About Us

The Great Lakes ROTA-RC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide training and technical assistance (TA) to the rural communities of Health and Human Services Region 5:  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Collaboratively, we develop and strengthen community capacity to prevent, treat, and support recovery for opioid use disorder and other mental health and substance use disorders, using a whole family/whole community approach to provide culturally appropriate educational opportunities. Through Cooperative Extension state programs, we employ evidence-based/emerging practices and provide virtual and/or on-demand education for rural community members on mental health and substance use disorders in the workplace, substance use education, and other relevant topics in mental health and substance use disorders.

Video thumbnail for "Meet the Great Lakes Regional Center"

Great Lakes ROTA-RC Team

Regional Center Staff

Headshot of Jen Park-Mroch

Program Director

Headshot of Randy Brown

Co-Program Director

Headshot of Amanda Coorough

Program Manager

Headshot of Jenna Klink

Evaluation Specialist

Headshot of Lauren Doyle

Project Assistant

Headshot of Mike Blaser

WI Project Consultant

State Project Staff

Meet the staff that support the ROTA-R offices in each of our five grant supporting Extension Universities within Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.

Headshot of Chelsey Byers

IL State Project Director

Headshot of Robin Ridgely

IL State Project Family Life Educator

Headshot of Stephanie Woodcox

IN State Project Director

Headshot of Tessa Garrow

IN Behavioral Health Specialist

Headshot of Kea Norrell-Aitch

MI State Project Director

Headshot of Mary Jo Katras

MN State Project Director

Headshot of Michael Betz

OH State Project Director

Headshot of Kelly Cabral

OH State Project Co-Director

State Partners

A river cuts through a field of purple, white, and yellow wildflowers.

ILLINOIS

The Illinois project is lead by Chelsea Byers and Robin Ridgely of the University of Illinois. (Former state director Anne Silvas)

A small lake with fallen trees flows into a river. A red covered bridge connects wooded shores in the background.
Trees with green, yellow, orange, and brown leaves form a tunnel over a paved roadway.

Michigan

Two rows of trees losing their yellowing leaves line a path littered with orange fallen leaves.

Minnesota

A harvested yellow field extends back into green hills and trees against a blue cloudy sky.
Two geese lead their goslings along a river that snakes back through marshy embankments.

Wisconsin

Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board is comprised of professionals with first and second hand lived experience that oversee and support the work of the ROTA-R grant. They help us align our activities with our stated goals and we elevate the work they do in the community at a local level, to highlight them as champions in rural communities in the areas of prevention, recovery and harm reduction.

Headshot of Melissa Aaron

Melissa Aaron, MSW, LSW

Clinical Coordinator, Substance Use Services, Centerstone

ILLINOIS REPRESENTATIVE

Cynthia Baade, C.P.R.S.R.

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Project Clean Start

MINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE

Headshot of Cynthia Baade holding a bouquet of flowers in front of her chest and neck
Headshot of Megan Barnett

Megan Barnett, PS, CHES

Manager, Community Health

WISCONSIN REPRESENTATIVE

Charmin Gabbard, BS, CADAC II

Executive Director

INDIANA REPRESENTATIVE

Headshot of Charmin Gabbard
Headshot of Tory Werth

Tory Werth, LMSW, CAADC, CCS-DP, RCP

Clinical Therapist, Recovery Coach, Trainer

MICHIGAN REPRESENTATIVE

Jeanne Pulvermacher, MS

Outreach Program Director, CHESS

GREAT LAKES TTC PARTNER

Headshot of Jeanne Pulvermacher
Headshot of Beth Weinstock

Beth Weinstock, M.D.

Founder, BirdieLight

OHIO REPRESENTATIVE

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