Our Staff
Hope By The Sea is staffed by caring professionals committed to excellence. Our entire team works together to create a safe, restorative environment for healing. We help you to set and achieve your addiction recovery goals.
How Our TeamCan Help You
Hope By The Sea is helmed by a team of trained specialists, including licensed psychologists and therapists – together, we have dedicated more than seventy-five years to the treatment of substance use disorder. Our personal and professional experiences have given us a thorough understanding of the challenges, accomplishments, and needs of patients undergoing drug and alcohol treatment. With these priorities, we are able to provide tailored, compassionate care to everyone who walks through the doors of Hope By The Sea.
Our staff members are experts in recovery too – they’ve been through treatment themselves. Each person who works for us has successfully used the recovery tools provided at Hope By The Sea to establish their own freedom from the disease of addiction. Every day, their accomplishments provide inspiration to those in our care.
With a combination of clinical sophistication and personal experience, Hope By The Sea offers empathetic, personalized treatment for addiction.
Chad Carlsen
Chad Carlsen
Chief Executive Officer
Chad Carlsen is the co-founder of Hope By The Sea. He has worked in the field of chemical dependency since 2000. As a recovering addict and alcoholic he brings his personal experience of triumph though adversity and is a true role-model to the clients. He has vast experience in the field of health and fitness, with certifications in nutrition and fitness. Not only does Chad serve as the Executive Director, he personally works with clients on their education of health and fitness as related to their recovery.
Penny Carlsen
Penny Carlsen
Chief Executive Officer
Penny Carlsen is a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Nursing. After graduation she spent the next few years working at Loma Linda University Medical Center on the Neurosurgery, Neurology and Rehabilitation Units. She later served as the business manager for Medical Imaging Specialists, Inc. She has an extensive background in both clinical and administration. She is a warm and loving person and is considered by the clients to be the "resident mom".
Candy Carlsen, RN
Candy Carlsen, RN
Chief Operating Officer
Candy Carlsen has worked in the field of nursing for several years. She worked at UCLA Medical Center in the neuro/surgical trauma ICU and also at Hoag Memorial in the cardiac ICU. She has extensive training in psychopharmacology and works very closely with Hope By the Sea’s physicians. She educates clients and families on the importance of proper medication management and compliance, when necessary.
Kelly Puma
Kelly Puma
Vice President of Finance
Kelly Puma has been with Hope By the Sea since its inception. She spent several years working as an intervention aide for troubled elementary students before turning her focus to helping adults with addiction. She currently is the head of the Insurance Billing department as well as oversees the Human Resources division.
Cyndie Dunkerson-Williams, BS, CATC III, CCS
Cyndie Dunkerson, BS, CATC III, CCS
Vice President of Program Services (Certification # A051090118/12079)
Cyndie has been with Hope By The Sea since the beginning and holds a strong passion for the field of addiction. As the Vice President of the Program Services Department, she helps potential clients and their families to take their first steps in the recovery process. She holds a Bachelors degree and is currently state certified with the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators as a Chemical Dependency Counselor and Clinical Supervisor. She has been working in the field of addiction since 2002 and also brings to the table her own journey of recovery. Since starting in the field of addiction she has maintained success working with the criminal justice system in getting defendants sentenced to treatment in lieu of jail. Cyndie is currently working towards obtaining her Doctorate in Forensic Psychology. Cyndie enjoys speaking at conferences and guest lecturing in various colleges.
Valeh Karimkhani, D.O.
Valeh Karimkhani, D.O.
Psychiatrist
Dr. Valeh Karimkhani, D.O. is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist. She is board certified in Psychiatry as well as Addiction Medicine. She is the founder of Orange County Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Karimkhani is dedicated to serving the psychiatric needs of her community. She has extensive experience in substance abuse, dual diagnosis, PTSD, mood and anxiety disorders, and emergency psychiatry. She is also one of a select few psychiatrists offering TMS treatment.
In addition to clinical duties, Dr. Karimkhani is an adjunct professor, teaching medical students during clinical rotations from Midwestern University.
Dr. Karimkhani is also a Major in the Army Reserves, completing three tours of duty in the Middle East. She is dedicated to helping and healing our armed forces and their families.
Sandy Busby
Sandy Busby
Office Manager
Sandy brings her exceptional organizational and communication skills to the complex world of recovery to the facility. She has a driven attitude in work ethics and her experience shows it well. She joined the team soon after her own personal recovery journey began with Hope By The Sea in 2008. She took on office management with ease and her area of expertise includes administration, accounting, finance, and insurance. Her professional manner, personal experience, and love for the field of recovery make her an invaluable asset to both our clients and staff.
Frank Buffa
Frank Buffa
Bio-Psycho-Genealogist
Working in the field since 2005, Frank came to Hope By The Sea bringing with him his knowledge of the Co-Occurring Disorder population. He specializes in working with clients who suffer from sexual trauma and anger control issues. In addition, he enjoys helping clients identify and change old behavior patterns to implement healthy change and create a solid base to continue successfully into their future.
