Who We Are
Our team
Dana Rider
Growing up in upstate New York, Dana Rider has always had a love for the wilderness and helping others. He attended North Country Community College, located in the Adirondack Mountains, where he studied Wilderness Recreation Leadership. Dana struggled with heroin and alcohol addiction for many years and was in and out of rehab and jail.
Eventually, he graduated from The Ontario County Drug Court Program in Canandaguia, New York. After his graduation, he moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where he became a Wilderness Therapy Guide, helping young adults reconnect with themselves and build their abilities and confidence, despite past challenges. Dana then started his own aftercare recovery program, Real Recovery, in Asheville.
Dana, a certified substance abuse counselor, is extremely passionate about his calling and has worked for more than a decade with people in addiction recovery, those with mental illness and young adults who have struggled to live independently. The primary focus of his work over the past six years has been one-on-one life coaching and mentoring, where he guides clients from various backgrounds and age groups to successfully take control of their own lives. He also specializes in wilderness rites of passage, vision quest and solos. These journeys allow people to detach from everyday life with time of solitude in the wilderness to allow them to discover their purpose and passion in life.
Dana owns a small farm outside of Asheville, where he lives with his wife and two sons. His life experience, hard work and success allow him to get others on the path of success in their own lives.
Curt Schrank
Curt Schrank, originally from Milwaukee, graduated from Ripon College in Wisconsin with his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Health. As one of six children, he enjoyed competing in athletics and played sports throughout college.
After graduating in 2007, Curt struggled with alcohol and drug use. His dreams of coaching soccer and teaching Physical Education quickly vanished, as his addiction drove his decisions.
Fortunately, in 2011, Curt set aside his trials with a determination to rebuild his life, develop his spirituality and regain faith in the recovery process.
He has worked in the field of addiction treatment and placement for more than six years and has extensive experience as a former owner and operator for both a sober living program and for an intensive outpatient treatment program.
Curt specializes in providing customized care for a range of mental health and addiction-related conditions. He has successfully worked with dual-diagnosed patients, who contend with substance abuse disorder and mental illness. He is committed to working with each patient to meet individualized goals in a safe and responsible manner.
Curt’s own journey and challenges with addiction propel him to seek out and work with young people who are looking for freedom from addiction. He is passionate about sharing with these individuals the tools necessary to sustain change and helping them gain the confidence to take those steps. He encourages goal-setting and accountability to help others reach their goals.
Curt enjoys playing team sports, especially soccer and basketball, mountain biking, hiking and spending time with his wife and children. He is also a member of CrossFit, so physical fitness is a key focus for him personally.