Our mission is to empower people to improve their lives
Assessments
2430 Nicollet Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Give us a Call
612-871-7443
Send us an Email
info@parktx.com
Opening Hours
Mon - Friday: 7AM - 4PM

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Category: Managers

Susan Gjersvik, RN, BSN, PHN

Susan received her BSN from Augustana University and has worked in the field since 1995. She comes to Park Avenue with a wealth of experience including working as a Heart Transplant Coordinator at Abbott Northwestern and as an RN in the HCMC medical system and Catholic Charities. Susan’s professional goal is to expand her knowledge in mental health and addiction medicine and to become a certified Addictions RN. She chose to work in this field as she is passionate about Park Avenue Center’s Core Values and assisting clients in meeting their goals. In her free time, Susan volunteers with Loaves and Fishes and howls with her hound dog and cuddles with her kitty.

Lonnie Waldron

Lonnie joined Park Avenue Center with over 25 years of experience working in the maintenance field.  He most recently worked as a Maintenance Manager with the Mora Housing Authority.  He chose to work in the maintenance field because he is passionate about helping others and loves to do something different every day.  As a manager,  his goal is to grow his team and their skillset and to organize and maintain all of Park Avenue’s properties.  In his free time, Lonnie enjoys fishing, traveling, and building projects.

Mary Race

Mary worked previously as a Medicare Billing Specialist with Healtheast and joined Park Avenue’s Billing Team in 2017. With nearly a decade of experience working with clients struggling with homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health, Mary is passionate about making sure clients are able to get the best possible care in order to secure their future. She enjoys helping others and is proud that she can make a difference through her work. She prides herself on her open-door policy and her willingness to pitch in wherever she is needed throughout the company. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with family, fishing, baking, and going to comedy shows.

Allison Du Lac-Johnson, MPS, LADC

Allison attended the University of Minnesota where she earned a BA degree and her Master’s in Integrated Behavioral Health. She completed her internship at Park Avenue Center and joined our Intake Team. Allison comes to us with 13 years of experience working as a program supervisor with individuals with mental, chemical, and behavioral health concerns. She was inspired to work in this field after seeing the lack of adequate services for individuals in her care and is striving towards being part of the solution. Her professional goal is to continue her education and become licensed as an LPCC. In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time with her partner and pets, reading a good book filled with mystery and suspense, and discovering new experiences through travel.

James Wynne, LADC

Jim joins Park Avenue as the Clinical Supervisor for our Intake Team. Jim has been working in the field since 1989 and has previously served in supervisory roles with other treatment centers and the MN-DOC. He was inspired to work in this field due to his commitment to recovery and his personal experiences. He is passionate about working with those that are disenfranchised and institutionalized and has extensive experience working with adolescents, the homeless, and both men and women in corrections. He brings with him to Park Avenue a dedication to providing a high level of client care, customer service and clinical leadership.

Caroline Tirimba, RN-BSN, PHN

Caroline has been actively involved within the health care field for several years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bemidji State University where she acquired her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an emphasis on public health and nursing leadership. She developed a love for mental health while attending nursing school and completed a preceptorship program at the biggest mental health institute in the neighboring state of Iowa. She has previous experience working with individuals who have chemical dependency, substance abuse and mental health concerns within the Ramsey County Social Services network. She has a passion for working with individuals who are under privileged and as a result are often neglected by the health care system. Caroline values ethical standards in the work place and has been a member of Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), an affiliation of National Nurses United (NNA), where she has had the opportunity to advocate for quality patient care and higher standards of ethical practices within the health care system. Her greatest passion is helping others and giving back to the community. She is active within her own community to bring awareness to wellness, mental health and substance abuse. Originally coming from East Africa, she is also involved with various organizations that are tailored at bringing educational resources to her native country Kenya, and other surrounding countries in Africa.

Nichole Williams, BS, LADC

Nicky attended Metropolitan State University where she earned a BS degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling.  She has been active in the chemical dependency field since 2014 and her previous experience, prior to accepting the position at Park Avenue, includes working as a Counselor with Wayside Recovery Center and the Anthony Louis Care Center.  Nicky considers her dedication in advocating for her clients to be her biggest strength and is passionate about empowering her clients to change their lives.  In her free time, she enjoys travel and reading.

Shira Charpentier, BSN-RN, PHN, FCN

Shira graduated with her BSN-RN degree from the University of Rochester and has been active in the field since 2001. She has previous experience working with substance abuse, mental health, foster care, and both geriatric and pediatric patients. She has most recently worked as the Director of Nursing for Options Residential and as a Case Manager for Brightstar Care. She considers her greatest strength to be her dedication, as a nurse, to caring about the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of each person she works with. She was inspired to work in this field because she has witnessed the effects of drugs and alcohol on friends and family and wants to help in making a difference in the lives of others.

Jennifer Woods, BS, LADC

Jennifer Woods is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from Metro State University.  She’s been in the field since 2006 and has spent the bulk of her career in the hospital system with Allina Health working within her strengths of intake and assessments.  Jennifer is passionate about working in treatment and helping clients get the help that they deserve the way that it was done for her.

Shilpa Patel, MA, LPCC

Shilpa completed her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas.  She has returned to work with Park Avenue Center as a Mental Health Supervisor to support our clinicians’ growth and help them develop an understanding of self as a therapist and expand their clinical knowledge.  She is passionate about the value and training process of our young professionals in the field, as well as working with our clients to assist and support them in overcoming challenges and painful obstacles in life.  Shilpa has specialized in working with at-risk children, adolescents, and their families.  One of her previous positions was providing services as a psychotherapist at Project Pathfinder where she provided therapy for adolescents in an outpatient and correctional setting and children facing sexual and physical victimization issues.  She considers her strengths to be compassion and the belief in our work and the ability to make a difference, no matter how small or large.