Introducing the Dragonfly Team of Professionals
Glenn White — Co-Owner/Founder & Executive Director
Glenn, a graduate of Old Dominion University with a B.S. degree in Education and Outdoor Recreation and has over twenty years experience leading wilderness trips on both coasts of the United States, as well as in Alaska, Mexico, and Tanzania. He has designed and implemented adventure programming for college students, corporate management teams, high schools, the general public, and has extensive experience working with troubled adolescents and young adults in the outdoors.
Glenn’s knack for building community and helping students discover meaning in their lives is central to the Dragonfly curriculum. Having struggled himself as a young adult, Glenn found his calling helping young people rediscover themselves, take responsibility for their lives, and find their own unique path. He motivates and inspires young adults using an insight-oriented approach that allows students to discover themselves, articulating their own beliefs, values, gifts and strengths.
In addition to mentoring students and staff, Glenn manages the day-to-day Dragonfly operations and is responsible for staff training. He can most often be found engaged in projects with students.
Mona Treadway, MSW, LCSW, CADC I — Admissions/Clinical Director, Co-Owner/Founder
Mona is a graduate of Portland State University with a Masters in Social Work and a graduate of Prescott College with a B.A. in Human Development and Wilderness Leadership. She has worked with a variety of populations, including women survivors of breast cancer and Native Alaskan teenagers dealing with substance abuse issues. Mona has led therapeutic wilderness trips, taught college level outdoor courses and wilderness skills such as rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, glacier travel, and backpacking. Her graduate internships included work at Hospice, a drug and alcohol outpatient program and as a counselor at Oregon Institute of Technology. While at OIT she received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Suicide Assessment and Prevention.
Mona loves working with people and is a natural-born therapist with a knack for helping young adults "let go" and accept their situation so that they can begin building meaningful lives. Mona has a clear understanding of family dynamics and an ability to help families move from crisis into stability.
Mona manages treatment coordination, admissions, marketing and accounting and is responsible for Dragonfly's family program.
Sharon Melnick, M.D. — Psychiatrist/Medical Director & Clinical Consultant
Dr. Sharon Melnick has provided psychiatric services to Dragonfly Adventures since it’s inception and became the Medical Director in January, 2005. As Medical Director, Dr. Melnick provides psychiatric oversight to the program and Transitions students, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management, group therapy, psychotherapy, five element acupuncture and staff training. Dr. Melnick’s program involvement goes beyond the traditional office visit that typically occurs in most therapeutic schools and programs. She interacts with psychiatrists and therapists who have previously worked with Transitions students to gain insights that can be incorporated into the work the student does here at Dragonfly. Dr. Melnick’s focus is bio-psychosocial and spiritual, using medications not to “fix” the problem, but rather to decrease symptoms so that the individual can continue his/her work of healing, growth and development. Dr. Melnick interacts with students on their level, using plain language to help a student experience themselves in a new light.
Dr. Melnick is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has worked extensively with adolescents and young adults. She completed a psychiatry residency at UCLA/San Fernando Valley, with additional training at the Los Angeles Family Therapy Institute and the Los Angeles Jung Institute. Before practicing in Klamath Falls, Dr. Melnick was Assistant Training Director at the UCLA/SFV Psychiatry Training Program, had a private practice of psychiatry and psychotherapy in both California and Montana, and worked with Clackamas County Mental Health outside of Portland, Oregon.
Jennifer Mason, M.A., LPC — Therapist
Jennifer received her M.A in counseling psychology from Lewis and Clark College. She received a B.S in nursing from Linfield College. She has over fourteen years experience working with "at risk" youth and families. Jennifer sees her practice through the lense of the family systems model. She approaches her work objectively, meeting her clients where they are and empowering them to guide their own treatment. Jennifer has worked in the county mental health setting, in schools, in residential programs, as an expert witness in the court system and most recently in young adult transition programs.
She has specialized training in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy). Jennifer is eclectic in her approach and will often try many different techniques/styles to help clients find success. Jennifer was raised in Klamath County on a working cattle ranch. After seventeen years away she returned to the area to be near family. She enjoys hiking,rafting, camping, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite part of working at Dragonfly is the recreational time she gets to spend with the students and getting to know the families during family workshops.
