Matt Giffin serves as Executive Director of The Owl's Nest. He holds a BS in Finance, a BS in Human Resources, and an MBA. Matt was drawn to addiction treatment by the opportunity to help people every day and support them in working toward a better future.

His days typically begin with a clinical meeting followed by a leadership meeting, where the team discusses the day's plan and any issues that need attention. Throughout the day, Matt checks in with both clients and staff to ensure everyone has what they need. No two days look the same, but he finds the work extremely rewarding.

What Matt loves most about working at The Owl's Nest is the people. Watching clients and employees work toward their goals, and seeing that progress unfold, makes the daily challenges worthwhile. He's continually struck by the mental and physical transformation clients undergo from the start of the program to graduation, a change he describes as filling you with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment.

Matt wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that the hardest part is simply getting to the property and admitting they need help. Once there, the team and client community make everyone feel loved and welcome, treating clients as family both during their stay and long after they leave.

Matt has a personal connection to recovery through a close family member who struggled with alcoholism throughout his life. Watching that struggle, and its toll on his relationships and health, gave Matt a deeper level of understanding and compassion that shapes how he interacts with clients every day.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys playing golf and spending time with his girlfriend, Amy, and his son, Jackson. He describes The Owl's Nest as an amazing place where the entire team fights for each client's sobriety every day, backed by a strong track record of success for clients who put in the work.

Meet George, our respected Medical Director. Dr. Cowan has been with Owl’s Nest Recovery since 2018, and before that he was involved in the military. George enjoys working at Owl’s Nest because it allows him to use his skillset to help people when they need it. When he’s not at work, Dr. Cowan enjoys spending his time flying, horseback riding, and farming. Dr. Cowan joined Owl’s Nest Recovery because he recognized the growing need for mental and behavioral healthcare specialists and knew he could be of service.

Meet Natashia, our experienced Clinical Director and an instrumental piece of our clinical team here at Owl’s Nest Recovery. Originally from Cheraw, SC, Natashia earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health and has been with Owl’s Nest since 2021. She loves how passionate and caring everyone is on our team. Outside of work, Natashia spends her time reading, gardening, spending time with her family, and tufting. Helping others find sobriety and heal has been Natashia’s goal since she was a kid.

Hope Pegram has been with The Owl's Nest for seven years. She holds a business degree and had been a stay-at-home mom for years before a friend told her the Nest needed a bookkeeper. She knew little about addiction at the time, but she knew how to love and encourage others and was skilled with QuickBooks. She has been part of the team, and the second family she never knew she needed, ever since.

What Hope loves most are the miracles she witnesses: clients who arrive with no funds, no family support, nowhere to go, and no hope, but with a willingness to see what the program can do for them. In a short time, once they lean into the program and the AA principles, she sees a new light in their eyes and a renewed hope for recovery.

One story that has stayed with Hope involves a client who came to the Nest from a difficult part of a major U.S. city, carrying visible reminders of her life in active addiction, but willing to do whatever it took to get sober. That client became a different person inside and out and has now been sober for several years, working in recovery herself. Hope often looks back at photos from the client's arrival and sees proof that recovery is possible and that no one has to suffer in addiction forever.

Hope wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that there are people at The Owl's Nest who have walked where they're walking and will walk alongside them.

Hope is active in her church and finds her strength and joy through her faith. Outside of work, she enjoys thrift and antique shopping, reading, and traveling, along with spending time with her husband of 27 years and her adult children.

Meredith McGee has worked in the business office at The Owl's Nest since 2025. She holds a CNA certification, an EMS certification, a veterinary assistant certification, and a CMAA certification. Meredith wanted a career in the medical field but was looking for something outside the traditional hospital or nursing home setting. She was drawn to The Owl's Nest by its atmosphere, its sense of community, and the opportunity to help people close to home.

The business office is the hub of activity at The Owl's Nest, with people coming and going throughout the day, and Meredith wouldn't have it any other way. What she loves most about her role is her coworkers and the clients she gets to work with.

One of the moments that has stayed with Meredith is watching clients arrive feeling as though they don't deserve happiness or joy, and leave smiling, grateful to be alive and sober, with their lives back on track, some for the first time in years. She wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that the team treats everyone like family, with the goal that by the end of treatment, every client feels they always have a home and people who care about them.

