, and I get to be the Director of Recovery Housing here at Valiant Living.

I have lived experience with Substance Use Disorder, I am working on obtaining a CPFS certification. Having gone through treatment and sober living myself, I hope to provide our clients with the highest quality of care. I believe a solid foundation for recovery starts with where you lay your head at night, who and what you’re surrounding yourself with. I have passion for this line of work because recovery is a WE thing. I believe connection is the opposite of addiction and I hope I get to connect with you. WE do this together!

Danyelle Sandoval | Controller

My name is Danyelle Sandoval, I am the financial controller for Valiant Living.  I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting.  Prior to joining Valiant Living, I worked as an accounting supervisor for a CPA firm.  I use my experience to bring certified professional accounting standards to the internal accounting procedures of Valiant.

I love accounting and being a part of Valiant gives me the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to a company that has a heart to help people and families.

Bonnie Gertz | LP, LAC | Therapist 

I’ve worked as a psychotherapist and trauma specialist in the recovery field and private practice for 15 years. Ihave a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education and English Literature, with a minor in Theater and Dance from the University of Colorado, Boulder; and a Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of Colorado, Denver. My first career was teaching high school English. After I started my family, I worked with my husband in our custom home building company. Later, I worked for The Freedom Center, a private Intensive Outpatient Program, and Shadow Mountain Recovery, where Imet and worked with Michael Dinneen, and built my private practice. I use EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy and other modalities in my work, focusing on childhood trauma and PTSD. I have a holistic view of therapy and believe healing is organic and must involve our mind, body and emotional continuums. I see myself as a guide, supporting and helping my clients get in touch with their authentic selves, rewire old negative programs so they can create new, healthier ones for their future.

Kelley Brown | LPC, LAC | Therapist

Kelley is a solution-focused, person-centered, reality therapist and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC). She has worked for over 20 years with individuals struggling with the disease of addiction, mental health, anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

Kelley has been sober for 22 years and has suffered great personal loss both in her family and in her recovery community due to the disease of addiction. This inspires Kelley to work tirelessly to provide our clients and their families with the psychoeducation, guidance, and support they need to achieve a successful transition back to a productive, independent, healthy life.

Kelley holds a B.A. in Education from the National College of Education in Evanston, IL, and a Master’s in Psychology & Counseling from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.

Kelley has experience as a Clinical Supervisor at a methadone suboxone clinic, Habit Opco, and as the Director of the Professionals Program at Tully Hill Treatment Center in Syracuse, NY. Kelley moved to Boulder, CO in 2016 where she served as the Director of the Women’s Program at Harmony Foundation Treatment Center in Estes Park.

In addition to working at Valiant Living, Kelley maintains her private practice and feels incredibly blessed to have found her true calling working with individuals and their families, as well as passing on a legacy of service toward others to her daughter who also holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychology.

Michael M Wagner | Certified Addiction Specialist

After a successful career in the Investment Business, I retired at 58 and moved to Colorado. Thanks to the encouragement of my wife of now 53 years, I began volunteering at CeDAR, The University of Colorado Hospital’s nationally recognized Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation.

During my four years there I began work to earn a Certified Addiction Specialist certificate. I facilitated weekly groups at CeDAR, and served as a Sponsor to selected clients under the supervision of John Hardman, MD, LAC. I celebrated my 43rd year of sobriety in August of 2023.

Through these four decades and my 10 + years of experience with CeDAR and Valiant Living, I have gained a deep insight into the challenges we addicts face day to day as we begin to establish some equilibrium in our lives, and gain the strength and humility to acknowledge our vulnerability and focus all our resources on getting well.

Perhaps more importantly I have experienced the rewards that follow a diligent program of recovery.

I love working with my fellow addicts. We are brothers. This journey turns out to be a profound gift for which I am very grateful. It is a privilege sharing my experience and all that I am learning with my peers.

Thank You Valiant for having me work with your extraordinary clients in your PHP, IOP and Detox programs