Meet the Owners

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Cecilia Sullivan is the owner of Growing Hope Recovery, a program deeply rooted in personal experience and driven by a mission to offer real healing to those battling addiction. After walking through her own journey of addiction and recovery, Cecilia felt a powerful calling to create a safe, structured environment for others seeking lasting change. In 2015, she opened her first sober living home with a simple but bold vision: to plant seeds of hope that could grow into transformed lives. Cecilia leads with both compassion and clarity. She believes that healing happens best in environments where structure, accountability, and love coexist. Under her leadership, Growing Hope has expanded into a multi-location recovery community offering not just a place to stay, but a path forward. Her guiding principles are rooted in faith, integrity, and the belief that no one is too far gone to change.

A proud graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Cecilia earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. Raised in an entrepreneurial family, she learned early the value of hard work, customer service, and treating people with dignity lessons that continue to shape her leadership today. Before founding Growing Hope, Cecilia gained hands-on experience working in her family’s business, JJ’s Ladies Fashions, which helped cultivate her blend of business savvy and heart-centered service. As a leader, Cecilia is known for being present, purpose-driven, and deeply invested in the lives of her staff and clients. She empowers her team to lead with empathy and excellence, and she remains actively involved in program development, admissions, and day-to-day operations.

Cecilia is a Louisiana native who loves her family, her faith, and her community. She enjoys working out, reading, creating art, and traveling. She shares her life with her husband, Cole Sullivan, and their two sons, Joseph (7) and Luke (2). Together, their family is committed to living out the mission of Growing Hope Recovery—offering grace, guidance, and the promise of a new beginning.

Cole Sullivan is the Owner of Growing Hope Recovery. With over 13 years in personal recovery and more than a decade of experience in sober living and addiction services, Cole leads with a unique blend of lived experience, entrepreneurial drive, and a deep commitment to transforming lives through structured, hope-filled care.

A Mandeville, Louisiana native and 2007 graduate of Mandeville High School, Cole’s journey into recovery began after his own battle with addiction. Facing serious consequences and at the end of his rope, he surrendered to Christ and chose a new path. That moment of surrender became the foundation for everything he would build: a life rooted in faith, family, and service.

Cole founded Growing Hope Recovery to fill a critical need in the community  offering high-accountability sober living and outpatient services grounded in compassion, structure, and real-world support. Under his leadership, the program has grown to over 80 beds across more than 13 properties and now includes Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and Outpatient (OP) services with full clinical and medical oversight. His work has helped forge partnerships with local courts, treatment centers, and judges, creating meaningful alternatives for those seeking a second chance.

He is also the founder of Durwood Construction, LLC, a successful commercial drywall company serving the southern U.S. Currently, Cole is leading Growing Hope toward Joint Commission accreditation and insurance credentialing to expand access and sustainability.

Cole’s leadership is guided by values of integrity, personal responsibility, transparency, grace, and community. He wants every client and family who walks through the doors to know one thing: there is always hope  no matter how far gone someone may feel.

Outside of work, Cole is a devoted husband and father of two boys. He enjoys reading, studying the Bible, endurance sports like CrossFit and gravel biking, and spending time with his family. His children only know him as a sober father and follower of Jesus Christ — a reality he never takes for granted. Raised without a father figure himself, Cole is committed to breaking that cycle and being a light to others walking the path of recovery.

Shade Rodriguez is the Chief Operating Officer and a Certified Counselor in Training (CIT) with over five years of experience overseeing sober living operations and more than two years working directly in the addiction treatment field. In her role as COO, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations, program oversight, staff leadership, and systems that support residents navigating early recovery across the organization.

With seven years of sobriety, Shade brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership. She has a deep understanding of the challenges individuals face while rebuilding their lives in recovery, allowing her to lead with authenticity, clarity, and compassion. Her steady presence, high standards, and direct yet supportive approach foster environments rooted in accountability, safety, and growth.

Shade is a strong believer in the power of community and peer connection as essential components of lasting recovery. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes structure, consistency, and responsibility while ensuring that residents feel supported, respected, and valued. She is passionate about building programs that encourage personal ownership, healthy routines, and meaningful engagement in recovery.

Outside of her professional role, Shade is known for her adventurous spirit. She enjoys spontaneous road trips and regularly participates in 5Ks. Her charisma, humor, and grounded nature help her connect easily with both residents and staff, making her a trusted leader and an integral part of the organization’s mission.

Dr. McCormick is a proud native of Northeast Louisiana with over two decades of medical experience. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and went on to receive his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. He completed his Family Medicine residency through the University of Arkansas in 1999.

While practicing primary care, Dr. McCormick developed a deep interest in Addiction Medicine and became board-certified through the American Board of Addiction Medicine in 2010. For 18 years, he served the West Monroe community through his private Family Medicine practice, where he treated a wide range of medical and addiction-related conditions.

His areas of expertise include preventive health, geriatrics, chronic disease management, nutrition, and substance use disorders. Dr. McCormick brings a compassionate, whole-person approach to care, believing that healing must address the mind, body, and spirit.

At Growing Hope Recovery, Dr. McCormick is dedicated to supporting each individual’s unique path toward long-term recovery and wellness.

