Our Staff

Dr. Jaynee Poulson serves as the President of Red Barn Farms, where she applies her extensive background in community engagement, and life-skills education to support individuals in recovery. Through her leadership at Red Barn Farms, Jaynee is committed to advancing the mission of empowering individuals through character development, resilience-building, and personal accountability.

Jaynee founded The Give Back Program, collaborating with corporations to fund and support nonprofits in need. Her dedication to “causemopolitan” initiatives inspired her community involvement with the Emmy-winning NBC show GIVE and her role as a Producer for A&E’s Addiction Unplugged.

Jaynee holds an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University and earned her Ph.D. in Mental Health and Educational Counseling with a specialization in Women’s Studies. She is nationally certified as a Professional Parent Trainer, an Authentic Strengths Advantage Coach, and delivered a popular TEDx talk titled “How to Give Pain a REAL Purpose,” which has over 300,000 views. Recognized in 2020 as Utah’s Remarkable Woman of the Year by Nexstar Media Group, Jaynee has also taught feminism at Weber State University, served as a Devotional Speaker at the Institute, and continues to guest lecture across the country.

Her commitment to community service is reflected in her work with youth in detention centers, speaking engagements at the Utah State Prison, and support of youth programs. As a licensed mental health counselor, Jaynee specialized in addiction treatment and eating disorders, working with thousands of young women and their families.

Currently, Jaynee serves on the Executive Board of Prevent Child Abuse Utah and is involved in various leadership roles, including the State PTA Student Leadership Commission, the advisory board of Promise 2 Live, is a member of the Utah Opioid Task Force, and on the executive board of the non-profit, Courage and Grit.

Outside of her professional life, Jaynee and her husband share six children and enjoy family time at their cabin, boating, skiing, golfing, and traveling abroad.

John was born in American Fork, Utah but grew up in West Valley City. He was raised by his mom and stepfather along with his two sisters in a great environment with good morals and values. Despite his parents’ best efforts and the positive influences they provided, he started getting into trouble. As a teenager he started experimenting with alcohol and drugs. It started out as fun and exciting but quickly it turned into a full-blown addiction, with him ending up in jail 30 days after he turned 18. He was sentenced to prison for the first time when he was 23.

The next 20 years of his life was a vicious cycle of continued use and incarceration. He would do good for a little while, but just couldn’t seem to hold on to the positive lifestyle and stay consistent. February 10th, 2020, John found himself once again sitting in jail and on his way to prison for the umpteenth time. Tired and broken, he came across a Red Barn Academy flyer in his section of the jail. He wrote a letter and went through the interview process and was accepted to Red Barn on May 1st, 2020.

While at Red Barn he experienced working with Red Barn Movers and Sticky Bird, until he became the Food Service Manager full-time. He quickly found the key to his happiness was being of service to others. Given the opportunity to be in leadership, he eventually became a House Manager and started really liking the person he was becoming. At the end of his 2-year commitment he decided to stay a 3rd year, giving back to the program that changed his life. On March 1st, 2023, Red Barn offered John a position as a Program Manager. Today, John is the program director. John has the opportunity to reconnect with his 3 sons, his beautiful daughter and his 4 wonderful grandchildren. John has found hope and he is no longer defined by his past. He continues to be able to teach the students of Red Barn the tools and skills that were taught to him and lead them on their own journey toward reinventing their lives.

Jeffrey Reese was born and raised in Sandy, Utah where he grew up with his parents and younger twin brothers. Despite being born and raised in Utah, he and his brothers were not raised in the traditionally religious household Utah is known for. This oftentimes contributed to a feeling of isolation. Jeffrey vividly recalls being bullied early in his school days. However, despite this, Jeffrey was a focused student, earning straight A’s through high school and even lettering in academics as a result of his scholastic achievements.

After graduation from Brighton High School, and with a dream of becoming a veterinarian, Jeffrey briefly attended the University of Utah after high school, working at a veterinary clinic to help pay tuition. While in college, at 19 he began drinking and attending parties as he started to get comfortable and make friends. However, he still felt uncomfortable inside his own skin and in class. He was too timid to ask professors questions and his studies began taking a backseat to work. Once his grades began to slip, Jeffery decided to drop out of college and work full time. At the age of 23, Jeffrey married his high school sweetheart but divorced after 18 months. The dissolution of his marriage resulted in increased alcohol abuse, resulting in a DUI and brief stints in jail.
During this time, after running his friend’s restaurant and observing his mother’s career in the industry, Jeffrey decided on a career in the restaurant industry. While he loved being in the hospitality industry, his life continued to derail due to poor choices that were fueled by his increasing alcohol consumption, also contributing to his feelings of isolation. Needing a change, Jeffrey accepted a job opportunity to move to Denver, Colorado in 2018, where his over-consumption of alcohol truly got out of hand and became an everyday occurrence. Being introverted and lacking friends, outside of work, he never had to leave his house and could drink in an endless cycle.

