Staff Bios

Kristine Peltier                                                           

Finance Director
Member of PV team since 2006
BS Degree in Finance. 20 years experience in Accounting/Finance (non-profit, for profit, and fundraising)

Lisa Buck

BA Degree in Human Services Administration with focus on Nonprofit Management. 18+ years experience in non-profits, development, fundraising and special events.

Sue Killeen

Clinical Staff

Aaryn Anderson, LPN

Aaryn received her AS Degree from St. Paul College in 2014 and started working in the CD field.  She is currently attending Metropolitan State University for her BA degree in Psychology.  Aaryn joined Progress Valley on August of 2016 and enjoys seeing the change in clients over time from the first start their journey of sobriety through their continuation of the treatment process.

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, LADC

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

Renee Bowman, BA, LADC

Program Manager
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.

Mona Carpenter, AS, LADC

Mona obtained her Associate Degree in Addiction Counseling in 2007. She worked with both men and women at an Outpatient facility from 2007 to 2013. Mona joined Progress Valley in January of 2014. Mona enjoys working with women in recovery and to see them regain their self-esteem. As the Continuing Care Counselor Mona gets to enjoy seeing women transition back to healthy independent women.

Dina Darcy, CASAC

Dina received her Certified Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor certificate in New York in 2008 from The Outreach Training Institue.  Dina managed a sober house for Seafield Resources and was also a counselor at Seafield Center in West Hampton Beach in Long Island, NY.  Dina started her work at Progress Valley in August 2016 as a CD Tech and is now the Intake Specialist for both men's programs. 

Angie DeLisi, BS, LADC

Angie completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Metropolitan State University majoring in Drug & Alcohol Counseling. Angie completed her internships at Hazelden in Saint Paul, and Specialized Treatment Services in Minneapolis. Angie prefers to work with women who have experienced trauma and addiction. Angie practices many healing modalities including health realization and positive psychology.

Matt Elfmann, BS, LADC

Matt completed his BS Degree in Drug & Alcohol Counseling at Metropolitan State University.  Matt also completed his clinical internship at Progress Valley's Men's Program and now works there as a counselor.  Matt has eight years of 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.

Bre Erickson, MA, LADC, LPCC Licensing Candidate

Bre received her BA in Psychology from Winona State University.  She went on to complete her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University.  Bre completed her MI/CD practicum at Cedar Ridge in Stillwater, where she then worked as a counselor.  Bre also worked as a Youth and Family Therapist in Nashville, TN prior to moving back to Minnesota and joining the team at Progress Valley.  Bre's primary interest is with CBT skills and co-occuring disorders.

Maggie Erickson, MS, LADC, LPCC 

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.

Abbie Graton, RN

Nurse 
Abbie received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from St. Catherine's University.  She joined Progress Valley in February 2015.  Prior to her association with Progress Valley she provided in-home nursing care to ill and disabled children.  Abbie currently oversees medical issues and supports client helath for the organization.  She finds fulfillment in caring for the men and women who come through our program and celebrating their progress in recovery.

Tim Gregory, MA, LADC, LPCC Licensing Candidate

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 Masters 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 as he works towards his LPCC. 

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.

E. Rachel Holtzer, MA, LPCC 

Rachel received her degree in clincal psychology from the Adler Graduate School.  She brings 25 years of teaching, counseling and creative problem solving experience to helping people develop the skills they need to solve the problems that keep them from reaching their goals and feeling satisfied with their lives.  Ms. Holtzer is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with training in DBT, Co-occurring Disorders and Positive Discipline Parent Education.  Rachel has a passion for helping clients who feel stuck!

Andrew Howell, LADC

Andrew completed his education for his Drug & Alcohol Counseling License from Minneapolis Community & Technical College in 2017.  Andrew was an intern at Progress Valley in the fall of 2016 and is excited to now be working at PV as a counselor.  Andrew believes that recovery is a dynamic and evolving process that incorporates structure, humor, open mindedness and adventure.  Andrew is active in the recovery community and enjoys helping others achieve their goals and make positive changes.

Vanessa Kissinger, BS, LADC

Vocational Counselor
Vanessa has been involved with Progress Valley since 2013 starting as an intern and working as a house manager at the women's program.  Vanessa completed her internships at PV at both the women's and men's programs.  Vanessa completed her BS degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling through Metropolitan State University and joined the clinical team at the PV Men's program in June 2014.  She finds nothing more rewarding than watching a client realize their full potential with sobriety on their side. 

Kim Miller-Marx, BA, LADC

Intake Specialist
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.

Jessie O'Banion, RN

Jessie has worked as an LPN since 1996.  Her last job, prior to coming to PV, was working full-time at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Hastings.  Jessie also attended school full-time while working and graduated with her RN degree from Rasmussen College in March of 2017.  Jessie recently started working at Progress Valley and feels she has come full circle as she is also an alumnus of PV.  She is very excited to be working at PV and already feels like part of the team.

Tanya Olson, 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.

Gillian Pearson, 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 progam 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.

Glen Robinson, LADC

Glen went to school in 2003 for Addictions Counseling and worked as a LADC at Create, Inc. for 10-1/2 years and then joined the Progress Valley team in October 2016.  Being in the recovery community himself, he believes in doing work that gives back to others who are struggling with substance use disorders.  Glen wants to show by example that there is hope for living a healthy sober lifestyle.

Charles Schutt, MA, LADC, LPCC Licensing Candidate

Charlie received his BS Degree in Psychology at North Dakota State University and completed his MA degree in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University-Twin Cities.  He is currently working toward attaining his LPCC. Charlie favors a counseling style that is based in CBT and behaviorism and is heavily influenced by person-centered techniques.  He finds the most fulfilment in teaching clients about addiction and assisting them to change their lives by building insight.

Christin Seirup, MA, LPCC

Christin began her association with Progress Valley in the spring of 2013.  She received her BA degree in Child/Developmental Psychology in 1990 from the U of MN. Christin completed her MA degree in Counseling and Psychological Services in 2006 through St. Mary's U of MN and became a licensed LPCC in 2010. She is passionate about working in mental health and is trained in CBT, DBT and EMDR. 

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.