Leadership Team
Jake Galovich, SHRM-CP
Executive Director
Tati Payne
Admissions and Marketing Director
Joseph Wallace
Clinical Director
Travis Dunbar
Academic Director
Austin Hammatt
Residential Director
Jake Galovich, SHRM-CP
Executive Director
Jake has always had a passion for helping others and working with people. He graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Music with High Distinction from the Center for Advancement of Leadership. Jake’s original plan was to continue medical school and become a doctor but he began working at Discovery Ranch during his last semester part-time and fell in love with the program. Making a difference in the lives of others is what Jake loves to do most. Jake has a long history as the go-to guy here at The Ranch. He has been a part of the team since 2012 and has spent time as our Music Director, Family Services Coordinator, Admissions Counselor, and now serves as the executive director at WayPoint Academy. One of his greatest loves is traveling and exploring the wonders of the world. He considers himself a true foodie, always baking or cooking something new for everyone to try. Jake has a passion for music both teaching and performing, a huge love for his family, a skilled eye for detail, and a keen drive for perfection in everything he does.
Tati Payne
Admissions and Marketing Director
Tati was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and moved to Cedar City, UT to attend Southern Utah University. There she received her bachelor’s degree in Family Life and Human Development. It was also at this time that she began working as a residential mentor at Discovery Ranch for Girls and found a passion for working with struggling adolescents. She worked in a variety of roles within the program which led her to working in the admissions department. There she learned to love working with families and referring professionals. She is passionate about helping families navigate the challenges that come with needing therapeutic placement. Tati is thrilled to be part of the WayPoint Academy team and continue to support families through the admissions process. In her free time she loves spending time with her husband and dog, traveling to new places, and spending time outdoors.
Joseph Wallace
Clinical Director
Travis Dunbar
Academic Director
Austin Hammatt
Residential Director
Clinical Team
Joseph Wallace
Clinical Director
Bryan Shores, CMHC
Therapist
Kathy Johansen, CSW
Therapist
James Mason, MA, CMHC, CCAT
Therapist
Joseph Wallace
Clinical Director
Bryan Shores, CMHC
Therapist
Bryan Shores graduated from Radford University in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, with a minor in Criminal Justice. Bryan then received a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. He has worked extensively with clients suffering from severe mental health issues, including schizophrenia, personality disorders, trauma and PTSD, suicidality and self-harm, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and co-morbid substance abuse. Bryan most recently worked in the wilderness setting and then a Residential Treatment Center here in Utah working with teenagers and their families struggling with anxiety, depression, and other similar mental health issues. Prior to moving to Utah five years ago, Bryan worked as a traveling in-home therapist for families and individuals diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder. Through this experience, he provided psychotherapy to teenagers and young adults, as well as their families. He has worked in a private practice setting, providing therapy and treatment for clients struggling with anxiety, attachment issues, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders. Bryan is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Play Therapy, Equine Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Brain Spotting, and utilizes therapy from a Person-Centered model. This has allowed him to cultivate a deeply humanistic approach that emphasizes connection, rapport, and care.Bryan is an avid snowboarder during the winter months, and enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, and hiking during the warmer months. He also enjoys attending live music events often, with his friends and family.
Kathy Johansen, CSW
Therapist
James Mason, MA, CMHC, CCAT
Therapist
I have known since undergrad that working and supporting those in the adolescent and young adult population is the dream! Someone once told me that the most effective way to change the world is to work with teenagers, and I couldn’t agree more. Adolescence can be a paradox: it is a beautiful period of discovery, examination, curiosity, and learning. On the other hand, adolescence is also challenging, frightening, exhausting, and overwhelming. This paradox applies not only to the adolescent, but to everyone in their immediate circle. Many teens carry a large number of demands, expectations, and pressures in conjunction with a lack of tools or skill sets at their disposal to tackle said demands. When we consider the various factors and nuances the average teen must accommodate for prior to having a fully developed prefrontal cortex, we can understand why many adolescents experience mental health issues. Having a foundational belief in the resilience and capabilities of adolescents is core to how I approach therapy.
