Meet Our Team
Cheryl Vaughn
Co-Founder
Cheryl co-founded Horizon Recovery Living after experiencing profound loss and transformation. Once a real estate agent guiding families to new chapters, she now leans into a different kind of home—one built from grief, gratitude, and a fierce commitment to heal others touched by addiction. The death of her beloved son reshaped her world, but it did not break her. Instead, it opened a quiet, intimate door to vulnerability and empathy. Today, Cheryl stands at the heart of Horizon Recovery, inviting families to find a harbor where healing can begin. Her journey from real estate to sober living is less a career change than a calling—a desire to rebuild homes through understanding, accountability, and grace.
Marlon Ahadpour
Co-Founder
Marlon co-founded Horizon Recovery Living with a vision to create a transformative sober living environment in Dubai. Embarking on the journey of sober living and embracing the 12-step program has been one of the most transformative paths he has walked. The process taught him humility, resilience, and the power of honest connection. Today, Marlon is deeply grateful for the clarity, support, and hope he has found, and he is committed to sharing this gift with the Dubai community—so others can experience the same sense of belonging, strength, and renewal.
Cisco Garcia
Recovery House Manager
Cisco Garcia is an experienced mentor in sober living environments, overseeing residential facilities and coordinating house staff to provide supportive, structured care. He reviews program expectations and house rules with all new residents to ensure compliance, assists in monitoring the property to prevent damage or theft, and supports routine maintenance. Cisco prioritizes building strong relationships, maintaining a positive and accountable culture, facilitating group discussions, and communicating in a culturally sensitive manner to support a diverse client population while guiding residents in developing essential daily sober life skills.
Millie Smith-Dean
Recovery Social Worker
Millie is a compassionate addiction-focused clinician who believes deeply in the power of connection, dignity, and hope. She works alongside individuals as they navigate recovery, meeting them where they are and honouring their lived experiences without judgment. Millie's approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in the belief that healing is not linear and that every person deserves support that is respectful, dignifying, and empowering. She is especially passionate about helping people reconnect with their strengths, rebuild trust in themselves, and move toward sustainable, meaningful recovery. Millie believes that those in recovery heal through community, and that redemption and freedom is found through recovery.
Millie provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive clinical support through case management, individual support planning, and compassionate addiction-focused counseling. As a Licensed Social Worker and Clinical Addictions Counselor, Millie helps residents reconnect with their strengths and move toward sustainable recovery.
Dr. Ahmed Nour
Medical Director
Dr. Ahmed is a DHA-licensed physician with over 7 years of clinical experience, specializing in medical detoxification and withdrawal management. He has strong expertise in the medical assessment, stabilization, and monitoring of patients in rehabilitation settings, ensuring safe and effective detox protocols. He previously served as a Senior Emergency Doctor at National Ribat University Hospital, Sudan. Dr. Ahmed is an Arabic-speaking physician from Khartoum, Sudan, committed to compassionate, recovery-oriented care.
Dr. Ahmed Nour ensures safe and effective medical detoxification and withdrawal management. With over 7 years of clinical experience and DHA licensing, Dr. Ahmed provides expert medical assessment, stabilization, and monitoring throughout the recovery process.
Dr. Muttaman Adam
Specialist Psychiatrist
Dr. Muttaman Adam is a Specialist Psychiatrist with extensive experience in addiction recovery and mental health rehabilitation across inpatient and outpatient settings. His clinical work centers on the treatment of substance use disorders, with a strong focus on medically supervised detoxification, relapse prevention, and long-term recovery planning. He integrates evidence-based pharmacological treatments with psychosocial and therapeutic interventions, emphasizing individualized care, family involvement, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation models. Dr. Muttaman is committed to supporting patients through sustainable recovery, restoring functional capacity, and promoting lasting psychological and social well-being.
Dr. Muttaman Adam brings extensive expertise in addiction psychiatry and mental health rehabilitation. He integrates evidence-based pharmacological treatments with psychosocial interventions, focusing on sustainable recovery, relapse prevention, and long-term psychological well-being.
Sandra Pappas
Career Coach
Sandra is a Dubai-based career coach who supports individuals in rebuilding structure, confidence, and employability following periods of disruption or transition. Her work focuses on helping clients take realistic, manageable steps toward re-entering the workforce and developing sustainable career direction. With a background in recruitment, managing the full lifecycle for global and local organizations across sectors including Management Consulting, FMCG, Financial Services, Government, Defence, and Construction, she brings clear understanding of employer expectations. Sandra holds a Master's degree in Career Development and has been a member of the UK Career Development Institute (CDI) since 2021. Her approach is supportive and evidence-based, with emphasis on building routine, accountability, and confidence over time. She provides CV review and restructuring, job search planning and strategy, interview preparation, LinkedIn profile optimization, and support with career exploration during re-entry.
Omran Farzat
Recovery Chef & Nutritional Consultant
Omran believes that nourishment for the mind and body are not separate; when we honor our physical health with steady nourishment, we heal the inner chapters of our story. In sober living, every mindful bite and every compassionate conversation becomes a step toward the life you were meant to live. He specializes in meal planning and preparation for recovery environments, preparing daily menus (three meals plus snacks) using fresh, seasonal ingredients, ensuring variety and nutritional balance. Omran accommodates specific dietary requirements, including diabetes, allergies, gluten-free, low-sodium, vegetarian, Halal, and texture-modified diets. He prioritizes nutrition knowledge to support mood, energy, and reduce cravings, understanding that proper nutrition is essential to successful recovery and long-term well-being.