Robbie Dias

Part of Diamond Ranch Academy’s draw to parents around the world is its amazing athletic program. Robbie Dias has worked at Diamond Ranch for the past 9 years. His experience starting from the ground up has given him an edge in creating a competitive and motivating athletic department. Robbie began working in a nighttime staff position while he was attending and playing football at Dixie State College. He quickly moved from night staff to assistant program director, to Athletic Director. He has been in that position since 2005.

Since his advancement, DRAs’ clubs, activities, and athletic program have rapidly grown to an accredited 1A school. This accreditation has made it possible for both our boy and girl students to compete in athletics such as football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball.

In addition to the mainstream athletics, students are involved in cheerleading, music, art, fishing and many more. Robbie loves the athletic piece of his job the most. He enjoys watching the students compete in the various sports. Some students often times would not have the opportunity in their home schools to compete at this level. He has seen the students compete and win and gain all they can from sports.

Robbie’s yellow/blue personality is a perfect fit for his position. His personal motive in life is to have fun! He connects with the students by helping them enjoy their lives through clubs and activities. His blue helps him build solid relationships with the students and staff.

On a personal note…Robbie was born in Alabama but spent most of his life in St. George, Utah. He played football in high school and college. He served an LDS mission in Brazil. Robbie met his wife Carly while attending college. They have three awesome kids, Skye, Davyn, and Raider, and reside in Hurricane, Utah.

Tim and Haley Stroshine

Often times at Diamond Ranch Academy we get a husband and wife team that together and individually add so much to the family atmosphere DRA has tried to capture. Haley and Tim Stroshine both work at DRA but in different arenas.

Haley Stroshine is an Administrative Assistant. She has the opportunity to meet and interact with the parents when they come to DRA for visits. Haley said it always brings a smile to her face when parents see first-hand the change their child has made in just a few short months. She feels there is nothing better than being a part of a team that helps change lives for the better.

Haley’s blue/white personality helps her feel compassion toward the students and families she meets. Her white helps her to think logically and be calm and patient in stressful situations. Haley’s past job and educational background has given her the experience to manage efficiently. She was a manager at a food storage company call Shelf Reliance, attended the University of Utah, BYU-Idaho and a semester at Utah Valley University pursuing an exercise science degree, in hopes of becoming a physical therapist.

Haley loves the outdoors, whether it’s playing soccer, running, camping, and hiking, or fishing. She loves watching football (including our own DRA football team)! She enjoys cooking and trying new recipes but most of all she loves spending time with her husband Tim.

Speaking of Tim… Tim Stroshine is part of DRA’s Youth Development Staff. He is actively pursing a degree in biology at Dixie State College with the hopes of being accepted to medical school in the fall of 2014. Tim is very much looking forward to becoming a doctor. He would love to be and anesthesiologist and work in the operating room. He also has a passion to eventually go to third world countries and help those less fortunate with their medical issues.

Tim is a full time student during the week and spends his weekends at DRA. His “big blue” personality helps him with his job because he is motivated to help the students through his overactive compassion. His blue makes him a perfectionist, which helps him to see the small things before they become big issues.

Tim receives the most satisfaction from seeing a young man finally understand the purpose for being at DRA, and allows the program to help him. Tim also feels the benefit from therapist training he receives. It helps him understand more about the issues our students deal with, and how his position can support their success.

Outside of work and school, Tim loves to play golf. He, like his wife, enjoys the outdoors and loves to camp and hike. Most of his time is spent with his family. Tim comes from a large family of 8 with five brothers and two sisters. There is always something going on.

Maurie Simons

Our Admissions Counselor – Maurie Simons – is recognized by Diamond Ranch Academy as an incredibly, wonderful, person. She has been with DRA for seven years. Most of those years have been with a phone to her ear. She works with parents when they are considering DRA as a school choice. Maurie said the most rewarding part of her job is introducing parents to DRA in the beginning and witnessing their struggle to make this difficult decision, to the happiness they experience when their child has found success at the end of the program.

