There is no hero in heroin foundation
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Scott Frost
President
Scott Allen Frost is an executive, entrepreneur, father, and author. Scott is a native Nevadan who was raised and educated in Reno. He’s the co-founder and President of Titan Brands based in Las Vegas. Scott has directed the design, development and operation of restaurant and nightlife venues in Nevada, Arizona and New York. Titan was recognized as Las Vegas’ “Restaurateur of the Year” by the Nevada Restaurant Association.
Scott Frost is a co-founder and SVP of Your Fare, a restaurant technology company based in Austin, Texas and is an expert on organizational behavior and team building.
He wrote his autobiography “Livin’ on a Chair, Lessons of Love and Faith After Breaking my Neck” and has become a nationally recognized inspirational speaker. He enjoys sharing his experience in business leadership after becoming a quadriplegic ten years ago.
He has remained active in the Las Vegas community co-founding and chairing several trade organizations and nonprofits including the Technology Business Alliance of Nevada, the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, the Vegas Valley Angels, and the Spinal Injury Recovery Foundation. He has served as the council president of Community Lutheran Church.
Recognizing the opioid crisis and the impact it has on the Las Vegas community, he enthusiastically serves on the board of TINHIH.
Alyson Martinez
Secretary
Alyson moved to Las Vegas when she was 12 years old. She fell in love with the different communities and culture here in fabulous Las Vegas. She completed both her undergrad and Masters programing at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She has worked in Human Services since 2005 and started her journey working in the Recovery world in 2007. She is currently the Clinical Director at The Las Vegas Rescue Mission. She oversees the Low Intensity Residential Treatment, Intact Families Housing, and Emergency Shelter programming. Alyson has two clinical licenses in the state of Nevada, License Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) and License Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is also a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Supervisor. She enjoys supervising clinical interns and staff; providing guidance, training, and development. Alyson continues to also provide direct services, which she values as it keeps her growing and knowledgeable on today’s needs. She loves building programs and ensuring quality services are being delivered.
Kaitlyn Lesnikoski
Treasurer
Kaitlyn is the treasurer and blog author for There is No Hero in Heroin. She is also a full time teacher and a full time graduate school student studying administrative leadership. Her goal is to one day help open more recovery high schools, as well as create more exercise oriented programs to support people in their addiction recovery. In her free time she currently competes on the pro level of obstacle course races. She proudly wears her There is No Hero in Heroin gear at each event, and her sport has helped her network with countless athletes in recovery.
Christy Navarro
Board Member
Christy moved to Las Vegas when she was 11 years old. She was actively involved in her community early on participating in service projects with her church. After starting her family Christy went on to complete both her undergrad and Masters programming at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker she has dedicated the last 20 years to working with individuals with substance use and mental health conditions. She has been part of several pilot programs bringing therapeutic services and resources into detention centers and homeless shelters giving these individuals a second chance. Christy was on the front lines providing crisis counseling to survivors and first responders immediately following the Route 91 Tragedy.
In 2014, Christy was awarded the Light of Hope award for her warm spirit, dedication and passion all the while improving the lives of her clients and co-workers.
In 2019, she was one of only a half dozen Nevadans asked to participate in the first ever Mobilize Recovery, an event that brought together recovery advocates, nonprofit organizations, and allies with an interest in creating sustainable change and community solutions.
Christy’s passion and enthusiasm for recovery is contagious. She loves bringing people together and believes in empowering those she works with. Her philosophy is an admirable one as she believes “there are no off days in this work, when someone is ready and asking for help you have to be ready.”
Lisa Hoover
Member at Large
Kaitlyn Lesnikoski
Treasurer
Dan Sandoval
Member at Large
Dan Sandoval
Member at Large
Advisory Board
Joseph Engle
Advisor
Joe’s family moved to Las Vegas in 1978 when he was 11 years old. He graduated from Western High School in 1985 and has worked for Safe Electronics since 2002 as an IBEW Low Voltage Senior Technician. Joe’s 19-year-old son Reese died in 2011 due to an overdose of heroin. The unbearable loss and profound pain that Joe experienced tormented him for a year. Upon the first “Angel Anniversary” of Reese’s death, a group of grieving parents with similar stories decided that they needed to help other families impacted by the opioid crisis. In June 2013, the nonprofit There is No Hero in Heroin Foundation formed to provide support and financial assistance for those seeking long term sobriety from opioid addiction. In the last five years, TINHIH Las Vegas has become a leader in the recovery community as well as a vocal advocate for sustainable recovery programs at the local, state and federal level. Along with Board Members Donn Jersey and Jeffery Horn, Joe advocated for the creation of the Clark County School District’s Mission High School in downtown Las Vegas which opened in the Fall of 2017.
