ARCA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Behavioral Health and Therapist With Assisted Recovery Center of America
Aaron Laxton is currently a Director of Behavioral Health and Therapist with Assisted Recovery Center of America. He is a graduate of the Saint Louis University, School of Social Work, where he received his Master of Social Work with an emphasis on Community and Organizations. He is a licensed Master of Social Work in the State of Missouri. Aaron has worked in the social services for more than a decade in the St. Louis metropolitan area including projects ranging from homeless services, harm reduction, transitional living, and VA specific programs. Prior to his current role, Aaron was the Director of Street Outreach on the Statewide Opiate Response grant in the St. Louis region. Aaron is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Saint Louis University focusing on addiction treatment and trauma.
Job Titles:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Alecia Brewer, Family Nurse Practitioner: I went to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville for my master's degree. Before that, I was a nurse for 6 years with Barnes Jewish Hospital system. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barnes Jewish College - Goldfarb School of Nursing. I also have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a focus in International Business and a minor in Marketing from St. Louis University. However, after a few years of working in the business world in St. Louis and overseas, I made the change to nursing when I realized it was what I really wanted to do. At ARCA, I really try to focus on getting to know the client and what motivates them. I try to work with them on identifying the right treatment plan for them so that they can find success in recovery. I always position myself as a support person, and that I am here to help them in their decision to obtain and maintain sobriety. I expect effort from each client; only they can achieve a recovered lifestyle if they make the necessary actions to align with their plan. I expect honesty, determination, and transparency at each appointment. I can only help when I know that the client is doing their best. I always look forward to celebrating with clients when they achieve their goals!
Education:
Masters of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Barnes Jewish College - Goldfarb School of Nursing
Bachelors of Science in Business Administration specializing in International Business and minor in Marketing from St. Louis University
Having personally experienced the ravages of addiction and the gifts of recovery, Alex seeks to instill in every patient the hope that they too can overcome their challenges and live a happier, more fulfilling life. Alex is a Case Manager and Community Support, Specialist. He graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Missouri St. Louis, worked in neurorehabilitation and psychiatric research and has been in the field of recovery since 2015.
Education:
BA Psychology, University of Missouri St. Louis
Amanda is a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder. She has spent most of her time in recovery working in the St. Louis area in harm reduction, recovery supportive housing and now in a treatment setting with ARCA since October 2020. Her personal life experiences allow her to work to meet people where they are at and support all paths to recovery while promoting safety and eliminating stigma and disparities surrounding substance use and substance use treatment.
Education:
QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, July 2019
Peer Support Supervision Training, June 2020
Mental Health First Aid, January 2021
Amanda Hartsell has worked in the Mental Health field since 2001 and the Substance Abuse field since 2009. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1999 at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. She worked at an inpatient psychiatric hospital with children and adolescents until she earned her Nursing Degree in 2009 at St. Charles Community College. After graduating as an RN, she began working with adults in Substance Abuse and Mental Health where she found her passion. In 2013 she started working at ARCA inpatient and transferred to the ARCA Olive location in 2015. Amanda enjoys the rewarding work of helping people in need who are struggling to get and stay sober.
Education:
Roger Williams University BA Psych
St. Charles Community College RN
Hello, I am your friendly neighborhood Administrative Assistant. I will be your first point of contact with the West County location of ARCA. I can't wait to meet you and assist in any way that I can to support your sobriety.
Education:
High School
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Operations and Registered Nurse With Assisted Recovery Centers of America
Briana Gibb is the Director of Clinical Operations and Registered Nurse with Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA). She earned her registered nursing degree from Breckinridge School of Nursing and her Bachelor of Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing. Briana has worked in substance use treatment since 2013, both inpatient and outpatient treatment. She has over a decade of experience working in the mental health field. Since starting with ARCA in 2013, she has developed and implemented several additional state programs, partnerships in the community and state, and the opening of additional clinics, with the highest standards of patient care. Her love for the population has been a driving force for continued education, where she is currently pursuing her master's degree in psychiatric mental health, as a PMHNP at Chamberlain College of Nursing.
Chase is currently the Administrative Lead for ARCA, along with being a Peer Support Specialist. Chase has worked at ARCA since 2018. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Social Work degree (BSW) in 2020 and also holds a credential as a Certified Peer Support (CPS) since 2018. Chase also worked as a manager of ARCA's sober living homes, Recovery House, for 3 years. He will be continuing his education in the fall of 2021 by pursuing a Master of Social Work degree (MSW) in Mizzou's Advanced Standing program, with a concentration in Policy, Planning, and Administration in Human Services. In Chase's free time, he enjoys playing volleyball competitively, playing video games, watching anything Marvel or RuPaul's Drag Race, and doing makeup.s.
Education:
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) - Indiana Wesleyan University (2020)
Certified Peer Support (CPS) - Missouri Credentialing Board (2018)
I have over 13 years of nursing experience with over 6 years working in Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment. I have several years of Post Operative Care nursing, but this is my home. I am currently taking courses to sit for my CARN exam in hopes to be completed by the end of 2021.
