Meet Our Staff
After struggling with the disease of addiction and losing a brother to an overdose, Tyler sought treatment and is now 7+ years sober and licensed as an advanced substance abuse counselor. In addition to working as the general manager at Steps Recover Centers he is earning his master's degree in social work at BYU and he works with the Utah County Sheriff's Office in the RISE program. He spends his off time with his family and credits them for his successes today.
Wendy Jensen is an accountant at Steps Recovery. She loves life and being outdoors. Spending time with her grandchildren is her favorite past time. Wendy's son was shot and killed while selling pills to some friends, so she is very passionate about and supportive of the clients here at Steps. Her favorite parts about her job are the hugs, and seeing families heal and once again have hope that their loved ones are not lost.
Tyler Pino is a husband, father, brother, and son. He has been with Steps Recovery Center since 2013. Tyler is in recovery and has discovered his passion for helping others who struggle with the disease of addiction. Tyler has struggled with addictions to many substances. His addiction began with gateway drugs for social acceptance and eventually lead him to his drug of choice, methamphetamine. This addiction and many poor choices eventually brought him to his rock bottom, incarceration. While incarcerated he did anything and everything to improve himself, making amends to family and repaying his debt to society. Tyler holds that “rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I built my life.” Tyler attends Utah Valley University and is majoring in Behavioral Sciences. He currently maintains his sobriety through the concepts taught in AA, Addict to Athlete, and most of all through serving others. Tyler is also very passionate about weight lifting, cycling, hiking, running and teaching others about fitness and recovery.
Annie has been with Steps Recovery Center from the beginning. Having the opportunity to open Annie’s House and work with women specifically has been such a rewarding experience for her. She experienced her own drug addictions and trials and found a new way of life through residential treatment and the 12-steps program. She loves working in the residential recovery industry and seeing people find hope and sobriety. She is passionate about helping addicts and their families find the help they need to live happy, healthy lifestyles free from addictions.
Dr. Keep has been in healthcare for 36 years. He was an advanced life support medic in central California for 5 years in the early 1980’s prior to attending medical school at Albany Medical College in Albany, NY. He completed Internal Medicine Residency and Heart Failure/Cardiac Transplant Fellowship at he University of Utah followed by Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Arizona. He worked as a general and interventional cardiologist in Utah for 18 years. In 2008 his 7-year-old daughter Alissa died in a motor vehicle accident. Dr. Keep had to overcome grief induced medical issues as well as alcohol use while struggling to recover from the pain of his daughter’s death. Volunteer work as well as research, writing, and speaking on the medical ramifications of grief and loss, including adverse coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, were part of his recovery. He has spoken locally, nationally and soon internationally on the subject. It also led to working with alcoholics and addicts and becoming an Addiction Medicine specialist. He is board certified in Cardiology, a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and board eligible in Addiction Medicine. Sharing his experience, strength, and hope as well as training, medical knowledge, and research are part of his desire to “pay it forward” and help others to also recover from grief, loss, trauma and addiction.
Dr. Cory Dennis is a clinical supervisor and consultant at Steps Recovery Center. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (licensed in Utah and California). He earned his PhD in social welfare at the University at Albany, State University of New York in 2012, his MSW at Brigham Young University in 2005, and his BS degree in sociology at the University of Utah in 2002 with a minor emphasis in psychology and a certificate in criminology and corrections. He has provided outpatient and residential substance abuse treatment to individuals and families, has provided general counseling services to individuals, couples, and families, and has worked on projects related to aging and community wellness. He has conducted and published research in the areas of substance abuse, aging, homelessness and social work practice, and has presented this research at regional, national and international conferences. He is an Assistant Professor at Brigham Young University’s School of Social Work.