There is no hero in heroin foundation

Who We Are

There Is No Hero In Heroin Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families. We envision a world where fewer lives are lost and help exists for the millions of Americans affected by addiction.

Our Mission

The mission of the There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation is to promote awareness, educate the public and encourage those struggling with substance use disorder and those who love them. We are dedicated to raising the curtain on the epidemic of substance use/co-occurring mental health disorders in our schools, the scarcity of rehabilitation programs, and the need for quality federally and state funded recovery community organizations (RCOs). There is no hero in heroin, only those who overcome.

Volunteering

Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Help us fight this battle. We need your help.

Recent Programs

Our first events have had much success, and allowed us to build up steam and spread the message of the fight.

Our Goals

RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION (RCO)

A recovery community organization (RCO) is an independent, non-profit organization led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery. RCOs organize recovery-focused policy advocacy activities, carry out recovery-focused community education and outreach programs, and/or provide peer-based recovery support services. – wellnessandrecovery.org

Board of Directors

Joseph Engle

Founder / President

Board Member since 2013, person in long-term recovery.

Joe’s family moved to Las Vegas in 1978 when he was 11 years old. He graduated from Western High School in 1985 and has worked for Safe Electronics since 2002 as an IBEW Low Voltage Senior Technician. Joe’s 19-year-old son Reese died in 2011 due to an overdose of heroin. The unbearable loss and profound pain that Joe experienced tormented him for a year. Upon the first “Angel Anniversary” of Reese’s death, a group of grieving parents with similar stories decided that they needed to help other families impacted by the opioid crisis. In June 2013, the nonprofit There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation formed to provide support and financial assistance for those seeking long term sobriety from opioid addiction. In the last five years, TINHIH Las Vegas has become a leader in the recovery community as well as a vocal advocate for sustainable recovery programs at the local, state and federal level. Along with Board Members Donn Jersey and Jeffery Horn, Joe advocated for the creation of the Clark County School District’s Mission High School in downtown Las Vegas which opened in the Fall of 2017.

Jeff Horn

Vice President

After spending nearly 31 years with the Clark County School District as a former mathematics teacher, high school principal, and School Associate Superintendent, it is now my honor to serve on the TINHIH Board of Directors and continue the work in our community to educate and provide resources to those who seek it. I have dedicated my professional career fighting to improve public education for all students regardless of socioeconomics, demographics, or any other cultural roadblocks they may have encountered. I am most proud of the role that I played to help open the first all-public recovery high school in the nation. With the support of TINHIH, Mission High School opened its doors in the fall of 2017, providing an educational, therapeutic, and nurturing environment where students seeking recovery could grow and thrive. It is extremely important for me to identify as a person in long-term recovery since March 8, 1988. My passion and background have afforded me opportunities to support others who are actively seeking freedom from addiction. I look forward to continuing this work as a member of the board with TINHIH.

Krista Hales

Secretary

Board Member since 2017, advocate for recovery.

Krista Hales, LADC is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, both from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University in the Behavioral Health program, completing her culminating project on alcohol use amongst those at risk for HIV contraction or are HIV positive. Krista has been working in addiction treatment since 2008 and is currently the IOTRC Director for Center for Behavioral Health, overseeing program expansion to address the opioid epidemic through implementation of integration between numerous fields including law enforcement, primary care, and social services. Krista is an active member of the recovery community in Las Vegas by serving with multiple organizations such as the There Is No Hero In Heroin Foundation (TINHIH) Board of Directors, Nevada Opioid Treatment Association (NOTA) President, Southern Nevada Opioid Advisory Council (SNOAC) Executive Committee, Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance (SNHRA) Leadership Committee, and First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) Advisory Council.

Rhonda Fairchild

Treasurer

Rhonda is the Criminal Justice Director for Center for Behavioral Health. She was a founding teacher at Mission High School, opened in the Fall of 2017, Mission High School is the first publicly-funded school of its kind in the nation with a program dedicated to students struggling with addiction. Rhonda grew up in Las Vegas where she attended Chaparral High School and graduated UNLV in 2009 with a degree in Geology. Prior to working for CBH, Rhonda was the Executive Director of the Alternative peer group.

