COO

Matthew is a strategic leader in public health and social impact, specializing in men’s health and stigma reduction. As the founder of MANUAL, focused on raising capital and serving tens of thousands of men before being acquired by Release in 2024. Previously, as Vice President at Shatterproof, Matthew led evidence-based stigma reduction campaigns that reached over 5 million individuals. He has also held key roles at Planned Parenthood  and McKinsey & Company, focusing on innovative strategies and policy development. A Cornell University graduate with dual degrees in Economics and Government, Matthew is excited to leverage his experiences to drive meaningful change at Release Recovery.

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Dr. McCormick is a trained surgeon whose passion for helping those with substance use disorders prompted him to switch careers to addiction medicine, where he now has nearly a decade of experience in Medication-Assisted Treatment, detox, and medication management. During his 8-year tenure at Caron Treatment Center in Wernersville, PA, he served as Medical Director for Signature Programs, led Caron’s Healthcare Professionals Assessment Program, and served as the physician in charge of the Opioid Treatment Program. When working with patients, Dr. McCormick leads with love, tolerance, empathy, and an absence of judgment – guided by his personal experience and drive to help others through what he went through himself.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nico graduate as valedictorian with a BA in Psychology from Lipscomb University and with highest honors with an M.Ed. in Human Development Studies from Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville, Tennessee. Nico has held roles ranging from clinical care and admissions to business development and executive leadership, developing multiple young adult programs for residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment centers, and college campuses. He serves on the board for the Young Adult Transition Association, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers’ conference committee, and gave a TEDx talk. Today, Nico takes incredible pride in ensuring every family Release serves is warmly welcomed into our community. 

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Elizabeth has 10+ years working in the field previously working as the Men’s Program Manager and Clinical Director for another local treatment center. She is trained in Art Therapy and EMDR. She is passionate about young adult recovery, staff culture, supervision, and empowering clients and staff to discover and fulfill their potential.

During her academic and career growth, she has balanced a personal life that has flourished into a small family. She has improved and maintained relationships with her parents and brothers, watched several extended and direct family members find sobriety, and has enjoyed ongoing personal growth and development. 

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS & OUTREACH

Blake is both a proud alumnus of the program and a dedicated team member since 2018. Drawn to Release’s client-first philosophy, he brings empathy, energy, and firsthand insight to guiding individuals and families through the admissions process. In his leadership role, Blake oversees outreach and referral partnerships—developing strategies to drive growth, strengthen community relationships, and enhance the organization’s presence. He also manages the full admissions pipeline, including operations and family engagement. As a trusted face of Release, Blake’s authenticity and experience allow him to build meaningful connections, lead tours, and provide hope to those taking the first steps toward recovery.

DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL CARE

Stephen has worked in the addiction and recovery field since 2017 and has been in personal recovery since 2015. As Director of Residential Care, Stephen draws on his professional and personal experience to create a roadmap for sustained and fulfilling recovery for all of Release’s clients. Highly skilled in problem solving for clients and their families, Stephen is an expert at working with young people in recovery, navigating college in sobriety, and helping all clients acclimate into Release Recovery’s community.

CTO

Karl Morand is a seasoned engineering leader with over a decade of experience driving product innovation and building high-performing teams. He has successfully grown engineering departments from the ground up—recruiting and nurturing groups of 40+ engineers, designers, and product managers—to deliver products that have reached thousands of users. Karl’s technical expertise spans a wide range of solutions, from e-commerce websites and complex frontend applications to mobile apps and backend APIs, for both consumer-facing and B2B organizations.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Wes Ward, a founding team member at Release Austin, is responsible for all administrative functions of the company including finance, human resources, and operations. Wes has worked in the addiction treatment field for the past fifteen years and is passionate about helping people get well and go on to lead incredible lives. on goes here