We Level Up Treatment Centers Team

Alexandra Korotkevich Chief Executive Officer at We Level Up Treatment Center Pompano Beach, Florida, United States About: We Level Up was created to drive a moment of change. It is a lifestyle with the purpose to live in empowering beliefs through connection, authenticity, self-love, emotional integrity, and service to others. Through this WLU offers personal development events, coaching, and drug, and alcohol treatment. Our vision is to help create legions of self-empowered individuals who are completely in control of their lives and destinies, enabling them to get what they desire from this life, experiencing it to their fullest, most liberating potential. Through these hosts of self-empowered, and self-aware individuals, we will see families that communicate with more love, trust, and caring for one another, businesses that thrive in ways never before thought possible, and friendships that reach new heights. We Level Up produces a liberation from the mental chains that bind us, and enable us to operate at our fullest capacity. Have you ever wondered why you’re always living the same patterns over and over, end up feeling like a victim, or making the same choices that always lead to stress, anguish, and inevitable upset? We Level up offers not an answer, but a solution to these grave dilemmas that face us on a daily basis. Education Nova Southeastern University Master of Business Administration 2007 - 2008 Nova Southeastern University Bachelor of Science 2004 - 2007

Brian Acker is Director of IT at We Level Up. Brian Acker was born and raised in Pennsylvania and has been working in the field of addiction treatment since 2014. He currently serves as the Director of Information Technology for We Level Up treatment centers. His passion for technology and his driving force to become the best version of himself is what truly sets him aside from the rest. Brian brought with him his extensive knowledge in the IT field as well as many other business skills to the We Level Up team in 2020 as the Director of Information Technology. His favorite part about working for We Level Up, is being able to help those who are continuing to struggle with the disease of addiction and show them a new way of life.

Christopher Nerone is the Vice President of Admissions and Call Center at the We Level Up Treatment Centers network. Also known as CJ, Christopher has been working in the field of addiction treatment serving national networks streamlining their operations for best practices. CJ is passionate about helping patients and their families during the most difficult times of their lives. According to CJ, his primary mission and focus is to ensure that each family and patient seeking help receives the compassion, love, and care that they deserve. CJ has matured into his role with hard work, dedication, willingness to go the extra mile, along with exceptional leadership skills in the treatment center industry. Having worked at another national treatment center network, CJ brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help drive improved operations serving our each of our facilities and their clients.

Karine O'Loughlin,  Director of Call Center Operations at We Level Up. Karine is responsible for providing the link between the admissions process and our clinical team. She performs an assessment for many of our facilities on all potential admits determining if they meet our clinical criteria of care. Help in the organization of transportation and accommodations for all pending admissions. Speak with the families and loved ones of all clients and potential clients to ensure that all needs and concerns are met. Build relationships within the field to further enhance our growth and to provide all in need with the possibility of help.

Stacy has a long history as a clinician specializing in counseling people on substance use and mental health. Her unmatched professionalism and extensive skill set allowed her to excel when working with people from markedly different age groups. She has helped countless adolescents, adults, couples, and families conquer their addictions and build brighter futures for themselves. In her work, Stacy Linn focuses on making improvements to the quality of life of her patients. She takes the time to help people understand the meaning of family dynamics and cognitive processes in relation to their mental health.

After receiving a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, Stacy Linn proceeded to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional, and International Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. She has a strong reputation for helping people who have struggled with addiction achieve long-term recovery.

Josie Bornstein is originally from Deer Park, Washington and has lived in the Spokane area most of her life. She attended Whitworth University and graduated as a first-generation college student, majoring in Health science and Community health, with a minor in Psychology. She has an extensive background in mental and behavioral health and has been a part of opening many new inpatient and outpatient programs for at risk youth around Spokane. With her lived and professional experience, mental health is something that Josie is extremely passionate about. She knew from an early age that she was meant to help people who struggle with their mental health. Josie is not only passionate about the patients she works with, but also the people she gets to coach and mentor as a part of leadership. She became the Operation Manager at We Level Up because the motto matched her passion; Providing you with a map back to your fullest, most authentic potential, so you can choose a dream without limitations.

Kyle J. Rooney, MA, LCADC, CCS Kyle is currently a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor in the state of New Jersey. Kyle is currently a Senior Adjunct Professor at Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, NJ. He teaches the NJ State Licensing and Certification courses for Drug and Alcohol Counselors, Professional Issues in Addiction Counseling and Assessment Skills in Addiction Counseling. He has previously taught Introduction to Substance Abuse Counseling at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA. Kyle currently serves on the Atlantic Cape Community College Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Addiction Counseling Advisory Board. Kyle has extensive experience in the Addiction Counseling field working in all levels of care and serving clients and their families in a multitude of clinical and leadership roles. Kyle previously worked as a full-time Care Coordinator for the New Jersey Work First Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Initiative where he had the pleasure of doing substance use and mental health assessments for the Board of Social Services and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Kyle is experienced as a family support group facilitator, primary therapist, group facilitator, and director of substance abuse counseling. Kyle has worked tirelessly to help clients and their families understand the root causes behind addictive behavior. As a clinician, Kyle is trained and experienced in CBT, DBT, REBT, and ACT cognitive therapies. Kyle earned his master’s degree in counseling psychology in 2018 from Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, PA where he graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors. Kyle has been personally affected by addiction and he uses his personal experience to inspire hope in the clients that he serves. Kyle enjoys crabbing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, tent camping, traveling, and following Philadelphia sports teams and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish college football team.