Tiffany Landry is a Licensed Addiction Counselor and the Clinical Director at Growing Hope Recovery. She brings extensive experience across both residential and intensive outpatient treatment settings, working closely with individuals in early recovery and during key life transitions.

Tiffany’s clinical approach is rooted in structure, honesty, and personal accountability. She believes lasting recovery is built through insight, consistency, and the development of practical skills that support long-term stability. Known for her straightforward and respectful style, Tiffany creates a therapeutic environment that is both supportive and challenging encouraging clients to take ownership of their recovery while knowing they are not walking the process alone.

As Clinical Director, Tiffany is committed to maintaining high clinical standards while fostering a culture of clarity, responsibility, and growth. She believes meaningful change happens when individuals are supported with compassion and held to expectations that empower them to move forward. Tiffany is dedicated to walking alongside clients with consistency and encouragement as they work toward sustainable recovery and personal development.

Kate Taylor is a Certified Addiction Counselor with extensive experience providing care across both residential and outpatient treatment settings. She is deeply committed to supporting individuals in early recovery and specializes in helping clients establish strong, sustainable foundations for long-term sobriety and personal growth.

Kate’s clinical approach emphasizes emotional safety, accountability, and the development of practical coping skills that empower clients to navigate the challenges of recovery with confidence. She works collaboratively with each individual to identify strengths, address barriers to change, and build healthier patterns that support lasting stability. Her therapeutic style is structured yet compassionate, offering clients both encouragement and clear expectations as they move forward in their recovery journey.

With six years of professional experience in the addiction treatment field and six years of personal recovery, Kate brings a rare and meaningful blend of clinical expertise and lived experience to her work. Her personal recovery journey allows her to connect with clients in an authentic and empathetic manner, fostering trust and rapport while offering hope grounded in real-world understanding. She understands firsthand the complexities of early sobriety, including identity shifts, emotional regulation, and rebuilding relationships, and she is committed to walking alongside clients as they heal, reconnect, and rediscover a sense of purpose.

Kate is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, further expanding her clinical knowledge and strengthening her ability to deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed care. She is dedicated to continued professional development and stays committed to ethical practice, clinical excellence, and client-centered treatment.

At Growing Hope Recovery, Kate is known for her authenticity, consistency, and genuine care for the individuals she serves. Her approach blends structure, empathy, and encouragement—creating a therapeutic environment where clients feel supported, appropriately challenged, and empowered to take ownership of their recovery and build meaningful, lasting change.

Originally from California, Jim Mullins is a Registered Addiction Counselor currently practicing in Louisiana, where he is dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their lives from substance use and build sustainable, meaningful recovery. He is a graduate of Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California, and brings both clinical training and lived experience to his work, as he is also in long-term recovery. This combination allows him to connect with clients in a genuine, grounded way and to model the reality that lasting recovery is achievable.

A strong advocate for re-entry and second chances, Jim is deeply passionate about supporting individuals as they transition back into their families, communities, and the workforce. He finds purpose in helping clients develop structure, accountability, and self-worth, and is especially fulfilled when clients achieve personal goals, repair relationships, and regain stability and confidence in their lives.

His approach is rooted in empathy, honesty, and encouragement, with a focus on meeting clients where they are while appropriately challenging them to grow. He believes in walking alongside clients through the difficult work of change and celebrating each milestone along the recovery journey.

Outside of his professional role, Jim values spending time with his wife and his dog, Reba. He enjoys watching all types of sports and staying active through hobbies such as golf and yardwork. These interests help him maintain balance, stay grounded, and bring his best self to both his personal life and his work with clients.

Jesse Olson serves as Transportation Supervisor for Growing Hope Recovery, where he oversees logistics, fleet coordination, and client transportation to ensure safe, reliable access to treatment and recovery services. In this role,

he manages scheduling, vehicle oversight, and operational efficiency while maintaining a strong focus on safety, accountability, and consistency.

With several years of experience working in the recovery field, Jesse understands that transportation is more than a logistical task it is a critical support system in a person’s recovery journey. As a man in recovery himself, he brings lived experience to his leadership, leading with empathy, structure, and a deep respect

for the process of rebuilding a life.

Grounded in both professional experience and personal transformation, Jesse

approaches his work with compassion, discipline, and integrity showing up

every day to support both his team and the individuals they serve.

James Briody brings over 13 years of experience in addiction recovery services and 7 years in client transportation to his role as Transportation Driver. CPR and First Aid certified and trained in client safety through Reliance, James approaches his work with professionalism, consistency, and care.

With 10 years of sobriety himself, James understands how critical everyday support can be in early recovery. His calm, encouraging presence and friendly conversations help clients feel at ease while reinforcing positive, recovery-centered thinking. He leads by example showing up on time, treating others with respect, and always prioritizing safety.

James is known among staff and clients alike for his integrity, consistency, and courteous nature. He brings not just people to their destinations, but also a steady reminder that recovery is possible and worth it.

Outside of work, James enjoys spending time at the beach and taking long walks. His steady presence and quiet encouragement make him a dependable, respected figure in the recovery community.