Michael Olivier

Dr. Olivier is the Medical Director of the Health Retreat Program at BHHEC. In this role he interacts with guests on a daily basis monitoring their progress and concerns. Dr. Olivier also gives lectures during the program focusing on physiology.

Dr. Olivier was born and raised in Los Angeles, California (except for the two years he lived in Rabat, Morocco as a member of the first Peace Corps family, 1970-1972). He has lived a nomadic life with his wife, Sharlene, and three children, Naomi, Benjamin, and Jocelyn.

Dr. Olivier graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine in 1994. He began his first year of residency in 1994-1995, training in pediatrics at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He completed his last 2 years of training at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, 1995-1997, and became board certified in pediatrics in 1997, recertifying in pediatrics in 2004.

Following residency he migrated to the beautiful state of New Hampshire in 1997 where he served as chief of pediatrics at Franklin Regional Hospital, assistant adjunct professor for the department of pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School and medical director of Spaulding Youth Center (residential center for children with neuro-developmental disorders and emotional disabilities) until he resigned from all his positions 2002. Wanting to pursue the life of a medical missionary, the family moved to Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital in Georgia where Dr Olivier served as a staff physician in 2002-2003 before founding Quiver Full Pediatrics in Vermont 2003. He spent two years as a health lecturer and volunteer carpentry apprentice at Country Life Wellness and Education Center in Wisconsin in 2003-2006 and in April 2006 he accepted the position as Medical Director at the Black Hills Health & Education Center.

Dr. Olivier enjoys caring for people, his favorite book is the Bible and his favorite pastime is hiking.

Janet Nelson

Janet Nelson was born in England where she obtained a degree in History from the University of Bristol in 1965. Janet emigrated from Britain to California in 1967. Shortly thereafter she met Richard and they were married in 1968. Janet spent most of her career working in administration for an agricultural organization.

Janet accompanied Richard to BHHEC as a guest in July 2004 and by mid 2005 the Lord had sold their home in California, enabling them both to retire and move here to BHHEC. Janet volunteered part-time in the kitchen initially and then helped with accounts receivables and insurance. In April 2008 they accepted the Board’s invitation to become Managers, Janet is the Business Manager and ably oversees the finances of BHHEC.

As a guest you will be most likely to encounter Janet in the dining room or see her as a figure in the distance as you are exploring the campus.

BA – Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Bristol

Richard oversees the physical buildings and grounds that make up BHHEC. He looks after things such as lawn mowing, landscaping of the grounds, well-digging, repairs and maintenance of existing buildings, construction of new buildings, roads and trails.

As a guest you will possibly see him passing in the distance as you go for a walk, or you might be privileged to have a meal chatting with him in the dining room.

Before coming to BHHEC Richard worked as a Special Education Teacher, a Medical Technologist and a homesteader. In 1976 Richard and his Family moved onto 40 acres in the woods on a permanent camping trip. Starting with no electricity or phone they developed the land and built their own home, some of it from lumber that Richard felled and milled from his own land.

Richard initially came to BHHEC as a guest in 2004 concerned about his weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. After seeing Dick Nunez’s testimony on 3ABN television he and his wife, Janet, came to BHHEC in July of 2004. The changes in his life impressed him so much he and Janet moved here and worked as volunteers to help others experience the miracle brought about by new choices. In April 2008 they accepted the Board’s invitation to become Managers.

BA – Bachelor of Arts (Chemistry/Biology) from California State University, Fresno
MA – Master of Arts (Special Education) from California State University, Fresno
CLS – Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Licensed by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists

Cheryl Reth

It is Cheryl‘s job to make sure that the Health Retreat runs smoothly. She does the bookkeeping for the Health Program and ensures that the needs of guests and staff are met. In her role as Program Marketer, Cheryl has a chance to get acquainted with guests over the phone before they arrive here at BHHEC and maintain daily contact with guests while they are with us.

Eight years ago Cheryl and her husband Fred (a dentist) came to the Black Hills because they wanted to retire to a rural environment, not realizing what the Health Retreat just three miles down the road was all about. After only a short period of retirement Cheryl and Fred were asked to join the team. Here they learned about the natural remedies that saved Cheryl’s leg from being amputated; this is a powerful witness to the benefit of hydrotherapy.

Cheryl grew up in the Midwest, but has had a rich education, attending renowned music schools overseas, (where she became fluent in German), as well as in the United States. After she finished her BA in Violin Performance, she received her MA from the University of Southern California, beginning a career of private violin instruction that has spanned 35 years. Cheryl and Fred (also a concert violinist) share their musical talents in a monthly concert for staff and guests.

LRAM – Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music
BA – Bachelor of Arts (Violin Performance) from Loma Linda University
MA – Master of Arts (Violin Performance) from the University of Southern California

Dan Gabbert

Dan and his wife Patsy have been working together as Spiritual & Mental Health Coaches (considered by some to be counselors) for six years, teaching guests the methods of Biblical Response Therapy^®. As well as coaching Dan also gives lectures on handling stress and leads out in the morning stretching routines. Read Origins of Biblical Response Therapy^® to learn more.

