La Hacienda’s Executive Team
 | Art VanDivier Executive Director Art discovered his interest in addiction treatment while working as a high school guidance counselor. In 1979 he moved his family from the coast of Central California to San Antonio, Texas to further study marriage and family counseling at St. Mary’s University. While completing his Master of Arts degree there, he joined the clinical staff at La Hacienda. A decade later Art’s career focus changed to administration when he accepted a position as CEO of a Developmental Institute. In 2002 La Hacienda’s owners extended an invitation to Art to return as Executive Director. “Our owners are dedicated to the healing of body, mind and spirit through excellent medical care, 12-Step recovery, individual and family counseling. Their commitment to the employee is equally impressive.” Art felt he had come home. Art’s favorite diversions are his family and sailing. | |
 | James Boone Medical Director Dr. James Boone has worked with La Hacienda Treatment Center since 2004. James’ career in medicine began when he graduated from Baylor University in 1980 with a BS degree, followed by attendance at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX where he graduated with honors in 1984. He did his internal medicine internship and residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and completed the program and his board certification in Internal Medicine in 1987. He began his career by practicing in the family’s private practice in Pasadena, Texas. In 2004, he joined Dan in the full time practice of Addiction Medicine in Hunt, TX. He has been a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine since 2004 and is board certified in Addiction Medicine. He and Ruth have been married for many years and they have six children. He is an avid fisherman, father and husband and is active in his church. He has a passion for helping persons with addiction experience the fullness of a drug and alcohol free life that is offered with active 12 Step recovery. | |
 | Lori Dittmar Chief Financial Officer Lori is a Certified Public Accountant who has devoted the last 20 years to safeguarding La Hacienda’s finances. She is a native of Fredericksburg, Texas and attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. Lori has remained at La Hacienda because of the owners’ passion for helping people who suffer from addiction and because they truly care about their patients. She loves working at a place that values something greater than the bottom line and is inspired by working in a setting where lives are completely changed on a daily basis. In spite of the fact that she is not involved with direct patient care, Lori still feels she has a little something to do with those miracles occurring every day at La Hacienda. When Lori is not crunching numbers at La Hacienda, she is very busy keeping up with her four children. | |
 | Rikke Sorensen Nurse Administrator After moving from Denmark to the U.S. in 1987, Rikke obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. During the recession in the early 90’s, Rikke landed a job on an acute detoxification unit in the Boston area and realized she had found her niche. She has worked in the mental health/chemical dependency industry ever since. In 1999 Rikke left the direct care field and landed a job in utilization management. She remained in this field until 2008 when she decided to relocate to Texas to accept the position as Nurse Administrator at La Hacienda Treatment Center. | |
 | Sherri Layton Outpatient Services Administrator Sherri is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, an Advanced Addiction Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor in addition to holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration degree. She began working in the addiction treatment industry in 1977 and has worked in a variety of clinical, supervisory and training positions. Sherri joined La Hacienda’s team in 1992. As Outpatient Services Administrator she oversees our Intensive Outpatient Programs and Continuing Care Services. In addition Sherri is very involved with legislative advocacy at the state and national level and is a member of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor’s Public Policy Committee. Sherri chose this field because “people can and do recover from the disease of addiction. Being part of this work allows me a front seat to the miracles that occur daily.” Sherri believes that the treatment provided at La Hacienda is among the best in the nation because we do an excellent job of combining effective clinical approaches with the tried-and-true 12 Step philosophy. Furthermore, she feels that all of this is possible because of the owner’s support of the staff which allows them to provide consistent, high-quality treatment. In her spare time, Sherri enjoys traveling, reading, scuba diving and being with family and friends. | |
 | Elizabeth Olson Business Development Director Elizabeth comes to us with a strong treatment background ranging from clinical support staff, admissions, local and national clinical outreach, director of business development and intervention. Elizabeth was formerly the Director of National Outreach with a facility in California for 10 years where she specialized in working with national accounts and assisting families with treatment options around the country. She excelled at each position thanks in large part to her dedication to recovery and desire to assist those in need. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of addiction. She has a BA in Psychology and holds a Substance Abuse and Eating Disorder Counseling Certificate. Elizabeth has been trained in 3 models of intervention and is also in psychodrama and experiential training. She is a La Hacienda Alumnus from 2000 and was born and raised here in Kerrville, Texas. | |
