First Light Wilderness Therapy, based out of Dahlonega, Georgia, is excited to welcome new additions to its leadership team.  Nicholas Mann has joined as Program Director, and Christy Wilson has recently been appointed as Director of Recruitment.  

Nick Mann’s passion for service, for promoting mental and physical wellness, and for outdoor adventure recently brought him back to his native Georgia to serve as the Program Director for First Light Wilderness. After graduating with a Political Science degree from Berry College in 2006, Nick served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps for 8 years, ending his active service with the rank of Captain.

After leaving the military, Nick’s desire to focus on wellness led him to open a fitness training center in Virginia. During this time, he also launched an after-school program for at-risk youth in his local school district, partnering with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of America. The success of this program led to the founding of an online mental health and physical wellness platform, Advocate in Education, which partners with school districts around the world to provide proactive wellness programs for educators and students. 

Nick brings his tremendous experience in organizational leadership, culture-building, education and training, crisis management, and enthusiastic promotion of wellness to his Program Director role at First Light. 

Christy Wilson has a passion for people and she has dedicated her career to serving in organizations that make a difference in the lives of others. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University. She is a professional with experience in all areas of Human Resources, as well as leadership roles for organizations that provide services in healthcare, senior living, foster care, substance abuse recovery, trauma counseling, youth services and advocacy. 

Christy brings over 20 years of recruiting experience to First Light. She specializes in selecting and engaging the best people to support the organization’s mission and in growing healthy workplace culture. Her heart and passion lie in matching potential employees with the right roles and seeing them grow and flourish. The Director of Recruitment role is a dream job for her, bringing together her love of people, her professional recruiting experience,  her passion for serving youth and families, and her love for the outdoors. She considers it an honor to be a gatekeeper to ensure that the right people are in place to care for those who entrust First Light Wilderness with the treatment of their children, and she seeks out individuals with whom she would entrust her own children.

Jeff Holloway, Executive Director of First Light Wilderness, stated, “We are honored to appoint Nick and Christy to their respective roles at First Light, and are proud to bring their professionalism, commitment and passion to our leadership team. Both Nick and Christy embody the core values of our organization, including empathy, service, growth, trusting relationships and results, and we are confident that these values will shine through in their work both within our program as well as in their relationships within the industry. We feel very fortunate to bring their expertise and experience to bear on the ongoing growth of First Light Wilderness.” 

About First Light Wilderness Therapy

First Light Wilderness Therapy provides high-impact, evidence-based outdoor behavioral healthcare for teens ages 12-18 and is based out of Dahlonega, Georgia. Utilizing a nomadic wilderness model, First Light Wilderness focuses on treating issues related to early developmental trauma, adoption and attachment, as well as mood disorders, behavioral issues and co-occuring substance use disorders. First Light Wilderness Therapy’s goal for every student is to achieve meaningful change by creating an environment of adventure where joy is rediscovered and nurtured, where adventure leads to self-discovery, and where relationships heal and grow. To learn more about First Light, visit www.firstlightwilderness.com.