Our personnel are the lifeblood of Open Doors. Read on to learn more about our team.
Managers
Amber Hinkle, BSW, LSW
Founder; Executive Director
As a Lewisburg, WV native, Amber began her career in the field of developmental disabilities in 1988. She attained a Social Work degree in 1986 from East Tennessee State University, and was initially hired by the WVU University Affiliated Center for Developmental Disabilities as a Case Worker. This adventure began the orientation of the Medley Consent Decree and WV’s progressive movement to de-institutionalize children and adults from state operated institutions. After 18 months, she was employed by a behavioral health provider as a Case Manager for all Medley Class members in a four county area.
In 1990, Amber along with Lin Preston, RN and Dr. Greg Wallace, D.O. opened the private behavioral health agency Open Doors for the Developmentally Challenged, Inc. As a seasoned Executive Director, she remains committed to the core values and mission of this agency. Best practice trends continue to support individual rights in every single aspect of community living and it remains Amber’s intent to keep and move Open Doors to the forefront of quality community based services.
Amber is currently serving her third term on the Title XIX I/DD Waiver Quality Assurance and Improvement Council. Appointed in February 2016, she began her first term on the WV Olmstead Council. She was also appointed by Governor’s Manchin and Underwood, to serve two terms on the WV Developmental Disabilities Council.
In addition to the above, she served 8 years as a member of the Greenbrier County Child and Youth Advocacy Center Board of Directors as well as a charter member of the Greenbrier County Communities in Schools Board of Directors. Currently she remains a member of the Greenbrier County Multidisciplinary Investigative Team and the Greenbrier County Sexual Abuse Response Team.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time at her home in the countryside of beautiful Greenbrier county. At every possible chance she loves seeing live performances of Cirque du Soleil all over the country.
Contact Amber at 304.645.2130 x302.
Lin Preston, RN
Founder; Financial Director
Lin Preston is a native of Washington State. She met her husband, Mason when she was a student at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He was an army officer stationed at Fort Lewis and a native of Lewisburg, WV. They were married in 1969 between his two tours of Vietnam.
Lin finished her Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing from the University of Washington in 1975. As a Registered Nurse for over 41 years, she has worked in Washington State, Alaska, and West Virginia. In 1982, Lin and Mason and their three children moved to Lewisburg, WV. During this time, she became friends with Emily Holswade, an advocate for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities with WV Advocates. Lin wanted to work, but also be available to her growing children. Emily encouraged Lin and Mason to become Specialized Care Providers. This program is designed to offer long term care for IDD persons in families. Their foster daughter lived with them for 14 years and their foster son 7 years.
In 1990, Amber Hinkle and Lin Preston started Open Doors, Inc. Lin continues to practice nursing as a staff member of Open Doors and is the ODI Financial Director. She enjoys time with her family, reading, playing music, and quilting.
Contact Lin at 304.646.2372.
Joy Arbuckle, LSW, MS, BSP
Director of CM/BSP Departments
Joy Arbuckle has over 20 years of experience in providing supports to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Social Work from Concord College in Athens, WV and her Master’s of Science in Psychology from Walden University, Minneapolis, MN.
Throughout her career, Joy has provided direct services, Birth to Three services, Case Management, and Positive Behavior Support services through Title XIX I/DD Waiver. Joy enjoys facilitating training sessions as part of her role as an active member of the West Virginia Association of Positive Behavior Support Leadership team. Outside of work Joy enjoys spending time with her family, traveling with her daughter’s dance group, training with her pets and singing in the church choir.
Contact Joy at 304.645.2130 x322.
Alana Preston
Payroll Clerk; Schedule Developer
An Open Doors, Inc. employee from the very start, Alana grew up in Lewisburg, WV and has always called it home. She has worked at Open Doors in many capacities for over 20 years. Early on, Alana spent time as a Supported Living Companion for Open Doors, a job she now reflects upon as one of the most challenging and enlightening times of her life.
Alana worked at ODI throughout her college years at Shepherd College and West Virginia University, where she obtained a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Theatre with a Minor in English, graduating Magna Cum Laude in December of 2001. After college, Alana returned to make her home in Lewisburg and has been working as the Payroll Clerk and LODI Schedule Developer while also serving on the ODI Board of Directors. A detail-oriented math whiz and puzzle enthusiast, she enjoys applying her skills to Scheduling and Payroll. Alana is happily married and in her “spare time” she co-manages The Lewis Theatre and performs with and serves on the Board of Trillium Performing Arts Collective.
