Board Members

Fred Ode has a rich past of entrepreneurship, owning and leading several successful businesses throughout his career including Foundation Software, Payroll4Construction, Ode Family Companies, Ode Ventures, and the Ode Family Foundation.  Fred continues with the idea to invest in people, idea, and hope through his growing portfolio of angel investments. His current primary focus is creating businesses that are beneficial to people, particularly in the health and wellness sector. After launching a successful psychedelic disassociative clinic in Cleveland, OH, Fred is now expanding his horizons into the healing properties of psilocybin. Excited by the impressive scientific studies, Mr. Ode knew the most exciting way to share the benefits of psilocybin with the public would be by funding Evolution Retreats in Jamaica. He has assembled a diverse and capable team of the highest quality, to ensure the maximum benefits for our clients in one the most therapeutic spaces on earth: Negril, Jamaica.

Fred’s motivation to continue investing in psychedelic therapies, is largely shaped by the personal healing he experienced. He discovered firsthand the ethereal joy and contentment that can come from altered states of mind and the long-term inspiration it can provide months after the treatments have finished. Impressed by the profundity and lasting effects of his first psychedelic treatment, psychedelic disassociative infusions, he decided to also seek healing from psilocybin in Jamaica. Facilitated by Evolution Retreats’ facilitators, he realized that the dream to create Evolution Retreats must be transformed into a reality.

Nora is an experienced Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner dedicated to helping her patients find relief with compassionate care. Nora is a national expert on treating mental health conditions with psychedelic disassociative.  Motivated by the success she has seen with the only currently legal psychedelic therapy in the America, she is excited about helping Evolution Retreats be on the forefront of offering psilocybin therapy. Her extensive experience with providing psychedelic therapy in a medical environment has been vital in developing our screening process and safety protocols to make sure each one of our clients is appropriate and safe during our psilocybin treatments.

• 10 Years spent researching and providing psychedelic disassociatives with the Cleveland Clinic
• Overseen more than 2,000 Psychedelic dissociative infusions

PUBLICATIONS:

• “A 12-month naturalistic observation of three patients receiving repeat intravenous infusions for their treatment-resistant depression” (Journal of Affective Disorders)
• “Comparing Electroconvulsive Therapy and Intravenous Treatment for Adults with Major Depression That Has Not Responded to Antidepressant Medicines “ (PCORI)
• “Effects of Repeated Intravenous Treatment in Treatment-Resistant Geriatric Depression: A Case Series” (Journal of Clinical Pharmacology)
• Presentation to American Psychiatric Association (2012) “ safety: an analysis of vital signs before, during, and after the administration of low-dose intravenous infusions
• Presentation to the Association for Neurosciences (2011) “Reduction of depressive symptoms via repeated intravenous infusions in three patients with highly treatment-resistant depression

Jennifer is the owner and director of Stella Luna Counseling and Wellness, a holistic therapy and wellness practice. Jennifer and Stella Luna’s practitioners specialize in the treatment of trauma, depression, grief, anxiety, and relationship concerns. They provide therapy, EMDR, Ketamine Assisted Therapy, mindfulness training, and breath-work in a non-judgmental space. Jenny is trained by MAPS in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy for MDMA and provides Ketamine Assisted Therapy, bringing valuable professional training and experience to our team.

We are excited to have Jennifer as our Clinical Director to counsel us on our intake requirements and safety guidelines. We trust Jennifer to help us make educated decisions on whether Psilocybin therapy in Jamaica is ethical and appropriate for you. In addition to her role as Clinical Director, Jennifer will also be a part-time facilitator when she can manage the time with her commitment to her family of five and Stella Luna.

Brandon Varnadoe is a co-owner and the acting Chief Operating Officer of Evolution Retreats in Negril, Jamaica. Brandon has trained under Zach Leary as a psychedelic facilitator and has years of experience in the hospitality industry. Brandon graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations with a focus in business. Motivated by his travels and interest in world cultures, Brandon has always dreamed of a way to connect people from around the globe. A natural communicator, Brandon speaks English, Italian, Spanish, and is always working on another language so he can help provide access to psilocybin to the global community.

Along his journey, he had transformational experiences with psilocybin, and believes that everyone should have an opportunity to explore its therapeutic values in a safe and personalized environment. He firmly believes that this life changing therapy will thrive in culturally rich and beautiful country of Jamaica through Evolution Retreats and moved to Jamaica himself. Brandon’s objective is to combine his past experiences from hospitality that he has seen across North America, South America, and Europe to ensure Evolution Retreats is perfect setting for an enriching psilocybin experience.

Steve is the Executive Director of New Pathways Clinic, our sister company that provides psychedelic disassociative treatments for treatment resistant psychiatric conditions in Cleveland, OH. Motivated by his own success in achieving remission for multiple psychiatric diagnoses through various psychedelic therapies, he opened New Pathways Clinic and partnered with Evolution Retreats to help others struggling achieve mental wellness. His goal is to make sure the Evolution Retreats provides the same level of care to its patrons that can be expected from future psychedelic clinics in America once psilocybin is authorized by the FDA as a medicine for depression and other mental health conditions.

Ever since he graduated from Ohio State with a major in Psychology, he has not stopped pursuing knowledge about new treatments available in the realm of mental health. As a vigorous consumer of research publications, he will always be ready to answer any questions anyone has about psychedelic therapies or alternative options for treatment in the United States. Steve will ensure Evolution Retreats continues to update its procedures to match the most up to date science on psilocybin therapy.

Mark Hennie brings 20+ years of experience in the hospitality, operations, and management industries. He currently serves as the General Manager of a private country club in the Cleveland, OH area and is a class “A” PGA professional.  Additionally, he serves as the VP of Operations for Ode Ventures, a company that invests in people, ideas and hope.  Mark is excited about the potential in Evolution Retreats bringing people an alternative solution to their well-being and psyche. He brings his years of experience in the hospitality space as a senior consultant to help ensure your trip is one of a kind and something that you will never forget.