Staff Bios

BA Degree in Psychology (University of Minnesota), Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling & Education, and MBA through Carlson School of Management. 15 years experience in recovery field.

Kristine Kiltie                                                         

Finance Director/IT Director
Member of the PV Team since 2006
BS Degree in Finance. Over 25 years experience in Accounting/Finance (non-profit, for profit, and fundraising)

Lisa Buck

BA Degree in Human Services Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management. 20+ years experience in non-profits, development, fundraising and special events.

Kelly Karja, PHR, SHRM-CP

                                                                                                  Clinical Staff

Abdulaziz Adam, LPN

Aziz started nursing school at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, MN before transferring to Northland Technical College in East Grand Forks to obtain his LPN degree.  He has always found working in the mental health side of nursing fascinating and enjoyed many of his psych classes, learning about different diagnoses and the different aspects and circumstances that contribute to an individual's mental illness.  As his first nursing job, Aziz joined Progress Valley in September 2020 working at both the men's and women's residential programs.  He is currently working on getting his RN degree through Normandale Community College and then hopefully will work on obtaining his BSN degree.

Paula Anderson, MA, LADC, LPCC Candidate

Paula returned to school after a career in another field to obtain her Master's Degree in Addiction Studies from Hazelden-Betty Ford Graduate School.  She is currently a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the Outpatient Program at Progress Valley, working to complete her Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor certification.  Paula appreciates the challenges people in early recovery face, and enjoys working with them to support and sustain their journey.

Donna Bartow, RN

Donna received her RN degree from Inver Hills Community College in 2006. Since then she has worked in many fields and different positions including staff nurse, care manager and assistant director of nursing.  She is currently certified as a BLS and HIV instructor.  Donna enjoys working with all clients and helping them obtain a healthier lifestyle.

Gabe Bellows, LADC

Gabe completed his drug and alcohol counseling licensure requirements at Minnesota State University of Mankato. Gabe worked two years at the state treatment center located in St. Peter, Minnesota.  He is passionate about helping others and being part of the recovery community. 

Merilen Bikers, BS, LPCC, LADC

Merilen received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from Metropolitan State University.  She also completed her education at St. Mary's University obtaining her Master's Degree in Counseling and Psychological Services.

Michelle Bomberg, BA, LADC

Michelle completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin/Madison and completed her drug and alcohol counseling licensure requirements at Century College in White Bear Lake.  She started at Progress Valley as an intern in the Fall of 2019 and happily accepted the position of counselor upon graduation in the spring of 2020.  Michelle is transitioning her role of Special Education Teacher to Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

Renee Bowman, BA, LADC

Program Manager - PV2 Women's Program 
Renee has worked for Progress Valley since 2006 in various positions throughout the organization. She obtained her BA Degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and later returned to school to complete her alcohol and drug counseling licensure requirements. She enjoys working with all client populations and her counseling interests are in trauma and its relation to addiction.

Matt Elfmann, MA, LADC

Matt recently completed his Master's degree in Clinical Health Counseling at Adler Graduate School.  He also has a BS degree in Drug & Alcohol Counseling from Metropolitan State University and completed his clinical internships for both his BS and MA degrees at the Men's Program at Progress Valley and now works there as a counselor.  Matt is person in long-term sobriety and feels honored to have the opportunity to be working in the field helping other individuals with many of the same struggles he faced in early recovery.

Juli Grage, AS, LADC

Counselor
Juli completed her Associate Degree in Addiction Counseling in 2002 and has been helping women recover ever since. Juli began her work at Progress Valley Women’s Program in 2007. She loves working with the women and watching them grow and transform on their lifelong recovery journeys. Juli believes strongly that women can do anything they set their mind to.

Tim Gregory, MA, LPCC, LADC, CAMS-II 

Tim received his BA degree in Cognitive Psychology and in International Relations from the University of Minnesota at Morris.  He went on to complete his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University.  Tim completed his CD internships in Cedar Ridge in Stillwater and worked there for two years before joining the Progress Valley team in November 2016.  He brings a healthy knowledge and background of mindfulness and various behavior therapies, achieving his LPCC in November 2019. 

Jodie Haaland, BA, RN

Jodie is a recent RN graduate who also possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  She is continuing to work towards her Master’s Degree in Nursing at Bethel University.  Jodie has experience working in addiction medicine and has found it to be very rewarding. 

