Red Cliff Community Health Center
Nicole Gurnoe, MS, LPC
Nicole has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and currently holds her Wisconsin state license as a Professional Counselor. Nicole’s services include individual therapy to children and adults along with case management, information and referral, mental health promotion, consult and ongoing collaboration with county, state and tribal service providers. Nicole’s approach emphasizes the mutual development of goals for therapy and provision of ongoing evaluation of the therapeutic approach. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Crisis Intervention. She continues to seek ongoing training to increase her skills and knowledge base. Nicole is invested in an approach emphasizing a more integrative, dynamic, and holistic methods to treat mental health. She is particularly concerned with the impact of loss and trauma and improving intervention to support recovery for better emotional, physical and relationship health.
Craig Shanks, MS, LPC
Mental Health Professional
Craig has a master’s degree in counseling and currently holds his Wisconsin state license as a Professional Counselor. He has fifteen years of experience working for non-profit mental health organizations. Craig has focused his professional experience in working with youth and adults who experience mental illness. He also brings experience in working with community support programs that serve diverse populations. He has worked at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, Red Cliff, and with prevention programs at Bad River. His services will include assessments, psychotherapeutic treatment plans, rehabilitation and case management for individuals, families, and groups along with ongoing collaboration with tribal, county, and state service providers. Craig believes in a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Melissa Grooms, MS, LPC
Mental Health Professional
Melissa has her master’s degree in professional counseling from Concordia University – Wisconsin. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She completed an internship at Marriage and Family Health Services, Ltd. and continued to work there as a Psychological Techn ician in the day treatment program and as a therapist for outpatient counseling. She is now a mental health professional at the Red Cliff Community Health Center. She works at the Bayfield public school, the Red Cliff Community Health Center and the Washburn Community Clinic providing individual and family therapy for ages 5 and up. Her services include assessments, psychotherapeutic treatment plans, and case management for individuals as well as mental health promotion, consult and ongoing collaboration with tribal, county, and state service providers. Melissa believes in a holistic approach to health and wellness and strives to further her knowledge in trauma informed care.
Tammy Kolesar, MS, LPC-IT, SAC-IT
Behavioral Health Professional
Tammy has her master’s degree from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in Center City, Minnesota, with a concentration in integrated recovery/dual disorders treatment. She believes in a person-centered care system where everyone is recognized as an individual and therapy designed around their interest, abilities, and needs. Tammy believes in a holistic approach to total body wellness and she works to help people recognize their potential. When she is not working Tammy gardens, walks her dog, and spends time with her family.
Midge Montano
Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist
Midge would like to share with everyone that she is honored to be part of the behavioral health team and is located at the Red Cliff Community Health Center in the Sumac Room “Apaakwaanaatig” room 180. Her phone number is 715 779-3707, ext. 2321. She is very humble and has little to say about herself. She is the wife to Frank Montano of almost fifty eight years, also a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and auntie to several nieces and nephews. She enjoys traveling, visiting with people and writing poetry. Midge went to college later in life and graduated with a bachelor degree in social work and a minor in criminal justice. She holds the credentials of a Certified Social Worker with the State of Wisconsin.
As Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist her primary responsibility is to educate the community on substance abuse and its effects on the family, sexual and domestic violence, and historical trauma. Midge serves as a liaison with the Bayfield school, supportive housing, police department, domestic violence program, clinic doctors, AODA counselors, mental health professionals, and all clinic staff. She will also provide individual supportive counseling, resource information, and process referrals as requested.
Feel free to contact Midge Montano, B.S.,C.S.W. for services, questions, or a visit.
“Enjoy the beautiful nature in Red Cliff as part of your healing and daily life.”
Gabrielle Gordon
Red Cliff Youth and Family TREE Project Coordinator/Lead Evaluator
Gabrielle has a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Promotion from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The degree itself is one that allows the opportunity to study a demographic to determine what services are currently made available to it and assessing possibilities of what could be done to further benefit and support that targeted population. Previously, Gabrielle worked 1 ½ years at the Red Cliff Community Health Center as a Tribal Early Learning Initiative (TELI) Coordinator, where she operated organizational aspects of the position, such as coordinating meetings and writing grant reports in line with efforts to support children and families apart of the Early Childhood demographic. She is enthusiastic to be starting her new position and the opportunity to contribute to the project’s internal operations regarding data management and meeting report requirements.
Tashina Wachsmuth
Youth Peer Specialist
Tashina Wachsmuth is the Youth Peer Specialist under the RC Tree grant. She attended Northland College for a year as a major in Biology, then some online classes, switching to a major in Psychology. Although not attending school anymore due to an injury, she is a Wisconsin certified Peer Specialist. She enjoys being there for others, sharing her own lived experiences and providing hope to those struggling with any issue.