A native of North Dakota, Dan has been preserved by God’s grace through a journey of ranching and rodeoing, acting, a rock n’ roll musician, literature evangelism and pastoral ministry. After 22 years of full-time Christian ministry and completing a Masters degree in Biblical Counseling, Dan came to BHHEC to focus his energies on helping others understand and apply the principles of mental and spiritual restoration found in the world’s #1 best-selling book, the Bible. Whether people are very religious or maintain no interest in Christianity, it is Dan’s ever-increasing desire to help them find hope, healing, and rest from the brokenness and pain of life’s complexities and sorrows.

Dan has just completed the Biblical Response Therapy^® training manual for anyone interested in developing their skills in using God’s word to minister to hurting hearts.  It is available for purchase in the BHHEC Store.

BA – Bachelor of Arts (Biblical Counseling) Christian Bible College and Seminary, Independence, Missouri.
MA – Master of Arts (Biblical Counseling) Christian Bible College and Seminary, Independence, Missouri.
CWC – Certified Wellness Coach from the Spencer Institute.

Michelle initially trained as a registered nurse but her interest in food and nutrition led her to further her education, gaining a Master’s of Science in Nutrition (MSN) from Bastyr University in Seattle. While completing her internship at Bastyr University she had the opportunity to spend two weeks observing at BHHEC. Several months later she and her husband Larry moved to the Black Hills.

Michelle has an initial interview with guests when they arrive where she discusses their health history. She then follows this up with one-on-one nutrition counseling and continues to support guests after they go home. During a three week program Michelle lectures twice a week on “Cooking 101”; “Dispelling the Myths of a Whole-Foods Plant Based Diet”; “Label Reading”; “Quality Supplements”; “Sprouting”; and Michelle takes guests on a grocery store expedition where they get to put into practice the things they have learned in her classes. In addition to this Michelle works with Elizabeth in the kitchen, educating guests on the specific foods they are cooking.

Michelle’s number one goal is to make the transition over to healthier eating as smooth as possible. She is here to support you no matter what your nutritional needs are regarding recipes, food, cooking, shopping, and supplements.

RN – Registered Nurse, Licensed in South Dakota
RD – Registered Dietitian, Licensed in South Dakota
LN – Licensed Nutritionist in South Dakota
MSN – Master of Science (Nutrition) from Bastyr University, Seattle
BSN – Bachelor of Science (Nursing) from the University of Louisville

Shaun Brinegar
Food Service Director

Shaun, with his wife Dana, arrived at BHHEC in August 2011. Shaun has 8 years of official experience in Food Service, although he has been helping his mother cook since he was a child.

Most recently Shaun was Food Service Manager for Lay Institute for Evangelism in Florida, where he was responsible for setting up their food service program. He also worked for Lifestyle Center of America in Oklahoma.

Shaun is excited to be able to return to BHHEC where his mother, Linda, was cook for a number of years. He and Dana add energy and enthusiasm to our campus. We look forward to many years of scrumptious meals.

Larry is in charge of Battle Creek Gardens, the ‘Certified Naturally Grown’ gardens on the BHHEC grounds. From these gardens Larry supplies the kitchen, local restaurants and markets with naturally grown produce. Larry came to BHHEC from Seattle where he was the owner of Local Roots and before that he was an intern at Natures Last Stand. Any guests who would like to visit the gardens are more than welcome, Larry is happy to have folks out to the gardens to learn about God’s second book – nature – and how we can grow closer to Him in the garden.

Ruth Gabbert

Ruth was raised in a small farm town in Idaho. Because of her older sibling's interest in fitness, Ruth began running at age 11. She quickly discovered that she had natural talent and from that time on, fitness and athletics became a big part of Ruth's life. She spent the next several years competing in long distance running races and triathlons. Ruth ran competitively for her high school and won many races for her efforts in long distance running. She competed competitively in many races outside of the high school level as well, and spent time in athletic training under several experienced coaches. She spent her summers swimming, cycling, and running, so she could compete in triathlons across the Pacific Northwest. When she was 18, Ruth was ranked in the top ten female triathletes for the Pacific Northwest. Age 18 was also the year that Ruth met Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Although she grew up in a Christian home, it wasn't until that time that she understood her salvation. As a result, Ruth felt a strong desire to understand all the aspects of biblical health principles, not just fitness. She spent 11 months at Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital where she learned many things important to health. But Ruth felt that God was calling her to use her knowledge, love, and experience in fitness to help others, not just to win races. She came to Black Hills Health & Education Center in September of 2006 to intern under the director at that time, Dick Nunez. She learned many aspects of personal training and earned her certification as a fitness trainer from the International Sports Science Association. After attending BHHEC's School of Massage, Ruth became a nationally certified and South Dakota licensed massage therapist. Ruth has worked as a personal trainer and therapist at BHHEC for three years. She is also a Certified Wellness Coach through Spencer Institute. Ruth continues to love fitness and exercise and occasionally competes in a local running race or triathlon. She enjoys working out , of course, as well as cooking and baking, hiking, gardening, and riding motorcycles with her husband. Her desire is to help each person find health and healing and a love for exercise. She wants to help in anyway she can to help each person achieve optimal fitness.