Life really started falling apart when he turned 35. After another failed relationship and a broken engagement, his parents purchased him a one-way ticket to Florida with the hopes that he could stay with a cousin and hopefully start a new life. He lasted a total of 12 days, during which time he quickly learned the hard lesson that you cannot run away from your problems. Jeffrey knew he needed to find his way and take back his life. Fortunately, Jeffrey’s mother had a connection at Red Barn and reached out to them hoping that Red Barn academy would be the answer he was looking for.

Still in Florida, Jeffrey initially failed his interview with Red Barn due to being intoxicated. But realizing that this was his last chance, Jeffrey passed his second interview and flew back to Utah to enter the program. Being accepted into Red Barn provided Jeffrey with the second chance that he was seeking, and he has not looked back since. He has now been at the Barn since July of 2020.

His journey has not been without its challenges and adopting the mindset that Red Barn instills in its students took patience. During his time here Jeffrey has developed a mantra that he strongly believes in which is, “consistency plus patience equals reward”. To have the courage and consistency to keep doing the next right thing, and being of service to others, has brought him to where he is now. He is grateful to be giving back to the place and people that inspired him and helped him to become the man he is today. Jeffrey has now been at Red Barn Academy for two and a half years. While he was a student here, Jeffrey worked as a moving clerk, the moving manager, and as a house manager. In October of 2022 he became staff-in-training and as of January 1, 2023 is a full time staff member. Jeffrey is currently the Red Barn Director of Operations and continues to strive to stay patient and consistent.

Nicholas was born and raised in Davis County. He had what some would say a typical childhood. He was an athlete, a good student, and had plenty of friends. He experimented with drugs and alcohol in high school, but still graduated and chose to go on a mission. He served his two-year mission in Singapore and came back happy, healthy, and ready to conquer the world.

Shortly after his mission, Nicholas once again fell down a slippery slope and began using drugs and alcohol. After a couple of years of this, and causing a lot of damage, his family wanted to help. With their help, he moved to Idaho with his sister and her family. Nicholas was able to put his life back together to some degree – or so he thought.

After several years, he went from good to bad to worse. Back in Utah, he found himself in jail multiple times – not only for drug charges, but criminal as well. Rehabs, therapy, and even drug court could not help Nicholas from this path of destruction. After his fourth probation violation and additional felony charges, he was looking at spending years in prison.

Nicholas knew that his could be better and he wanted to change. His lawyer had mentioned Red Barn Academy, and so he wrote a letter to Red Barn Academy and earned himself an interview with Michael Haws. In his interview, Michael left an impact on Nicholas by telling him how much he doesn’t love his family. If he did love his family, he wouldn’t be sitting on the other side of glass. The good news was Red Barn Academy was the right place for Nicholas, and he was accepted into the academy.

In 2019, his journey to reinvent his life began. He worked for the moving department and overcame his negative behaviors through hard work and service to others. He became a leader in the house and eventually became the moving manager. He was becoming a person that could be trusted, relied on, and who could serve as an inspiration to others. After completing his two-year commitment and with the guidance of his Red Barn family, he decided to stay for a third year to give back and set in stone the man that he was becoming. The principles taught at Red Barn became more than just a practice for him – it became a way of life.

During his third year, Nicholas was asked if he wanted to work for Red Barn. Nicholas gets the opportunity to help every student – just like the students before helped him. He feels privileged to help point every student who arrives at Red Barn towards their own success story. Today, Nicholas is a father, a son, and a productive member of his community.

Mario was born in Lancaster, California. His parents immigrated illegally from a small town in Jalisco, Mexico. Throughout his upbringing, there was a frequent relocation between Mexico and Utah until a permanent settlement in Utah was established when he turned 12. Childhood for Mario was marked by financial challenges, characterized by limited resources, insufficient food, and unstable housing. Early on, the struggle with finances motivated him to seek a different trajectory for his future.

Associating with gang members and living the lifestyle that follows, Mario engaged in criminal activities starting at the age of 15, leading to multiple encounters with juvenile detention. As he matured, the severity of his transgressions increased, ultimately resulting in serious criminal charges related to major distribution.

