Douglas M. Leech has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and worked at Ernst & Young in Pittsburgh before returning to Morgantown, West Virginia and founding Ascension Recovery Services (Ascension RS). Through his struggles with addiction and subsequent recovery, Mr. Leech developed a passion for helping those suffering from the disease of addiction and set out to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across West Virginia and the country. Ascension RS is the national leader for developing comprehensive behavioral health systems that provide the highest quality clinical care with a sustainable business model.

Mr. Leech also founded West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL), a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) non-profit, operating recovery residences, job creation and reintegration programming, and a network of peer recovery coaches providing broad community support for SUD throughout West Virginia.

Through Mr. Leech’s work starting Ascension RS and growing it to be a nationally leading organization, he saw an opportunity to help scale and grow businesses across multiple sectors through collaboration and innovative partnerships. There was a big need for a company to help serve as the catalyst for this growth and to be a partner with other exciting and innovative, market disrupting, start-up companies.

Stephen Facella brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience across hospitality, real estate, and organizational development to his role as Chief Executive Officer of Ryker Douglas. A strategist recognized for turning complex organizations into high-performing, scalable business models, Facella leads the company’s national growth strategy and integration across healthcare, property development, behavioral health, sports, and entertainment ventures.

Before joining Ryker Douglas, Facella served as Director, Sales and Marketing Training for Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC), where he led the onboarding and development of more than 1,800 sales executives and managers across three global Marriott brands. Previously, as corporate Director, Sales Operations and Broker of Record for Wyndham Vacation Ownership, (now Travel + Leisure Co. NYSE: TNL), he oversaw sales operations for more than 90 sales offices and supported a network of over 4,500 employees across North America and Hawaii. During his tenure, he developed industry award winning and enterprise-wide training systems that strengthened organizational alignment and profitability.

Appointed by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Facella served as one of six appointed members of the Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force, providing oversight and recommendations on the allocation of the largest tourist tax fund in the United States. Facella was tasked with identifying opportunities to utilize these funds to enhance the quality of life for Orange County residents while improving the visitor experience that sustains the region’s economy.

For more than a decade, Facella served on the Board of Commonsense Childbirth, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing maternal health equity and community-based care models. Before leaving the board, he served as Board Chair, guiding governance and strategic initiatives during a period of national recognition for the organization. Under his tenure, Commonsense Childbirth’s founder was named a TIME Woman of the Year, honored as a CNN Hero, and received a transformational multi-million dollar unrestricted grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, among other awards.

Facella holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Florida and maintains both a Florida Real Estate Broker’s License and a California Real Estate License.

Christy Burns brings extensive executive experience in investor relations, project capitalization, and strategic marketing to her role as Vice President, Investor Relations & Capital Strategy of Ryker Douglas. A recognized strategist in raising and deploying capital, Burns develops and implements initiatives to engage existing and potential investors, achieve project-specific funding goals, and serve as a key liaison between investors and corporate leadership. She also leads the company’s marketing strategy for its projects and investment opportunities, ensuring alignment across corporate objectives and investor communications. 

Before joining Ryker Douglas, Burns held integral roles at Catalyst Capital Partners, Craig Davis Properties, and Grubb Properties, where she was a central contributor to fundraising and investor relations, helping drive the successful execution of complex capital projects and strategic growth initiatives. 

Burns earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a licensed North Carolina real estate broker with extensive experience in office and retail leasing.