Meet The Team

Tawnya Trahan

Tawnya Trahan is the President of SafeSide Foundation and is a dedicated board member. She brings over three decades of leadership and expertise in human resources, organizational development, and corporate strategy to her role, guiding SafeSide’s mission to support individuals facing addiction, mental health struggles, and homelessness.

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A certified Human Resources professional (PHR, SHRM-CP), Tawnya has a proven track record of fostering sustainable growth and operational excellence within organizations. Her ability to implement strategic initiatives, mediate challenges, and inspire team collaboration has been instrumental in SafeSide’s success. She has also championed innovative training programs and employee development initiatives that align with SafeSide's commitment to peer-driven recovery.

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Tawnya’s dedication to empowering others stems from her own belief in the importance of resilience and second chances. Her professional journey includes diverse experiences ranging from corporate accounting to organizational development, all of which shape her compassionate and pragmatic approach to leadership. At SafeSide, she focuses on creating environments where individuals can rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose, and community support.

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Under Tawnya’s leadership, SafeSide Recovery continues to grow as a beacon of hope, offering structured sober living, peer support, and accessible recovery resources to those in need. Her commitment to excellence, combined with her deep compassion for others, ensures that SafeSide’s impact reaches far and wide across Colorado’s recovery community.

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Dave Ammons

Dave brings a wealth of diverse and substantive experience in business leadership, management, and operations to the SafeSide team. Over the past thirty-five years, he has developed and led dynamic organizations in Human Resources, Learning and Development, Employee Relations, and Organizational Development.

Additionally, Dave has pursued creative side projects, successfully crafting cutting-edge marketing communications, public relations campaigns, web videos, television commercials, and promotional strategies. He is also an independent author, having published "Sermons in Stones: Tales of Family, Friends, & Fly Fishing," a collection of eighteen beautifully-crafted short stories, anecdotes, and personal narratives offering thoughtful and profound reflection on his life experiences in a "mountain wilderness carved by a river." Amazon - Dave's personal journey with addiction began when a family member struggled with opioid abuse following an athletic injury. This experience has given him a deep understanding of the pain, dark moments, and challenging obstacles to recovery.

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The greatest life lesson Dave learned from his father is the importance of relationships. No matter what happens along our path, the purpose and meaning of our lives are grounded in the connections we build with others. Dave's genuine motivation is to cultivate a sphere of influence in both his personal and professional life that embodies this principle.

Dave remains active in his community as a volunteer firefighter and continues to work on the great American novel. He and his wife Anne split their time between their homes in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the mountains of Colorado.

Rob Miller

Rob Miller is the founder and president of SafeSide Recovery and a board member of the SafeSide Foundation, organizations dedicated to empowering underserved communities by addressing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. Since founding SafeSide in 2019, Rob has demonstrated exceptional leadership, combining strategic vision with a deep compassion for individuals in need.

SafeSide Recovery provides immediate, hands-on support through homeless outreach centers, recovery residences, and peer support initiatives. Meanwhile, the SafeSide Foundation serves as the nonprofit arm of the organization, reflecting Rob’s commitment to long-term systemic change. Through the Foundation, Rob works to bridge funding gaps, expand access to resources, and foster sustainable opportunities for recovery and personal growth. Rob’s passion for this work stems from his personal lived experience and a belief in the power of second chances.

He has spearheaded innovative solutions like the Medicaid-reimbursed recovery housing model and the SafeSide Sisterhood, a virtual support group for domestic abuse survivors. By leveraging partnerships with organizations like the Pueblo Rescue Mission, Open Door Ministries, and the Elks Lodges, Rob has expanded SafeSide’s reach and impact, bringing hope to countless individuals across Colorado.

Known for his compassionate approach and commitment to fostering resilience, Rob leads SafeSide Recovery and the SafeSide Foundation with the goal of helping individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose. His work exemplifies his belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow, thrive, and achieve their potential.

Ross Miller

Ross Miller is the co-owner of SafeSide Recovery and the Secretary of the Board for SafeSide Foundation. A driving force behind the organization’s marketing, community partnerships, and strategic growth, Ross combines his marketing experience with a personal passion to help individuals navigate the challenges of addiction, mental health, and recovery.

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Ross’s lived experience with prescription opioid addiction, which began after a back injury, gives him a unique perspective on the recovery journey. Through peer support and 12-step programs, he not only found sobriety but emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Today, he leverages that experience to advocate for modern, evidence-based, and peer-driven approaches to recovery, believing in the power of shared experiences to foster accelerated change.

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At SafeSide, Ross leads efforts to forge partnerships with local agencies, write grant proposals, and develop innovative strategies to expand access to resources. His dedication to Peer Support Specialists is a core mission of SafeSide and reflects his belief that the best guides on the path to recovery are those who have walked it themselves.

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Before joining SafeSide, Ross had a successful career in marketing and technology implementation within the software and SaaS industries. A graduate of the University of Montana and a former mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona, Ross is committed to working with the community.

Now living in Denver with his wife, Ross enjoys live music, the outdoors, and a life centered on friendships, family, and virtue.