Facing the prospect of a prolonged prison sentence, a turning point occurred when the judge offered Mario an opportunity for probation, which he successfully completed, prompting positive life changes. Subsequent life events included marriage, the birth of two children, and relocations to Tucson, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. After maintaining sobriety for about eight years, marital difficulties led to a divorce, triggering a regression into a destructive lifestyle.

Returning to Utah in 2019, the following year saw Mario facing six felony arrests, culminating in a critical arrest on his birthday, January 8, 2021, surrounded by law enforcement. In the wake of this apprehension, he recalled a Red Barn Academy flyer encountered during a previous incarceration, prompting him to seek intervention.

During the sentencing phase, Judge Harold McDade, displaying faith in Mario’s potential for change, granted him an opportunity for redemption. Subsequent completion of the Red Barn Academy program has been transformative, saving Mario’s life and facilitating the reunification with his children. Equipped with the tools to lead a recovery-oriented life characterized by integrity and accountability, Mario currently serves as the Admissions Manager at Red Barn Academy. His gratitude towards Red Barn Academy is profound, as its intervention has been instrumental in his journey toward finding his own whole-person change.

Iseli was raised in Texas with dreams of making it to the NFL to support his family. His athletic
talent in high school attracted many college recruiters, and he thrived on the attention,
embracing a lifestyle of football and partying. However, his focus on maintaining street cred and
partying caused his grades to drop, leading colleges to lose interest.

Despite his potential, Iseli’s transition from a top recruit to barely making it into a Division 2
college was devastating. In college, he continued to party, sell drugs, and play some football
until he lost his love for the sport. Seeking importance elsewhere, he turned to drug dealing.
Even the birth of his first two kids did not change his path or alter his course.

From age 17 to 41, Iseli cycled through crime and incarceration, burning bridges and losing
everything multiple times. Each jail or prison term provided only a temporary pause. Desperate
for a fresh start, he moved to Utah, got married, and had two more kids. Despite his hopes, life’s
challenges led him back to his old habits.

Facing prison again, Iseli was given a golden opportunity to go to Red Barn. By the grace of
God, he embraced this chance to turn his life around. Remembering another student’s words,
“How did I mess up so good?!” Iseli is now full of gratitude and dedicated to helping others see
that change is possible. He has an amazing relationship with his kids and works for Red Barn
Movers. Despite his past, he is committed to being an example and giving back, showing that
redemption is attainable.

Brad Bingham is the eldest of four siblings. Growing up, he was raised in a stable and nurturing household by his parents, Van and Tami Bingham, who provided him with everything he needed and more. His early years were spent in the quiet farming community of Corinne, Utah. This environment instilled in him the principles of hard work and honesty. As a teenager, Brad had a variety of interests, including hunting, dirt bike riding, and all things related to computers.

However, as he entered his teenage years, Brad had intense feelings of insecurity and social anxiety. At the age of 16, he turned to alcohol as a way to cope with those pressures. This coping mechanism escalated, leading him to experiment with prescription pills by the time he turned 18. Unfortunately, this experimentation quickly evolved into a full-blown addiction that persisted for over 15 years. Throughout this period, Brad damaged numerous relationships and friendships, causing a lot of guilt and heartache within himself.

In March of 2020, Brad faced a turning point when he found himself incarcerated, again. He was potentially facing more than 15 years in prison. Therefore, he was motivated for change and a better future. He realized he wanted more from his life than the unfulfilling pattern of drugs, crime, and incarceration into which he had fallen. Faced with the prospect of prison, he sought help from the Red Barn Academy, recognizing that it was not only what he wanted, but what he truly needed.

On September 21st, 2020, Brad began his journey at the Red Barn Academy, which marked the start of a remarkable transformation. During his time, he underwent a profound personal journey of growth that enabled him to rediscover self-love and mend his relationships with his family in a healthy and constructive way.

After being a student of the Red Barn Academy for a little over 2 years, Brad’s perseverance paid off. He was offered a Staff in Training position as the IT Manager for the Red Barn. On July 1st, 2023, Brad achieved his aspiration of becoming a full-time staff member for Red Barn Farms. This achievement not only marked a significant milestone in Brad’s personal journey but also highlighted his resilience and determination in overcoming his past struggles.

Eduardo Diaz-Vela, known as Eddy to most, embodies curiosity and a passion for exploration. Originating from Guadalajara, Mexico, his family moved to Utah at the age of two. He grew up mostly in Kaysville and graduated from Davis High School in 2014 and his family’s unwavering support fueled a desire for higher learning.