Dr. Ali Nikbakht, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He has a specialization in addiction studies and co-occurring disorders. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA, graduated from Trinity Law School, and has earned his doctorate in Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology. Currently he is finishing his doctorate in Business Administration specializing in Health Care. Dr. Nikbakht has been with We Level Up California since its development in 2021 and has brought 15 years of his professional work experience and knowledge in the field of psychology, addiction, and family systems to helping individuals and families heal from internal conflict. The fundamental elements to his practice are respecting life choices and deep beliefs regardless of the individual and families’ circumstances. Dr. Nikbakht’s role is and always has been to create the necessary space in which new choices and solutions will unfold to help enhance the lives of individuals and their loved ones.

As the Director, Business Development Sean works closely with internal and external teams to drive both regional and national business strategy of the We Level Up behavioral health centers network. This role is part of a core team that evaluates and executes business development opportunities that drive regional growth. The focus is to drive growth through diversified channels including referrals (employer, community, physician, and patient), partnerships, new and expanded access and all contracts that impact revenue for the multi state centers under management. The Director, Business Development provides recommendations, based upon research and analysis, for potential partnerships, contracts, referrals and other market expansion opportunities.

Versatile and dedicated Head of HR with extensive talent acquisition, compliance, employee training, dispute resolution, and compensation management experience. Adept at resolving conflicts, negotiating benefits packages, conducting investigations into complaints, providing legal support, and handling various other critical human resources responsibilities. Experienced in offering proactive guidance and support to management on effective coaching and counseling techniques to ensure employee success, as well as consistently maintaining compliance with employment and labor laws as set forth by State and Federal regulations to minimize legal complications. Proven track-record of reducing turnover, minimizing workplace injuries, and increasing performance by high percentages through various HR leadership strategies.

The Director of Utilization Review/ Discharge manages the operations of the Discharge Planning and Utilization Review Department and ensures compliance with patient care quality standards. Coordinates activities in the process of evaluating the use of professional medical care, services, procedures and facilities using pre-established criteria; performs admission and concurrent review of all patients using pre-established criteria. Interfaces with other departments, mental health professionals and external review agencies; appeals adverse decisions by external review agencies. To ensure that financial benefits are maximized in the treatment and discharge planning for assigned cases through initial and continued stay reviews, prior authorization work for discharge services, effective liaison work and communication between business office and treatment team, implementation of the discharge plan, and active pursuit of appeals.

As Director of Clinical Services and Quality Assurance, Lauren is responsible for overseeing, directing, and supervising all clinical departments. Lauren guides our team of clinicians on best practices and provides the highest quality therapeutic care for our clients.

Moreover, Ms. Barry assists, reviews, and helps direct the We Level Up treatment centers written website content. She reviews select website content for proper context, accuracy, relevancy, and authority including research and citations mentioned.

In addition, Lauren works tirelessly on developing new and innovative clinical programs and approaches in the hopes of maximizing our ability to help our clients. Since starting her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University in 2013, Lauren has been passionate about helping individuals and families afflicted by the disease of addiction.

Lauren has held several roles within substance abuse and mental health medical practices, from primary therapist to Clinical Director and beyond. Lauren is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Florida and a Master’s level CAP (Certified Addiction Professional). In addition to her passion for helping clients, Lauren is extremely motivated and dedicated to helping her team become the best versions of themselves and developing their professional skills. Lauren displays great leadership skills and her mission is to inspire, empower and motivate those around her. 

Guy Shapira, as the Director of Digital Marketing at We Level Up Treatment Center, is a visionary marketer with a passion for leveraging digital strategies to drive meaningful impact and awareness in the behavioral health recovery space. With a keen understanding of industry trends and consumer behavior, Guy leads the digital marketing efforts at We Level Up, crafting compelling campaigns and engaging content to connect with individuals seeking holistic healing and recovery. Drawing upon his extensive experience in digital marketing and branding, Guy is dedicated to creating innovative and targeted initiatives that resonate with audiences, inspire action, and amplify the message of hope and transformation offered by We Level Up Treatment Center. His strategic approach to digital marketing combines creativity, data-driven insights, and a deep commitment to supporting individuals on their journey to wellness and well-being. He plays a key role in developing and executing digital marketing client acquisition, SEO organic and paid search lead generation campaigns that enhance the visibility and impact of the treatment center's programs, services, and mission. Through a blend of creativity, analytics, and storytelling, he strives to empower individuals to take the first step towards healing and recovery, guiding them towards a brighter and healthier future. Through a strategic vision and digital expertise, Guy contributes to creating a digital presence that inspires hope, fosters connection, and promotes positive change within the behavioral health recovery community.