Director of Administration

My name is Byron Buckendorf, and I oversee Transition Line Services at Milestone Community Wellness, helping individuals navigate the justice system and successfully reintegrate into their communities.

Having spent years navigating the system myself, I bring lived experience, credibility, and a deep commitment to helping others break cycles that once held them back.

I do this work because I believe the strongest way to make our communities safer is by helping people transform their lives, just as I have worked to transform my own.

Jonathan Matheny serves as the Director of Operations at Milestone Community Wellness. His path into behavioral health and peer recovery work grew from his own lived experience during 25 years of incarceration. It was during that time that Jonathan discovered the power of peer support, personal accountability, recovery, and connection—and saw firsthand the difference that the right support can make in a person’s life.

Today, Jonathan brings that lived experience into his leadership at Milestone, helping build programs and systems that create meaningful opportunities for people navigating recovery, re-entry, and personal transformation. His work is grounded in the belief that people are more than their past and that, with the right tools, relationships, and opportunities, lasting change is possible.

As Director of Operations, Jonathan helps turn Milestone’s mission into everyday practice, supporting staff, strengthening programs, and helping ensure the organization remains rooted in the needs of the communities it serves.

I am a Clinical Mental Health Therapist and LPCC based in Arvada, Colorado, called to serve justice-involved individuals as they rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.

My journey began in the outdoors, as a park ranger and wildlife biologist, where I witnessed firsthand the resilience, balance, and restoration found in the natural world. Over time, after seeing the need for many people to have a safe space to begin healing, I felt called to bring those same concepts into a therapeutic setting.

Today, I integrate nature-based and somatic practices to help clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate emotions, and rediscover their inner strength.

I believe transformation is possible for everyone, and I am committed to walking alongside my clients as a steady, compassionate presence while they reclaim their lives on their healing journey.

SUD Therapist

Jennifer Alm is a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) who has been providing addiction treatment services in Colorado since 2017. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling from Metropolitan State University of Denver in December 2022.

Jennifer brings both professional experience and lived experience in recovery to her work. Her passion for the field is rooted in her personal understanding of how substance use and mental health challenges can impact individuals and families. This perspective allows her to approach clients with empathy, compassion, and genuine understanding.

Jennifer has a natural ability to recognize growth and potential in others, even when they may struggle to see it in themselves. She is dedicated to supporting clients as they work through personal challenges, build self-awareness, and move toward lasting recovery.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys fishing, camping, football, being outdoors, and spending time with her family.

SUD Therapist

Teri began her behavioral health career as a youth advocate. She enjoys helping others accomplish their personal goals around recovery. With the desire to better support individuals on the road to recovery, she felt compelled to further her education. In 2006, she received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Services with a minor in criminal justice. Additionally, she earned her Certified Addictions Specialist credential. Teri began volunteering in jails and prisons, working with men and women in correctional settings, sober living homes, and in outpatient care.

Teri enjoys what she does and is passionate about recovery; she joined Milestone Community Wellness with the common mission of providing services throughout rural areas.

April Simonton, NCPRSS, CPFS is a National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist and Certified Peer and Family Specialist dedicated to empowering individuals in recovery through hope, accountability, and lived experience. She specializes in supporting people navigating substance use, mental health, justice involvement, employment, education, financial wellness, and personal growth. April is passionate about helping individuals build confidence, overcome barriers, and create meaningful, lasting change.

I am a Colorado native who began my career working in halfway houses and volunteering with the Sheriff's Office shortly after high school. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration in 2013 and have dedicated my career to community corrections and reentry services. My commitment to this work is both professional and personal. Shortly after high school, I watched my best friend struggle in and out of the justice system. He is now my husband, and we recently completed a decade-long journey together—him on the inside of prison and me on the outside. That experience has given me a unique perspective on incarceration, reentry, and the impact of correctional systems on individuals and families. I serve on my local Community Corrections Board, the Executive Committee of the Colorado Association of Community Corrections Board, and the board of a nonprofit focused on reentry. As a Care Coordinator for that nonprofit, I help individuals navigate complex systems and connect with services that support successful reintegration into the community.s here

Peer Support Professional

Jack is a third-generation farmer and rancher from Northeastern Colorado. He is a passionate advocate for rural communities’ mental health and recovery, and works to address stigma and access to care in underserved regions.