Alyson Martinez

Director

Alyson Martinez is the Clinical Director of the LVRM. She has been with the Rescue Mission since July 2018. She has her Master of Social Work through University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). She is a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC), and a Clinical Social Work-Intern. She has has a part time working with youth ages 4-17 in an outpatient setting for behavioral or mental health issues. Prior to coming to the Rescue Mission in 2018, She worked for WestCare for 12 years, starting in 2007. Her former positions at other agencies have included managing Prevention Programs alongside a certified Prevention Specialist. She has worked in Substance Abuse Treatment Levels including Leve I outpatient, Level 2.1 Intensive Outpatient, 3.1 Low Intensity Residential treatment and 3.5 High Intensity Residential Treatment. While as the Assistant Director at the Women’s and Children’s Campus, she assisted the Director (and current CEO of LVRM) in Safe Have shelter for the chronic homeless and persons with mentally illness. She also assisted with overseeing the Veterans women (single or with children) shelter program that had 8 bed dedicated to homeless veteran women. 15 beds were designated to 10-17-year old in the youth shelter which was funded through Emergency Shelter funds, DFS, and other sources. She has worked with such high-risk populations that include but not limited to: LGBTQ, persons with HIV/Aids/STDs/TB/ other communicable diseases, homeless, addicted, severe mentally ill, youth, adults and others. She has worked in direct practice as well as macro positions, creating and updating programming. She strives to create and strengthen linkages between the agency she works in and to those in the community to provide a holistic approach to her clients for them to succeed.

Aly has been married for 10 years, she has two beautiful daughters that are just the light in her life;ages 3 and 5. She also live with and care for her father. Aly started into this field because she has a lot of family members suffering from substance use disorder. She also credits an amazing high school teacher who taught psychology who awakened a passion for social work within her.

Paul Vaultrinot

Director

Paul was born and raised in Las Vegas. He attended Las Vegas Academy (LVA) of the Arts and graduated in 2005. Paul is recognized as the first-ever Student Theater Director for this prestigious academy in the 2004/2005 school year. Paul has been a person in long term recovery since 2014 after suffering from substance use disorder; primarily heroin, opioids and methamphetamines and for nearly a decade. He is a graduate of the ABC Drug Court program based in Henderson Nevada, and currently sits on the Alumni groups board as Vice President. Paul is a member of Las Vegas Leadership “Class of 2020”. He is currently employed with Freedom House as the program director for Freedom Behavioral Health and Shine A Light. Paul is a life long resident of Las Vegas, happily married and a devoted father to 3 children.

Scott Frost

Director

Scott Allen Frost is an executive, entrepreneur, father, and author. Scott is a native Nevadan who was raised and educated in Reno. He’s the co-founder and President of Titan Brands based in Las Vegas. Scott has directed the design, development and operation of restaurant and nightlife venues in Nevada, Arizona and New York. Titan was recognized as Las Vegas’ “Restaurateur of the Year” by the Nevada Restaurant Association.

Scott Frost is a co-founder and SVP of Your Fare, a restaurant technology company based in Austin, Texas and is an expert on organizational behavior and team building.

He wrote his autobiography “Livin’ on a Chair, Lessons of Love and Faith After Breaking my Neck” and has become a nationally recognized inspirational speaker. He enjoys sharing his experience in business leadership after becoming a quadriplegic ten years ago.

He has remained active in the Las Vegas community co-founding and chairing several trade organizations and nonprofits including the Technology Business Alliance of Nevada, the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, the Vegas Valley Angels, and the Spinal Injury Recovery Foundation. He has served as the council president of Community Lutheran Church.

Recognizing the opioid crisis and the impact it has on the Las Vegas community, he enthusiastically serves on the board of TINHIH.

Sherri Pucci Sosa

Director

Sherri Pucci Sosa has had an extensive career in the Gaming industry. Over the last 20 years, she has held roles at the property and corporate level. Her journey has taken her from her start in Las Vegas in the marketing department of Station Casinos to Corporate role with Harrah’s Entertainment. Once on board with Harrah’s Entertainment, Sherri moved to Memphis to a more extensive gaming role in the Central Division post-merger with Caesars Entertainment. In 2007, she moved back to property operations in Tunica and then became the Assistant General Manager at Harrah’s New Orleans. In the summer of 2015, Sherri returned to Las Vegas to take on the General Manager role at the historic Flamingo Hotel and Casino and the newly renovated LINQ Hotel and Casino. She recently transitioned to be the General Manager of Planet Hollywood. Over the years she has been responsible for properties with local, regional and national focus, while undertaking significant capital projects to ensure long term growth.

She is ultimately responsible for the three main determinants of the property’s success-profitability, customer service and employee satisfaction. Sherri currently oversees annual revenues of more than $500 million and more than 2,000 team members.

Sherri received her MBA from Tulane’s Freeman School of Business in New Orleans. Her undergrad is from the Asper School of Business in Manitoba, Canada. From within the Caesars organization, Sherri was a recipient of the Caesars Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2017, the award for Harrah’s Award Excellence in Leadership Award in 2008 and the Chairman’s Award in Leadership in 2006.