Outside of work, Meredith enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, and baking. Born and raised in Florence, she describes herself as a caring but stern presence in the office, driven by her genuine investment in seeing clients succeed.

Before relocating to Florence, I gained extensive experience in the service industry, where I thrived in high-pressure environments, mastering the art of managing chaos with efficiency and composure.

Originally from Columbia, SC, I embarked on a personal journey to overcome addiction, seeking transformation and healing along the way.

Each day, I am fortunate to witness moments of profound change and recovery, and I am deeply committed to giving back the care, compassion, and grace that were extended to me during my own journey.

I have always believed that altruism is my true calling, and I find fulfillment in helping others.

In my personal time, I enjoy moments of stillness and reflection, grateful for the peace this program has brought into my life. I also enjoy reading, staying active through exercise, spending time with my kitten, and visiting new cities.

Coming soon!

Heath Hood has been with The Owl's Nest team since 2024. Clean and sober for nearly 15 years, Heath brings a deep personal commitment to helping others on their own journey to recovery. His work involves ongoing communication with facilities throughout South Carolina and Georgia, connecting clients from a variety of backgrounds and situations with the information they need to begin treatment.

Heath's dedication to this work is rooted in a personal experience from a previous role, when he connected with a patient who was hesitant to begin treatment and was navigating a difficult situation with family and friends. Heath supported that person through their in-and-out journey with treatment, and it was a profound loss for him when he later learned they had passed away. That experience continues to drive his commitment to helping others in similar circumstances.

For clients or potential clients who feel nervous about treatment, Heath shares that most of the staff at The Owl's Nest have personal experience with substance use disorders and are there to help and support them through the entire process.

Outside of work, Heath enjoys reading, cooking and baking, and spending time with his family, especially during football season. Go Tigers.

Christian Franks was drawn to addiction treatment by a passion for helping others find the light at the end of the tunnel, and she believes she was brought to The Owl's Nest to be part of something meaningful.

A typical day for Christian involves lots of coffee, driving, and meeting with community referral partners to connect people with resources, work built on the communication skills that come naturally to her. What she loves most about working at The Owl's Nest is everything, from the clients to her co-workers to the opportunity to help others. A moment that has stuck with her is being told by someone that she was their guardian angel.

Christian wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that her team will love, support, and encourage them until they're able to do the same for themselves. Drawing on her own life experience, she leads with her heart, puts faith first, and meets every client with compassion, understanding, and no judgment.

Outside of work, Christian enjoys spending time with her dogs, family, and friends. Music recharges her, especially techno and house. She's grateful for the opportunity to help clients and their loved ones in any way she can.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Marcus Gladney has always had a passion for helping others and was certain that working in addiction treatment would be the best way to be of maximum service to others.

No two days look the same in Marcus's role, and he never knows exactly where he'll be needed. What he loves most about working at The Owl's Nest is seeing the light come on in someone's eyes. A moment that has stuck with him is when a client comes back to tell him how he helped them recover.

Marcus wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that the most difficult thing they will ever do is put themselves first, and that the moment they're able to do that, it opens doors. He has personal experience with recovery himself, which he believes is part of why clients feel comfortable opening up to him.

Outside of work, Marcus attends meetings, gardens full-time, cares for his fish, and roller skates when he's able. His advice to prospective clients and families: don't judge this place within the first two weeks of arriving. Something unexplainable can happen if you allow it to.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Vicki describes a typical day in her role as excitement mixed with a ton of meaningful moments. What she loves most about working at The Owl's Nest is being able to carry a message of hope to the addict or alcoholic who still suffers and doesn't see a way out.

A moment that has stuck with Vicki is watching someone come in broken and hopeless, work the 12-Step program, find their higher power, and transform into someone able to carry the message and be a light for others.

Vicki wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that her team has been where they are now. She understands, she cares, and she and the team will walk through life alongside clients through the Alcoholics Anonymous program, standing beside them through anything that comes.

Vicki's own experience with recovery shapes how she shows up for clients every day. Having been there herself, she understands the suffering, desperation, and hopelessness of the disease firsthand, and she works to never forget where she came from as she meets clients where they are.

Outside of work, Vicki loves service work, meetings, and book studies, along with spending time with people in her recovery community, her sisters, and her kids.