Jack uses his story to inspire resilience. With over seven years of sobriety from alcohol, he has been featured in the Lift the Label campaign, and became a peer support professional to be the kind of person he needed when he was struggling.

Jack writes, “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from both farming and recovery is to never give up. Even when things seem impossible, you push through. You keep going.”

I am Chanoa Maestas. I struggled with my addiction off and on for over 20 years.

At onetime I was in recovery for almost 10 years when I relapsed. I went to prison 3 times during my addiction.

In 2018 when I went back the last time, I became a Peer Mentor for the ladies and that is when I found what I really wanted to do.

Helping others while they are struggling with addiction became important. I also have lost to addiction; I lost my

20-year-old son and my 24-year-old nephew to overdose. I hope to always be there to help others go though and better themselves from addiction,and maybe help a family not go through what we have.

I stand as a Recovery Coach rooted in lived experience—real pain, real lessons, and real growth. I don’t just talk about change, I’ve lived it. Every step I take is grounded in understanding, meeting people where they’re at, and showing them that their past doesn’t define their future.

I believe in second chances because I’ve walked that path myself. It’s not about what was, it’s about what’s possible now—turning real change into a real chain of better choices, stronger days, and a life built with purpose and accountability.

My name is Janet, and I am passionate about supporting individuals in recovery and personal growth.

I chose to become a Peer Coach because of my lived experience and my desire to help others find hope, stability, and confidence as they navigate their own recovery journeys.

I believe that sharing experience, encouragement, and practical support can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

I've lived here in Sterling all of my life. I was a preschool/daycare teacher at Trinity Lutheran Preschool for 7 years and a nanny for 4 years. My passion is caring for and helping others.

Throughout my life I have admired the strength of people working on their recovery and the success they've had with peer support and seeing them find Jesus as the higher power

I'm really passionate about helping all people in anyway I can and look forward to helping more.

Tom Maybee is a dedicated mental health peer support specialist with over eight years of sustained sobriety and nearly four years of professional peer experience. Drawing from lived experience with addiction, incarceration, and the profound loss of his daughter to a drug overdose, Tom brings authenticity, empathy, and resilience to his work.

A son, father, brother, former business owner, and corporate manager, Tom understands the many roles people carry—and how quickly life can shift. His work centers on supporting individuals facing dual diagnoses, with a focus on addiction recovery, relapse prevention, and mental health stability.

Driven by purpose and personal transformation, Tom is committed to helping others rebuild, reconnect, and rediscover hope. He holds certifications in MHPA, AFA, APRS, OCA III, and CPRs here

I began my journey with Milestone Community Wellness driven by a passion for helping others navigate real life challenges through lived experience. I wanted to create safe, supportive spaces where individuals especially women could heal, rebuild, and grow. My background, combined with my own experiences, allows me to connect authentically with clients, offering guidance in areas like emotional wellness, life skills, and reentry support. From facilitating groups to developing structured programs, I’ve been intentional about creating services that are both impactful and accessible.

Looking ahead, my goal is to expand my work within Milestone by developing innovative, culturally responsive programs that address the needs of our community. Ultimately, I want to help Milestone continue to be a trusted resource while also elevating the standard of peer

led support services across Colorado.tion goes here

I am a dedicated recovery coach committed to walking alongside individuals as they navigate their journey toward healing and growth. With a passion for helping others overcome substance use and mental health challenges, I provide support, encouragement, and practical guidance rooted in lived experience and compassion.

I believe recovery is not one size fits all, each person has their own unique pathway. My role is to help individuals discover what works best for them, build resilience, and create a life rooted in purpose and stability.

For those who are open to it, I also support strengthening a relationship with Jesus Christ or exploring faith as a foundation for recovery. Whether through spiritual growth, personal development, or community connection, I strive to meet people where they are and support lasting, meaningful change.

I’m a Peer Support Specialist who turned a past I once wanted to escape into a purpose I’m proud to carry. I’m a warrior in my own redemption story, and I use my lived experience to meet people in the places where hope can feel impossible to find. I believe no addiction, diagnosis, trauma, criminal record, or worst decision gets to define the rest of a person’s life. I bring fierce empathy, dark humor, zero judgment, and the kind of hope that refuses to give up on people. I didn’t survive my story to hide from it, I survived it so I could reach back and help someone else rewrite theirs.