Academic Team
Travis Dunbar
Academic Director
Sheri Burnett
Science Teacher
Ben Laslett
Physical Education Instructor
Cory Swenson
History Teacher
Travis Dunbar
Academic Director
Sheri Burnett
Science Teacher
Sheri grew up in the small town of Oakley, Idaho. She graduated from Idaho State University with a degree in biochemistry. She is currently working on her Masters of Education at Western Governors University. Sheri has worked at Waypoint Academy since September 2013. Originally, she was a part-time science teacher and moved into an as-needed substitute teacher since 2016. Sheri loves the WayPoint community and the opportunity to genuinely make a difference in each student's life. Sheri’s interests outside of school include artisan bean-to-bar dark chocolate (and sharing it with everyone), nature, gardening, reading, and hiking.
Ben Laslett
Physical Education Instructor
Originally from Canterbury, England, U.K, Ben now lives in North Ogden, UT. He did most of his schooling in the UK, and graduated from Canterbury Christ Church University with a degree in Psychology with Sport and Exercise Science, followed by a Masters degree in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Chichester. Ben is also a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor and an English FA licensed soccer coach. Ben worked for several years as a coach within a professional youth soccer academy. He enjoys planning and leading the Physical Education program for the students and seeing them experience learning and enjoyment from sports and exercise. Ben loves soccer and was fortunate to have a long career as a semi-professional in the UK. Ben enjoys playing and watching sports, watching movies, hiking, and spending as much quality time as possible with his wife and two children.
Cory Swenson
History Teacher
Medical Team
Dr. Richard Davidson
Psychiatrist
Megen Avner
Nurse
Dr. Richard Davidson
Psychiatrist
Richard Davidson, MD is a Board Certified Psychiatrist who received his medical degree from George Washington University in 1978. Following his internship, he spent his first six years as a physician providing primary care. Dr. Davidson returned to his schooling to complete his psychiatry residency at the University of Utah. He has spent over twenty years providing psychiatric care to children and adolescents in both the private and public sectors. He served as the first medical director of the inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry program at McKay Dee Hospital. In addition to consulting at Waypoint Academy, he is currently serving as the medical director at Weber Human Services in Ogden, Utah. Dr. Davidson is a retired flight surgeon from the United States Air Force Reserve. He enjoys bicycling, hiking, and spends a great deal of time with his wife and twelve grandchildren.
Megen Avner
Nurse
Megen was born in Driggs, Idaho and grew up in beautiful Alta, Wyoming. She later moved to Northern Utah where she graduated from Weber State University with an Associates of Arts in General Education and an Associates of Science in Nursing. Megen has worked as a Nurse for over 20 years. Prior to working here at WayPoint Academy, Megen worked in Women's Health, Gastroenterology, Geriatric care and Pediatric Psych. Megen and her husband have 4 amazing children and 2 dogs who love living in the Ogden Valley. They enjoy all of the outdoor activities such as snow skiing, water skiing, hiking, biking, and riding dirt bikes. They also love the sport of lacrosse and spend much time as a family traveling and playing.
Founder
Jared U. Balmer, Ph.D.
Co-founder
Jared U. Balmer, Ph.D.
Co-founder
Jared grew up in Switzerland where he completed his undergraduate studies in microbiology. After moving to the U.S., he completed a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy, both from Brigham Young University. His post-doctoral internship included extensive training with the late Milton H. Erickson, M.D., and Ray Becvar, Ph.D. in strategic therapy.Jared has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University, St. Louis University, and the University of Missouri at St. Louis (UMSL). He was a founding member of the St. Louis Family Institute. Courses he taught included: Parenting, Professional Studies, Family Law, Child Development, Parent-Child Relationships, Family Life Education, and Advanced Practicum in Family Therapy. Jared has published a number of professional articles and lectures on adolescent treatment-related topics to lay and professional audiences nationwide. He is the recipient of the 2004 National Leadership Award of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). He is a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Board of the Joint Commission of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO).Jared’s professional career centers on adolescents and their families. He is one of the pioneers of a multi-disciplinary approach in the private sector of the residential treatment arena, integrating education, milieu therapy, recreational therapy, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. While living in the mid-west, he founded two treatment centers that served students with severe conduct and related disorders. Since returning to Utah, Jared co-founded Rivendell Psychiatric Hospital, Island View RTC, The Oakley School, and the Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment. Drawing on his vast experience and passion for working with adolescents, he has joined forces with other seasoned professionals to create WayPoint Academy, a specialized residential treatment facility for males with anxiety and relation problems.Jared is the youngest of three children who found himself often in trouble with his teachers, much to the dismay of his parents. He is married with three children and has three grandchildren. He is passionate about mountaineering, skiing, trekking, canyoneering, mountain biking, and horsing around with his grandkids Gab, Greg, and Elliott.
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