Meet the ANEW Team
Michaelene Colestock LPCC, LADC
Founder, CEO
Michaelene Colestock-Spence is the founder of ANEW Chemical Health Services and Spence Specialties LLC. Michaelene has been working in the SUD Treatment and Recovery field since 2001. After completing her Master's level internship at Wayside House she found she had a genuine passion for serving women and children. Michaelene's vision included providing sober housing to women and women with children, Outpatient treatment services, and in 2021 included Residential treatment services. Michaelene is well connected to many other professionals in the treatment community and has served hundreds of clients and their families throughout the years. Michaelene is a firm believer in the power of thought and that everything happens for a reason. We must "trust the path" that is laid before us as it is the path to start ANEW.
Mary Beth Fessler LPCC, LADC
Chief Clinical Officer
Mary Beth has been working in the field of substance use disorders and mental health since 2008. She obtained her Masters Degree from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies and is dually licensed as a LADC and LPCC. She has had a strong passion for working with women since 2010 when she started working at Wayside House. Mary Beth spent 6 years working with mental health residential programs (IRTS) and also has experience in case management services. Her areas of interest include secondary trauma, work-life balance, infertility, and leadership development. When not working, Mary Beth spends time with her husband, Branden, Daughter, Sloane and yorkies, Indy & Koda. She is a huge NFL fan, a MN Vikings season ticket holder, and is in a couple’s bowling league. Mary Beth is a new mom and thrilled to again be working with women and families.
Jess Koep LICSW, LADC
Clinical Director
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Jess has been working in the field of addiction and mental health in various roles since 2007. She obtained her LADC in 2013 and MSW in 2015. Jess has experience working in residential, outpatient, sober housing and private practice. She has also spent time working as an adjunct instructor at Minneapolis College in the Addiction Counseling Program. Jess has a strong passion for walking along side women as they heal from their past and begin gaining self-confidence, self-reliance and hope for their present and future selves. Jess is a dually licensed clinician that believes there is not a "one-size fits all" approach to long-term recovery. Jess believes that all humans can heal with individualized support and resources in place. She is humbled to be part of an incredible team and organization that's purpose and mission is to support women in finding their way to recovery.
Amber Hamm, M.ED.
Childcare Center Director
ANEW Childcare Center
Amber has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education since 2012. She obtained her Bachelors Degree from Metropolitan State University and is currently finishing her Masters Degree from Capella University in Early Childhood Education. Amber spent 6 years as an infant/toddler teacher before growing into her passion of childcare management in 2018.
Other areas of interest of hers include trauma informed care, parent resources, foster care, and leadership development. When not working, Amber spends time with her fiancé and two dogs, Zelda and Zoey. She enjoys hockey games, painting, and nature.
Kiersha Mauch MSW, LICSW
Clinical Supervisor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Kiersha obtained her masters degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Minnesota in 2018. She has years of experience working in residential and inpatient treatment settings, beginning in 2015 as a direct care staff. Kiersha’s background includes facilitation of group therapies such as intervention and prevention programming to combat domestic violence, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills groups for individuals struggling with mental health, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Kiersha is thankful to be part of such a strong team of women leaders. She is passionate about providing a safe, encouraging, and nonjudgmental environment where others feel at ease, supported, and empowered.
Jeanne Balthazor
Human Resources Generalist
I came to ANEW with 20 years of Human Resource experience in all areas. I am excited to help ANEW grow into an amazing organization. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and my 2 wonderful dogs Zoey and Lucy.
Nyasia Arradondo
Program Supervisor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Nyasia is the Recovery Advocate Supervisor for ANEW’s residential treatment program and currently completing her degree in social work at Metro State University. With several years of experience working in the chemical and mental health field, she’s developed multiple skill sets, using a creative and compassionate approach to facilitate a safe and stable environment for her clients. She approaches her role with an emphasis on empowerment, cultural competency, and trauma informed care. Nyasia’s been given the opportunity to share the stage with leaders in the recovery community because of her allyship and advocacy work, destigmatizing substance use disorder and promoting recovery in the Twin Cities’ art scene and communities of color.
