Flindt Andersen | Founder & Executive Director

As the Opioid and Fentanyl crisis continues to have a grip on our communities, there are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms and dads, whose lives are cut short because of accidental overdoses. Flindt continues the never-ending mission to communicate this reality and create change in a multitude of ways.

Flindt started drinking at age 13. His habit progressed to harder drugs through high school and college, which paved the way to a 23 year battle with Opioids. He was taking up to 80 Vicodin pills daily until his best friend admitted him into the Betty Ford treatment center in 2001. He’s been in recovery since.

In 2009, Flindt founded PAIN and was awarded the 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year. PAIN provides unique programs to communities, specializing in rehabilitation services and family support for those affected by substance abuse. It is also a certified distributor of Narcan - the opioid overdose reversal agent - and operator of Sober Living Homes in Fresno.

Flindt regularly speaks in the media, addressing the public with information about the drug epidemic. He partners with lawmakers in California as an advocate of new legislation in the fight against drug trafficking - particularly legislation that creates changes in the way dealers and drug suppliers are prosecuted.

To connect with leaders across the globe on a regular basis, Flindt launched the podcast Don’t Hide The Scars. Weekly episodes dive deep into addiction, drug culture, and their effects on families, businesses, sports, entertainment and communities. In 2021, he completed the first episode of the documentary film series Don’t Hide The Scars Project.

Flindt is a life-long Fresno, California resident. He credits his wife of 40+ years and his two sons to his continued successful recovery.

Learn more about Flindt or book him for a speaking engagement at flindtandersen.com.

Board Of Directors

Michael Margosian | Law Office of Michael J. Margosian | Chairman

Michael Margosian was born and raised in Fresno, attending Hoover High School, California State University, Fresno and ultimately McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Michael has had a busy family law practice in the Central Valley dealing with families and persons in need, for over thirty-nine years. Michael has been active with the Clovis West Band and Colorguard and Foundation West, the education foundation at the school, serving as its president for many years. He has also served as a board member for the Fresno County Board Association and as President of the Exchange Club of Fresno. Along with his wife, Carla, Michael has been an active supporter of PAIN. They have two daughters, one son and four grandchildren.

Kim Ball | Sales Executive at Blue Shield California

Kim Ball is a sales executive for Blue Shield of California, and has worked in the health insurance industry for over 20 years. Born and raised in the Midwest, Kim received her Bachelor of Science from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and upon graduating, worked for several years in Chicago.

After marrying her husband Mike in 1992, Kim moved to Fresno, and together they have raised their three children, Nick, Caroline, and Michael. Kim has been actively involved through the years at her childrens’ schools, most recently serving on the boards of the Boosters Club and Parents Guild at San Joaquin Memorial High School. She also serves on the board of the Central California Health Underwriters Association, and is a longtime member of the La Feliz Guild. Kim brings a passion for children to the board, and for making Fresno a better community in which to raise them.

Mary Kay Buckley | LCSW

Mary Kay Buckley is a therapist in Fresno, California. Mary Kay specializes in helping people who are dealing with loss, transitions in life, end of life, and marital issues. She also works with people who are struggling with addictions or challenged by a loved one’s addiction, which makes Mary Kay a proud member of our board. Mary Kay also has extensive experience in crisis intervention and has worked in oncology and hospice for many years. Helping others is Mary Kay’s passion in life.

Alyssa Flores Johansen | Public Information Officer at UC Merced

Alyssa Flores Johansen is a public information officer at the University of California, Merced. She has almost a decade of experience in news media and communications. Before working in higher education, she spent 6 years reporting on issues that impact the Central Valley, most recently at KFSN-ABC30. She covered numerous stories about the opioid epidemic -- interviewing parents, lawmakers and leaders who are actively combatting addiction in the Valley and across California.

Alyssa was born and raised in Southern California. She now lives in Fresno with her husband Brandon.

Tim Ryan | Recovering Heroin Addict, A&E's "Dope Man," and National Thought Leader on the Opioid Epidemic/Addiction/Mental Health/Suicide

Tim is the subject of the A&E documentary, Dope Man, reaching millions. He has been a featured thought leader in numerous national media, including USA Today, Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, and “The Steve Harvey Show with Dr. Drew,” “ The Doctors TV Show”, “Inside Edition”, and  a number of nationally syndicated radio shows. He was an invited guest to the 2016 State of the Union Address. He is the author of the bestselling book, From Dope to Hope and was ‘Real Leaders Magazine “ as one of the Top 100 Visionary Thought Leaders in the world.

Despite a successful business career, Tim found himself in the grips of heroin and, ultimately, was sentenced to seven years in prison for drug-related convictions. Tim got clean and sober behind bars. Six months after his release, tragedy struck. His son, Nick – for whom Tim had paved the way to use deadly drugs – died tragically from an overdose. Reaching beyond the devastation and heartbreak, Tim used Nick’s death as the inspiration to spread hope, believing that if even one addict or family could be spared the horrors of addiction, he would make a difference.

