Leadership Team

President & CEO

Pete Kerns was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Serenity Lane in 2019. He brings more than 36 years of public service with the Eugene Police Department, where he spent nine years as Chief before retiring in 2017, as well as experience as Chief of Staff for St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County.

The son of Serenity Lane co-founder Dr. Tom Kerns, Pete has a deep, personal connection to the organization’s mission and the community it serves. As CEO, he is driving strategic initiatives that enhance access to high-quality treatment, demonstrate quality outcomes and foster impactful community collaborations.

Founded in 1973 by Dr. Kerns and Sam Graves, Serenity Lane remains a private, nonprofit leader in alcohol and drug treatment. Pete’s leadership reflects his lifelong commitment to service, compassion, and advancing recovery resources for individuals and families across the region.

CFO

Brian began his career in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand and subsequently held roles as the CFO of LibertyBank and Seneca Sawmill. Brian joined Serenity Lane in 2022, bringing more than 30 years of experience in accounting and finance in the banking and wood products manufacturing industries. He attended the University of Oregon where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He has served on boards and committees of multiple non-profit organizations including the Eugene Active 20/30 Club, Delta Rotary, and ParentingNow.

Medical Director

Dr. Estevez is a board-certified neurologist who has practiced addiction medicine at Serenity Lane since 2018. His unique background in molecular biology, neuroscience, and clinical neurology has shaped his understanding of addiction as a complex disorder involving changes in brain function, often influenced by trauma and other life experiences.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Dr. Estevez moved to Miami, Florida, at the age of three and grew up there, completing high school in the city. His childhood near the ocean fostered a lifelong appreciation for the water. During his youth, he spent many sunny days swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving off Miami Beach and exploring the coral reefs of the Florida Keys.

Dr. Estevez earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he conducted research using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. This work resulted in a publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He subsequently pursued graduate studies in molecular biology at the University of Missouri–Columbia, earning his PhD. His doctoral research was published in the scientific journal Nature and focused on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) receptors, a class of proteins that have since been implicated in nervous system changes and adaptations associated with addiction.

During his doctoral studies, Dr. Estevez worked alongside physician-scientists who were exploring the clinical applications of his basic scientific research. Their work inspired him to pursue medicine, with the goal of translating scientific discoveries into better patient care. He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1997. During medical school, he developed a particular interest in the evaluation and treatment of disorders of the nervous system, leading him to complete a neurology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he served as chief resident during his final year.

Dr. Estevez's path to addiction medicine was shaped by his experience at the Hazelden Betty Ford Center. There, his interactions with patients deepened his conviction that addiction is a complex disorder involving the brain's regulatory systems, rather than a failure of willpower or character. He came to recognize the profound role that trauma—including psychological trauma and traumatic brain injury—can play in a person's vulnerability to addiction and in the course of recovery. He was particularly struck by the courage, resilience, and intelligence of the individuals he encountered, many of whom had struggled with the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding addiction.

In 2018, former Medical Director Dr. Eric Geisler offered him the opportunity to join Serenity Lane. Dr. Estevez welcomed the chance to apply his background in neuroscience and clinical medicine to help individuals and families affected by addiction. He remains committed to providing compassionate, evidence-informed care and to advancing a more nuanced understanding of addiction as a treatable medical condition.

Director of Mental Health

Doug Gomez, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist in Oregon and the Director of Mental Health at Serenity Lane. He brings extensive clinical experience from state hospitals, correctional environments, and inpatient substance-use recovery programs—settings where complex co-occurring conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), are highly prevalent. Doug has developed and delivered comprehensive de-escalation training across these systems, including for the Oregon Home Care Commission, supporting safer and more effective client care.

In addition to his clinical leadership, Doug serves as an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Oregon’s Center on Brain Injury Research and Training. His research focuses on qualitative methods aimed at improving services for underserved populations, particularly individuals affected by TBI. He consults on multiple studies designed to help parents, educators, coaches, and medical professionals better support recovery and long-term outcomes.

Doug’s commitment to integrating research and practice strengthens Serenity Lane’s ability to deliver informed, compassionate, evidence-based treatment. He has collaborated closely with our clinical staff to build a program in which mental health is fully integrated into substance use disorder treatment, ensuring every patient on our residential campus receives a mental health assessment, educational programming, and access to individual therapy with a licensed provider.

Director of Admissions & Business Development

Serenity Lane is pleased to announce the appointment of Kate York to our executive team. In her new role, Kate will oversee the admissions and business development teams, ensuring exceptional service to both our community partners and prospective clients.

Kate joins us from Cedar Hills Hospital in Portland, where she served as the Senior Director of Business Development. With over 15 years of leadership experience in healthcare settings, including a strong background in behavioral health, Kate brings valuable expertise to our organization.

Kate is deeply committed to the belief that strategic partnerships are essential to delivering high-quality patient care. She is excited to be a part of an organization renowned for its longstanding reputation, and looks forward to building new partnerships while strengthening existing ones to ensure that everyone who reaches out to us receives the care and support they need.

Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Lisa Steele is trained as a Clinical Psychologist, and spent her life dedicated to helping people heal from co-occurring mental health and addiction challenges.

Over the past 40 years, she worked her way up from a mental health worker to CEO of both non-profit and for-profit organizations. She was part of LA County Department of Mental Health's leadership team on the implementation of services for co-occurring disorders and served on a task force to inform SAMHSA (the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) on best practices.
Most recently, Dr. Steele served as the System Director of Behavioral Health Service Line for PeaceHealth, and prior to that was the CEO of Cedar Hills Hospital in Portland. She has a particular passion for business development, and in the last 6 years alone, has led a non- profit team to generate $80M in new business.

Dr. Steele's passion for working with families dealing with co-occurring disorders comes from the loss of her father and grandmother who both passed away from their conditions, and several family members in recovery.

Director of Marketing & Donor Development

Suzanne joined Serenity Lane in 2021. She is a mission-focused servant leader with more than thirteen years of non-profit management, marketing, and fundraising experience. Her last position was as the first President of Marist High School, where, in addition to her many leadership responsibilities, she led the school through a significant capital campaign. Prior to her development, marketing and leadership roles in education, Suzanne worked for an international company, managing conferences and tradeshows in the U.S. and Canada.

Suzanne serves on the board of directors of Catholic Community Services of Lane County.

Residential Clinical Director

Chris joined Serenity Lane in 2023. He has dedicated his career to serving others through behavioral health and human services, gaining experience in both direct care and leadership roles. After earning his master's degree from the University of Oregon, Chris continued to build a career focused on supporting individuals, developing teams, and fostering professional growth. He is passionate about empowering staff, cultivating strong organizational cultures, and helping people reach their full potential. Chris is widely respected for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to the communities he serves.

Chris' primary role is being an active father to his four boys. They spend lots of time playing sports and exploring the beautiful biodiversity of the Pacific Northwest.

Director of Human Resources

Chris is a highly qualified and experienced human resources executive with a diverse background in private industry, non-profit organizations, and military HR management. Originally from the Midwest, Chris began his HR career as a Personnel Officer in the United States Air Force after graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Political Science. He’s led teams in the United States, Turkey, Germany, and Ecuador.

Most recently, Chris served as Senior Director of HR for a company in Eugene. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, hiking and exploring Oregon's stunning landscapes, as well as experimenting with furniture building.

Regional Director of Outpatient Services

Director of Medical Operations

Sue Nicholson joined Serenity Lane as the Director of Nursing Services in 2020. Prior to coming to Serenity Lane, she worked at PeaceHealth for 34 years, starting as a C.N.A. and working her way up to nurse manager on OHVI 5 (a cardiac telemetry unit). As the nurse manager for 12 years, she gained a wealth of experience and training in management and leadership. She obtained her BSN, 2016, and MSN, 2020, in Management and Leadership from Walden University.

Sue is a mission-driven, servant leader who believes in providing safe and effective nursing care, including an environment that allows patients to feel accepted and treated with respect. Sue was nominated for the Unsung Hero Award in 2020 for her work during the COVID pandemic and for her pursuit of building a solid nursing team at Serenity Lane

Sue understands firsthand the impact of addiction on families, having lived with loved ones suffering from alcohol use disorder. She also knows the benefits of treatment and family education to help people live a life of freedom from substance use disorder. Sue’s goals align with Serenity Lane’s mission to transform lives and reunite families through our treatment programs.

Regional Director of Outpatient Services

Bio not currently available

Compliance Officer

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Clinical Director of Outpatient Services

With over two decades of experience in behavioral health, addiction services, and crisis management, Dr. Staten brings a deep commitment to clinical excellence, community engagement, and strategic leadership.

Holding a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Counselor Education, along with a Licensed Professional Counselor, CADC III, and Registered Gambling Counselor certifications, Dr. Staten has served in key roles across Oregon Health Authority, CareOregon, Multnomah County, and more recently, Oregon Change Clinic. His background reflects a remarkable blend of operational vision and hands-on therapeutic expertise, making him an ideal addition to our mission-driven organization.

Dr. Staten works closely with the two Regional Directors of Outpatient Services; Patrice Crisp and Glenn Deveney and calls our Portland Outpatient Offcice his home base. We're grateful for the insight, compassion, and forward-thinking energy Dr. Staten adds
to our leadership team.

Facility Director

Bio not currently available

Director of I.T. Services

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Executive Director, Outpatient Services

Alex brings more than 15 years of behavioral health leadership experience, with expertise in program development, operational excellence, strategic planning, quality improvement, and organizational growth. Throughout his career, he has led multi-site operations, developed new programs and services, and built high-performing teams focused on delivering quality patient care.

Before joining Serenity Lane, Alex served as Executive Director for Branches Outpatient Oregon/Cedar Hills Hospital, where he advanced through a series of leadership roles over a fifteen-year career. He holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Portland State University. His passion for behavioral health and commitment to expanding access to quality care help support Serenity Lane's mission of transforming lives through recovery.