Rebecca Carlin - Program Director
Rebecca has worked in management of therapeutic programs for the past four years. She enjoys combining her organizational systems and experience in program development with working directly with students. Rebecca has a B.A. from DePauw University. After college she moved out West to pursue her passion for wild places and outdoor recreation. She was thrilled to combine her love of wilderness with her ability to connect with people in the field of wilderness therapy. After working as a wilderness therapy instructor, Rebecca continued to use her communication skills and dedication to the therapeutic process in the role of Field Director. She learned valuable skills while managing and enhancing the wilderness therapy program. She is excited to use those skills at Dragonfly as she focuses on staff training and development, program development, and direct work with students.
Devon Priem, MSW - Therapist
Devon grew up in Amish country, Lancaster County Pennsylvania. She moved out west to pursue her passions of the outdoors and to experience the beautiful landscape that Utah had to offer. She lived in Salt Lake City for seven years and during that time gained experience working with adolescents and young adults in a variety of settings. Devon worked as a field guide for an adolescent wilderness program, interned at an adolescent/young adult 30 day intensive drug treatment program and worked as staff for an all-girls adolescent treatment center. She completed her bachelors degree in social work at the University of Utah and worked for the following 3 years at a young adult transition program as a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor. Devon returned to school and completed her graduate degree in Social Work at Portland State University. Devon brings to Dragonfly her passion for the outdoors including hiking, snowboarding and backpacking. She believes in the importance and opportunity that is provided for intervening with young adults struggling with the transition to adulthood. Devon utilizes a variety of approaches to working with the students at Dragonfly. These include Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Bowen theory when working with students and their families.
Charles Carlin, M.A., LPC - Therapist
Charles holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Prescott College. He enjoys working with young adults as they wrestle with questions of identity, purpose, and the meaning of becoming an adult. Charles approaches therapy from an existential perspective and he sees change occur as clients use the insight they develop in therapy to cultivate a sense of meaning and purpose in their choices and relationships. He will rarely provide his clients with answers, preferring instead to help clients find their own answers to tough questions. Along the way, he emphasizes emotional awareness and connection, intellectual insight, and the cultivation of relationship with self, others,and the world. Charlie works well with clients who have been hamstrung by struggles related to depression and anxiety. His approach also connects well with NLD or Asperger’s clients who need to develop skills related to emotional awareness and insight in order to develop a more purposeful approach to life.
Kelly Skidgel Elliott, MSW, LMSW — Medication Management
Kelly has been with Dragonfly Transition for over two years and under a variety of job titles. She was a mentor for one year in 2006 and then spent two years working at her children's school. Kelly returned to Dragonfly in June, 2009 as the medication manager. Kelly completed her Master in Social Work program through Portland State University in 2010. She fulfilled her clinical practicum requirements at Dragonfly. Kelly graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in 2005 with a BS in Applied Psychology and in 2006 with a BS in Communication Studies and a Dispute Resolution Certificate. Kelly received full funding from The Ford Family Foundation to complete both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Kelly and her husband Jeff moved to Klamath Falls in 1987, after Jeff was hired with the Air National Guard to work at Kingsley Field. Kelly and Jeff have six children ages eight months to 20 yrs old. Previous to attending college, Kelly operated an in-home childcare business for 15 years and has spent 20 years providing foster care for medically fragile infants in Klamath County.
Kelly is highly motivated to learn and has become a professional student of life. Kelly has experience in behavior modification, research, attachment theory, child development, and preparing curriculum for the classroom or groups. Kelly likes to spend her free time at the dance studio. Kelly appreciates a good challenge and anything that promotes critical thinking skills.
Dawn Merrigan, B.S., CADC-II, NCAC-II, BCRPS — Addictions Specialist
Dawn is a graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology and an Associate of Arts in General Studies. Dawn is a Qualified Mental Health Associate, a Level-II Certified Drug Counselor for the State of Oregon, a Level-II National Certified Addictions Counselor through the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, The Association for Addiction Professionals and a Basic Relapse Prevention Specialist through CENAPS Corporation. Dawn is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health.
