Meet Our Team

At Tyler’s Redemption Place, our team is made up of people who lead with compassion, lived experience, and a shared commitment to strengthening recovery in our community. From staff to executive board members, each person brings their own story, skills, and heart for service. Together, we work to create a space where connection, hope, and healing can take root. 

Our Staff

Our staff brings compassion, lived experience, and meaningful support to the recovery journey.

Shelly Bornstein 

Executive Director

Shelly is the co‑founder and Executive Director of Tyler’s Redemption Place. With nearly three decades in healthcare and extensive training in addiction, grief, trauma, and peer support, she brings deep expertise and compassion to her leadership. Shelly co‑founded The Well grief support group and has served on multiple county task forces and advisory councils. Her heart for service and lived experience guide her commitment to families and individuals impacted by addiction. Shelly is an Ohio Certified Family Peer Supporter and has her CDCA certification. Additionally, she is certified in Compassionate Bereavement Care through the Center for Loss and Trauma in partnership with the MISS Foundation. 

Laura Broyles

Director of Education & Outreach 

Laura holds a BS in Education from The University of Akron and brings experience in sales, event planning, and community engagement. Her work includes grant writing, fundraising, and leading education and outreach efforts for Tyler’s Redemption Place. She is certified as an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist and has completed extensive training in addiction, mental health, suicide prevention, and youth life-skills education.

Debby Kirkpatrick

Recovery Program Director

Debby is a U.S. Air Force veteran with decades of leadership experience in retail management. After losing her daughter Megan to overdose, she shifted her career to support individuals and families affected by addiction. Debby is an Ohio Certified Family Peer Supporter, a leader of The Well grief group, and now directs recovery programming at Tyler’s Redemption Place

Courtney Yates

Peer Recovery Supporter

Courtney is a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter and a woman in long-term recovery. As a mother of three children, she brings compassion, authenticity, and lived experience to her work, especially supporting women navigating custody challenges, grief, and rebuilding identity. Courtney is passionate about creating spaces where people feel understood and empowered.

Kenny Haynes

Veteran Peer Supporter

Kenny, a Marine Corps veteran with a degree in social work, has dedicated his life to serving others. After overcoming opioid addiction and losing loved ones to the disease, he now supports veterans on their recovery journeys. Kenny brings experience from law enforcement, youth services, along with his certifications in peer support and Anger Management. He is guided by the belief that “you’re most qualified to help the person you used to be.”

Patrick Hill

Peer Recovery Supporter

Patrick is a U.S. Army veteran and former Ranger who turned his healing journey into a mission to help others. After completing the Valor Court Program and achieving long-term sobriety, he now supports veterans and community members through peer-led recovery work. Patrick blends empathy with wellness coaching, encouraging others to rebuild strength through mind, body, and spirit.

Megan Hurley

Peer Marketing Coordinator

Megan brings more than 20 years of creative experience in visual arts and marketing. She supports Tyler’s Redemption Place through brand presentation and storytelling rooted in compassion and authenticity. As an artist and someone committed to her own healing journey, Megan works to create spaces where others feel seen and supported.

Kayla Wilson

Peer Recovery Supporter 

Kayla is a Certified Peer Supporter with a passion for helping others find hope and healing in recovery. She is currently thriving in her own recovery journey and uses her lived experience to connect with and support others with compassion and understanding. Kayla also holds a bachelor’s degree in education, which has strengthened her ability to encourage, guide, and empower those she works with. Above all, she is a proud mother of two boys who inspire her every day to continue growing and giving back to the recovery community.

Brian Boyd

Peer Recovery Supporter 

A former construction tradesman from Cleveland, Brian relocated to Summit County to build a life grounded in principle, character, and integrity. His personal experience with peer support inspired him to pursue recovery work professionally. As the foundational peer hire at Tyler’s Redemption Place, he earned key certifications and helped launch vital services and statewide partnerships. Drawing on his past journey through ODRC facilities, Brian now channels his lived experience to empower others and create meaningful community impact.

Our Executive Board

Our Executive Board offers leadership and guidance that strengthens our mission.

Travis Bornstein

Travis has spent his lifetime fighting for working men and women as President of Teamsters Local No. 24 in Akron, Ohio, where he is known for his integrity and leadership. He co-founded Tyler’s Redemption Place (formerly Hope United) with his wife, Shelly, in honor of their son, Tyler, and has become a national advocate for addiction and recovery reform. His impact on public policy spans both local and national levels. Travis provided instrumental testimony at the Ohio Statehouse to help pass the state’s first Good Samaritan 911 Law and played a central role in the 2019 Federal Opioid Bellwether Trial in Cleveland. His advocacy helped hold pharmaceutical companies accountable, contributing to a landmark $260 million settlement. A Marine Corps veteran, Travis continues to champion accountability, compassion, and change.

Karen May

Karen brings more than 30 years of marketing and communications experience, including roles at HBD Industries and The Timken Company. A University of Akron graduate and Leadership Akron alum, she has served on numerous nonprofit boards. Karen now dedicates her skills to supporting Tyler’s Redemption Place through media relations and fundraising.

Colin Meeker

Colin is an attorney with Blakemore, Meeker & Bowler Co., L.P.A. and holds degrees in sociology, public administration, and law. With experience in both law enforcement and criminal defense, he understands the urgent need for Tyler Redemption Place’s mission. He is committed to supporting recovery and strengthening community resources.

Craig Ressler

Craig is a minister with deep roots in pastoral care, serving congregations in Georgia and Ohio since 2009. A graduate of the South East Institute of Biblical Studies, he is passionate about walking alongside people with compassion and hope. At Tyler’s Redemption Place, Craig leads and mentors men in the RCO, providing guidance and support. He and his wife, Amanda, are raising four boys, and he continues to advocate for and support those in our recovery community.

Rev. Reba McCray

Reba is a woman in long-term recovery and serves as pastor of Community of Christ Church and Executive Director of ARC Recovery Services. She leads the Ohio Recovery Housing Association and contributes to the Summit County Re-entry Coalition. Reba’s lived experience, including the loss of her son, fuels her commitment to helping others find stability, healing, and community.

Dean Poling

Dean is a Stark County small-business owner specializing in Generac Generators and Clean Energy Solutions. Inspired by his own recovery journey and the loss of his best friend, Tyler, he is passionate about helping others find hope. Dean has served on multiple nonprofit boards and brings a heart for service, faith, and community to Tyler’s Redemption Place.

Todd Rossiter

Todd is a former iron worker and Local 17 member who survived a near-fatal workplace accident in 2016. His long recovery journey, combined with his experience in long-term recovery, inspires his advocacy for others facing similar challenges. Todd has been a speaker at meetings, events, and rallies over the years, offering hope and encouragement to those seeking a new path.

Judge Susan Baker Ross

Judge Baker Ross serves on the Summit County Court of Common Pleas and presides over Valor Court, supporting justice-involved veterans. She has received numerous awards for leadership and service within the legal and recovery communities. In long-term recovery herself, she uses her experience to bring compassion, accountability, and hope to others.

Logan Broyles

Logan is an Oberlin College graduate with a degree in economics and works for Ayers Insurance Agency. He previously led the Chess Club and a bible study at the RCO and brings a passion for learning, wellness, and community engagement. Inspired by the loss of his cousin Tyler, Logan is committed to supporting the mission of Tyler’s Redemption Place.

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