Jason Wood
CEO / Admissions
Founder and Owner
Jason’s passion for making a difference in the lives of young adults led him to found Aloft Transitions in 2012. His ability to relate to and communicate openly and sincerely with clients, their families and referral sources enable him to develop and maintain strong, life-long relationships. He has many years of experience working directly with clients in this industry. Prior to this endeavor, he worked as a corporate trainer and real estate agent for over a decade. Jason and his wife and high school sweetheart, Cindie, love spending time in the outdoors with their children, grandchildren, and two dogs fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, and gardening.
Dr. Angela Baird-Hepworth, PhD
Executive Director Clinical
Angela received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Capella University in early 2021. She received her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling in 2014, also from Capella. In addition, received her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in sociology from Hofstra University in 2007. She has a passion for helping young people and had worked primarily with at-risk individuals, prior to joining Aloft, spring of 2015. She is able to develop effective relationships with clients and their families leading to positive changes utilizing her primary therapy model, Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She also uses elements of many other theories, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) a leading form of therapy for traumatic memories and experiences. Her clinical experience is wide-ranging including assessment, treatment planning, individual, family, equine, and group therapy. Angela’s personal experience with adoption has led to her passion and expertise in attachment and abandonment issues. Angela grew up in many areas of the United States, including Washington state, Arizona, Kentucky, and Long Island, New York. She moved to Idaho in 2012 from Phoenix, Arizona. She is married to her wonderful husband, Brian, and is a loving and dedicated step-mom to two girls. She also enjoys spending time with family, reading, writing, running, and traveling.
Stephen C. Schultz
Executive Director Operations
Steve was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in psychology and received formal training as an addictions counselor. He spent several years working with health care facilities in clinical services, operations, and marketing as well as an owner/partner in a large group of treatment programs.
With over twenty-five years assisting families to navigate the rough waters of family communication, mental health concerns, and issues associated with teenage/young adult struggles with attachment, trauma, ASD, depression, and anxiety, Steve has a unique perspective and a compassionate demeanor.
He also enjoys educating families, professionals, and the community through small group gatherings and local workshop presentations. He has logged thousands of miles over the years sharing examples of hope and treatment successes. When he’s not on the road, he’s working with clinical and operational teams to make sure the program delivers everything it promises.
A true Oregonian, Steve never met a rainy day he didn’t like. He looks forward every year to taking his wife, children, and grandchildren back to his family’s cabin in Florence for some quality time bass fishing, beachcombing, and exploring along the coast.
Denise Richardson
Residential Director
Denise has lived most of her life in Idaho. She did spend some time in Wyoming and Nevada but Idaho has always been home. She grew up in a small town and learned how to work at an early age. She credits her work ethic to her mother and father. She attended Ricks College for two years and met her husband there. She now lives in Nampa, Idaho with her husband. They have 6 children and 3 grandchildren. They were foster parents for 10 years and also owned an assisted living business for many years. She has also worked in the school system helping students succeed. The desire to help others is what brought her to Aloft. She enjoys spending time with all of her family, sewing, cooking, gardening, and camping.
Kelli Kathleen
Support Specialist
Kelli was born and raised on a farm in a small town just south of Boise, Idaho. Growing up on and around farms gave her strong work ethic. After years of babysitting for friends and family, she got her first job at 15. She balanced work, school and extra-curriculars, like choir and church, for most of her high school years. After working a few years, she spent a year in Arizona working and learning more about people in other parts of the United States. When she returned home she started working again at the pizza place, a retail store, and began classes at the local community college. She enjoys dancing, art, writing, music, spending time with others, making friends, and helping others. In wanting to use these skills and her passion for helping others, she found her way to the Aloft family and has felt very much at home.
Jennifer Wallace
Support Specialist
Jennifer is an Idaho native through and through coming to us with decades of management, supervisory, and leadership experience in customer service fields including managing a 50’s style drive-in for 18 years and a car lot for 7 years. Through those experiences and working since she was 14, she has learned a myriad of skills including compassion, kindness, and patience that she passes on to our young adults. She also grew up on a cattle ranch giving her knowledge of animal husbandry, farmwork, and property management. All of her experiences have set her up substantially to be one of our support specialists. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband of 31 years, 3 grown children, and 5 grandchildren, hunting, fishing, photographing wildlife, camping, hiking, auto mechanics, and cooking.