Gisele Pollack
Advisor
Gisele Pollack is a highly esteemed legal professional and an ardent advocate for justice and community well-being. With a career spanning several decades, she has made a significant impact in the field of law and social services, particularly in the realm of substance abuse prevention and treatment.
Born and raised in Florida, Gisele’s passion for law and public service was evident from an early age. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Miami, where she excelled and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in History and a minor in Psychology, she pursued her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami Law School.
Her legal journey began as an intern at the Law Offices of Paul Pollack, Esq., and the Miami Public Defender’s office during the early 1970s. Over the years, Gisele honed her skills as an attorney, specializing in criminal trial work. Her dedication and expertise earned her a position as an Assistant Public Defender in the 17th Judicial Circuit of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she successfully represented countless clients and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice.
Gisele’s contributions extended far beyond the courtroom. Recognizing the importance of community involvement, she actively engaged in various outreach programs and served on the boards of several prominent organizations. Her work with the United Way’s Commission on Behavioral Health and Drug Prevention was particularly noteworthy, demonstrating her deep concern for tackling substance abuse issues in society.
In 2004, Gisele’s exceptional legal career reached new heights when she was elected as a Broward County Court Judge. In this esteemed role, she presided over civil, criminal, and juvenile drug court cases, pioneering innovative programs to address addiction and promote rehabilitation. Her groundbreaking work in establishing the Misdemeanor Drug Court, with a remarkable 5% recidivism rate, garnered national and international recognition.
Throughout her career, Gisele Pollack remained a tireless advocate for mental health and substance abuse treatment. She played a crucial role in various initiatives aimed at helping individuals on their path to recovery. As a guest speaker and advisor, she educated law enforcement agencies, schools, and community organizations on substance abuse prevention and addiction.
Gisele’s remarkable contributions to her field have been widely acknowledged. She received numerous accolades, including the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Broward County Women’s Hall of Fame for her significant contributions to society and the advancement of women’s rights.
After dedicating over four decades to her legal and community service, Gisele Pollack retired in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, leadership, and positive change. Her unwavering commitment to justice, coupled with her passion for community service, continues to inspire and uplift countless lives, making her a beacon of hope and a role model for aspiring legal professionals and advocates alike.
Judge Cederic Kerns
Advisor
Judge Cedric A. Kerns was elected to Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 5 in June of 1997.
Judge Kerns came to Las Vegas in 1985 to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was a member of the nationally ranked debate team before graduating in 1989. He received his J.D. in 1992 from the University of San Diego.
Prior to being elected, Judge Kerns was a partner and co-founder of the Law Office of Kerns and Lybarger, where he focused on criminal defense and domestic law. While in private practice, Judge Kerns was an appointed member of the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force for the Study of Economic Bias in the justice system.
Judge Kerns is an active member of the American Bar Association, Judicial Division Delegate to the National Conference of Specialized Court Judges; Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency (SAPTA), and Multidisciplinary Prevention Advisory Committee (MPAC); American Judges Association, where he has served as delegate and governor representing the State of Nevada; Nevada Judges Association, where he served as a member of the Board of Directors as well as the president for the year 2005. Judge Kerns was chosen as Outstanding Judge of the Year for 2006 by the Nevada Judges Association and served on the Supreme Court 2012 Judicial Leadership Planning Committee.
Judge Kerns is the presiding judge over Las Vegas Municipal Courts Youth Offender (YO) Court. This is a specialized court that focuses on young offenders with drug offenses. Judge Kerns was also the creator of the specialized court H.O.P.E. that focuses on habitual offenders.
Krista Hales
Advisor
Board Member since 2017, advocate for recovery.
Krista Hales, LADC is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, both from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University in the Behavioral Health program, completing her culminating project on alcohol use amongst those at risk for HIV contraction or are HIV positive. Krista has been working in addiction treatment since 2008 and is currently the IOTRC Director for Center for Behavioral Health, overseeing program expansion to address the opioid epidemic through implementation of integration between numerous fields including law enforcement, primary care, and social services. Krista is an active member of the recovery community in Las Vegas by serving with multiple organizations such as the There Is No Hero In Heroin Foundation (TINHIH) Board of Directors, Nevada Opioid Treatment Association (NOTA) President, Southern Nevada Opioid Advisory Council (SNOAC) Executive Committee, Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance (SNHRA) Leadership Committee, and First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) Advisory Council.