Jim Hall, AS, LADC

Men's Sober Housing Manager
Jim has worked for Progress Valley since 2009. He has been active as a chemical health specialist since 1995. His previous experience includes: 10 years with Ramsey/Regions Hospital (adolescent CD unit), 5 years with Human Services Incorporated developing and implementing a cognitive therapy based program in Washington County, and 12 years facilitating a process of change support group at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center.

Sue Kidd, MA, LADC

Sue completed her Master's degree in Integrated Behavioral Health at the University of Minnesota.  She also has a BS degree in Drug & Alcohol Counseling from Metropolitan State University.  Sue has over nine years of experience in the field including MAT, residential and outpatient with both men and women.  She feels strongly that mental health and chemical health go hand in hand and should be worked on together to have the most successful life of recovery.

Amber Michalski, MA, LPCC, LADC

Amber completed her Master's Degree from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and is currently a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.  She is certified to provide DBT and is a board approved LPCC supervisor.  Her ability to provide compassionate and individualized care has made her highly valued by her clients and colleagues.

Kim Miller-Marx, BA, LADC

Kim has worked at the PV Women’s Program since 2010. She obtained her BA Degree in Psychology with a minor in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She later returned to school to become an Addiction Counselor. Kim has worked with adolescents and thoroughly enjoys her work with women. Her counseling interests are in self-esteem and developing self-efficacy.

Dona Nicklay, BSN, RN

Dona attended school at St. Olaf College and obtained her BSN degree and her RN license.  She started working in the psychiatric field right of out of school and has worked in many areas including child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, chemical dependency and crisis units.  Dona joined the PV team in June of 2019 and works at the Women's Program.  She has been working as a nurse for more than 30 years and still loves her job as a nurse.

Renee O'Donnell, ADC-T

Gillian Pearson, BA, LADC

Gillian graduated in 1995 with a BA in Sociology in her home city of Cork, Ireland.  She then completed her AS degree in Addiction Counseling at Century College in 2017 and then completed her clinical internship at Cedar Ridge Men's MICD program in Stillwater.  Gillian has 6 years of sobriety and has previously worked at a women's residential facility as a CD Tech.  She feels extremely fortunate and grateful to be able to work with clients in early recovery and to watch as they learn how to live life sober and achieve their goals and dreams.

Kyle Sheeley, ADC-T

Kyle is a Progress Valley alumnus graduating in 2013 from the PV1 Men's Program in Minneapolis.  Kyle worked as a CD Tech with Glen Creek Lodge, part of River Ridge Treatment Center, for 4 years.  He recently completed his Associates degree in Addiction Counseling from MCTC in May 2019 following two internships with Progress Valley.  Kyle believes in the work that is done at Progress Valley and is excited to help the clients with their individual journeys through recovery.                                     

Tanya Tice, BA, LADC

Tanya received her BA Degree in Psychology from Argosy University.  she began her career as a LADC at Progress Valley in 2007 and prior to completing college Tanya worked as a House Manager at the PV Women's Program.  She worked 3 years at the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) as a Senior Chemical Health Counselor and currently enjoys her work at PV's Recovery Center for Men.  Tanya most appreciates watching the men and women we serve be successful in their life of recovery.

Lisa Vait, BA, LADC

Lisa received her BA degree in psychology from Crown College and completed her Alcohol and Drug Counseling Licensure requirements at Masabi Range Community & Technical College.  She has a passion for helping others. 

Angel Wagner, LADC

Angel has been a LADC since 2008 and just joined the PV Team in December 2015.  She is experienced in providing gender-specific trauma informed services through the whole continuum of care for clients.  Her passion is empowering women and helping them heal and recover.  She is trained in DBT and loves working with positive psychology.

Progress Valley is a non-profit agency offering men’s and women’s chemical dependency treatment services with locations in Minneapolis and Richfield, Minnesota. Our licensed Minnesota alcohol & drug rehab programs, counselors and sober housing services provide addiction and alcoholism treatment in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Twin Cities metro area, including Richfield, Edina, Bloomington, Golden Valley, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Maplewood, Woodbury, as well as Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Scott County, Carver County, Anoka County, rural Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and more. We treat alcohol and drug addiction to meth, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs. We specialize in the treatment of adult men and women with alcohol and drug abuse or dependency and mental health problems.