Maurie is a blue/yellow on the color code. She said her blue helps her connect emotionally with parents, and her yellow helps her to love all kinds of people. Maurie is a practical joker. She enjoys life to its fullest. She has six children and one granddaughter, and gets the most satisfaction spending time with them. They enjoy movies, vacations by the ocean, and amusement parks. She is anxiously anticipating her new grandson in December.

Maurie said she “loves, loves, loves, her job”. She loves the parents, students, and staff at DRA. Each person is an integral part of DRA, but Maurie is the one of the first contacts at the school. She has an important role here and it does not go unnoticed. Her hard work and dedication has laid the foundation for the success of Diamond Ranch Academy.

Awesome Team, Dan and Stari Borchardt

Dan Borchardt is an integral part of the Diamond Ranch Academy Team. He is on our Admissions crew as the Admissions Coordinator. His educational background and experience at Diamond Ranch have been instrumental in helping our program succeed.

Dan grew up a Florida boy, who wrestled alligators, surfed, scuba dived, fished, and soaked up the tropical sun. He had no thoughts in his mind to move to the hot desert. After meeting Ricky Dias while serving an LDS mission in Poland, he decided to give it a try. Ricky introduced him to Diamond Ranch Academy and also to Ricky’s little sister, Stari. Dan fell in love with both and firmly set his foot in the red dirt of Hurricane, Utah. He married Stari, and they have two beautiful boys, named, Ryan, and Titan.

While pursuing his education, Dan has had experience as one of our youth development staff, as well as the Observation and Assessment Supervisor (O&A), where Shane Johnson currently works. He completed his Bachelors degree in business and is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration from Southern Utah University. He believes that knowledge is power.

Dan is a red/blue personality, which helps him stay objective in his position, while also working hard. He is trying to constantly better himself, create lasting personal relationships with the DRA staff and his family. He feels DRA has a great program and plans on staying with us to help it grow and progress.

In his spare time, Dan loves the outdoors, including, camping, fishing, and all types of water sports. He also enjoys fixing cars. Dan is a hard worker with the best of Diamond Ranch in mind.

On to Dan's better half!

The style, look, and flare of the students at Diamond Ranch Academy are originated from our in house hairstylist ….Stari Borchardt! One of the first experiences students receive when coming to Diamond Ranch Academy is a supreme hair cut from Stari. She said that some hair cuts are more welcome than others. Her white/blue personality really helps in the “not so willing” customers. Stari has a way to remain calm and collected during stressful situations. She does not get upset or intimidated, simply acts professional and continues to do her magic. Each student looks very well groomed and clean cut when they leave her chair. She also owns her own business called “Stari Style”, where other stylists can rent space from her to do hair.

Her latest “Stari Stylings” were seen on the cheerleading squad at the last DRA game against Duchene High School. She took the time to curl and style each of the girls’ hair. They looked so amazing!

Stari is married to Dan Borchardt who is also one of the first faces parents and students see when considering DRA as a school choice. Together Stari and Dan have two beautiful boys and just found out they are expecting another one this coming spring. Stari said her first priority in her life is her boys. She loves being a mother and is very hands on, she loves playing any sport with her boys.

Stari was a star soccer player at Dixie State College. She is quick and skillful. She loves to spend time with her husband riding motorcycles, or just having fun.

It takes all types of skill sets to make Diamond Ranch Academy the great place that it has become. Thanks Stari!

Taunie Carter

Taunie Carter has worked for Diamond Ranch Academy on and off since 2007. Her greatest perk of the job is learning great life skills. Taunie is a C-Shift Supervisor over the girl’s campus. She absolutely loves working with our students and feels the skill set she is gaining from her job is helping her with not only her work, but her family life as well.


Off the job site, Taunie is a mother to a cute little two year old named, Khole. She is expecting a baby boy in December. She and her husband are planning on naming him Kyle “Krue” Carter. Taunie has had extra work from home the past three months as her husband of 4 ½ years, is serving in the military. He is attending “Major” training in Georgia and will be there until March 2012.


