Benjamin A. Levenson – Chief Executive Officer
As co-founder of Origins Recovery Centers, Ben Levenson brings the defining vision and executive leadership to the Origins organization. Ben’s deep love for recovery and compassion for the chemically dependent was born out of his own harrowing battle with and recovery from chronic drug and alcohol addiction. Through his extraordinary recovery experience, Ben launched Origins Recovery Center as an enduring beacon of hope to those afflicted and their families. Ben has charged Origins with a legacy to continually develop, improve and provide highly-effective systems of comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Ben’s passion keeps him on the ‘front lines’ where he speaks publicly on addictions treatment issues and lobbies for greater availability of quality treatment. Ben enjoys frequent interaction with Origins’ clients and their families through various workshops and discussions he conducts at the campus. In his personal time he takes pleasure in being with his family, playing golf, fly fishing and traveling abroad.
Michael J. Levenson – Chief Financial Officer
Co-founder Michael Levenson is responsible for the financial operations of Origins Recovery, LLC and the Origins portfolio of companies. He has over thirty-five years of experience in business, including being the president of a bank at only twenty-six years old and eventually the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of a New York Stock Exchange-listed company. He has vast experience in other industries as well. Michael takes great pleasure assisting Origins clients in learning about financial responsibility, job resumes, career choices, how to interview for a job and more, all as part of The Origins Experience™.
Dr. Alex Kudisch, MD., DFAPA – Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Kudisch serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Origins Recovery Center. Dr. Kudisch is Board Certified in Psychiatry with a specialty focus in both adult and child psychiatry. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and is professionally affiliated with numerous hospitals in Texas. Dr. Kudisch has extensive experience treating the chemically dependent and dual diagnosed patient in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Psychiatry at San Antonio. In addition, he holds Appointments at the Texas Medical Association Committee on Medicaid and the Uninsured, also the Department of Family Health Services Ad Hoc Committee on Psychotropic Medications Oversight in the Foster Care System, and the Commissioners Round table. He is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Tropical Texas Behavioral Health. Dr. Kudisch maintains a private practice in McAllen, Texas and is passionate about spending time with his family, traveling abroad, exercise, art and golf. Professionally, he advocates strongly for increasing Mental Health Care Access in South Texas.
Rich Whitman – President & Executive Director
Rich Whitman joins the Origins management team after serving nineteen years at La Hacienda Treatment Center as its Chief Operating Officer. Rich has spent his career managing extremely high-quality milieus offering both psychiatric and addiction treatment. Rich is known industry-wide for his passion for recovery, advocacy for meaningful advancements in treatment and his first-rate administrative and leadership skills. He also brings a great deal of compassion for those who suffer from chemical dependency, including family members because Rich has over 28 years of personal recovery to draw upon. In his personal time, Rich enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and children, tinkering on one of his Harley Davidson motorcycles and traveling.
William Warren Prater, MD – Utilization Review Manager
William attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Tx and received his MD degree in 1979 and was certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine in 1987. He has over 25 years of experience in the addictions treatment field and serves as a patient advocate and is the Utilization Review Manager for Origins Recovery of Texas since January 2011.
Don Radon – Director of Operations
As Director of Operations, Don works assiduously at Origins’ South Padre Island campus ensuring that everything runs smoothly. He has worked in the addictions treatment field in large drug and alcohol treatment centers as well as transitional-house settings. Don is a recovered drug addict and alcoholic whose passion is to help others obtain the same freedom. Don speaks and conducts recovery workshops across the country and is personally dedicated to the 12-Step way of life. He has a tender heart for those in the penal system and spends much of his free time counseling those with a history of legal issues. Don has a passion for technology, cherishes his daughter and loves fatherhood.
Penny M. Brewer, CPA – Controller
Mrs. Brewer is a CPA with over 17 years experience in industry and public accounting. She is an alumnus of the University of Texas at Tyler where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and graduated Cum Laude. She has worked for the founders of Origins Recovery Centers for many years in their varied interests. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and most of all watching her two sons play sports.
Jaime Loera, BA – Director of Alumni Services/Discharge Coordinator
Jaime Loera earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been an active member in the recovery community for over twelve years and remains dedicated personally and professionally to helping those afflicted with chemical dependency. Jaime has worked for a number of the most prominent drug and alcohol treatment providers in both Texas and Nevada. He has had the honor of working with his fellow members of 12 Step Fellowships to create a passionate recovery community in Austin, Texas. Jaime enjoys spending his personal time with his family, loves nature and distance running.
Robert Park, LCDC – Director of Admissions
Robert Park is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. He also specializes in mindful and experiential based approaches. He has worked for several prominent treatment and recovery centers. Robert has held such titles as Director of Admissions, Business Development, Controller, Patient Financial Counselor, and Case Manager. His passion is making systems and departments run cohesively in order to optimize fluidity and enhance overall patient care. Robert is a recovered addict/alcoholic and believes his true job is to serve those in need. When he is not working he likes to play golf, work out, and eat well.
Thomas S. Howard, Jr., BA – Admissions Specialist
TJ is a Certified Criminalist and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas, where he worked as a teacher and a private tutor. TJ also did his post-graduate work in the biology and chemistry fields at the University of North Texas. He is dedicated to helping and working with other alcoholics and addicts. TJ, personally in recovery from addiction, has been a strong member of twelve step community in Dallas Texas. In his personal time he enjoys sports, reading, and spending time with his family.
Bo Claypool – Director of Multimedia Marketing
Bo is a talented web marketer whose experience with Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing pre-dates even the existence of Google itself. While he maintains a parallel career as a physician recruiter, and is educated and experienced as a physician group practice consultant, Bo’s primary strategic initiative is to increase awareness of the Origins brand through various channels, inclusive of the Origins web presence. Bo is passionate about his position with Origins and he wishes to always make it easy for prospective patients and their families to learn about Origins online, as he knows Origins provides life-saving care with an unsurpassed degree of compassion and an unwillingness to provide anything but total dedication to the the recovery process.