Vicki wants clients and families to know that after visiting 13 treatment centers, The Owl's Nest was the first to tell her what was wrong and how to address it. For anyone truly willing to change, she believes there's no better place. To families who are tired and unsure how to help, she offers reassurance that the team at The Owl's Nest, many of whom are in recovery themselves, can help their loved one if they're ready to accept it.

Coming soon!

Before joining The Owl’s Nest, Lauren gained hands-on experience volunteering at rehabilitation centers, helping residents through their recovery. She was drawn to addiction treatment, and to The Owl's Nest specifically, by the strength of the team and the meaningful impact of supporting others on their recovery journey.

Lauren loves the team at The Owl's Nest and the opportunity to help guide residents through recovery. She describes it as a compassionate, non-judgmental space where the entire team is genuinely rooting for each client's success every step of the way.

Almost three years ago, Lauren's family put her on a plane to South Carolina for treatment. At the time, drugs had become her priority and her family no longer recognized her; she had lost her car, her job, and nearly her life. Today, she is a grateful recovering addict who is passionate about giving others what was so freely given to her.

Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her dog and loved ones, and she's always up for a good horror movie.

Amber Miller was drawn to addiction treatment by her love of working with people who share her own experiences, and what brought her to The Owl's Nest specifically was the opportunity to help newcomers move into a new way of life. Her day-to-day work centers on helping new clients, talking through recovery, and continuing to learn.

What Amber loves most about working at The Owl's Nest is meeting new people, and every new intake reminds her why this work matters. She wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that they are never alone and that the team is right there with them.

Amber's own experience with recovery allows her to show grace and understanding to clients, having walked in their shoes herself. Outside of work, she attends recovery meetings five times a week and prioritizes self-care.

Kelly Senterfeit was drawn to The Owl’s Nest by the opportunity to work closely with fellow addicts and alcoholics, finding it deeply satisfying to make a difference in the lives of people who have been lost to addiction. As one of the first points of contact for clients each morning, Kelly makes it a priority to create a positive experience that helps set the tone for their day.

What Kelly loves most about her position is witnessing the transformation in clients, from the moment they first walk through the doors to watching them take control of their addiction, work the 12 Steps of AA, and build a better life. She wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know they will be greeted by a team of caring professionals who have walked the same path and want nothing more than to help them achieve and maintain their sobriety.

Kelly personally overcame alcoholism and drug addiction and found her way to recovery through the 12 Steps of AA. She continues to work the program every day, applying its principles in every aspect of her life.

Gary Frassanito holds certifications as a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. His passion for addiction treatment stems from his own recovery journey. The 12 Steps saved his life, which inspired him to carry the message of hope and recovery to newcomers, and The Owl's Nest's commitment to structured, compassionate care aligned with his desire to support others on that path.

Gary's day centers on direct peer mentorship, guiding group discussions, sharing practical recovery tools, and helping clients navigate the early stages of recovery. His favorite part of the job is watching the light turn on for newcomers, that moment when they realize recovery is possible and change is within reach. Every time a client moves from hopelessness to believing they can build a fulfilling life in recovery, it reaffirms for him why this work matters.

Gary wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know they are not alone and will not be judged. He and the team understand where clients are coming from because many of them share lived experience, and they meet clients where they are and walk alongside them every step of the way.

Gary is in recovery himself, and navigating his own journey through the 12 Steps changed his life completely. That experience allows him to show up for clients with genuine empathy, lived understanding, and unwavering hope.

Outside of work, Gary focuses on maintaining his own recovery foundation, spending time with his personal support network, and engaging in creative outlets and hobbies that keep him grounded. He wants clients and families to know that recovery is real and change is possible, no matter how overwhelming things feel, and that there is a community ready to support them when they walk through the doors.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coe came to work in addiction treatment because of his own experience with addiction, and today his work keeps the facility running smoothly.

What Coe loves most about working at The Owl's Nest is helping others in recovery. His personal experience with recovery saved his life, and that drives him to help clients save theirs. He wants anyone nervous about coming to treatment to know that the team will take care of them and that they're going to shine, and he's there to help clients with anything they need.

Outside of work, Coe enjoys dressing up, skydiving, and trips to Carowinds. He just likes to have fun.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!