Taunie is a red personality, which helps her to accomplish things and keep a logical perspective, especially managing her time while her husband is away. She has a real presence to be a leader. Taunie has put herself through school and received training from Taylor Andrew’s School of Hair. She works on the side at Escape Hair and Body to help support her family.


Taunie enjoys her career at DRA as well as her talent of doing hair. In her not-so-spare time she loves to take her daughter to anything that involves water. You will find them at the splash pad on a hot Southern Utah day.


Taunie was nominated as “Employee of the Month”, this last February and continues to show her devotion and loyalty to the success of the students at DRA.

Brigham McLaws

Brigham McLaws is the Stone Ridge Campus Director, he has been with Diamond Ranch Academy for 4 ½ years. Brigham said he has learned more about himself and about people in general, while working at DRA, than he has in the 10 years before working at the ranch.
Brigham loves to help the students grow and to see the changes they can make not only with themselves, but with their family and friends. Brigham feels like working at DRA is similar to being a part of a family. He really enjoys the people he works with.


Brigham has completed two years of college and is currently working toward his Bachelors in Business management. He is extremely interested in studying people’s body language and will be attending a national workshop to be trained by FBI and body language experts.
Some activities outside of DRA include basketball. Brigham thinks basketball is the best sport on the earth. He coaches DRA’s student basketball team and loves it. He also loves to re-finish antique furniture or the opposite, make new furniture look antique.
Brigham has a great work ethic. He was born and raised in Southern Utah. During Brigham’s entire High School career he used to milk 25 cows every morning before going to school. Brigham has a wonderful wife, Natalie, and 3 beautiful children Daxton Ryder-10, Kaleb Bridger-8, and the precious miss Chloe Ann-5. They are the loves of his life and what keeps him going each day!


Brigham is a great asset to DRA! He is excellent with the students and a wonderful team-player.

Aisake Vuikadavu

Aisake Vuikadavu, Diamond Ranch Academy’s Administrative/HR Assistant, has lived in so many exotic places and had even more adventures, we find it amazing he has set roots in Hurricane, Utah. Aisake grew up in Fiji and Hawaii. He graduated High School in Fiji. 2 years following he graduated from the Royal Military Academy, in Sandhurst England. He spent 3 years in the Military, and worked as a Platoon Commander in Egypt on the Israel/Egypt Border. He also travelled extensively through Europe and the Middle East.
In addition to Aisake’s education and military service, he had to opportunity to serve an LDS mission in Salt Lake City. Upon completion of his mission he attended BYU. It was there he performed with BYU Living Legends at the 2002 Winter Olympics Opening and Medal Ceremonies. He toured South Africa with a BYU performing group as well as, performed with Tourism Marketing team in the US and Caribbean.. He also played rugby for 3 years at BYU. In all that spare time he found time to complete his Psychology degree from BYU.

Aisake is married and has 3 beautiful girls (1 wife and 2 daughters). He is a white/red on the color code. His white gives him awareness, flexibility, and understanding. His red drives him to do whatever it takes to get the work done and on time. Aisake started at DRA as an HYDS, his self initiative and work ethic was the catalyst for his position in the administration. Aisake said he enjoys what he does. He loves the work environment and the people. He also enjoys solving the challenges. One of his quotable quotes is “Who Dares Wins” (Motto of the British Special Air Service).

Some hobbies include: rugby, crossfit, zumba, seafood, photography, travelling, performing, gardening, reading and playing Jenga with my little girl, and trying out anything new.

Charissa Thurston

Charissa Thurston is new to our administrative staff.  She has worked as our Administrative Assistant for 3 ½ months.  Charissa developed a love for working with teenagers from her seven years experience as an Orthodontics Assistant.  Not only can she appreciate the pains of attaining a beautiful smile, she now enjoys seeing our students at Diamond Ranch Academy, using those same efforts to thrive and change their lives for the better.