Contact Alana at 304.645.2130 x314.
Liz Diana, SHRM, AMAP
Human Resource Manager; IdentoGO
Liz Pitzer has been the Human Resource Manager at Open Doors since 2007.
She has bachelor’s degree from Bluefield State in Business Administration and an SHRM certificate.
Contact Liz at 304.645.2130 x304.
Case Managers
Brenda Deitz, BS
Case Manager; Home manager
Brenda Deitz, Case Manager, has worked for Open Doors Inc. since 1997. She first started working as direct care staff while finishing her Behavioral Science Degree in Psychology from Glenville State College. As a professional, she first worked as Day Hab Coordinator/Employment Facilitator before providing some QMRP services. In 2003, she made the move to start service coordination and feels that she has found her niche.
Born and raised in Mt. Lookout, West Virginia, she also lived there most of her life while raising her son who is currently a deputy sheriff for Kanawha County, West Virginia. Most of her life was spent as a wife and mother before completing college and working in the behavioral health field. Brenda’s main goal in life has been to be a positive influence with everyone that she comes in contact with and to learn everything that she can from them as well. In her years with Open Doors, she feels she has learned the most from the individuals she serves.
In her free time, Brenda enjoys gardening and quilting. In the 1980’s she had a quilt on display in the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. Her claim to fame!
Contact Brenda at 304.883.2414 x401.
Brittany Pickles
Case Manager; Home Manager
Brittany is a Case Manager with Open Doors Inc. She graduated from Concord University in 2021 with her bachelor’s in social work. Brittany grew up in Monroe County, WV but has resided in Greenbrier County for over 10 years.
She completed her internship at Open Doors in 2020, left for a short period of time after graduating but is excited to be back on the Open Doors team. She is a mother and an animal lover.
In her spare time, she enjoys being outside, spending time with family/friends, and her animals. She is passionate about being an advocate and helping others find their voice.
Contact Brittany at 304.645.2130 x313.
Amber Frymier
Case Manager; Home Manager
Amber Frymier is a Case Manager with Open Doors Inc. Amber worked for years as a direct support staff before graduating in 2022 from West Virginia University Parkersburg with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Following graduation, she wasn’t quite sure what to do with the rest of her life… then found Open Doors and immediately felt at home! She hopes to obtain her Master’s of Social Work degree in the future and continue her career in the I/DD field.
Outside of work, Amber enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling!
Vanessa Roush
Case Manager; Home Manager
Vanessa was Born in Bucharest, Romania. She was adopted and grew up in Boardman, Ohio. Vanessa went to Bowling Green State University where she obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology, graduating Cum Laude in December of 2022.
During college, she worked as a Direct Support Professional for “I Am Boundless” in Ohio, to help her get into graduate school for clinical psychology, but she fell in love with this field and am now just exploring different areas within it, and that is how I ended up here at Open Doors.
Contact Vanessa at 304.645.2130 x303.
Tatiana Mynuk, BA, AMAP; Greenworks Operations
Originally from Marlinton, Tatiana Mynuk graduated from Marshall University with a degree in Anthropology and minors in Art History and French in 2001. She then taught French and computer science at Marlinton Middle School for three years while taking graduate classes in education and volunteering as an EMT. When the French program was dissolved, she joined the US Army as a Human Intelligence Collector. After six years of service around the world and a deployment to Iraq, Tatiana returned to WV to be with family for their final years.
She began at Open Doors in 2011 and is now a Case Manager, Behavior Support Specialist, SLC, AMAP, job coach, and Greenworks Daily Operations Manager. She is also known as a miss fix it and computer nerd. She is working on a master’s degree in herbal medicine just for fun and plays ukulele in a local club. She lives in Lewisburg with her young son and menagerie of animals and loves being able to share them with the employees and persons receiving services at Open Doors.
Contact Tatiana at 304.645.2130 x330.
