Who we are
Our Story
Pathroot was created for the families trying to support someone through treatment — and for the programs that want to support those families but don’t have the time, staff, or tools to do it consistently.
Treatment happens in the program.
Recovery is strengthened by what happens at home
Where Pathroot comes from
Pathroot began with lived experience. For years, our CEO, Carolyn Bradfield, watched her daughter move in and out of treatment. Each discharge brought the same question families know too well: What are we supposed to do now?
There was no clear plan, no structured guidance, and no practical way for the family to stay aligned with treatment once care moved back home.
Later, Carolyn founded a treatment program in North Carolina and built family support into the model from the beginning. Families were oriented, educated, and guided on what treatment was designed to do, what their role should be, and what came next.
In four years, the program had one early discharge.
That experience became the foundation for Pathroot: a family support model built from both sides of treatment — as a parent who needed guidance, and as a provider who saw what changed when families were included from day one.
"For years, we cycled through treatment with our daughter and left each discharge unsure how to help. Pathroot was built so families have guidance from the start — not just on family day, and not only after things begin to fall apart."
Carolyn Bradfield
CEO, Pathroot
The people behind Pathroot
Pathroot is led by a team that has built companies, operated treatment programs, scaled enterprise technology, and experienced the family side of addiction firsthand.
Our Team
Carolyn Bradfield
CEO
Brent Palmer
CMO
Bruce Ahern
Board Chairman
Mike Guardalabene
CTO
Advisors
Rick Strobridge
Advisor
Dr. Sandy Newes
Advisor
Dr. Mary Flora
Advisor
Gerard Szatvanyi
Advisor
Rick Delgiorno
Advisor
Curt Allen
Advisor
Mike Webb
Advisor
Bob Pollack
Advisor