Charissa’s current assignments at DRA include maintaining the positive front desk atmosphere, and facilitating parent mail and parent visits. She is putting together a “parent packet”, which includes a list of activities in the Hurricane/St. George area, restaurants, hotels, and other information that would be helpful for visiting parents.  She is DRA’s very own concierge.

Charissa was born and raised in Farmington, New Mexico.  It was there she developed her love for Mexican food, “the hotter the better”.  She has been married for 16 years and has 4 children.  Charissa loves to dance, go camping, water-ski, and spending time with her wonderful family.   She enjoys sports such as, football, baseball, and especially dance. (Yes dancing is a sport). 

DRA welcomes Charissa to the front lines of DRA and hope she continues to enjoy her work.  We are glad to have her. 

Bo Iverson

Bo Iverson is one of Diamond Ranch Academy’s veteran employees, and currently our Director of Education. He has been here since its inception. He has witnessed first hand the growth and progress DRA has made in just 10 years. We have grown from 20 students to now averaging over 150, and have become a well known, progressive, campus. It is Bo’s hope to be with DRA to see the same type of growth and success within 10 more years. Bo is encouraged with the character of DRA’s program and education, he can see when the students begin to value themselves, they also begin to value their education.

Bo is a Southern Utah native. He graduated from Pineview High School, attained his Associates degree from Dixie State College, his Bachelors, and his Master in Education Leadership from Southern Utah University. He is currently on the Accreditation Committee for the state of Utah office of education. Bo said, “What stands out about DRA are the employees. The school is only as good as the people who work there.” He said DRA has good people working with the students for a great cause.

One of Bo’s passions is baseball. He said, “I am head coach for DRA’s baseball team when they win, and only the assistant when they lose.” He loves taking his 9 year old son to the games. He coaches his son’s team as well. Bo’s other passion is his family. He has been married for almost 11 years and has two kids, a 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter. He wants to continue to be a good husband and father and do lots more fishing.

Bo loves being a part of DRA’s mission and is glad to help it move forward.

Employee Spotlight Leah Z.

Here is a quick little spotlight on one of our HYDS staff at Diamond Ranch Academy, Leah Z.  Leah has been currently helping with the girl’s softball team as well as fulfilling her job.  She is attending Southern Utah University trying to finish her degrees in accounting and history.  Leah would eventually like to work for the Navajo Nation Gaming department when she graduates.  She has attending Fort Lewis College before moving to Southern Utah. 

Leah has enjoyed working at Diamond Ranch Academy for the challenges and the constant changes for the better.  She feels the good changes in the program make her job interesting. 

Leah is a white/ red/yellow. I don’t know how you classify that kind of personality. Let’s just say she can be receptive, calm, proactive, and optimistic while doing her job.  Outside of Diamond Ranch she likes to draw, hike, play basketball and tennis, and go 4- wheeling.  She loves to spend time with her family on their ranch in Arizona. 

Leah’s supervisor made the following comments: 

I have had the opportunity to work with Leah closely over the last year and a half.  Leah is always very dependable when it comes to being at work and when it comes to how she performs on the job.  The students that she supervises know that she is going to follow the rules and this makes for a good relationship between her and the students.  Leah is a white personality and so she is calm in all situations.  She is the voice of reason when anything is hectic.  The girl’s campus definitely benefits from having Leah as a staff. 

Brooke Williams

Brooke Williams is a highly motivated red/red on the personality color code. What a worker we have. She has been at Diamond Ranch Academy for 10 months and has enjoyed her time here. Brooke came here at the same time two of our students were admitted. She has been able to work with them from the beginning and will see them graduate. Brooke said that is the most rewarding part of her job. She is glad to have the opportunity to work at Diamond Ranch Academy and has learned some great life skills while being here.

Brooke is currently attending Dixie State College full time, studying Chemistry. She is planning on pursuing a medical degree from the University of Utah, in hopes of becoming a doctor. Brooke also has her cosmetologist’s license, so she will not only be able to tell you what is wrong with your insides, she will help you look great on the outside.

