Meet Our Team | PARClifenow

Meet the Team

As Founder, It all boils down to offering research based, neuroaffirming therapy supported by safe, high-quality social activities in natural environments, guided by highly qualified specialists.

At the end of the day, everybody should be able to live their best lives in a supportive community surrounded by friends and PARClife is a great place to achieve this!

Mari MacFarland - Director_edited_edited

Mari MacFarland, M.Ed, PhD,

BCBA-D, LBA

Founder

Mari is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, with a Ph.D. in Special Education focusing on Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. Throughout her career as a professional educator, Dr. MacFarland has served Metro-Detroit and Mid-Michigan as a public school Administrator, Curriculum Coach, Special Education Teacher Consultant, General Education Teacher of Secondary English, Humanities, and Coordinator of the Special Education Program at Saginaw Valley State University.

Dr. MacFarland is now a Founder/Director of PARClife, combining evidence-based practices like video-based and peer-mediated instruction to enhance social competence and promote post-secondary success for learners attending PARClife.

"My passion is improving quality of life and adult outcomes for learners ages 11 and up. This means promoting growth that translates to use in everyday life. At PARClife we’re having fun and making friends, all while working toward the generalization of learned skills to “real-life” settings (e.g., home, grocery store, school, church). We care deeply about the families of our learners and ensuring that parents, siblings, peers, and everyone who loves our learners has a system of support. When PARClife learners and their families experience a positive change it gives them hope and that is everything."

Will MacFarland

President

Will holds a Master’s degree in Management from Walsh College, and is a multi-disciplinary coach, mentor, and results-driven leader with an emphasis on people and processes.

As a multi-unit Director of Operations for over 15 years at Macy's Inc., his focus was strategic leadership within this highly competitive and customer-focused environment. Will was recognized as an innovator with a proven track record of talent and performance improvement.

Will is currently the President of MacFarland Group Inc. and the Director of Operations for PARClife.

He is passionate about people-focused leadership, development, accountability, mentorship, profit, and loss analysis, and planning.

"I am extremely proud and excited about the innovative approach we are taking at PARClife, and I am consistently amazed by the impact of this program on our community and clients."

Shaniqua Harris, BS

Administrative Coordinator

With a Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Michigan and a strong background in organizational management, Shaniqua “Shani” Harris is the cornerstone of our administrative team.

Shani brings a dynamic mix of efficiency, empathy, and expertise to PARClife. Her passion for creating a supportive and well-organized environment ensures that both staff and clients receive the best care and attention.

Outside of work, Shani enjoys staying active through various sports and is dedicated to lifelong learning and community engagement.

Rita Douglas, MT-BC, RBT

Rita Douglas, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist who completed a Second Bachelor's Degree at Eastern Michigan University. A lifelong musician playing guitar, piano, and hammered dulcimer, Rita combines her love and passion for helping others while working in the physical rehabilitation field with new therapeutic skills acquired studying music therapy. Rita completed clinical training at DMC's Children's Hospital of Michigan and interned at Building Bridges Pediatric Therapy Center. She advocates for people with autism through grassroots efforts to promote inclusion and access to therapies through legislation. Rita practices a humanistic philosophy of care, incorporating the family and other natural support systems.

Sue Brams

Administrative Specialist

Sue, a graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield Connecticut, comes to us with over 40 years of success in high-level fast-paced executive administrative experience in national, state, and local government environment. Having worked many years serving constituents on all levels, Sue brings the term “customer service” to a new level, making sure that parents/caregivers and learners get all the information they need and setting up appointments as necessary for program managers and caregivers to keep everyone on track. Sue’s years of community experience also assists PARClife with finding new avenues in the community to expose our learners to everyday life activities, as well as bringing PARClife to the forefront in our community. She is eager to contribute to the daily successes of PARClife's staff and learners. Outside of work, Sue enjoys being a mother and grandmother and has spent many years volunteering in both academic and community settings.

Our Qualified Clinicians & Behavior Technicians

Dedication. Expertise. Compassion.

A place of learning for all, PARClife is a Fieldwork, Supervision, and Research Site where students preparing to become teachers, behavior analysts, psychologists, social workers, recreation therapists, music therapists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and more can complete their fieldwork, practicum, and supervision hours and explore research opportunities for the benefit of learners with developmental disabilities.