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.

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.

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.

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.