Meet Our Team | PARClifenow

Meet the Team

As Founders, Co-Directors, and long-time friends, we tend to agree on a lot of things, and for us,

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 PARC Life is a great place to find one!

Founder/Director

Mari MacFarland

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."

Co-Founder/Director of Parent Coaching & BCBA/BCaBA Supervision

Megan McGarrow (Cox)

Megan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Certified School Psychologist with over 20 years in education and specializing in working with clients with autism spectrum disorder. She works with children, adolescents, and their families around behavior and social communication challenges. In addition to working in the school setting as a behavior specialist, Megan also has a private practice in downtown Plymouth and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Saginaw Valley State University.. She is also a co-clinical director of PARC Life providing intensive summer programming for adolescents and young adults using ABA and evidenced-based interventions.

My passion is helping kids with social-communication challenges learn how to achieve social success, manage their emotions, and lead productive lives. Celebrating client successes is the reason why I love my work!

Vice President of Operations

Will MacFarland

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."

Creative/Communications Director

Virginia Masson - The Peace Muse

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

Rita Douglas

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.

Rob Chrusciel

Rob is a Registered Yoga Teacher trained at Yandra Yoga Institute, a Usui Reiki Master, and a graduate of the University of Michigan.

He's had a lifelong passion for health & wellness, with over a decade of success in integrative medicine with Botsford/Beaumont Oncology Center.

As PARClife's PACT Co-Facilitator, Register Yoga Teacher, and Reiki Master, Rob shares modalities such as Yoga, Reiki, and Meditation, along with the power of positive thinking with us because he believes that they are outstanding tools for harnessing the infinite power of happiness and spiritual well-being.

Rob has implemented these ancient wellness techniques into his own life with amazing results.

For more information you can contact Rob at robchrusciel@gmail.com.

Our Qualified Professionals & 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.

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Abby Bass: Behavior Technician
Ally Cirocco: Behavior Technician
Alex Brandt: Behavior Technician
Chris Douglas: Behavior Technician
Jonathan Wylie: Peer Mentor