Behavioral Support Professionals
Barbara Frame-Cook, RN, BSN, MA, BSP
Barbara Frame-Cook was born in Baltimore, Maryland and spent her early years in Weston, West Virginia. She is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan with a BSN (Nursing), minors in Sociology and Biology, and Ohio University with a MA, Certification in Public Administration. She worked as an RN/Unit Director at Weston State Hospital, Nursing Home Consultant, VA System in Beckley, WV and as a Substance Abuse Unit Manager in Ohio. She served as the Director of Nursing at Beckley Appalachian Regional and as the Director of Quality at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte, West Virginia. Barbara has been involved in the care of disabled/psychiatric patients for approximately forty years.
She is currently a Nurse Surveyor for Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), surveying acute care, critical access and behavioural facilities throughout the United States. She served as a Graduate Level Adjunct Faculty at MSU for a decade, teaching Health Care Administration and Health Care Finance. Barbara has lived in Lewisburg since 2003. She enjoys life and the people that make it interesting. She makes her home among plants, art, music and photos of her travels. Her home is shared with her husband, Joseph (Buck) Williams, III. She has been employed at Open Doors since June 2010 as a BSP (Behavior Support Professional). She brings her skills to Open Doors and the members. She feels that the members give back more than she will ever be able to give to them.
Contact Barbara at 304.645.2130 x337.
Pamela Ashley, BSP
Pamela Ashley was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her family is from Kenova and Hinton, WV and she enjoyed spending her summers on the Greenbrier River while visiting every year. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice and started working for Open Doors as a Service Coordinator in 2014. In January of 2017 she became a BSP (Behavior Support Professional) for Open Doors where she enjoys the challenges of helping individuals learn to live as independently as possible.
In her spare time, Pamela enjoys spending time with her family, being on the river in any capacity, riding her motorcycle, and roller skating.
Contact Pamela at 304.645.2130 x339.
Gabrielle Brake
Gabrielle Brake, Behavioral Support Professional, has worked for Open Doors Inc. since June 2023. She attended Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. Gabrielle originally was pursuing a degree in Nursing. However, she decided to change her major to a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Studies, and an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. Gabrielle was a First-Generation College Graduate in her immediate family.
Born and raised in Webster County, West Virginia, she has lived there all her life. Gabrielle spent most of her life in school. She enjoyed playing little league sports and high school softball. She played from the age of 5 to age 16. The sport taught her how being a team player is important to get the job done. It also taught her how to be responsible and how to keep her word. Gabrielle’s main goal is to show her younger brother and sister David and Nevaeh you can still achieve the goals you have set for yourself, and you don’t have to become a part of the statistics within your community. Within the short period she has been with Open Doors, she feels like this company is another family to her. Gabrielle is thankful for the compassion and understanding Open Doors has offered to her since she started.
In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, painting, crocheting, spending time with etc. Winter is her favorite season. She is always willing to help wherever she is needed. Gabrielle is devoted to being an advocate for individuals who are not quite capable of advocating for themselves.
Nurses
Dorothy Lemons, RN
Dorothy is a graduate of the Chesapeake and Ohio School of Nursing.
She has worked in various aspects of nursing across her storied career.
The largest concentration has been focused in pediatrics and behavioral health, with more than 16 years experience with Open Doors.
She loves family, friends and pets.
Contact Dorothy at 304.645.2130 x306.
Autumn Waid, RN
Autumn has worked as a RN at Open Doors since 2019. She grew up in Greenbrier County and resides in Lewisburg with her husband and children.
She obtained her registered nursing degree from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in 2006 and has since worked in the hospital setting as a pediatric and med/surg nurse, clinical setting and with XIX I/DD Waiver recipients.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family.
Contact Autumn at 304.645.2130 x310.
Sara Acree, RN
Sara Acree has been an RN with Open Doors since 2018. She is a graduate of Nicholas County High School and has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of West Virginia. She has worked in various fields during her career as a Registered Nurse, including Med/Surg, Obstetrics, Home Health, and Title XIX I/DD Waiver. She has more than 20 years of experience with Title XIX I/DD Waiver.
Sara was raised in Nicholas County and has lived in Summersville most of her life. She and her husband, Heath, have 3 children, Ryan, Emily, and Connor. Ryan graduated from WVU with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, Master’s in Economics, and is currently in law school. Emily has a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and attends WVU School of Medicine to become an Audiologist. Connor is in middle school and is on the basketball and soccer teams.