In her free time, Nyasia enjoys spending time with her family, eating good food, and watching scary movies with her adorable black cat, DOOM.
Veronica Overman
Lead Recovery Advocate
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Veronica is a graduate of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. She came to Minnesota in 2012 to continue her education. Veronica has worked in the chemical dependency field for 9 years. She began in the field as a Chemical Health Technician working with adolescents and then working with women as a Recovery Advocate. Veronica is passionate about empowering women to become confident and self-sufficient, and to reclaim their lives through sobriety.
Veronica is from Dayton, Ohio and follows THE Ohio State University and Cincinnati Bengals football. She enjoys reading, writing, and watching Hallmark Christmas movies year round with her cat Phineas and 2 dogs, Leroy and Teddy.
Nycole Fry CPRS
Benefits and Financial Case Manager
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Nycole's passion for mental and social well-being, the arts, social change, and connection has been a cornerstone in her life. Her mission is to inspire others to explore and embrace their unique self as she encourages individuals to cultivate their internal power. Nycole is a Co-founder and CEO of the non-profit Inner Genius, owner of Cultivating Creativity, innovator of Paint Your Story and Mental Emotional Mastery workshops, and a certified peer review specialist with a B.A. in Social Science. She has served various communities for over a decade and is determined to share her mission and purpose with everyone she meets.
Ellie Erickson BA
Care Coordinator
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Ellie received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Winona State University. She’s been working in the chemical dependency field for 4 years, starting out as an advocate at Wayside Recovery Center. Ellie has a passion for serving her community, having worked to support special needs adults as well as helping women through their recovery.
She has continued her work in advocacy, as an administrative medication assistant by communicating with providers, setting appointments up for clients, and ensuring that clients are informed about the medications they are prescribed.
Outside of ANEW, Ellie is a dog-mom to Penelope Rose Erickson, AKA Penny, her beloved bichon poodle. Ellie enjoys watching reality and true crime shows and cuddling with Penny. Ellie also spends a lot of her free time spending time with friends and family.
Kiya Azure
Administrative Assistant
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Kiya graduated from Winona State University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has a passion for guiding women through their recovery and mental health journey. Kiya’s focus is to foster relationships within the community and make every client feel safe and heard. She believes that everyone is worthy and capable of recovery. Kiya aspires to one day become a dual-licensed mental health and substance abuse counselor.
Kiya’s free time is often spent playing Zelda, watching movies, doing yoga, and chilling outside with her fiancé and her ball python, Luna.
Ashley Beadell LADC
Residential Intake Coordinator
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Ashley received her undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin- La Crosse majoring in Sociology and Criminal Justice. Ashley then attended the University of Minnesota Addiction Studies program to obtain her Licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has been in the field for 6 years and has experience working in a number of different settings; outpatient, residential, jail, prison and with a diverse population; men, women, and teenagers.
Ashley enjoys working in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy frame work and exploring criminal and addictive thinking with clients. She is encouraged by seeing women feel empowered by challenging their unhelpful thinking. In Ashley's current role of Intake Coordinator, she is seeing first hand the courage of clients taking their first steps of getting into treatment. Outside of work, Ashley is on a journey of visiting all 66 state parks in Minnesota and growing her collection of house plants.
Mackenzie Hazelton CPRS
Outpatient and Sober Housing Intake Coordinator
ANEW Chemical Health Services
"Mackenzie began working in the recovery field as a Sober Housing Manager in June 2018 and over the last several years has worked in various roles from admissions to intakes. Her current role is the Outpatient and Sober Housing Intake Coordinator for ANEW Chemical Health Services. She enjoys working with women and their children, helping provide them with hope and stable housing for a start at a better future. She is also a MN Board Certified - Peer Recovery Specialist and is honored to give back to the community. She has her own personal journey in recovery that began in March 2017 and it continues to go strong with working her program daily, volunteering her time outside of work and giving back what the program has given to her. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with loved ones, volunteering, traveling and being in nature!"