Dawn has worked for over fourteen years with adults and youth who are striving toward productive, meaningful lives. She is dedicated to the recovery process as it applies to individuals, their families and their communities.
Dawn has extensive training and experience working effectively with co-occuring disorders, substance abuse intervention and suicide intervention, grief and loss, gender specific issues, cognitive restructuring, equine therapy and cultural diversity.
Dawn's goal is to be of service. She is intuitive and realistic in her approach with people. Dawn is a motivator and natural teacher who is solution oriented and able to help others draw on their own strengths, abilities, and resources when facing life and challenges within it. At Dragonfly, Dawn works as a substance abuse specialist, mentor and group facilitator.
Shannon Mason - Medication Management/Part-time Mentor
Shannon holds a Criminal Justice degree from Northern Arizona University. She originally arrived in Klamath Falls as a student of Dragonfly, having spent her young adulthood struggling with issues related to alcoholism, addiction, anxiety and depression. She has become very involved in the recovery community of Klamath Falls. She returned to Dragonfly five years ago to start to give back to those who were a huge part of her process and to share the knowledge and experiences she has gained in her recovery with those just starting out on this amazing path. She is currently finishing a Nursing degree at Oregon Institute of Technology, working part time at Dragonfly and raising her new baby son, John.
Kenneth Benson — Adventures Director and Mentor
Originally from a small town in southern Utah, and most recently from Salt Lake City via Portland, Kenny came to Dragonfly after eight years working with Second Nature Wilderness Programs. Kenny started as a field instructor for 2N Duchesne and over his time there took on increasingly more responsibility as a Senior Staff, Assistant Field Director, and eventually Director of Recreation then Program Director at a residential boarding school in Provo Utah. Kenny has worked with adolescents from their first experiences in treatment through to their final days in a therapeutic boarding school and has helped teens work through struggles, lapses and success. Kenny also has expertise working with students in environments as diverse as Thailand and Nicaragua where he organized and ran service and recreation trips that provided perspective for students and a chance to give back.
Kenny loves working with both students and other staff and has a natural and easy manner that is sincere. He is convinced by his experience that the relationships students develop while working through their struggles are what effect true and lasting change.
Kenny enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, on whatever adventures they can find. He craves travel and the cultural immersion it brings. Kenny loves to teach and brings experience in professional photography, web design, scuba and 20 years of snowboarding to the Dragonfly team.
Meghan Weese, M.A. — Mentor and Adventures Coordinator
Meghan is a native Oregonian and also lived in Tennessee and Massachusetts. Meghan has a Bachelors Degree in Nutrition and her Master's Degree in Outdoor Education. She has worked with young adults for many years and enjoys combining this with outdoor pursuits. Meghan spent time studying abroad in Greece and still has a deep love for the Greek culture. In her down time, Meghan is an avid pursuer of new adventures, whether that be traveling internationally, trekking through the mountains or having a great conversation.
Jerry Smith — Night Mentor
Originally from the bluegrass state of Kentucky, Jerry has spent most of his life in Oregon where, over the past four decades, he has devoted his efforts to the passions of service to others, nature, family, and career. With a broad background of experience in recreations and work programs as well as residential treatment and outdoor adventure therapy, he has worked with groups and individuals across all ages and abilities. Including preschool, geriatrics, chronic and long term mentally ill, developmentally disabled, young adults, and at risk youth. Helping to design and implement recreation and work related programs for local, county, state, and federal programs. He has been fortunate and blessed with numerous wonderful experiences across the years.
Hobbies and interests, past and present, include hunting and fishing, photography, gardening, music, and anything on or near the water. Favorites: saying - "it's all good", color - blue, animals - horses and dogs.
As a Certified Mental Health Associate with the local county agency, Jerry was instrumental in the creation of a vocational program for Consumers of Services and also designed a year round recreation program for the developmentally disable through a local nonprofit organization. He is certified through the state as an activity director and is currently registered with DHS as a home care provider.