CFT – Certified Personal Trainer - International Sports Science Association
CWC - Certified Wellness Coach - Spencer Institute
NCTMB – National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work
LMT – Licensed Massage Therapist in South Dakota

Lenora Werth

Lenora has devoted her career as an RN to alternative medicine. One of the founding team members of BHHEC, she believes strongly that the best cure is preventative. Working within traditional areas of nursing during the early years of her practice and teaching within RN programs convinced her that lifestyle change was the surest way to improve health and prevent lifestyle diseases. She puts this philosophy into practice by working one-on-one or in small groups with guests at the center where she teaches the eight natural remedies and aids people to find a more healthy, balanced and dynamic lifestyle. She works closely with guests on an individual basis to assess and evaluate their progress: charting blood work, reading lab reports, assisting during the doctors’ consultation and answering guest's questions and concerns. Her greatest reward lies in seeing the dramatic improvement in the physical and emotional wellbeing of those under her care. She leads an active life herself and enjoys horseback riding, hiking in the hills and fitness training. In addition, she enjoys the challenges of keeping pace with the advancements for holistic care happening within the medical field.

Lenora gained her BS in nursing from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, and followed it up with Post Graduate work from California State University, Los Angeles and North Dakota State Universities.

BSN – Bachelor of Science (Nursing) from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska
RN – Registered Nurse, Licensed in South Dakota

Claudia Kunishige

Claudia’s door is always open for guests to pop in and have a chat, she interacts with guests daily in each of her various roles. As the Treatment Supervisor, Claudia arranges the guest's schedules, checking that guests know when and where they are to go each day. In her role as Insurance Secretary, Claudia collects insurance information, processes claims, organizes reimbursements and for guests’ health information to be sent to insurance companies and their personal doctors. Generally she ensures that guests do not need to worry about anything related to insurance. In her role as Research Secretary, Claudia helps prepare and send out follow-up packets, helps process returned research questionnaires and guests medical data and acts as an administrative secretary to the doctors.

Before coming to BHHEC Claudia lived in Japan for sixteen years, where she worked as an English Conversation Teacher and as Administrative Assistant for Publications Distribution at the United Nations University in Tokyo.

Currently Claudia and her husband (an architectural engineer) are building a home just two miles from BHHEC where they live and their two sons will visit.

Therapeutic Massage Certification
BS – Bachelor of Social Work from Pacific Union College, California
AA – Associate Arts Degree (Secretarial) from Walla Walla College, Washington

Rosa Gomez, LMT NCTMB CWC
Medical Massage Therapist & Hydrotherapy Technician

As a massage therapist, Rosa works closely with guests giving them massage and hydrotherapy treatments. She has held National Certification as a Medical Massage Therapist and a Hydrotherapy technician for three years and is licensed in the states of South Dakota and California. Before coming to BHHEC, Rosa worked at the Drayson Center at Loma Linda University. Rosa, fluent in Spanish, is a committed Christian who loves to work with people and gains great satisfaction from knowing she is making a difference in the lives of others.

Associate Degree in Medical Massage from Hands-On Medical Massage School, California.
NCTMB – National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work
LMT – Licensed Massage Therapist in South Dakota and California

Danielle Harrison, LMT NCTMB CWC
Massage Therapist & Hydrotherapy Technician

Danielle came to BHHEC in the summer of 2010, from Washington, to be a volunteer in the garden. In September of that year she enrolled in the School of Massage, graduating with her national certification in June 2011. Danielle very much enjoys being able to help our wellness guests towards better health through massage and hydrotherapy.

LMT – Licensed Massage Therapist in South Dakota
NCTMB – National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work

Oliver Stubbs, NCTMB CWC
Massage Therapist, Hydrotherapy and Maintenance

Oliver graduated from the BHHEC School of Massage Therapy in June 2011. He enjoys working with wellness guests as well as helping out in other departments as needed.

Oliver has spent considerable time over the years working with his parents in their ministry in Cuba. He loves the Lord and is excited about being able to serve God here at BHHEC.

NCTMB – National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work

Jackie is responsible for keeping much of the campus, including the Main Lodge, the Log Cabin Classroom and the Massage School, scrupulously clean. She started working at BHHEC as a volunteer in the garden in the middle of 2009 moving to the housekeeping department after a few months. She has been Supervisor since October 2010.

Before coming to BHHEC Jackie worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Washington and had enrolled to study nursing but decided instead to come to BHHEC to find a personal relationship with Jesus.

Fred Reth

Fred works in the maintenance department, doing carpentry, painting and making sure all the buildings are in good repair. He also works as a personal trainer in the Fitness Center, which is where guests are most likely to meet him.

Fred (a retired dentist) came to work at BHHEC in 2002, when he and his wife Cheryl were invited to join the team. They had intended to retire in the Black Hills but were so impressed with the work that occurs here at BHHEC that they came out of their short-lived retirement to help. Fred is fluent in Serbo-Croatian, as he is a native of Yugoslavia.

BA – Bachelor of Arts (Violin Performance) from Loma Linda University
DDS – Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University