Education:
BS in Psychology from Southwest Missouri State University 2001-2005
ADN Chamberlain College of Nursing 2005-2007
BSN Chamberlain College of Nursing 2012-2014
My name is Cymone I've been an employee of ARCA for almost 2 years. My ultimate goal here is for everyone to feel normal. Provide a safe and supportive program treatment center for individuals with addictions and any needed support. My mission is for every individual who walks through our doors to feel like they have a chance. A chance to start over, to feel human, to feel safe, and most importantly to gain their life back.
Education:
Medical Assistant
Job Titles:
- Certified Nurse Practitioner at Assisted Recovery Centers of America
Dr. Alexandra Myers is a board-certified nurse practitioner at Assisted Recovery Centers of America. She completed her nursing degree and began practicing as a registered nurse in 2014.
Dr. Myers completed her DNP with a focus of family practice in 2020 from the University of Missouri- Saint Louis. She began treating substance use and psychiatric disorders utilizing medications, behavioral interventions, and therapy in a safe therapeutic environment at ARCA in 2020. She works with clients in identifying and personalizing a treatment plan to aid successful recovery.
Education:
University of Missouri- St. Louis - DNP, FNP
Central Methodist University - BSN
Lutheran School of Nursing - RN
Dr. Allison Brauch is a nurse practitioner at Assisted Recovery Centers of America, and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice at The Ohio State University College of Nursing in the PMHNP program. She has previously taught at Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri Saint Louis.
She has been in advanced practice since 2010 and a registered nurse since 2003. She completed her business degree from Louisiana State University in 1998 with a major in Marketing and then began practicing as a registered nurse in 2003. Dr. Brauch completed her MSN in 2010 with a population focus of Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner at Maryville University. She then completed her DNP at Maryville University in 2015 with a primary research focus on secondary prevention methods of drug and alcohol use disorders. She completed her post-graduate certification from Washburn University as a PMHNP in May 2017 and is licensed by the Missouri and Ohio State Boards of Nursing. She is holds a certification as a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse- Advanced Practice.
Education:
Washburn University -2017 Postgraduate certificate PMHNP-BC
Maryville University- 2015 DNP
Maryville University- 2010 ANP-BC
Maryville University-2003 RN/BSN
Louisiana State University -1998 BSBA
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Professor
Dr. Rottnek is a Professor and the Director of Community Medicine and the program director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at the Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine. His clinical practices currently include addiction medicine and correctional healthcare. He teaches in the School of Medicine, the Physician Assistant Program, the Center for Interprofessional Education and Research, and the School of Law. He serves on the boards of the Saint Louis Regional Health Commission, the ARCHway Institute, and Alive and Well Communities.
Education:
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences - medical school
Ohio University - bachelors, undergraduate
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Administrator
I have been a Nurse for 3 years and ARCA has been my home for 2. As a grateful recovering addict, I enjoy having the opportunity to pay it forward by working with this population. I began my studies as a Nurse at the University of Monroe in Louisiana in 2004. In 2014, I decided it was time to follow my dreams to become a Family Nurse Practitioner and to finish my degree. I enrolled for summer classes at STLCC - Meramec in 2015. I obtained my Associate Applied Science and Associate Degree in Nursing in 2018. I continued my education by enrolling for the RN - BSN program at UMSL in 2018 graduating in 2019. I was awarded the Innovations in Clinical Practice for my community project that year. I was accepted into the BSN to DNP track and started my final journey the Fall of 2020. My expected date of graduation is Fall 2023. I am also currently in the process of obtaining my MADAAC II and CARN certifications. I am an active member of the Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners (through grad school program) involved in student Advocacy to support Nursing Bills that advance the APRN practice and also a member of the International Nurses Society on Addictions.
Education:
A.D.N., RN-STLCC-Meramec- 2018
BSN. UMSL- 2019
BSN-DNP program. UMSL-(2019-2023)
Jordan Hampton is a person is long-term recovery. Jordan has a background of lived experience through substance misuse and ARCA's recovery housing program. Jordan currently is credentialed with CPS, MARS, and multiple specialty trainings. Jordan began his work with The Gateway Foundation as an EPICC recovery coach. Jordan went on to work with the ARCHway Institute in a multitude of facets including adolescent counseling for PreventED's youth counseling program. Jordan worked with ARCA and the recovery housing program in many different roles, when stepping into the Director of housing position in 2019. Jordan currently serves as a consultant for peer support specialists across the state on the MIMH/SOR consultant team. Jordan serves on the MCRSP (Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers) executive board, including being a peer-reviewer for recovery housing organizations across the state that wish to obtain their NARR certification. Jordan serves on state and national level coalitions that include MO-PRO's and NPRA. Jordan has presented on the "Best Practices of Recovery Housing" on a national platform for NARR (National Alliance of Recovery Residency) and strives to make ARCA's recovery housing program the best it can possibly by using these practices along with compassion, love, and tolerance.