Sara enjoys any activity spent with her family. She also enjoys reading, shopping, cooking, and going to the beach.
Contact Sara at 304.883.2414 x403.
Supported Employment
Rhonda Helems, CESP
Supported Employment; Lifeworks
Rhonda Helems is long-time Nicholas County resident, graduated from Richwood High School where she attended Nicholas County Vo-Tech to become a CNA. Rhonda spent 10 years in the health care system, working at Summersville Memorial Hospital and the Nicholas County HealthCare Center. Rhonda then became employed with Open Doors in 1993 where she spent the next 13 years as an SLC, Job Coach and Certified AMAP. Rhonda resigned as an SLC but continued to do PRN AMAP for ODI. She accepted a Job at Community Access in Beckley WV, for the next 9 months, working as an Employment Facilitator for DHHR Recipients through the Community Access Program.
Rhonda then returned to Open Doors as an Employment Facilitator and obtained training and certification for the Supported Employment Program. She also Attended New River Community College, George Washington University’s Supported Employment National Certification Program. Also WVU Center of Excellence Supported Employment web-based program. Rhonda has recently been certified through APSE and has received her CESP Certification. She works with individuals who are seeking Employment assisting with training and providing resources and tools to help break barriers to Employment for individuals with disabilities. Rhonda works with youth and adults to assist them with becoming Job Ready. In her spare time, Rhonda enjoys being a Grandmother, gardening, cooking and spending quality time with her family.
Contact Rhonda at 304.883.2414 x405.
Eleanor Butler
Supported Employment; Lifeworks
Eleanor Butler, who is originally from the Philippines, brings a unique personal and professional experience to Open Doors & Lifeworks. She comes from a large and close-knit Filipino family, which helped form her values and world outlook that she carries today. With bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Environmental Science, she began her career as an environmental consultant working with federal and local governments, various international and local institutions in the Philippines. She found herself loving the experience of working with individuals and organizations, designing, and providing trainings, and serving her local community. This enthusiasm for performing social services only grew, after she started her own family and next career in the United States.
Since arriving in the US in 2008, Eleanor has gained invaluable experience working with special demographics and populations with high needs. She started a non-profit organization that served individuals with cancer. She has worked with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and provided care at a nursing home. Eleanor, her husband and their two sons moved to Lewisburg in 2016 from Austin, Texas and they absolutely love it here. Eleanor enjoys running, skiing, kayaking, camping, fishing and all the wonderful outdoor activities that West Virginia has to offer. On top of spending time on these outdoor activities with her family, she loves to watch and cheer for her sons’ basketball, football, and golf teams.
Contact Eleanor at 304.645.2130 x311.
Robbi Walls
Supported Employment; Lifeworks: Home Manager
Robbi is a Lewisburg, WV native and is a Class of 1982 graduate of Greenbrier East High School. After graduation, she attended 1 year at WVU and 2 years at Dabney S. Lancaster Community Collage in the pre-nursing and nursing programs. She later moved to Baltimore, MD to work as a nanny. While working full-time, she attended Love Grove School for Nannies where she received not only her professional certification but also graduated valedictorian. Robbi enjoyed a long career in her chosen profession and added to it a second career as a certified pre-school teacher at the Good Shepherd School in Towson, MD.
Now, Robbi is happy to be back in her beautiful mountain home where she is enjoying her work as a Lifeworks Job Coach and Home Manager for Open Doors.
Contact Robbi at 304.645.2130 x336.
Accounting
Thor Richmond
Senior Accountant
Thor is a Greenbrier County native who, after working as a bartender for almost a decade, went back to school to earn a degree in accounting from Concord University. He has since worked in accounting, finance, and grant writing for more than ten years. Having previously worked for two years at Open Doors, he was excited to have the opportunity to rejoin the team in 2022.
In his time away from work he enjoys going to theme parks, concerts and festivals, and the beach with his wife, or just staying home to keep the peace between his cats and dog. Thor’s favorite part about working for Open Doors is collaborating with professionals from a variety of disciplines to make it possible for our members to live their best lives.
Contact Thor at 304.645.2130 x315.
Alan Bias
Accounting Specialist / Consumer Accounts
Contact Alan at 304.645.2130 x316.