Tony Preece
Support Specialist
Tony is an Idaho native who is busy mentoring at Aloft and raising his family of 5. After serving a mission for 2 years he obtained his bachelor of arts degree in Spanish. Tony served our country in the Army National Guard as a combat engineer. After his military time, he worked at a local Ostrich farm. Tony is passionate about the relationships he cultivates with others. In the very near future, he will also be a student at Northwest Nazarene University pursuing his master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. In his free time he loves spending time with family, reading history books, playing the piano, singing, and participating in music theater.
Billy Hamilton
Metal Shop Mentor
Billy was born and raised in the central valley of Northern California. He recently moved to nearby Star, Idaho. Billy is married with 3 young adult children and 2 grand children.
Billy is a recently retired police officer with over 14 years of service. He worked multi year special assignments where he specialized in issues of homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, and at-risk youth. During his time at the police department, he received extensive training in all these areas, outside of normal police training.
Prior to being a police officer, he worked as a supervisor in a metal fabrication shop for over 10 years . He learned many skills in this career including welding, which he enjoys teaching the students at Aloft. Also, Billy was on a county advisory board for substance abuse and mental health programs for over 5 years.
In his free time, Billy enjoys spending time with his family, camping, fishing, hunting, working out, and working on his Jeep.
Dakota Wood
Mentor
Dakota grew up in Emmett, Idaho and moved to Boise to attend college at Boise State University. Dakota was accepted into the art program as a freshman, a rare and distinguished honor. Dakota worked for Boise State University as a graphic designer for 2 years before joining our team at Aloft. Dakota plays guitar in a local band that performs all over Boise, as well as writing music and singing. He continues to pursue his passion for art through drawing and graphic art. Dakota shines in his ability to relate to our students, holding good boundaries, and never shying away from engaging in a tough conversation.
Susannah Heist
Susannah was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She graduated from Boise State University with a bachelor’s in psychology. She then received a Master’s in Social Work specializing in Mental Health & Trauma from the University of Denver.
Susannah spent the last several years working as a behavior interventionist for developmentally disabled children with agencies and as an independent contractor with the Department of Health and Welfare. She has experience in adult and youth mental health, child services, and crisis care. Susannah lives with her fiance and two cats in Boise. In her free time she can be found reading fantasy novels with a cup of tea, baking, or playing board games.
Terryle Wood
Transport Staff
Terry was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Idaho. He has worked for years in the construction and sales industry. After many years of work, he retired to work at the schools as a substitute teacher for 10 years, before coming to Aloft. He has said that if he knew originally how fun teaching and coaching was he would have done that from the start. He is passionate about spending time with his family and loves kids and animals. He likes to spend time outdoors, with family, and gardening.
Devin Lewis
Mentor
Devin grew up in the beautiful mountainous Northern Idaho, which sparked his love of nature and the outdoors. He attended college at the University of Idaho majoring in Marketing and tearing up the ice on the college’s hockey team. After graduating, he took to nature and began working in private wilderness programs. There he discovered a passion for working with struggling young adults and quickly shifted his career ambitions and goals. Devin intends to further his education by studying counseling. He married his beautiful wife Jackie and they moved to Boise to settle down. Wanting to be closer to home, he found Aloft and knew this would be the place for him. He enjoys golfing, backpacking, hiking, and everything related to music and never hesitates to share these skills and passions with our students.
Dustin Wood
Project Mentor/Facilities
Dustin began his career doing property management, leading into finish carpentry work where he found his passion. He then started and ran a successful custom cabinetry business for decades but felt something was missing. That is where Aloft comes in. He found a new passion to pass his knowledge, skills, and expertise to young adults and combines the two here. His knowledge and skills are unmatched and our students take great advantage to learn and hone woodworking, finish carpentry, and building skills. He is also working on a college degree in construction and business management. Dustin is a dedicated husband and dad to 5 kids and loves spending time outdoors.