Brooke is from Cedar City, Utah. Her hobbies are reading, playing violin, outdoors, hiking, swimming, boating, and snowboarding. She has a unique love of eating lemons with salt on them.

Brooke is a part of our HYDS staff who says she loves to work. What a great person to have at Diamond Ranch Academy!

Brooke’s supervisor made the following comments:

Brooke is very motivated in everything that she does. She is a hard worker and is always willing to take on extra responsibilities. Her great work ethic shows by the way she looks for ways to improve what we do and puts in the extra time to make it a reality. She works very well with the students and is able to hold them accountable. Diamond Ranch is lucky to have Brooke as an employee and we have definitely benefited from her hard work and dedication.

Ephraim Hanks

Not many save our students at Diamond Ranch Academy and a few others have heard the music styling’s of our very own Clinical Director, Ephraim Hanks. In the 1980’s Ephraim sported a mullet, sang in a band, and played the guitar. Today, although his hair is a little more reserved, he still loves all kinds of big hair 80’s bands and continues to write his own music, sing, and play the guitar.

Ephraim was born in Hawaii, where his father was an Institute instructor at the University of Hawaii. His family later moved to Pleasant Grove, and eventually Hurricane, Utah, where he attended high school. Ephraim served an LDS mission to Sydney, Australia. Upon his return home he pursued a Bachelors degree at Utah Valley University in Psychology. He was employed at the Provo Canyon Boys School for six years as a front line staff. He has had hands on experience with struggling teens, and is completed invested in the students. He met his wife Megan while living in Provo. Together they have three cute little boys.

Ephraim and his wife moved to the University of Louisville to obtain a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Ephraim’s first career job was as a school counselor at a Catholic school in Louisville. He also had his own private practice. Ephraim’s move back west brought him to Diamond Ranch Academy; he has been here since 2006. He is a white/blue personality. Ephraim is calm, level headed, and really takes things in stride. He is devoted to the students and their successes. He loves them and enjoys working at Diamond Ranch Academy. Ephraim first love is working with people, his second, is eating meat. He is an excellent director with a skill for leading the clinical team.

Doug Heideman

Doug Heideman has been at Diamond Ranch Academy for 4 ½ years.  He is our History teacher.  Doug has proven his worth over the years and said he is happy to come to work each day.  The students give him motivation to keep working and he gets much satisfaction in seeing the students change their lives around.  Doug started out teaching, moved to retail for years, then back to teaching.  He feels he has a real knack for teaching and motivating students.  He feels working at Diamond Ranch Academy is an excellent place to work with a great philosophy and feels our company comes out on top for helping students with all different backgrounds.

Doug has lived all over Utah.  He has taken his wife of 38 years and his 4 children to places such as Orem, Salt Lake City, and Price.  They have lived in Hurricane for 15 years where Doug worked in the retail industry.  Doug bought a business distributorship and distributed Little Debbie Cookies, and Mission Tortillas.  He has a degree from BYU in psychology and went back later to get his teaching certificate.  Doug is a real advocate of education and of his 3 boys, one is an attorney, a dentist, and one studying to be a Physicians Assistant.  His girl is one year away from completing her degree in exercise science. 

Doug’s hobbies are doing things in the outdoors.  He loves to hunt, and fish.  He has a caribou hanging on the wall of his home and said his wife actually likes it.  He has had the opportunity to hunt Russian Boar and collects all types of guns, ammunition, rifles, and pistols. 

Doug and his son were fishing halibut in Alaska and found that no matter what boat his group was on, they were the most successful out of the group.  One day he was eating a banana on the boat and the captain grabbed the banana, chucked it out of the boat and told Doug that bananas were bad luck on a fishing trip.  It was hard to believe so Doug and his sons made a joke out it.  They left a case of bananas on the boat for a practical joke, only to find the next morning after a huge storm, all the other fishing boats were fine, but the one with the case of bananas on it was lifted 50 feet out of the water and on to the shore.  When the captain found out about this, he followed Doug and company all the way to the airport.  Doug has had many laughs about this incident. 

