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Debra Hinkel

President

Debra Hinkel became passionate about advocating for individuals experiencing mental health struggles in 2000 after her son, Robbie Ramirez, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.  She pursued a holistic approach from the beginning, believing that good nutrition, exercise, and community support and acceptance were keys to recovery.  She has been an active member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) since 2004, serving several years on the state board and as NAMI-Laramie president from 2009 to the present.  She is certified as a NAMI Family-to-Family Instructor.  She also introduced and later co-coordinated seven Crisis Intervention Team trainings for police officers to receive education on mental illnesses and strategies to assist individuals in a mental health crisis.  She founded Robbies’s House in 2021, actually opening the doors to this mental health clubhouse in September of 2022. 

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Meet The Team

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Executive Director

Oscar Lilley

 Oscar has had a great deal of experience with mental illness, more than he wished. Since becoming a peer support specialist in high school, Oscar has followed a path of advocacy  for soldiers, veterans, students, and at-risk youth struggling with mental health issues that eventually evolved into joining the board of directors of Robbie's House and serving as Vice President. In 2024, Oscar became the Executive Director of Robbie's House

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Culinary Team Leader

Julie Flint

Julie, a long time Laramie resident serves as the Associate Director at Robbie’s House as well as running the kitchen staff. Her experience in food service as a cook and a server, lends itself to creating a fun atmosphere experimenting with new recipes and learning how to best optimize the use of our limited kitchen. Julie is honest with the members about her own struggles with addictions and mental health and has made it a mission to add her experience and empathy to aiding others in recovery. Robbie’s House came to Julie in a time of need in her own life. Through RH she has been able to get her footing back and would like to share the joy of that with others!

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Marketing and Design Team Leader

Loretta Guynn

Loretta is a former LHS art teacher who served under the mentorship of Laramie's beloved Tim Collins.  She has extensive training and a great love for ceramics, yet is also able to teach water colors and other forms of art. Her positive attitude and appreciation for the many facets of creative expression through art inspire our members to experiment with a variety of art in search of a medium they enjoy and gives them the opportunity for their own personal expression. 

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Administrative Team Leader

Devon C.

Devon serves as the Admin Unit Generalist and is passionate about contributing to supportive, community-centered spaces where people feel heard and valued. Drawing from both lived experience and her educational background, she brings a compassionate, trauma-informed, and disability theory perspective to her work that emphasizes advocacy, empowerment, communication, and personal agency.

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Board Secretary 

Sydney Holliday

Sydney is our youngest board member and our Robbie’s House member representative on the board.  Her personal experience with Robbie’s House and the benefits she received from her involvement provide an ongoing perspective of how we can best provide support to our members.  Sydney’s social media background adds to our ability to maintain our media presence with our members and supporters.

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Treasurer

Ginger Davis

Ginger is the owner-operator of Nature’s Child, a local daycare.  She has been involved in the mental health community since 2018.  Ginger also serves on the Laramie Cares Board, a local suicide prevention organization.  She is certified to teach both QPR and Mental Health First Aid.  Ginger is one of the original members of the Robbie’s House start-up board, which began in January of 2021. 

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Board Member

Mike Samp

Mike is the former UW Chief of Police, who brings his strong desire to advocate for individuals experiencing mental health struggles to our board.  Mike was the only police chief that mandated all of his officers to attend CIT training (Crisis Intervention Team training for police officers and first responders).  Mike’s law enforcement experience provides the board with that police officer perspective when it is needed.

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Ryan Harper

Board Member

Ryan is a lifelong resident of Laramie and

currently works in the University of Wyoming Business Department Office. She joined the Board of Directors at the end of 2025 and quickly became a valuable asset to the organization. With strong community connections and a genuine commitment to Robbie’s House’s mission, Ryan has been instrumental in rallying support and securing donations that help further the organization's impact. Her ability to connect with people and inspire community involvement has strengthened awareness and support for Robbie’s House.

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Robbie's House Ambassador

Mercedes Martinez

Mercedes is a Laramie native, is an IT specialist with a degree in Organizational Management.  She began as an intern at Robbie’s House in spring of 2023 and joined the board in August of 2023.  Mercedes has personal experience advocating for family members with mental illness. Her community connections along with her computer expertise and experience designing websites and creating marketing materials make her a valuable asset to Robbie's House.

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Robbie's House Ambassador

Sharon Montes, MD

As a physician with a 30-year commitment to community health, Sharon believes the work that the team at Robbie's House provides for our Laramie community is VALUABLE.  "We all need a place to feel safe and to belong."  RH is also a model for health care providers to learn how to provide a Whole Health way of delivering mental health care.  She has great appreciation and respect for EVERYTHING that the RH leadership and members do to create a small example of what "heaven on earth" can look like with dedicated intention and teamwork. 

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Club House Dog

Rudy

Rudy is the beloved clubhouse dog at Robbie's House. With his friendly demeanor and gentle nature, Rudy has become a source of comfort and joy for everyone who walks through the doors. Whether he's curling up with a visitor or offering a wag of his tail, Rudy has a special way of soothing hearts and lifting spirits, bringing warmth and love to those who need it most. He's truly a good boy and an essential part of the Robbie's House family, offering unconditional support with every wag and cuddle.

312 E Custer St, Laramie, WY 82070
Hours:
Monday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday–Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
robbieshouselaramie.org
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