Aspen Hunter
Mentor
Aspen was born and raised in Idaho with his two older sisters. He is attending college at the College of Western Idaho. Aspen has done service work in Tijuana, Mexico, where he became fluent in Spanish. He really enjoys spending time with family, reading, camping, hunting, and the outdoors which are abundant in Idaho. Aspen feels like he can relate to many of the Aloft students and their interests, allowing him to forge a strong relationship with them.
Kaden Leslie
Mentor
Kaden is a local Idahoan through and through, growing up, attending college, and playing college basketball locally. Kaden earned his degree in social science and it shows in his ability to build relationships with our students. He is continuing his basketball career which is where he has learned to be a great team player and the great ability to bounce back from adversity. He has found a passion for working with the young adults at Aloft and doing his best to be a great example to them. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and practicing for his fall tryout for the NBA G League, fishing, camping, and spending time with his fiance.
Maryellen Wood
Culinary Specialist
MaryEllen is a native to Portland, but has spent most of her life in Idaho, calling it home. She does exceptionally well in and around the kitchen with years of experience raising 8 children, enjoying 31 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. She has brought this expertise to Aloft to help teach culinary skills to the students and help around the program. Her hobbies include gardening, crocheting, sewing, spending time with her family, and traveling.
Shaina Kesler
Mentor
Shaina grew up in a small town in Idaho and now raises her kiddo on a small farm with her fiancé. She is currently working on her bachelor’s in social work at Idaho State University. Much of her extensive experience has come from working through her own traumas from her childhood and working with families. Her time working with families included teaching children reading, math, and emotional regulation skills through public school districts. Through these experiences, she has found a passion for helping people. She finds her childhood trauma has made it easier to relate and gain relationships with others. She loves being around friends and family, being a mom, animals, trying new things, challenging herself, baking, being outdoors, and being artistic. .
Brant Shlaich
Mentor
Brant was raised in a small town in Idaho and has always had a love for all things outdoors. He spent most of his youth exploring nature when he wasn’t in school. After high school, he fulfilled his passion of working with people, focusing on young adults. He has done a myriad of things from working as a phlebotomist with oncology patients to starting the first flotation tank therapy business in Idaho at the age of 21. His passion for working with people has led him to many great opportunities over the years. He has been a camp counselor for the past 15 years for Camp Rainbow Gold, a camp for children dealing with cancer. He has a love for skiing and each winter he runs the ski team for children at a local boarding school. On his off time, you can find him skiing, hiking, or snowshoeing.
Logan Resinkin
Mentor
Logan grew up in a small town in Idaho and has lived there most of his life. He has been working in the mental health field for over 5 years with many different age groups and is currently working to become a mental health therapist. He has a passion for the history and vast knowledge of weaponry, particularly on how to build/fix them, and puts safety first when operating and teaching. He also is often working on cars, racing them or going to car shows in his free time.
Millie
Millie is the explorer! She always has her nose to the ground and is fearless (until something spooks her
and she runs to the door). She is a lover… Friend to all. She loves playing with her brother, rolling and chewing on him. She is so smart and gentle. She is also so aware of feelings and energy in the room. She tolerates bath time but loves to groom her brother. Millie is definitely a “puppy” momma. You can often find her on campus joining in therapy sessions or hanging out with staff and students!
Gigi
Gigi was coined the century of her litter for her desire to always do her own thing and continues that now at her furever home! She enjoys exploring, learning, and always wanting to be with one of her human family members. She enjoys playing with squeaky toys, chewing on bones, playing with her other puppy siblings, and sometimes getting into mischief… who are we kidding, most of the time getting into mischief! You can often find her on campus joining in therapy sessions or hanging out with staff and students!
Scout
Scout is a dreamer. He is happy to relax on the deck while his sister, Millie, explores. He loves his leg rubs and will coo when his ears are rubbed. He is very sweet and loves to sit at Jason’s feet no matter what he is doing. He also loves to be groomed by his sister, wrestle, chew on his favorite toys, and stretch out on his bed. You can often find him on campus joining in therapy sessions or hanging out with staff and students!