We are fortunate to have Doug as one of our teachers and find his humor, and life’s experiences really help our students at Diamond Ranch Academy.

Doug’s supervisor had the following comments:

Michelle Drake

Michelle Drake is a Medical Technician for Diamond Ranch Academy. Without our medical staff, Diamond Ranch Academy could not run properly. Michelle graduated from Mohave Community College and while going to college worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA), and Medical Assistant. She has had work experience in pediatrics, urgent care, OB/GYN orthopedics, podiatry (which we need for the boys on the football team), and as CNA for the Beehive Homes Alzheimer’s House. She has also had her own business as a daycare/preschool provider.



Michelle is originally from Salt Lake City and has lived in LaVerkin, Utah for 9 years. She really enjoys working in the medical field, especially with kids. Michelle has tried all aspects of the medical field from front and back office work, to billing and medical records. She loves to learn and try new things. She has a 97 year old friend that she used to take meals to because she wants to help him in any way. Her philosophy in life is “Let go, let God”and“This Too Shall Pass.”



Michelle enjoys getting to know the students and learning from them. She enjoys the staff at Diamond Ranch Academy and thinks everyone is very friendly. Michelle says she is learning a lot from her work at the Ranch and feels it’s great to go home after a long day and feel like she’s been a help to others.

Joe and Jen Demke

This week’s spotlights come from our husband and wife team.  Joe Demke works for the boy’s campus and Jen Demke works for the girl’s campus at Diamond Ranch Academy.  Each has enjoyed working with the students and finds joy in seeing a change in them.

Joe is a white/yellow personality.  He says while working at Diamond Ranch Academy his qualities help him to understand where the “white” students are coming from and he feels he is great at handing challenging students.  He feels that working at Diamond Ranch Academy brings a new challenge every day.  Even if the job is the same, each day brings about a new situation which helps him gain an all round perspective. 

Joe grew up in St. George, Utah.  He said he didn’t do much with his life until he met his beautiful wife Jen, which helped him “step up”.  Joe loves to play games, go to movies, camp, and hike.  He especially loves bike riding with his wife.  Joe met his wife Jen through some mutual friends.  They’ve known each other for three years and have been married for a year and a half.  They are trying together to make the perfect pizza.  Eventually they would like to open up a pizza parlor together because they love people, love cooking, and love pizza!

Joe’s supervisor, Travis Bentley had the following comments:

I've just recently transitioned back to nights, and haven't supervised Joe for very long. However, in that short amount of time I've been very impressed with Joe. He works very well with the youth he is supervising and is very professional. Probably the best compliment I could give Joe is that I never have to worry about what is going on in Joe's dorm. He always has things under control and the kids enjoy being in his family. Joe is a hard worker and is constantly improving himself as a Head Youth Development Staff. We are very fortunate to have Joe as an employee at Diamond Ranch.

 

Jen Demke has worked for Diamond Ranch Academy before as a homeless staff.  She came to us fresh out of college from Brigham Young University/Idaho with a Bachelors degree in Communications.  She felt working with the students would be a great career.  Jen took some time off and found that she missed working with our students, and later returned to work on the girl’s campus.  She enjoys Diamond Ranch Academy and the way they help them make better choices, and show them a better way to live.  Jen loves to see the transition in students that come to Diamond Ranch Academy and being a part of transition.  She said, “It helps her to be a better person.” 

Jen is a blue/white personality.  She has compassion while understanding the meaning of tough love and her blue helps her understand the big picture. She loves cooking, bike riding, and photography.  She is the kind of person who loves adventure and rediscovering old adventures.  Opening a pizza parlor with her husband Joe, might be a new adventure, and also an old adventure as they continue to try to achieve the “perfect pizza”. Look out for the Demke’s, Pizza Hut!

Jen’s supervisor had the following comments:

 Jen is very passionate about her work.  She is always looking for ways that she can improve and takes advice very well.  She truly cares about the girls and the progress that they are making.  She wants to help these girls make changes so they can have healthy lives.