Meet the Team
Amanda Heineman
Chief Executive Officer
Amanda Heineman serves as the Chief Executive Officer of St. Gregory Recovery Center, a 50-bed dual diagnosis treatment facility in Bayard, Iowa, specializing in substance use, trauma, and mental health disorders. Originally from Williamstown, Kentucky, Amanda resides with her wife, three daughters, and a cherished puppy. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services/Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College and later obtained her tCADC Certification. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Education in Counseling and Human Development with a focus on Mental Health. Amanda began her professional career with Summit BHC in October 2020 and became CEO of St. Gregory Recovery Center upon relocating to Iowa in February 2023. Under her leadership, St. Gregory's launched the Tactical Recovery program in July 2024, a specialized mental health and substance use disorder program for veterans and first responders. Amanda emphasized the center's commitment to providing comprehensive support tailored to the unique needs of veterans, addressing challenges such as PTSD, substance use, and mental health disorders.
Lana Teeples
Director of Nursing
Lana Teeples serves as the Director of Nursing at St. Gregory Recovery Center. She began her journey at St. Gregory’s in late May 2024, bringing 30 years of nursing experience, including 20 years in nursing leadership across various fields such as hospital care, Medicaid managed care, hospice nursing, and teaching mental health nursing at the college level. Lana holds a master’s degree in nursing leadership. Before stepping into her current role, Lana worked per diem at St. Gregory’s as an agency nurse, providing care at the facility between her COVID travel assignments. When the Director role became available, she was eager to return “home” and rejoin the St. Gregory’s team. As the Director of Nursing, Lana is dedicated to enhancing clients’ medical experiences at the facility. Her focus includes facilitating access to medications, expanding clients' knowledge about their health and wellness, and supporting them on their recovery journey toward sobriety.
Olivia Kreipke
Director of Admissions
Olivia Kreipke began her journey as the Admissions Director for Ivory Plains Recovery in August 2023. Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, Olivia pursued her education at Central College in Pella, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Psychology and CADC. Alongside her husband, she takes pride in being parents to two hound dogs. Their leisure time is often spent outdoors, relishing walks with their canine companions. If not engrossed in family time, Olivia can typically be found tending to her extensive collection of over 50 houseplants, a hobby that blossomed unexpectedly.
Responding to market needs, Olivia transitioned into the role of Market Director of Admissions for both Ivory Plains and St. Gregory's Recovery Centers in April of 2024. She finds immense fulfillment in her role, particularly in offering hope to clients seeking assistance, ensuring they feel supported even before they arrive at the facility. Olivia encourages those struggling with addiction or their loved ones not to hesitate to reach out for help. She firmly believes that while growth and change may be challenging, remaining stagnant in an unsuitable environment is far more agonizing. She extends a welcoming invitation to call, assuring assistance in making the process as accessible and comfortable as possible.
Colleen Christopherson
Director of Clinical Services
Colleen is the Director of Clinical Services at St. Gregory’s. She completed her undergraduate degree at Upper Iowa University and her master’s degree at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Since 2009, Colleen has worked in behavioral health across various settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and corrections. In addition to her clinical work, Colleen has been a part-time professor at DMACC since 2016, teaching a range of psychology and social work classes. She is passionate about helping individuals achieve their goals and supporting them on their journeys. In her free time, Colleen enjoys kayaking, riding motorcycles, traveling, and spending time with her friends, family, and dogs.
Rachel Whitaker
Admissions Coordinator
Rachel Whitaker is the Admissions Coordinator for Ivory Plains Recovery Center and St. Gregory’s Recovery Center. Her career in Behavioral Health and Recovery Services has been shaped by a deep passion for connecting with people and supporting and inspiring them to make meaningful changes in their lives. She approaches her work with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to ensuring that others feel they are not alone. Rachel firmly believes that everyone is worthy of the effort it takes to embrace transformation and create a brighter future. Outside of her professional life, Rachel enjoys spending time with her adult children and her three beautiful granddaughters. Her spirituality plays a vital role in her life, and she strives to live each day with an attitude of gratitude. Rachel feels incredibly blessed to walk this journey and to support others along the way.