Amanda Campbell
Accounting Clerk; IdentoGO
Amanda Campbell earned her Associate of Science Degree in General Education and Professional Office System Technology from New River Community and Technical College in 2008. Amanda began working at Open Doors, Inc. in September 2003 in the evenings after high school as a Clerical Specialist Assistant, and then later became an Accounting Clerk.
Some of Amanda’s job roles include billing, reviewing/calculating travel and expense vouchers and transportation logs, administrative contact for the Support Fund, and is occasionally at the front desk.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, going to the movies, travelling and watching sports. Amanda and her husband, Darren, live in Maxwelton with their cat, Bandit and recently added two more cats to the family, Welton and Tux.
Contact Amanda at 304.645.2130 x320.
Beth Maddox
Accounting Clerk
Payroll & Scheduling
Mandy Knipe
Payroll & Scheduling Clerk
Mandy has worked for Open Doors, Inc. for over 15 years. She has held several titles within Open Doors, but feels the most rewarding and challenging position that she has held was as a Supported Living Companion (SLC). In her current position, Mandy really enjoys working on the “puzzle” part of scheduling and the mathematical calculation part of payroll. Mandy attended West Virginia University and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.
In her spare time, Mandy volunteers as a board member of Trillium Performing Arts Collective, an arts organization that focuses on dance and movement theatre. Mandy also can be found on weekends scooping popcorn at The Lewis Theatre, an independent movie theatre located downtown Lewisburg, where she is co-manager. Mandy is happily married and lives in Lewisburg.
Contact Mandy at 304.645.2130 x332.
Clerical Staff
Robyn Dorsey
CLERICAL SUPPORT
Born and raised in Nicholas County, Robyn resides on a hobby farm with her husband Doug. She has one daughter named Hannah, a dog named Daisy and chickens.
Robyn is a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She is a member of Olive Branch Baptist where she is Church Secretary and a member of Women’s Circle. In her free time, Robyn enjoys volunteering with the church youth group and vacation bible school.
In addition to the farm, Robyn’s hobbies include: shopping with Hannah, reading, crafting, a beginner Kayaker, driving her tractor and spending time with her family.
Contact Robyn at 304.883.2414 x401.
Isabelle Fisher
CLERICAL SUPPORT & LIFEWORKS
Isabelle is a lifetime Greenbrier County resident. After completing her internship at Open Doors for her degree in Social Service at NRCTC, she was given the opportunity to join the team as clerical support and LifeWorks job coach.
In her free time, she can be found exploring the river trails, and spending time with family and friends.
Contact Isabelle at 304.645.2130 x301.
Information Technology
Myles Samuel Yates
Chief Technology Officer; Greenworks GM
Myles was born in Philadelphia, and his parents escaped the rat race/concrete jungle in trade for the mountains of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia when he was a child. He got a Tandy 1000 computer in 1984 at the age of 8, and the rest is history. Graduating from Gettysburg College in 1998, Myles then immigrated to New York City, where he began a career in technology, new media, and marketing. Myles is inspired by entity configuration – bringing disparate elements together in harmony to produce a great project.
He helped launch Clubplanet, a global nightlife guide, and led creation of new offices in Miami, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Entrepreneurial in spirit, he launched KeMeK in an effort to provide event production, interactive design, original content, and advertising agency services for the new millennia. Myles took a role at Entertainment-Link, the smart ticket buyer’s guide to NYC, and soon settled into the position of Chief Operating Officer – enjoying a long run with a great team serving the one of kind Broadway industry. Myles also helped setup new ventures in Las Vegas and Honolulu, HI in an effort to expand the reach of the business.
Myles returned to his hometown in West Virginia in 2009 after more than a decade in the Big Apple, and has since worked for Presidio Studios, various small business clients; and has been managing IT at Open Doors since 2013. His role at Open Doors spans all facets of the technology footprint of the org, which keeps him very busy! Myles also acts as the General Manager of Greenworks Recycling. He also co-founded and acts as Chairman of SavetheWaterTable.org, a water protection non-profit. Myles loves snowboarding, kayaking, visiting the coast(s); music and theater; anything off-road, especially rally; his better half, family & friends – and the excitement of a new challenge!
Contact Myles at 304.645.2130 x330.
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