My name is Kaycee, and I have been with ARCA going on 4 years now. I joined this company because I wanted to help others. Not knowing much about addiction when I first joined, I quickly learned that the perception of addiction compared to the reality of it is incredibly eye opening. Seeing people change their lifestyles right in front of your eyes is such a rewarding experience and I enjoy getting to be a part of it. You never know what someone is truly going through until you see it firsthand, and I'm so grateful I have the opportunity to help those who fight to take back their lives.
This marks the sixteenth year in my field, I have enjoyed working with different populations throughout my career. At the start, I was creating care plans for skilled nursing patients and Individual Support Plans for individuals with disabilities, and now have the pleasure of being part of a treatment team for the ARCA clients and providing them support, and encouragement in their recovery, and connecting them to resources in their community.
I am honored to be part of the ARCA team and being a part of touching the lives of our clients, and being part of their journey through their recovery.
Education:
Bachelor's in social work / Minor in Psychology
My name is Latoya and I have been with ARCA for almost 9 years. Growing up around addiction really shaped my pathway to ARCA. I have always wanted to help people in recovery as well as their families. My knowledge comes from firsthand experience. Since I have been with ARCA, I have seen clients change their lives gradually over time and for me, that's such a rewarding experience.
I have worked in the field of mental health and addiction since 2013 and have been conducting therapy since 2018. Throughout this time, I have worked with individual adults and families as they struggle to move forward from addiction into recovery. Coming from a background in social work allows me to look at a client's situation from multiple angles and empower them to thrive in their lives. I tend to utilize cognitive behavioral therapy strategies in order to assist my client's in gaining insight into their addiction and mental health issues. I help individuals take control of their recovery and move beyond survival into a place in their life that they can thrive.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Sociology from Maryville University
Master of Social Work (MSW) from Saint Louis University
Job Titles:
- Founder
- President
- President of Assisted Recovery Centers of America
Percy Menzies is the president of Assisted Recovery Centers of America, LLC, a center for the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction based in St. Louis, Missouri which was established in 2001. He worked for over 18years for DuPont Pharmaceuticals; one of his roles was associate product director for naltrexone. He has worked closely with drug courts and provided training on the use of anti-craving medications for addiction to reduce recidivism within the criminal justice system. He has conducted workshops for a wide range of audiences both in the US and overseas on evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders. He has been invited to serve on expert committees to develop guidelines for the treatment of addictive disorders and alcoholism. Percy is a member of the Missouri Opioid State Targeted Response Team. Percy serves on the Missouri State Advisory Council for the Division of Behavioral Health. Percy holds a master's degree in pharmacy.
My name is Randi and I have been with ARCA going on 3 years now. My focus as an employee at ARCA is to make sure I give clients assurance that they can use ARCA as a safe spot. We strive to keep clients comfortable with their surroundings. When patients come in for their first or one-hundredth time, I will always be a familiar face to them. I am always so proud to celebrate sober birthdays with clients. It's always a pleasure watching our clients grow into the person they were meant to become.
Job Titles:
- Community Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Senior Executive
Richard Scholz is the senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of the company by tracking cash flow and financial planning as well as analyzing the company's financial strengths and weaknesses. He has received his BS in Business Administration and has a deep-seated passion for Behavioral Healthcare. Having been a part of ARCA for 8 years, he has created and developed full life cycle processes for addiction treatment, from intake standards to program development and expansion. Mr. Scholz is also a partner of Recovery House, a transitional housing program within ARCA Holdings,LLC.
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer
Suneal Menzies has been a key player in the development, implementation, and management of ARCA's telehealth program, which is one of the first telehealth platforms specifically focusing on substance use disorders and related behavioral health and primary care conditions. Over the past 12 years, Suneal has had the opportunity to consult in the addiction field in both public and private organizations, including pharmaceutical companies and government groups. He is the founder and managing partner of Recovery House, a transitional living program within ARCA Holdings. Suneal is a member of the Missouri Opioid State Targeted Response Team. Suneal currently serves on the board of Archway Institute for Mental Health and Addictive Disorders, as well as the board of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of St. Louis.
I am an RN and have worked at ACRA for two years. I have been through personal struggles with loved ones that have drug and alcohol addictions. Through these experiences, I have found a passion to help those in their journey to recovery. I hope to support our patients through their personal healing and their struggles while providing them with the best medical care possible. As a nurse and advocate, I educate patients on their medications and assist in providing resources. Treating addiction is often more than one person can do alone. I am proud to part of a team that equips the people we serve to live a drug free, healthy lifestyle.
Virginia has been practicing as a PMHNP for almost 2 years. She has been in the medical field for over 20 years and an RN for over 10. She likes being able to tangibly improve her patient's lives by coming alongside them for support and prudent prescribing practices. She has been married for 25 years and has two teenagers. Hobbies include listening to music, cross stitch, and everything SciFi.
Education:
BSN from Central Methodist University in 2014
MSN from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in 2019