Tim is married to his wife, Jennifer Gimenez Supermodel & Actress. Now over 18 years sober, Gimenez has used the story of her recovery to help others, starring on VH1's hit Sober House Seasons 1 and 2, Celebrity Rehab Season 5, and Season 6 of Rehab With Dr. Drew.

Tim and Jennifer are also Interventionists assisting families worldwide. For more information visit www.DopeToHope.com 

Advisory Board Members

Timothy L. Thompson | Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach Law Firm | Advisory Board Director

Tim Thompson is an attorney who has worked in the Valley since 1987. He is a partner in the law firm Whitney, Thompson and Jeffcoach. Mr. Thompson is interested in various community activities and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County and is currently President of the Board of Directors of San Joaquin Country Club. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Fresno Art Museum. He is married to Susan Thompson and has two adult children, Briana Thompson and Tim Thompson Jr. His hobbies include skiing, especially heli-skiing, golf, hiking, sailing and paddle boarding.

Richard Wathen | CEO Wathen-Castanos

Mr. Wathen began his involvement in housing as a youth working for his family home building business in all trades and phases of production housing. He attended California State University, Fresno studying business and finance. After college, Mr. Wathen spent 8 years in the securities industry with Paine Weber and Associate Vice President with Prudential Securities. In 1987, he joined with cousin, Kevin Castanos, to form Wathen Castanos Inc. The company has developed over 50 new home communities, building and selling over 4,000 single family homes. His responsibilities have included project feasibility, market research, product design, sales and marketing, and overall corporate planning and strategy. He and his wife, Gina, have three children: Chad, Chelsea, and Chessa. Mr. Wathen has been active on the boards of Fresno Christian Schools, FCA, and many ministries at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Peter D. Castanos | Owner/Partner Castanos Homes

Peter was born and raised in Fresno, California and attended San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. After his graduation from high school, Peter worked for Mansionette Homes where his uncles, Jack Wathen and Ron Wathen, taught him how to build homes. Soon, after earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Peter joined Wathen Castanos Homes where he continued his career in real estate in the capacity of new home sales. After some years of helping valley residents with their new home search, Peter took on the role of managing the company’s sales and marketing responsibilities.

Peter is currently the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Wathen Castanos Homes. He manages the company’s new home sales communities in the Central Valley and Central Coast. His responsibilities include producing sales for the company, hiring and training the sales team, managing mortgage lenders and escrows, overseeing the execution of purchase contracts, overseeing the design staff, managing the marketing team, creating company branding, project logos, advertising and web design. Additionally, Peter also contributes his time toward project research, product design, competitive analysis and the review of current market values. Peter serves as the President of the Serra Meadows Home Owners Association in San Luis Obispo as well as Secretary of the Avalon Quarter Home Owners Association in Visalia. Peter and his soul mate Monique were married in 1999 and recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. Although he finds well-being hiking the Sierra Mountains and developing new home communities, Peter realizes his true purpose while present with his wife and young children Ave Maria, Tasiana and Wyland.

Richard Aaron, Esq. | Dowling, Aaron & Keeler

Mr. Aaron is the CEO of the law firm of Dowling, Aaron & Keeler, one of the leading full-service law firms in central California. After obtaining his B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Southern California in 1976, Mr. Aaron earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1979, and joined the firm in 1979. In 1991, Mr. Aaron was among the first group of attorneys in California to earn his Certificate of Specialization in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. In addition to estate planning for high net worth individuals, Mr. Aaron handles a wide variety of business transactions, including entity formations, mergers and acquisitions, financing and real property transactions. He also serves on a number of for-profit and non-profit boards.

Kevin Tweed | Founder Pavillon Properties

Mr. Tweed is the founder of Pavilion Properties, a commercial real estate development company in Fresno, California. He graduated in 1978 from California State University, Fresno with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing. Mr. Tweed originated a commercial real estate brokerage firm in 1982 with Thomas A. Anderson known as Anderson Tweed Commercial Associates. Grubb & Ellis Company purchased Anderson Tweed in 1985. Pavilion Properties was formed in 1987 and specializes in the development of retail shopping centers in the Central Valley of California. Mr. Tweed is responsible for the development of over 100 shopping centers in California and 62 Kmart deals. He is a current member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, past president of Infant of Prague Adoption Agency, WestAmerica Bank and Fansler Foundation. Mr. Tweed is married with three children.

Michael Thomason | Principal Thomason Development

Mr. Thomason is the principal at Thomason Development Company, a commercial real estate company established in 1960 and based in Fresno. It is a regional development company with experience in commercial retail, office, industrial and residential multi-family and single-family real estate development. Mr. Thomason is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he earned a degree in real estate and construction management in 1992. While he was at the university, he was involved with the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Mr. Thomason was previously a broker at Retail California, a position he held from 2000 to 2010.

Community Partners