Mishomis Wellness Center
Laura Gordon, AA
Behavioral Health Administrator
Laura has an associate’s degree in substance use disorder counseling along with an associate’s degree in human services. Laura has worked for the Red Cliff tribe for over 20 years in various departments. Laura worked in the AODA field from 2001 to 2008; she was a Counselor in Training and also a Prevention Specialist in Training during those years. Laura was on tribal council for eight years (four terms). Laura has one daughter and a beautiful grandson. Laura enjoys the outdoors whether it be by walking, biking and taking care of her yard, she also like to crochet and does bead work.
Jim Peacock, CSAC, ICS
AODA Counselor
Jim has twenty years of experience working in the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) field. He is a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and also carries the Intermediate Clinical Supervisor (ICS) credential for the State of Wisconsin. While working at the Mishomis Wellness Center he also received training to become an Intoxicated Driver Assessor (IDP-AT). He inspires to the holistic approach to wellness. In his spare time Jim enjoys landscape photography and being near Gichigumi.
Linda Dunbar
AODA Counselor
Linda Dunbar has an Associates of Art degree in Ojibwe Language and Cultural Specialist from Rainy River Community College, International Falls, MN, 1992, and attended Seven Generations College in Fort Frances, Ontario pursuing her Aboriginal Social Work degree. 1993 – 1995. Linda also has 2 years of education in Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant program through Lake Superior College, Duluth MN. 1987 – 1989. Linda also attended a 1 year program in Cultural Diversity and received a certificate of completion from Madison, WI in 2010. Most recently Linda attended and completed PSIT training and is certified as a PSIT. UWS, Stevens Point. 2017.
Linda has worked in the mental health and addictions field for over 30 years, primarily with Anishinaabe communities as a frontline worker, providing mental health and addiction counseling/education and community support. Linda believes in the holistic approach to wellness and utilizes her experience and knowledge of culture and traditional ceremonies as a helper for community members to achieve wellness.
Linda is married and is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Lorna Gamble, MSE
CCS Service Facilitator
Lorna holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Native American studies, and an MSE in counseling with a specialty in the Native American population. She worked as a social worker for Ashland County helping elders, people with physical and developmental disabilities as well as those with chronic mental illness remain in their own homes. She has also worked in many jobs with the tribe for 15 years in areas such as Indian Child Welfare and Domestic Violence programs. She is currently working as a Service Facilitator and interim administrator for the Comprehensive Community Services Program for Red Cliff. She hopes to build trust, compassion, and empathy into the work she does with our community.
Mark Gokee
Grant Manager
Mark is the Native Connections Grant Manager, after serving as the Project Coordinator for six months. His previous experience with the Youth Center and Elderly Nutrition programs has helped prepare him for the program’s substance misuse prevention, wellness promotion activities, and suicide prevention efforts. He is looking forward to participating in the promotion of traditional approaches to community wellness.
Zoe Hammes
Native Connections Project Assistant
Zoe graduated from UW-Milwaukee in 2016 and holds her bachelor’s degree in international studies and women & gender studies. There, she interned for Planned Parenthood, studied in Florence, Italy & at the United Nations in New York City. She most recently worked for a domestic violence shelter in Minneapolis. She believes empowering youth and their experiences is a necessary component of the well being of communities. Outside of work, she enjoys knitting, reading, and learning new things.
Patricia G. Gordon, AA
CCS Assist. Administrator/Intake Coordinator
Patricia has an associate degree in Early Childhood and has worked for the Red Cliff Tribe for over 20 years in various tribal departments. Patricia worked in the AODA program as the secretary and billing clerk for eight years, as a teacher for Red Cliff Head Start program, and for BIA- Great Lake Agency in Ashland for five years. Patricia is a single mother and has grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors, walking, sewing and being around family and friends.
Peter Newago
Rehabilitation Specialist
Peter is responsible for supporting CCS client’s recovery plan and providing client services. Peter collaborates with other professional service providers in the community and promotes collaborative relationships between systems of care. Services are performed in an office, client home and community setting.
Noojimo’iwewin Center
Cassie McCrow
Noojimo’iwewin Project Coordinator
Cassie has an AA degree and extensive experience in the health field, especially in the areas of AODA prevention in youth, chronic disease prevention, ecosystem health, and grants management. She views health and wellness holistically and promotes the care of body, mind and spirit to maintain the wellness of people, community and the environment. In her spare time, Cassie enjoys kayaking, hiking, organic farming, art and playing music.
Sonia Reyes-Buffalo
Peer Support Specialist
Sonia is currently working on attaining her associates degree in human services and is a certified Peer Support Specialist. She believes peer support is an excellent way to achieve a healthy lifestyle and is a great encouragement to those who are suffering mental health or substance abuse illnesses. She loves to volunteer, spend time with her family, ride horses, be creative, and be of service to those in need.
Ed Metelica
Peer Support Specialist
Ed is a Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist and Recovery Coach. He came to us from New Horizons in Ashland where he provided recovery coaching for Memorial Medical patients. Ed and his wife moved to Lake Superior’s southern shore from Platteville, WI in 2014, where he was involved in substance abuse recovery support in various capacities for 12 years. He enjoys cooking, photography, traveling, deer hunting and anything else outdoors.