Programs of academic study include psychology and therapeutic recreation at both Oregon locations and in Arizona at Northern Arizona University.
Through all his experiences thus far, he has learned the value of a good friend, the joy of a loyal dog, and the pleasure of a good book. If asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" the response would be, "I'll let you know when I get there. We are all becoming."
Ross Enyart — Education Coordinator and Mentor
Ross was born in Oregon and lived most his life in the valley (where it's wet). He worked as a school bus mechanic and did heavy construction prior to returning to school to obtain a BS in Communication with a minor in Psychology. Ross also holds an AAS in Computer Science. Ross is married and has an 18-year old son and a step-daughter with four children who fondly call him “Umpa”.
Ross loves the wilderness of Oregon and is an avid rock-hound and fisherman. He enjoys getting “off the beaten path” and has always considered the wilderness of Oregon as his personal back-yard. Ross brings a great deal of knowledge of Oregon and Klamath Falls to Dragonfly. Students often seek Ross out when seeking job opportunities.
Ross feels privileged to be able to work at Dragonfly Transitions. He enjoys the family atmosphere of the program and the teamwork and professionalism of the staff.
“The world steps aside for anyone who knows where they are going.” — Anonymous
Anna Budden, Mentor
Anna earned her BS in Psychology and AAS in Medical Office Systems from Oregon Institute of Technology. She has an AA in Accounting from San Jose City College and attended The International Peoples College in Elsinore, DK, where she studied cross cultural differences. Having worked for County Mental Health, she offers knowledge about medications, clinical services and psychological issues. She plans on pursuing a Masters in Social Work.
Anna is married and has four children. She has been a foster parent and served as a respite care provider for both children and animals. She was born in Denmark and is fluent in Danish. As a young girl, her family immigrated to California, where she grew up. After marrying, she and her husband built a house in the country where they are currently raising their children.
During her free time, Anna enjoys traveling, scuba diving, life guarding and spending time with her family. She has traveled to many parts of the world and appreciates diversity and cultural differences. Anna has a passion for helping not only people, but all living things.
Kristina Muscutt — Mentor
Kristina grew up in the small town of Lebanon, OR. She graduated from the Oregon Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Applied Psychology with an emphasis in Human and Social Services. Kristina did her 200 hour externship at Dragonfly and was hired on after its completion. She is now living in Klamath Falls with her significant other and their dog Wilson.
Kristina chose to work in the field of Psychology because of a family member's struggle with failure to launch and not having the adequate resources to move forward. Kristina loves working with young adults and helping them transition back into society. She eventually plans on joining the Peace Corps and getting a Master's degree through their Master's International program.
While not working, Kristina enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, learning to sew, doing craft projects, and teaching her dog new tricks. She is a volunteer DJ at the local radio station K-TEC on OIT campus and enjoys sharing her music with the Klamath Basin.
“Don't blame yourself for past errors. You are no longer the same person who made them and you cannot blame a person who does not exist.”
Phil Ouellette — Night Mentor
Phil is a recent graduate of the Oregon Institute of Technology with a degree in Applied Psychology. Prior to OIT, Phil attended school and played baseball at Lane College (Eugene Oregon) as well as Saint Martin's University (Lacey Washington). When not at work, Phil spends his time on the Oregon Tech campus as the assistant baseball coach, preparing the Owls for the 2010 baseball season. Phil has lived in Klamath Falls for 4 years now and loves the crisp air and sunshine it offers almost every day. At home, Phil enjoys spending time with his three dogs Bo, Boss, and Bailey.
"How do you go from where you are to where you want be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal. And you have to be willing to work for it."
Kristi Gonzalez — Office Manager
Originally from Bakersfield, California, Kristi moved to Klamath Falls in 2007 and loves the small town vibe. Kristi is a graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) with a degree in management and a minor in technical communication. She is currently completing her MBA through Penn State’s iMBA program and will graduate in August 2012. Although a therapeutic program might not be the place you would expect to find a business major, Kristi feels that she has found a real family here at Dragonfly. She thoroughly enjoys working with all the highly skilled staff at Dragonfly, and loves seeing the transformations made by students during their stay here.
