In 2021, Ashley’s leadership will transition to be led by Co-CEOs/Presidents, Alex Denstman and Dr. Gregory Hobelmann. Here’s everything you need to know.

After months of hours of planning and careful consideration, Ashley’s Board of Directors decided to appoint Alex and Greg as the next generation of leadership at Ashley. Due to their dedication to the Ashley mission, the pride and compassion that they take in their work, and the way they uphold the legacy set nearly 40 years ago by Father Martin and Mae Abraham, the Board decided there are no two people more qualified to continue to lead. Their expertise is unmatched and their vision for the future of Ashley will ensure continued success for our organization.

Learn more about the official announcement that was made public today, here.

Innovating With More Opportunity

We couldn’t be more excited about what this means for the team at Ashley. We’re proud to be a leader in the substance use disorder treatment industry, and appointing Alex and Greg as Co-CEOs/Presidents will empower us to continue to drive our mission while remaining sustainably successful as a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and defeating substance use disorder. For our team, this means more opportunities to innovate and contribute to the field of medicine focused on the disease of SUD. For our patients and their families, this means more evidence-based treatment, and greater access to holistic, individualized care.

You May Be Wondering

We understand that change can often leave people with a lot of questions, and that’s okay. At Ashley, we know our team and staff are our greatest asset, so we’ve made keeping you informed a priority. We invite you to ask any questions you have of any member of leadership or your direct manager.

To help answer a few upfront questions, we’ve provided a few answers below

What does this mean for me, and my team?
We’re not considering this a radical change. We’re keeping things largely business-as-usual. We have every intention for this to be a smooth transition without noticeable major changes. We have no major staffing updates planned. This is a transition that began many months ago, and our hope is that it is so seamless that staff will not notice anything.

Is my job safe and secure? Will there be any restructuring?
As mentioned above, we’re operating just like we have been. We have no restructuring planned at this time. We have made strategic plans, but have not planned any major actions.

Who do I report to now? Will my boss (or boss’s boss) be more difficult to reach directly?
This transition should have no effect on your supervisor or the way you typically contact them.

Will Alex and Greg continue to be hands-on with certain aspects of their work?
With this co-leadership, Alex and Greg will continue to be active in work within their individual specialties. The scope of their responsibilities will shift; however, they will remain very connected to the work they currently do.

How often will Alex and Greg be in the office and/or reachable to talk to?
Alex and Greg want to remain accessible to members of the team, and will be in the office often. They will be present on and around campus frequently.

Why is Dave leaving? Why now?
Dave has been generous with his commitment to Ashley, and even extended his initial commitment to ensure this transition goes smoothly and seamlessly. We had never planned for him to be the long-term CEO; however, he remained committed as we planned this transition. In a way, Dave isn’t ‘leaving’ just yet. He will now serve as a Senior Advisor and Envoy to Ashley and focus on board of directors recruitment, philanthropy and partnerships, and serve as a direct advisor to Alex and Greg.

Who should I talk to for any additional questions I may have?
Alex and Greg plan to create opportunities to communicate more with anyone interested in what this model represents. Expect to hear more detail about this over the next few months.

How to Learn More

It’s important for Ashley’s leadership and Board of Directors that every member of the Ashley family can ask questions and get answers. We encourage you to speak to your direct supervisor.

From the bottom of the hearts of the Ashley leadership team, we thank you for your continued dedication to the amazing work we do here. We are very excited about where Ashley is going, and hope you share in that excitement as we continue to grow and evolve!

To learn more about Alex’s and Greg’s respective roles, and the responsibilities they will share, click here.