Nugen’s Ranch welcomes new executive director

WASILLA — Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services board of directors recently announced Debbie Emery’s full integration as the new executive director of Nugen’s Ranch.

Nugen’s Ranch is a substance abuse treatment center ran by Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Inc. located in Point Mackenzie. Emery started working at Nugen’s Ranch in June of 2020 as a consultant, shifting to the interim director and finally accepting the full-time position as executive director.

“I feel really good about it… I think their mission is highly important… That we value each other with love and kindness and respect and acceptance,” Emery said. “The founder, Mr. Nugen wrote something that was very appropriate, that we grow people here on the ranch to become sober. While they’re working through treatment. They also do some work therapy in growing plants and vegetables and pigs and hay and things like that. So they really get a well-rounded program.”

Prior to her time at Nugen’s Ranch, Emery served as the program manager and grants administrator for the Division of Behavioral Health of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ Alcohol Safety Action Program Misdemeanor Probation division until retiring in April of 2020.

Emery is bringing her 10 years of experience in the substance abuse disorder field to lead Nugen’s Ranch into the future by working to secure its financial future. Over the last year, she’s overseen its transition from a state grant-funded treatment facility to a flourishing Medicaid billable agency. She also increased their total staff by 35 percent in spite of the various challenges thrown by the pandemic.

“It’s just night and day as far as the financials… Debbie was kind of the expert with Medicaid and kind of saved the day as it were… We really are on a real trajectory,” Nugen’s Ranch clinical director, Daniel Light said.

Nugen’s Ranch has been in service since the 1980s. It offers a unique therapeutic process involving actual ranch work and other work-related tasks integrated into clients’ journey to sobriety. Emery said their high success rate of 83 percent shows that this model works, that clients empower themselves to make lasting positive changes at their facility, motivating all the staff to keep this important work going.

“We are striving to be the best residential treatment center in Alaska,” Emery said. “I think the longevity speaks for itself… We think our future is very bright.”

Emery brings a diverse and human service and community outreach background to the table. She earned a reputation as a compassionate nurse at the Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, Washington in the 1970s, according to the press release.

Emery worked as a Social Service Director and Disaster Services Coordinator at The Salvation Army, Spokane, Washington from 1982 to 2004. She eventually moved to Alaska in 2004 to serve as Social Worker II, Investigator for the State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services.

Since 2005, she served numerous roles in Alaskan organizations and programs including North Star Behavioral Health Hospital, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Hope Community Resources, and State of Alaska Senior and Disability Services.

For more information about Nugen’s Ranch and Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, call 907-376-4534 or visit nugensranchak.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com