Sara Greenbaum LADC
Counselor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Sara received her Bachelor of Science degree in alcohol and drug counseling from Metropolitan State University and is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Sara's approach to providing care is person-centered and believes in the importance of the therapeutic alliance between a client and provider. She has experience working with diverse populations and is skilled in assisting clients with working through grief, and challenging shame-based beliefs. She provides a strengths-based approach in helping clients reach their full potential.
Sara is currently in graduate school at Capella University working on her Masters degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Pamela Brown LADC
Counselor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Pamela is a woman in long-term recovery and she says this with gratitude and humility. It just seemed to happen one step, one day at a time; one meeting, one prayer…you get the idea. Pamela has three primary passions in life. Number one is recovery, number two children and their children, number three is working with women to teach, coach, counsel, and encourage them toward a life of long-term (one day at a time) recovery, especially by being an example.
Pamela came to counseling later in life, earning a degree in Addiction Counseling from MCTC in 2008 with licensing as an LADC following. She worked at Wayside for a little over 10 years and came to ANEW Treatment Center a few months after that in 2018. Pamela says she is proud to be a member of the ANEW Treatment Center team. One of her greatest joys is seeing former clients as they live successful lives of recovery as well as receiving calls and messages from others. She teaches and lives a 'no matter what' sobriety, knowing that going back to chemical use NEVER solves a problem or makes life better. She says, "ANEW is a fun, compassionate and ethical place to work and I couldn't be happier to be a part of it."
Sam Krebsbach MS, LADC
Counselor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Samantha (Sam) graduated from North Dakota State University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She went on to earn her Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Mary in Fargo, ND, completing the program in 2016. While in her Master's program, she was accepted into the North Dakota Addiction Counselor consortium to complete her 9-month long internship in addiction counseling. Here, she gained experience in assessment, motivational interviewing skills, working with adolescents and families, adult men and women, as well as working in the state's local human service center where a "treatment mall" approach was utilized.
Sam moved to Minnesota in 2016 and obtained her LADC, initially working with women at Wayside Recovery Center Women's Residential Treatment as a counselor. She also gained experience in the Outpatient level of care, working as an Outpatient counselor at Wayside's Wellness Center prior to accepting a position at Anew. Sam values a positive relational, client-centered and client-driven approach to care, specializing in work with women and meeting clients where they're at in their personal recovery process. In her free time, Sam enjoys getting creative and leaning into the simple joys of life by knitting, painting with watercolors, collecting agates, hiking in nature, or spending time with her two cats. This year, Sam took on the challenge of completing a year-long scarf project, knitting a row each day that corresponds to the daily temperature.
Kate McFadden LADC
Counselor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Kate received her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2015. She moved to Minnesota in 2016 where she began her career in the world of recovery in various roles at inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities, sober housing, and medication-assisted treatment services. Kate received her License in Drug and Alcohol Counseling from Minneapolis College in 2021. She values access and inclusion for all in need as demonstrated by her completion of the Equity and Diversity Certification program at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. Kate loves to learn all that she can about the world, those around her, and everything life has to offer.
Kate enjoys spending her free time with her family (especially her niece and nephews), walking her 14-year-old Chihuahua, and taking group fitness classes. Number one on her bucket list is to attend a live taping of Saturday Night Live!
Alicia McCabe BS, LADC
Counselor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Alicia graduated from Metropolitan State University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Alcohol and Drug counseling and became a LADC in January 2022. Alicia has found a special passion for working with women as they navigate every stage of recovery. She believes in a person-centered framework and works with each client to meet their unique needs. Outside of work, Alicia enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and snuggling her cat Mila.
Haley Zahn-Hess, LADC
Counselor
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Haley graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Social Justice. In that time, she worked as a Chemical Dependency Technician in a small residential treatment program for women and realized her passion working with people to achieve long-term recovery; she then went on to earn her Addiction Counseling Diploma from Minneapolis College in 2021. Haley also has experience working as a Mental Health Worker in Hennepin County Medical Center’s Inpatient Psychiatry department, where she developed a broader understanding of mental health and the ways it intersects with addiction.
