The Summit Malibu Team

William Oswald, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder

Summit Malibu was founded by William Oswald, who has over 40 years of experience in the field of substance use, addiction treatment, and mental health recovery.

As a hands-on owner in recovery himself, William has handcrafted the Summit Malibu treatment program by drawing upon his extensive experience with proven methods for long-term success. Read More

Steve Booth, Chief Financial Officer, and Founder

Steven earned his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Economics. Before helping to co-found Summit Malibu Steven worked in both private and public accounting. Like many others, Steven has seen first hand the destruction that addiction can inflict on family and friends. He has also witnessed the extraordinary changes that can be made when addicts receive the necessary treatment.

Lisa Benya, D.O.

Dr. Lisa Benya, D.O., is a 1995 graduate of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is an internal medicine doctor that has served the Malibu community for over the past 10 years.

Her caring and compassionate approach combines both eastern and western medicine and has earned her a great reputation and a lot of respect in the local community. Read More

William Stanley, M.D.

Dr. William D. Stanley, M.D., received his Doctorate of Medicine degree from UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ.

Dr. Stanley completed his Boards for ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) in 2000, and later for ABAM (American Board of Addiction Medicine) in 2010. Read More

Shahla Modir, M.D.

Dr. Shahla Modir, M.D., has over 20 years of experience in addiction, psychiatry, and integrative medicine.

Dr. Modir is dual board-certified in Addiction and Psychiatry, serving as a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and its Addiction Psychiatry certification. Read More

Kevin Simonson, Psychiatrist

Dr. Kevin is a psychiatrist with an integrative approach to mental health treatment. He completed his BS in Molecular Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology at Humboldt State University. He received his medical degree from UC Irvine and completed residency at UC Riverside and the Long Beach VA, where he worked in substance treatment and suboxone clinics.

Kristin Robert, Executive Director

Hailing from a background in business administration and customer service, Kristin Robert joined the team at Summit Malibu in January 2014.

As Executive Director, she oversees the clinical and support staff, as well as all aspects of our dual diagnosis addiction treatment program. Read More

Kam Walton, Director of Operations

Kam Walton brings her background in management to our team at Summit Malibu. Prior to joining Summit in 2022, she was a communications major at UCSD and SDSU.

Kam has worked in the field of addiction treatment for over six years and takes a personal interest in all Summit employees as well as clients. Read More

Kimberly Low, LMFT, Clinical Director

Kim Low is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist with experience in the addiction and mental health field since 1998. She received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from New College of California school of Psychology in San Francisco and is currently pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Reiss Davis Graduate center. Read More

Kelly Sweeney, Case Manager/Aftercare Coordinator

Kelly Sweeney has worked in all aspects of the addiction and mental health treatment field for more than 16 years and currently serves as Case Manager and Aftercare Coordinator for Summit Malibu.

She has had the exclusive opportunity of working alongside some of world’s very best clinicians, treatment centers, and doctors. Read More

Amaris Baker, LMFT, Primary Therapist

Amaris Baker is a graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and minored in Sociology.

She obtained her master’s degree (MA) in Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University-Long Beach. Read More

Beth Farar, LMFT, Independently Affiliated Clinician

Beth Farar is a California State Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Psychotherapist (LMFT) who has been treating people for more than 22 years.

She specializes in working with individuals, couples, children, adolescents, and family therapy and is trained in Rapid Resolution Therapy. Read More

Charlene McPherson, CADC, ICADC, SAP, Independently Affiliated Clinician

Charlene has worked as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 1991. Her work experience has been in a variety of treatment levels in substance abuse programs. She has a BS degree in Psychology and an AA degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling. My path in life has guided me to work in the field of addiction to guide others in healing and wellness. I believe everyone is unique with their counseling for their journey in life. I say “one shoe size, color, style will not fit everyone.”

Cyndle Rios, LMFT, Independently Affiliated Clinician

Cyndle Rios is passionate and devoted to empowering others and creating positive awareness within the mind, body and spirit.

As a therapist, she helps clients find inspiration and motivation in a life of healing and hope, and helping others create a life worth living. Read More

Gabriel Logan-Braun, Holistic Practitioner

Gabriel Logan-Braun has shared his knowledge and touched the lives of both our team and residents since arriving at Summit Malibu several years ago in 2018.

After going through a dark episode of depression in his late teens, he was led to his first yoga class at the age of 17, where he began his journey of healing and transformation. Read More

Scott Hobbs, Yoga Therapist

Scott Hobbs has been practicing and teaching Iyengar yoga for over 35 years.

In 1984, he founded the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los Angeles and was one of the first group of Americans to be certified as an Iyengar Yoga teacher. Read More

Natalie Riggs, Equine-Assisted & Yoga Therapist

Natalie Riggs provides a dual role as both an experienced Equine-Assisted Therapist and Yoga Therapist for our residents at Summit Malibu.

She facilitates therapeutic group and private sessions for our clients by navigating a myriad of life challenges including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. Read More

Terry O’Rourke, CADC, Group Facilitator

After a successful career in film & tv production, Terry felt it was time to give back. He has been blessed in his life with many gifts and felt it was time to be of service to others. Terry’s mission statement is “I co-create a world of connection and discovery through supporting, facilitating, and loving myself and others.” He graduated from the UCLA Extension Addiction Studies Program In 2018. Terry then became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He is also a certified SMART Recovery Facilitator.

Amanda Grindstaff, Supervising Registered Nurse

Amanda is licensed as a registered nurse in the state of California. Among other degrees, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a degree in Psychology.

Amanda has previously worked in public health and critical care. Read More

Joanna Medina, Medication Room Supervisor

Joanna Medina earned her Bachelor’s Degree from California Lutheran University and she began working in field of addiction treatment immediately after she graduated.

Joanna’s personal experience with addiction provided the motivation for her to work in treatment, where she can provide support, compassion, and hope to others. Read More

Donald Peake, Lead Clinician Assistant

Don Peake was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and moved to the Los Angeles area in the early ’70s with his wife Pam.

He draws from his own personal experience in recovery when sharing with clients and offering compassion and encouragement during their time in treatment and beyond. Read More

Scott Naslund, Lead Clinician Assistant

Scott is a graduate of UCLA and has been working at Summit Malibu since its inception. His experience in recovery has been both challenging and rewarding. The challenge has lied in helping people through the throes of addiction by being supportive. The reward from witnessing people heal through Summit’s therapeutic process and rekindle their fire for life. His passion for learning has helped him realize the importance of helping people and the value of sobriety.

Michael Yates, Clinician Assistant

Michael has worked in the field of addiction for six years as a recovery technician. His main focus is to give back by helping others in their journey and to meet those struggling in life and help them to find their way again. Michael is often seen inspiring others by sharing hope that anything is possible.

Rosalia Sandoval, Facility Manager

Rosalia Sandoval has been a member of the Summit Malibu Team from day 1 and excels as our Facility Manager.

She enjoys interacting with our clients and staff, and is present every day, welcoming Summit Malibu with a fresh breakfast and a warm smile. Read More

Mark Rabbene, Executive Chef

Chef Mark Rabbene attended the Culinary Institute of America and began his career in the food industry in 1983. He has held many titles such as Apprentice at Four Seasons Restaurant, Corporate Chef for AT&T, and has been the owner of two restaurants back in his hometown of New York. Read More