Sherri is currently the Executive Sponsor for the Rising Stars (millennial and millennial mindset team members) and the Western Region Chair of the Gender Equity Initiative. She participates in and moderates Lean In Circles. She is on the Board of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation (hospitality scholarships for low income Las Vegas students), Caridad (homeless outreach), TINHIH (addiction support) and MAC the advisory board for Mission High School.

She is married to her partner Ernie and they have two children, Annalea 10, Cruz 8 and an adopted chihuahua. She is a born and raised Canadian, originally from Winnipeg, and proud to support the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

David Slattery

Director

Dr. Slatteryis the EMS Medical Director for the City of Las Vegas- Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. Dr. Slattery has served on the Board of Directors for TINHI for the past 3 years. He isProfessor and Director of Emergency MedicineResearch for the University Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Medicine, and he serves as the Course Co-Director for the UNLV School of Medicine Emergency Medical Services Immersion Course. He is a Board Certified emergency physician who works clinically in the emergency department and trauma center at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Nationally he serves as a Board Member of the National Oversight Committee for the CARES Registry. His research interests are on the pre-EMS period of cardiac arrest, post-resuscitation care, pulmonary embolism, and airway management. He is actively involved in teaching bystander administration of naloxone and CPR to the community.

Rhonda Fairchild

Secretary

Board Member since 2017, person in long-term recovery.

Rhonda is a teacher and serves as the Director of the Alternative Peer Group at CCSD’s Mission High School located in downtown Las Vegas. Opened in the Fall of 2017, Mission High School is the first publicly-funded school of its kind in the nation with a program dedicated to students struggling with addiction. Rhonda grew up in Las Vegas where she attended Chaparral High School and graduated UNLV in 2009 with a degree in Geology. Prior to working for the CCSD, Rhonda was the Office Manager for local restauranteur “Chef Nat” Young of Natalie’s Eat.

Randa Shea

Treasurer

Board Member since 2013, person in family recovery.

Randa Shea is an attorney who has practiced law at several high-profile law firms in Las Vegas after being admitted to the Nevada Bar in 1983. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Randa grew up in the Scottsdale area. She pursued economics at Stanford University, graduating in 1979. After spending time in Paris, France, she returned to Arizona for law school, graduating from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1982. Randa is the principal/owner of Randa Reiff Shea, Attorney-at-Law, a private law practice. Randa gives back to her community by being a volunteer for American Cancer Society for twenty plus years, by being on the Board for Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys for several years, and by being a Truancy Diversion Judge the last three years.

Jeff Horn

Board Director

Board Member since 2016, person in long-term recovery.

Born in Northern California, Jeff Horn and his family moved to Southern Nevada in 1981. A person with 30 years in long-term recovery, Jeff has spent most of his adult life working within the Clark County School System. Principal of Green Valley High School for eleven years, Jeff was responsible for the implementation of a random drug-testing program for athletes, one of the first of its type in the Nation. In his current role as a Clark County School District Associate Superintendent, Jeff played an integral part in the development, approval and implementation of the first Recovery High School in the State. For his work in recovery and education, Jeff was awarded the Robert Rehmar Addiction Professional Award at the 2017 Foundation for Recovery Gala.

Krista Hales

Board Director

Board Member since 2017, advocate for recovery.

Krista grew up in Henderson and attended Coronado High School. She is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) earning her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2012. In September 2012, Krista began a Substance Abuse Counselor for the Center for Behavioral Health at the Cheyenne Road location, which is licensed as an Integrated Opioid Treatment and Recovery Center as of 2017. Krista was later promoted to Clinical Director and Program Director at the McDaniel Street location but was most recently moved into the IOTRC Director position for the CBH locations in Nevada. Krista works closely with TINHIH to offer Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) grants to individuals who seek treatment at CBH and need to pay for their first week of treatment but have no financial resources. CBH works with patients to schedule future weekly treatments using private insurance, Medicaid or self-funding. TINHIH has provided approximately $5,000 in MAT grants for 87 individuals.

Dr. David Slattery

Board Director

Board Member since 2017, advocate for recovery.

David Slattery, MD, FACEP is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of Emergency Medicine Research at UNLV School of Medicine, and he practices clinically in the ER and Trauma Center at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. He also serves as Deputy Chief and Emergency Medical Services Medical Director for the City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. He has been instrumental in bringing the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (LVFR) into the recovery movement and has organized numerous LVFR-sponsored Naloxone trainings around the Las Vegas valley. As an outspoken recovery advocate, he has also been supportive of TINHIH over the last few years and is a regular attendee at local conferences involving recovery and treatment-oriented issues.