Meet Our Team | PARClifenow

Meet the Team

As Founder,

it all boils down to offering safe, creative, quality social activities guided by

highly qualified specialists.

At the end of the day, everybody needs a friend

and PARClife is a great place to find one!

Mari MacFarland - Director_edited_edited

Mari MacFarland, M.Ed, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Vice-President

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."

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Virginia Masson - The Peace Muse

Creative/Communications Director

Virginia is an Artist, Certified Intentional Creativity Teacher & Coach, and Grief Recovery Counselor working with adults and older children using creativity to access emotions, healing, and their dreams for the future. She manages and designs the PARClife Arts programs as well as managing brand image and communications for PARClife.

"When people work with me or experience the art I've created, I want their hearts to shift and open wider. I want them to feel connected to others, to the planet and all of its inhabitants, and to slow down and notice the miracles that surround them every day.

I am here to provide opportunities for people to realize that becoming whole and sharing their beautiful, sacred self is their gift to this world.

But most of all I want them to realize

that their love is limitless.

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. She truly believes in the power of music to change client's lives in an impactful way, helping them reach individual goals and develop to their fullest potential. Currently, Rita provides music therapy group sessions at PARClife for tweens/teens and young adults on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. In addition, Rita welcomes new parents and shares her experiences and perspective about PARClife as a member of the intake team.

Johanna Mabry, LMSW, ATR

Johanna, is a clinical social worker and art therapist. Johanna brings over twenty-five years of clinical experience working with children, teens, and adults through individual, couples, family, and group therapeutic services in various settings. Johanna is a certified school social worker who specializes in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), workplace interpersonal and social skills coaching, parent/caregiver support, and provides training and coaching for educators on evidence-based, data-driven best practices focusing on social/emotional learning, neurodiversity, and disability inclusion. Johanna’s work is enriched by her lived experiences, raising and supporting her autistic teen and two older adult children.

Aubry Dodge, MS, BCBA, LBA (she/her)

Aubry Dodge is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with autistic individuals, specializing in helping to eliminate barriers and teaching communication since 2001. Aubry is passionate about preparing children to live the life they want to live by teaching them skills for self-advocacy and self-determination in an assent-based and neurodiversity-affirming way. She believes connection is the foundation and that goals should be culturally appropriate, individualized, and based on the values of the individual and their family.

Aubry is also an Independent Contractor with the Autism Alliance of Michigan, working to educate dental providers about autism and to teach strategies for assent-based and effective oral health care.

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.

Early Learners Program Manager

Adam McElyea, BCBA

To learn more about Adam and the Early Learner's Program click below.

Early Learners

Teens & Tweens Program Manager

Ellie MacFarland

To learn more about Ellie and the Teens & Tweens Program click below

Teens & Tweens

Young Adjults Program Manager

Joe MacFarland BA, RBT

To learm more about Joe and the Young Adult Program, click below.

Young Adults

Ally Cirocco: Lead Registered Behavior Technician
Chris Iljas: Registered Behavior Technician
Addison Thakady: Behavior Technician
Alex Brandt: Registered Behavior Technician
Chris Douglas: Registered Behavior Technician
Tess O'Donnell: Volunteer