Wilma Leibbrandt
Recovery Life Coach/Alumni Coordinator
Wilma, the Recovery Life Coach/Alumni Coordinator at St. Gregory Recovery Center, extends a warm greeting. Her journey began in 2016, transitioning to the role of Recovery Life Coach in 2022. Armed with a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix, Wilma furthered her expertise by becoming a SMART Recovery facilitator. Motivated by a desire to make a positive impact in others' lives, Wilma finds fulfillment in building relationships with clients and offering ongoing support to alumni when necessary. She highlights the unique curriculum at St. Gregory’s, which equips individuals committed to their recovery with essential tools for reintegration into the community.
Originally from the Orange Free State, South Africa, Wilma is a mother of four biological children and two non-biological children, with a total of thirteen grandchildren. While most of her children reside in the USA, she maintains a close bond with her sister, who lives near Cape Town. Wilma emphasizes her availability to offer assistance whenever needed, encouraging individuals not to hesitate to reach out for support.
Tracy Burns
LPN
Tracy Burns has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and previously served as the Health Services Director at a 66-bed assisted living facility specializing in Alzheimer’s care in Omaha. Seeking a change, Tracy returned to the area to be closer to her parents and began her journey as a floor nurse at St. Gregory’s in the spring of 2020. Tracy is passionate about helping others and finds fulfillment in supporting individuals on their path to recovery. She looks forward to reconnecting with former patients at alumni events. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three children and seven grandchildren.
Andy Menken
Director of Utilization Review
Meet Andy, our Director of Utilization Review for both St. Gregory’s and Ivory Plains. His tenure at St. Gregory’s began in 2016, although he briefly pursued other opportunities before returning, driven by his deep affinity for the position. Andy finds immense satisfaction in facilitating clients' access to optimal lengths of stay and witnessing their transformative journeys from admission to discharge.
Andy pursued his education at the University of Northern Iowa, earning a BSW and obtaining his CADC. Andy's faith holds a central place in his life, alongside his dedication to his three remarkable children, who are actively engaged in various extracurricular activities ranging from sports to music and community service. Andy shares several intriguing anecdotes, including encounters with a US president, a family legacy of military service, his past role as a probation officer, and personal achievements such as a notable bench press and a heroic act of saving a child from drowning. Additionally, he cherishes significant life milestones such as being re-baptized a decade ago, which profoundly impacted his life.
Alexis Thompson
Market Director / Community Outreach
Meet Alexis, she is our passionate Market Director of Business Development/Community Outreach at St. Gregory Recovery Center. Her journey with St. Gregory's commenced in 2021, evolving into the role of Market Director in 2023. Over the years, she has witnessed remarkable transformations and progress within the Iowa facilities, which fuels her passion for her work every day. Alexis finds fulfillment in the adage, "You will never work a day in your life when you do something you love," as it accurately reflects her experience.
Despite holding directorial positions in various companies throughout her career, Alexis attests that nothing compares to her current role. She takes pleasure in engaging with the community, sourcing assistance and resources for individuals, and above all, raising awareness about addiction and mental health. Alexis pursued her education at Upper Iowa University, majoring in Psychology and Business Management, where she crossed paths with her husband. Together, they now nurture two lively boys, two horses, and a basset hound. During her leisure time, Alexis can be found enjoying the company of her family and animals at the barn or exploring trails. Alternatively, she actively represents the Iowa facilities in the community, proudly advocating for the support they provide to the recovery community.
Sammarra Platt-Smith
Business Office Manager
Sammarra is the Business Office Manager for the Iowa market. She commenced her journey in July of 2023 at Ivory Plains before assuming the role of Business Office Manager for the Iowa Market in 2024. A lifelong resident of Iowa, she grew up in a large family on a farm in a secluded area. Married for 30 years, Sammarra and her spouse have raised three daughters and now revel in the joy of five grandchildren, four grand dogs, three grand cats, a grand horse, and a guinea pig. Her passion lies in witnessing the transformation of clients from arrival to discharge. Each week, she observes individuals evolve and find forgiveness within themselves. Additionally, she finds fulfillment in meeting people and aiding them on their journey to sobriety. Sammarra attributes her satisfaction to the dedicated and compassionate individuals she works alongside, who consistently extend support and grace to others. Her personal motto encapsulates her belief that "life is a journey."
