Who we are
TEAM BIOS
Imo Succo, MSW
DIRECTOR
Here's a concise version of your bio:
Imo Succo, a member of the Navajo Nation, was born and raised on the Navajo reservation. She is of the Water Flows Together Clan, born for the Bitter Water Clan; her maternal grandfather is Mountain Cove, and paternal grandfather is Mexican Clan.
Imo is the Founder and Director of Indigenous Wellbriety in Cortez, CO, launched in March 2022. She oversees operations, grant writing, and administration, and also provides one-on-one peer support and facilitates Talking Circles when needed.
Rooted in her Navajo cultural upbringing, education, and professional experience, Imo actively collaborates with local partners and serves on the boards of The Bridge Shelter and Rocky Mountain Health Foundation.
In her free time, she enjoys being with her children and grandchildren, road trips, and live music.
Tess Lynston
Program Coordinator
Tess brings a profound commitment of her personal path of "healing our lineages" to our team, inspired by her mixed Indigenous heritage. This connection to her roots fuels her passion for wholistic well-being, which she views as a seed for empowerment and healing.
In her role with the team, Tess is responsible for implementing programming with the Youth Peer Coaches, as well as leading Community Engagement & Outreach efforts and Promotions & Marketing.
Tess considers herself a nature steward with a deep respect for the environment. She delights in preparing delicious and nutritious meals, as well as expressing herself through singing, dancing, writing, and creating art. Tess embodies a wholistic approach to life, combining her Indigenous heritage with a passion for spirituality and creativity.
Tess graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts, with an associate degree in Studio Arts & Museum Studies with an emphasis on Native American Contemporary Art.
She curated the art exhibit - Ancestral Homelands: Connection to Land, Space and Time at the Canyon of the Ancients Culture Center 2015. She also holds an associate degree in Wholistic Wellness.
Sammy Antez, Jr.
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH
Sammy is a member of the Navajo Nation tribe. Spending most of his summers with his Nali Lady (paternal grandmother) until moving to the Reservation in the middle of middle school years. He is an Indigenous Peer Recovery Coach for Indigenous Wellbriety in Cortez, CO.
Sammy holds four Wellbriety certifications and a certified Peer Support certificate in substance use and mental health with Colorado Mental Wellness Network. Sammy provides on-on-one peer support, facilitates Talking Circles, assists in sober friendly activities for work, participates in Street Medicine outreach services for unhoused relatives and community events in the surrounding the area. He brings a unique experience with his personal upbringing, addiction recovery path, taking personal interest in the people he helps and shares his personal story that is much similar to the majority of people seeking assistance. Sammy's motivations for his sobriety are his family, team members, elders and community.
Vacant
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH
Howard Yazzie
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY ELDER
Howard, a member of the Dine Nation, hails from Emmanuel Mission near Sweetwater, Arizona. His ancestry includes Ma’ii Deeshgiizhinii – Áshįįhnii, Táchii’nii, Kinyaa’áanii, and Bit’ahnii clans. Inspired by his own journey with alcohol addiction post-military service, Howard found purpose in aiding others, particularly youth, veterans, and their families, through Indigenous Wellbriety. His cultural upbringing instilled wisdom that guides his approach to life, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cultural teachings.
Howard's diverse experiences includes serving in the Navy during Vietnam and working in the oil and gas industry to community leadership roles that enrich his perspective and wisdom as a Native American elder. Through White Bison Trainings, he further honed his skills in supporting individuals dealing with trauma, substance abuse and mental health disorders by providing Navajo cultural teachings, healing ceremonies and integrating this knowledge into his work with Indigenous Wellbriety Talking Circles. Howard also provides one-on-one peer support to the organization and to the broader communities in the Four Corners region. Howard was nominated and awarded the Hero Award with Red Cross Colorado-Wyoming Chapter in 2022. He is the first Native American to receive this honor in Red Cross Colorado-Wyoming Chapter.
Vacant
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH for YOUTH
Chelsea Highelk
INDIGENOUS PEER RECOVERY COACH for YOUTH
Chelsea is a Wellbriety Talking Circle facilitator, a Certified Orion Peer Recovery Coach, Women’s Group Facilitator, and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. She is a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux and Navajo Nation. She is passionate about serving her community as a youth peer coach, using her voice and lived experience to educate, empower, and inspire young people. Committed to prevention and education, she helps youth make informed choices regarding substance misuse and overall well-being. Chelsea is dedicated to teaching valuable tools for emotional intelligence, emphasizing the impact of intergenerational trauma and the importance of holistic wellness through the Wellbriety approach.
Beyond her professional work, Chelsea deeply values personal development and holistic wellness, incorporating body, mind, emotions, heart, and spirit into her practices. She finds joy in her faith, running and walking in nature, reading, nutrition, and cooking. Most importantly, she cherishes time with her children and enjoys traveling to warmer climates.
Vacant
INDIGENOUS PEER ELDER for YOUTH
IWP Board of Advisors
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Regina is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, currently a Cross-Culture
Program Manager for Montezuma Land Conservancy and pursuing a Master's in
Environmental Management with Western Colorado University. Regina has
experience in information technology and formerly served on the Ute Mountain
Ute tribal counci
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Regina is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, currently a Cross-Culture
Program Manager for Montezuma Land Conservancy and pursuing a Master's in
Environmental Management with Western Colorado University. Regina has
experience in information technology and formerly served on the Ute Mountain
Ute tribal council in an elected position. In addition to her public service, she has
been on several boards and committees advocating for her passion in
environmental and Native American cultural issues.
Regina brings insight to the
program as a community member of Montezuma County and has extensive cultural
experience as a Native American community member.
James Anderson
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
James is a descendant of an old tribe of Mississippi Band of Choctaws. He has
experience as a counselor, firefighter, ranger and leading cultural functions such
as spiritual sweats, community cultural functions and studied human behavior,
addiction and human disorders. Most of all, James brings lived experience i
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
James is a descendant of an old tribe of Mississippi Band of Choctaws. He has
experience as a counselor, firefighter, ranger and leading cultural functions such
as spiritual sweats, community cultural functions and studied human behavior,
addiction and human disorders. Most of all, James brings lived experience in
substance use addiction and shares his journey in recovery and sobriety to Talking
Circles and sober led activities.
Roy Tso, LCSW
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Roy Tso, LCSW
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Tso is a member of the Navajo Nation, and lifelong resident of the Four
Corners region. Roy earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from the Facundo
Valdez School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. He is presently
in private practice in Farmington, New Mexico. Mr. Tso is a certified Eye
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Tso is a member of the Navajo Nation, and lifelong resident of the Four
Corners region. Roy earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from the Facundo
Valdez School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. He is presently
in private practice in Farmington, New Mexico. Mr. Tso is a certified Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner and an EMDR
consultant.
Roy aims to restore clients to a balanced (Hozho) personal and family (K'é) life. He
understands that integration of emotional, physical, and spiritual is essential for
mental health. Therefore, utilizing evidence-based interventions combined with
holistic strength-based psychoeducation aides clients in setting and achieving their
goals.