Eddy’s academic journey witnessed various turns. A brief stint at the University of Utah proved to not be the right fit, prompting a shift to Accounting at Weber State University. There, academic success was buoyed by a steadfast friendship and support. A pivotal juncture awaited during his junior year – a study abroad experience in Valencia, Spain. This transformative interlude reshaped his perspectives, catalyzing personal growth and a renewed sense of purpose.

Transitioning to his senior year, Eddy confronted challenges – navigating moments of self-doubt and grappling with episodes of depression. In 2018, he triumphantly earned his bachelor’s degree. His professional career commenced in corporate accounting within a startup ecommerce enterprise. However, he longed for more impactful change, and redirected his trajectory towards community development and the Peace Corps. In 2019, he embarked on volunteer opportunity to Albania, a journey disrupted by the global pandemic.

Amidst adversity emerged an opportunity. Eddy and his future wife embarked on an educational pursuit in Scotland. Eddy’s journey culminated in a master’s degree in international business management from Edinburgh Napier University in 2022. Upon returning, he found resonance with Red Barn Farms. Assuming the role of Senior Accountant, Eddy strives to merge his worldly perspective with the organization’s mission by providing his experiences and knowledge while also learning from Red Barn staff and students.

Beyond his professional commitments, Eddy is a fervent soccer enthusiast, an enthusiastic advocate for environmental sustainability, and an explorer alongside his wife.

Wayne Snyder grew up in Provo, Utah and has been a member of the Red Barn family since November 2019. Wayne has a thirty-year career that covers “a little bit of everything” including automotive, diesel, industrial mechanics, general maintenance, HVAC, and welding. Wayne has even rebuilt an engine in a D-9. As the Red Barn Farms Facilities Manager, Wayne oversees all construction projects, facility, property maintenance, and repairs. Red Barn Farms properties include Red Barn Academy, the adjoining farm, Sticky Bird, Red Barn Thrift, Red Barn Offices, Park Place Apartments, and all of the adjacent land. When not working Wayne enjoys hunting and camping. Wayne is grateful to Red Barn Academy for helping him find the way to be himself.

Corey Griffin grew up in South Weber, UT. Corey was raised in a stable and supportive home by his parents, who instilled strong values and a good work ethic in him. Despite his upbringing, Corey faced insecurities and social anxiety as a teenager, leading him to turn to alcohol and other substances in search of belonging and relief.

His addiction consumed his life for over two decades, leading to failed relationships, legal troubles, and despair. After hitting rock bottom and facing the possibility of prison in March 2021, Corey knew he needed a change. Encouraged by his lawyer, he sought help from the Red Barn Academy, recognizing it as his last chance for redemption.

Beginning his journey at Red Barn in June 2021, Corey embarked on a path of reinvention and self-discovery. Over the course of two years, he rediscovered important life lessons he had long forgotten, such as honesty, responsibility, and the importance of community. Finding purpose in serving others, Corey decided to commit to a third year at Red Barn, determined to give back to the program that had given him his life back.

Throughout his time at Red Barn, Corey rebuilt relationships with his family and children, rekindling bonds that had been strained by his addiction. On January 9, 2024, Corey was offered a full-time position as a staff member at Red Barn. Today, Corey embraces his role as a father while helping others on their journey to recovery. Struggles with addiction have marked Corey’s life, but his path of recovery is one of resilience and transformation.

Dominic Bonacci was born on October 1st, 1992, in West Jordan City, Utah. He has faced a journey of ups and downs. When he was very young, his parents went their separate ways, and he moved with his mom to Idaho. Not long after, he lived with his dad and grandma until he was about 7. Dominic’s life took a big turn, and shortly after he moved to his first foster home.

From the age of 7 to 17, Dominic bounced around Utah in a total of 9 different foster homes, 7 of which were Polynesian – a culture he learned to love. Despite feeling alone and moving often, Dominic found a silver lining in his love for learning and academics. He attended many schools but managed to excel in his studies.

In high school, Dominic shined both in the classroom and on the football field. He graduated from Carbon High School in 2011 with high honors, proving that hard work pays off. By 19, Dominic had made impressive strides, including becoming a Customer Service Manager and buying his own home and car.

However, life took a challenging turn when Dominic began experimenting with substances. Dominic’s life rapidly declined, and his experimentation very quickly turned into full-blown addiction. These choices led to significant consequences, including time in prison. After his release, Dominic chose to turn his life around.

Dominic was married in 2017 and had his first beautiful little girl, Izzy. When life got hard, Dominic did what he knew was easy for him – he turned back to addiction. Through his choices and actions, he not only became divorced, but homeless as well. Dominic was spiraling quickly. His life had become unmanageable. His choices finally landed him in jail where a slew of charges caught up with him.

