Luke Hatch, LCSW, C.Ad (Certified Addictionologist)
Co-Founder/Executive Director/Clinical Director
Luke Hatch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a certified addictionlogist, and an expert in working with adolescents and their families. He received his BS in Psychology/Communications at Southern Utah University and an MSW from the University of Utah. He has worked in mental health since the year 2000. He spent 5 years working with juvenile sex offenders and adjudicated adolescents. He has worked extensively with substance abuse and spent time working with people on probation at a facility in Salt Lake City. He spent 7 years working with adolescents and families at a Residential Treatment Center in Southern Utah. He also provided community in-service training on preventing sexual abuse for the Head Start program for many years. Through the years, Luke has worked with literally thousands of youth and families in multiple roles in treatment programs including as line staff, staff supervisor, therapist and has led in administration as a Program Director and Executive Director. These experiences have given him incredible insight into what it takes to operate a successful program and to produce change in adolescents. Other experience includes working in Youth Corrections, addiction treatment, assisted living for individuals with intellectual disabilities, sexual offender treatment, anger management, family therapy, spousal and marriage counseling and counseling for depression and anxiety. He was raised in Nevada in a ranching family. He is passionate about family therapy and the use of the ranch as a therapeutic tool.
Yancy Whipple, MBA
Co-Founder/Director of Business Development
Yancy Whipple was raised on a ranch only a few miles from where KW Legacy Ranch is currently located today. He received a BA in Business from Southern Utah University and an MBA from the University of Utah. Prior to co-founding KW Legacy Ranch, Yancy worked for a Fortune 500 company on the brand management team. Following that, Yancy led a successful career as an entrepreneur opening several businesses in the construction and roofing industries. Additionally, he worked in a youth program as the admissions director helping families navigate the challenging task of enrolling their child in a program. This experience helped Yancy gain a deeper understanding of the conflicting emotions that families go through during this difficult time. Through his kind and compassionate demeanor, families come to know that Yancy does sincerely care about them. Along with Rocky and Luke Hatch, Yancy co-founded KW Legacy Ranch as a means to truly help transform lives.
Rocky Hatch
Co-Founder/Director of Ranch Operations
Rocky has worked as a rancher and been around livestock his entire life. He knows cattle and horses as well as anyone. In high school and college Rocky was a fierce competitor in Rodeo, participating in roping, bareback, and bull riding events. He was forced to give up rodeo after severely injuring his shoulder during a bull ride. He earned a degree from Southern Utah State College in Metal Fabrication and is a proficient metal worker and welder. Rocky managed a welfare farm for 15 years, overseeing all farm and cattle operations. He has successfully raised 5 children with his wife Lynda and understands the benefits of teaching children through hard work and responsibility. Rocky sincerely enjoys spending time with the students of KW teaching them about livestock, ranching, welding, roping, etc. The ranch operated by KW Legacy Ranch is owned by Rocky and his wife Lynda who have been happily married since 1973.
Lynda Hatch
Office Manager
Lynda attended Southern Utah University and graduated with an Associate Degree in Secretarial Business. She worked as the Secretary for the Pahranagat Valley Television District, the manager at Pahranagat Valley Federal Credit Union, data entry for Lincoln County, and the Office Manager for Alamo Sewer and Water. After working for the Alamo Sewer and Water for 25 years, she joined KW Legacy Ranch full-time in 2013. Lynda and her husband Rocky, are considered the heart of KW Legacy Ranch. Lynda and Rocky Hatch are the owners of the ranch used by KW. She plays a significant role at the ranch helping care for the students in a motherly fashion. When Lynda is not in the office, she provides haircuts for the male students, makes birthday cakes for all the students, and takes care of their inventory items. Lynda enjoys her time with her family-especially her grandchildren.
Tracie Poulsen, LPN
Nurse
Tracie has 40 years of nursing experience. She graduated nursing school in August 1982. She started work as a Neonatal Nurse at Carbon Hospital in Price, Utah. She moved to Nevada and became a nurse at a doctor's office, working as a Diabetic Nurse at the clinic for 10 years. Tracie then moved to Alamo, Nevada and worked as a Home Health Nurse. She then moved on to work at Grover C. Dils Medical Center as a nurse, doing Emergency Department work, as well as acute care and long term care patients. She worked there for 13 years. She later started work as a Hospice Nurse and a Home Health Nurse. She is the nurse for KW Legacy Ranch and really loves working with the kids on the ranch, "I feel so lucky to work and see these kids lives changed."
Bekah Hatch
Office Assistant
Bekah has worked at KW Legacy since 2014. She worked as line staff for many years and now helps in the office.
Lorena Wright
Admissions Counselor, Assistant
Lorena started off as a line staff at KW, as well as working in the Office in the Spring of 2019. She saw how much good the Ranch is to students and families alike, and she wanted to help in any way she could. Before working at KW she was a teacher, a teacher's assistant and a tutor at various institutions and she homeschooled her 6 daughters for many years. She is fluent in Spanish, which is her first language, and was raised in both Mexico and various states of the US. She loves the Program and seeing so many people's lives transform into lives of genuine care, understanding and growth. She is a life-long learner and learning is one of her greatest joys. Another is her six beautiful and intelligent girls.
Ginger Whipple
Senior Staff
Ginger joined the KW team in 2013. She has worked side-by-side with the students as a direct care staff from the first day she arrived. She loves mentoring and training the students through the various projects that are provided by a ranch environment, and you will rarely see her sitting down. Ginger is always teaching the students through projects and household responsibilities and is known by all the students and staff as one of the best cooks on the ranch.
She has always enjoyed working with youth. Ginger coached volleyball at the local Pahranagat Valley High School for 36 years winning 19 state championships and was inducted into the NIAA Hall of Fame in 2019. She also served as a substitute teacher in the local school district and has worked with youth in various capacities for more than 40 years.
Ginger is an incredible mentor and teacher to the students at KW. She has been a consistent example to them for many years. Through all her years of working with youth in various capacities Ginger says, “This job with KW has been the most challenging and demanding yet the most rewarding of them all. I am passionate about this program, because I have seen it change so many lives for the better. It has changed mine in many ways as well. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of KW Legacy Ranch for so many years.”
Robert Peterson
Automotive
Robert has been with the Program since the very first day that it opened back in 2012. Robert started as a night staff and has served in many different capacities. "It's been the best job I've ever had. I enjoy it so much. I love working with the kids and the people I work with. It's a great place to work."She has always enjoyed working with youth. Ginger coached volleyball at the local Pahranagat Valley High School for 36 years winning 19 state championships and was inducted into the NIAA Hall of Fame in 2019. She also served as a substitute teacher in the local school district and has worked with youth in various capacities for more than 40 years.
Ginger is an incredible mentor and teacher to the students at KW. She has been a consistent example to them for many years. Through all her years of working with youth in various capacities Ginger says, “This job with KW has been the most challenging and demanding yet the most rewarding of them all. I am passionate about this program, because I have seen it change so many lives for the better. It has changed mine in many ways as well. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of KW Legacy Ranch for so many years.”