Our Staff
Alliance
for Youth is grateful to have a
Team of dedicated, compassionate
and goal-oriented staff who work
tirelessly to provide effective
prevention, intervention and
treatment services to youth and
families in our
community!
Thomas Risberg
Development Director
406.590.7114
Thomas Risberg is from St. Louis, Missouri. He is a lawyer by training and prior to moving to Great Falls in 2017 he worked in a variety of positions including: teaching 5th Grade in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the Teach for America program, clerking on the Missouri Supreme Court and working on economic mobility and poverty issues at a nonprofit in Washington, DC. Thomas’ older brother, David, struggled with mental illness and addiction issues throughout his life and died in 2017. Thomas struggled with alcoholism for many years himself and now has devoted his life to helping provide purpose, connection and compassion to people in recovery from addiction and alcoholism. In his free time, Thomas loves to read, play volleyball, hike and cheer on his hometown St. Louis Cardinals.
Lisa
A. Beavers
Peer Recovery
Coach and Care
Coordinator
406.203.0935
Lisa joined the AFY team this year after working for seven years in southern California as a Substance Abuse Counselor at several startup treatment centers. Being a Montanan at heart, she returned home after ten years to Great Falls and joined the Alliance for Youth staff wanting to move into an “upstream” position of prevention to help change the startling growing statistics that afflict the youth of today. She's crazy about her “gkids,” British gardening shows on Netflix, White Chocolate Lattes and exploring new ways to exercise without sweating.
Dean
Snow
Sober
Life Program Director
406.203.0935
Dean is a proud Native American who grew up on a farm in northcentral Montana, the heart of Sugarbeeter Nation. His journey to become Program Manager of the Sober Life was certainly not a direct path. He spent 35 years in active addiction. During this time he has done just about everything you could possibly imagine, from working on the family farm to being the Programming Director of a radio station. On June 10, 2017, Dean dedicated himself to getting his life back on track and has not looked back since. He became very active in the recovery community and joined the team at Gateway as a Peer Support Specialist before making his way to Alliance for Youth. He is currently studying to be a Licensed Addictions Counselor and living his best life.
Chris Hensley
Youth
Advocate
406.899.9545
Originally born in Oklahoma, Chris’s family first moved to Montana in the late 1980’s and he fell in love with the mountains. He has lived in Great Falls since 1992. He loves living in Great Falls with its great community and central location to so many great outdoor Montana locations. Chris’s first job was in the US Army and he later worked in Food & Beverage management. In later years, he developed an addiction to alcohol. After attending treatment and becoming active in the recovery community, Chris has found his calling in helping others struggling with addiction. Chris loves spending time outdoors enjoying the beautiful scenery Montana has to offer and going to movies with family and friends.
Liz was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. She is attending Great Falls College MSU and is studying to be a licensed addiction counselor. Liz struggled with drug addiction for 7 years. She went in and out of treatment centers, and she learned a lot, but couldn’t stay sober. In September 2019, she hit her bottom and that is when her recovery journey began. She is happy to be working at Alliance for Youth as because of her life experience and knowledge she feels that she has a lot to give to people struggling with addiction and mental illness. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and pets. Some of her hobbies include traveling, MMA, and playing drums and guitar.
Lynda Vande Sandt
Prevention Specialist, Liberty County
406.952.0018
Born and raised in Chinook, Lynda attended Billings Vo-Tech. After starting her family, she struggled with an alcohol addiction. She attended treatment, and later returned to college at MSU-Northern earning her BA in Community Services with a minor in Communication. For 18 years she served as the Coordinator for the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce and the Tobacco Prevention Specialist for Liberty County. She looks forward to expanding prevention education in her community. Lynda enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and grandkids, as well as being at home in the great metropolis of Inverness. Her daily goal is to make at least one person smile or laugh. Joy is contagious!
Isis Olson
Youth and Parent Emotional Health Program Manager
406.952.0035
Isis
Olson is native to Montana and
has lived here her whole life.
She graduated from MSU-Northern
with her bachelor's degree in
Criminal Justice and a minor in
Psychology. Isis has a strong
drive to help better the
community by helping children
and parents succeed in having
happy and healthy families.
Through her own life experiences
of foster care placements,
struggles with abuse and trauma,
Isis has found a way to be an
inspiration and hope for others
struggling by helping other
parents be the best they can be.
When Isis is not at work, she is
spending time with her two
children and her amazing husband
or traveling the
world.
Heidi was born and raised in Washington state. She attended Washington State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Horticulture. She has worked with children and families in different capacities for over 20 years.
She enjoys fishing, kayaking, camping and anything else she can do outdoors with my family. Heidi now lives in Choteau, Montana, with her husband, children and pups, and is dedicated to serving her community and all of Teton county.
Andrew Rucinsky is originally from Havre, Montana but has lived all over Montana and many other parts of the United Stats. Andy has worked in many different roles in the construction field. Andy struggled with addiction for the majority of his life but has accomplished finding peace in his life in his recovery program. He is currently involved in a church group and attends Great Falls College-MSU. Andy has a passion for helping others and learning new things. In his spare time, he tinkers with vehicles or computers, and he facilitates an online group providing mental health and addiction support with peers across the globe.
Richard Conrad
Peer Recovery Coach & Care Coordinator
406.203.0935
Rich struggled with addiction and alcoholism for more than two decades, losing his family and nearly his life. In 2017, homeless and hopeless, Rich suffered a stroke and was expected to need convalescent care for the rest of his life. Miraculously, after a month in the hospital, through God’s grace, he was able to start the recovery program at the Great Falls Rescue Mission. After completing the program, he then spent 4 years working at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center, having the privilege of supporting people as they begin their life of recovery. Rich is now six years sober, is reunited with his family and is living his best life. Rich says, “Sobriety has taught me who I am, where I have been and where I never want to go again. Sobriety is a gift, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to pass on this gift to others.”
Anjie is from Ferndale, Washington. GO SEAHAWKS! She attended Skagit Valley College and Multnomah University and studied human services and youth ministry. Anjie has worked with kids for 26 years in many different capacities, including piano teacher, home daycare provider, special education paraeducator and behavior support specialist. The most important goal she has with kiddos is building relationships. She believes that each one has value and purpose, and she works to help them believe this. In her free time, Anjie enjoys spending time with her three adult kids. They are her joy.
Jeff Senft
Youth Advocate – Transport Specialist
406.952.0136
I was born in 1959 and raised in the Bay Area of California. I am a retired bottle maker and a widower with five daughters and seven grandchildren. In 2015, I developed a lung problem which forced me into early retirement. I moved to Montana in 2017, for the cooler climate and to escape some issues in California. I brought alcoholism and numerous previous DUI’s with me. I got another DUI here in 2019 and was offered Adult Treatment Court with the opportunity of expungement and it changed my life. Peer Support was a huge part of getting sober and staying sober since June 7, 2019. I have been involved with Sober Life since the summer of 2019 and the opportunity to give back to youth is what led me to join Alliance for Youth as a Youth Advocate-Transport Specialist. I’m very excited to part of the Alliance for Youth and Youth Resource Center team. In my free time, I read, do crosswords and puzzles, watch Jeopardy nightly and root for my Bay Area sports teams.