Prior to joining the incredible team at ANEW, Haley was working as a counselor at Wayside Recovery Center in their Women’s Residential and Intensive Outpatient Programs. Haley believes that everyone is capable of being the best version of themselves and walks alongside her clients as they navigate their road to recovery. She is passionate about trauma-responsive care with a strengths-based approach and feels that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and as the expert in their own journey.
Outside of her role as a counselor, Haley loves to spend time with family and cat Andi, travel, and is an avid podcast listener. She is currently working towards her Master of Social Work through St. Catherine University with the goal of becoming a dually licensed clinician.
Cherie Trinka
LADC Intern
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Cherie began working in the recovery field as a Recovery Advocate in April of 2022 at ANEW. Cherie is currently attending Minneapolis College in the Addiction Counseling Program. Her passion for recovery stems from her own personal experiences with addiction. She has chosen to commit to a new lifestyle and hopes to inspire others on their own journey to recovery. Cherie is a proud mother of 6 children and loves every moment spent with her family.
Michaelanne Kaszuba MA, LADC
Mental Health Therapist
ANEW Health and Wellness Clinic
Michaelanne graduated in 2019 from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently in graduate school at the University of Saint Mary’s for a Master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services and a certificate in Addiction Studies. Michaelanne has previous experience doing behavioral therapy with children with autism and academic advising with undergraduate students. She is really excited to be working in this field and being able to help women towards recovery.
Michaelanne has recently discovered a love for hiking and finding new places to hike!
Emily Carlstrom CPRS
Sober House Manager & Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Emily is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist who works with women in recovery to help find ways and resources to live a new way of life. Emily participated in the Recovery Coach Academy through Bold North Recovery and became certified through the Minnesota Certification Board. Emily is in recovery herself and also a graduate of ANEW's Outpatient program and purchased her first home in early 2022. It has been an amazing journey for her so far and she takes great pride in being able to make a difference in the lives of other women like herself. Emily's greatest gifts in life are her three children. She enjoys every moment spent with them, as well as her two dogs and cat.
Carissa Okerson CPRS
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Carissa is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with a passion for helping women navigate the world of recovery. She is continuing her education in Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University and is looking forward to the learning and growth that is to come. Carissa is in recovery herself and uses her lived experience to help others around her. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her cat Stink, reading mystery novels, and perfecting her crochet skills.
Cat Johnson CPRS
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
ANEW Chemical Health Services
Cat is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. She participated in a training program through Refocus Recovery after she felt called to change careers; she was certified through the Minnesota Certification Board in February 2024. She has lived experience with chemical dependency and is passionate about helping others struggling with addiction issues.
Cat is an American Indian woman and tries to connect to her spiritual side as much as possible.
She also has her CDA in preschool education. And loves working with children as well. Recovery has given her freedom back and many possibilities that she never thought she'd have before.
In her free time she enjoys watching the latest tv shows, dancing and taking her Cat (Igmu) outside for a walk.
Melissa Micheau
Executive Chef
Melissa’s excitement about food, cooking, and connection was ignited by her mother and “Gram” while Melissa was still in elementary school. She spent innumerable hours after school watching, ‘helping,’ and learning as her mother and grandmother ran the kitchen of a local Supper Club, and Melissa quickly realized that her passions aligned with the creative, collaborative, and organizational rhythms of the kitchen. Having established a solid connection to cooking early in life, Melissa never left the kitchen. Her broad and deep culinary experience spans positions from dishwasher to Executive Chef, as well as restaurants from fast casual to formal Italian to luxury catering. She is so excited to share her love for the kitchen and the therapeutic and healing powers of food with our clients and staff.
Melissa has been an active member of the recovery community since 2009, and lives in St. Paul with her wife, daughter, and dog. In her limited free time, she enjoys playing guitar and ukulele, experimenting with new recipes, traveling, and watching all of the true crime and world history documentaries.