In addition to her regular duties as office manager, Kristi helps students with budgeting when they reach that phase in their treatment. She is always willing and sometimes able to answer questions from students about any number of subjects, or just listen when needed. When not working and doing school activities, Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband, three daughters, and a number of pets. She also enjoys a good book, scrapbooking, gardening, road trips, and good conversation.
Kevin Hall - Mentor
Kevin was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin loving cheese and the Packers. Following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire where he studied secondary English education and ran cross country and track, he taught briefly at the secondary level, teaching high school English and middle school science. An avid competitive distance runner himself, Kevin has coached cross country and track at the middle school, high school, and university level. During this time, Kevin also worked extensively with youth placed on the autism spectrum in the western Wisconsin area.
Although falling in love with teaching, Kevin felt he could more positively impact others’ lives if he were able to work more intensively with a smaller group of students. He moved to Klamath Falls two weeks after getting married in Wisconsin and joined the team at Dragonfly as a mentor.
When not on campus, Kevin can be seen running around town (literally), drinking coffee and reading downtown, or riding his bike out in the country.
He is always looking to try new things and experiment with limitations, especially in the wilderness.
“It isn’t the burdens of today that drive [people] mad. It is the regrets of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are two thieves who rob us of today.” …Robert Hastings
Christine Boire - Mentor
Christine grew up in Washington State and received her Bachelors Degree in Public Relations and Marketing from Pacific Lutheran University. A year after graduation she realized she wanted to incorporate her love of adventure and helping others into her career path. This led her to Klamath Falls and Dragonfly Transitions. She eventually plans to earn her Master's Degree in Social Work/Grief Counseling.
Christine enjoys any kind of adventure as long as she's in good company. She is most enthusiastic about snowboarding, hiking, bungee jumping, martial arts and traveling. She is dedicated to her own genuine growth and helping others find their way in this hectic world.
"Life is too short not to find something to be passionate about."
Matthew Preston, CADC I
Matt was born in San Diego, CA. and moved to Klamath Falls when he was three. He spent his childhood in Klamath and attended OIT for one year before joining the Navy as a nuclear power plant electrician when he was 19. When he returned to Klamath Falls with a wife and family in 1997, he went to work for BNSF railroad as a conductor and yardmaster. In 2008, Matt went back to college and has received his Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I certification and is currently finishing his bachelor’s degree in applied psychology.
When Matt is not working, he enjoys spending time with his three children and granddaughter. He also enjoys reading, watching movies, target shooting, and golf.
“Do the right thing, it will gratify some and astonish the rest.” - Mark Twain
Bethany Andrews - Therapy Intern
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Bethany came to Klamath Falls from Boulder, Colorado where she is finishing her three year master's degree in Transpersonal Psychology with a specialization in Wilderness Therapy at Naropa University. Bethany has always been drawn to the outdoors handed down from a father that once dreamed of being a mountain man. She has been interested in therapy from the time she began her own journey of being a client at 18. Love of nature and therapy drove her to seek out a program that would suite her needs. Bethany has had experience as a field guide at Monarch Center for Family Therapy and then went on to the Wilderness Therapy program at Naropa which she will graduate from in Spring 2012. Bethany brings a mix of therapeutic theories, coming from a base of Relational Therapy mixed with Gestalt, Somatic, Wilderness, art practices, and a belief that all beings are inherently good. Bethany's passions include playing in the outdoors, painting, family and community, self-growth in all its many forms, and being a guide for people to find the selves that have been lost.
Matt Schoch — Farm Director of Aerie Acre
Matt is a graduate of Ohio University and has a degree in Outdoor Education and Camping. After graduation Matt traveled west from his home state of Ohio to work for various wilderness and residential therapeutic programs and has spent the last two years working on small family farms in both Oregon and Wisconsin.
Having once mentored for Dragonfly Transitions, Matt has returned as the director of the newly added farm project. When not playing in the dirt, Matt also enjoys playing music, and spending time with his partner Alyssa and their two dogs, Twilight and Emma Lou.
Sara Carroll - Manager of A Leap of Taste