Dominic knew where his choices were leading him. He wanted a different life and was willing to do whatever it took to change. Luckily, Dominic was accepted to Red Barn Academy. Dominic began his journey of whole-person reinvention in 2021. This decision marked more than just the beginning of a new chapter, but the start of a new book.

At Red Barn Academy, Dominic has experienced challenges, growth, and the opportunity to rebuild relationships and reconnect with his little girl. After completing his initial 2-year commitment, he knew his journey wasn’t over yet. He wanted to solidify the foundation he had been creating and opted to stay for a 3rd year.

Through Dominic’s stay, he started to not only like, but love the person who was staring back at him in the mirror. Dominic is now able to show up for his friends and family in the ways that they deserve. His commitment to bettering himself led to him being offered a staff position. He currently works as the Medical Manager. Recovery is maintained when you are being of service to others and Dominic chooses every day to live a life based in service.

Angette Howard, a seasoned professional with over three decades in the restaurant industry, brings a rich history of impeccable customer service to her roles at prestigious establishments like Park City Mountain Resort, Huntsman Corporate Office, and The Point at The Huntsman Cancer Institute. Taking a hiatus in the past six years to explore social media and embrace the joys of nannying, Angette returns to the professional arena with a wealth of diverse skills. Born and raised in the picturesque landscapes of Utah, she attributes her success to the foundation laid by her amazing parents and family life. Angette seamlessly merges her extensive professional background with the personal touch cultivated during her break, offering a unique blend of experience and empathy to her new endeavor here at Red Barn.  Currently residing in Davis County with her husband, she cherishes moments with their amazing son and two dogs.

Colton Tucker is the middle child of 8 siblings. He was born and raised in Utah County, with a loving family. Colton was raised by Brooke and Bryan Clark, as well as Chad and Melissa Tucker, both were very loving families. Growing up, he loved to be on anything with wheels, skateboards, bikes, dirt bikes, and snowboarding.

During his teenage years, despite what punishments were brought to him Colton began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. What started as harmless fun, quickly turned into a slippery slope of addiction. At 16, Colton thought a change of scenery would help with these issues. He decided to move to Richfield to live with his Dad. At first, things went well, but after some time the same behaviors started to emerge. This led to more trouble. Shortly after turning 18 these behaviors landed Colton in jail for the first time. Ultimately, this was the main deciding factor in dropping out of high school during his senior year.

Colton thought moving to Colorado would help fix these issues. From 2018-2021 This leads him down a darker path. In 2021 shortly after moving back to Utah Colton made a decision that ultimately led to a DUI. On October 1st, 2021 after burning all of his bridges and using all of his resources, Colton hit rock bottom and reached out to Red Barn Academy for help.

Since being at Red Barn Colton has learned how to be a leader, and how to live a life built on the foundations of honesty, integrity, and accountability. During this time he went back to school and received his high school diploma, as well as taking a course in Supply Chain Management through Weber State University. On October 8th, 2023, Colton started his 3rd year to give back to the place that saved his life and to continue to further become the one that stands within. During this time he was asked to work for Red Barn. Currently, Colton gets to help others on their journey through recovery.

Joshua Andersen grew up in Davis County, surrounded by supportive parents who provided him
with every opportunity to succeed. As an honor roll student and an all-state football player, he
seemed destined for greatness.

However, he faced challenges with alcohol that led to significant hardships. His struggle with
alcoholism caused him to lose scholarship opportunities, pulling him into a cycle of mediocrity.
Though he achieved some professional success, it only offered fleeting fulfillment.

As time went on, Joshua began experimenting with harder drugs while trying to maintain his job
and family life. After experiencing personal losses, his situation deteriorated from manageable
to devastating.

On August 25, 2012, he welcomed a son and aspired to be the kind of father his own dad had
been. Despite his best efforts, addiction hindered his ability to fulfill that role. He briefly found
recovery but relapsed, leading to an ongoing battle that culminated in a grand mal seizure and a
hospital stay.

Realizing he needed to change to save his family and himself, Joshua chose to enter treatment.
At Odyssey House, he received the support he needed to live a life of value. He learned the
importance of focusing on others and discovered his capacity to overcome challenges. After five
months there, he established a strong foundation for a brighter future.

In January 2024, Joshua joined Red Barn Chicken, initially seeking a community of like-minded
individuals. To his delight, he found much more. He worked his way up to management,
continuing to grow professionally while focusing on his recovery. Red Barn Chicken has become
a place where he not only survives but thrives.

Today, Joshua is a devoted father, son, brother, and friend—roles he values above all else.