WCPG Board of Directors

The Board of Directors consists of volunteers as mandated in the organization’s bylaws.  Members are chosen from across the state of Wisconsin, but travel conditions (especially during the winter months) tend to limit the Board to persons in the eastern part of Wisconsin.  Presently the Board consists of 11 members who reside in  Colgate, Dousman, Eau Claire, Franksville, Green Bay,  Kenosha, Madison, Oshkosh, Waupun, and Winneconne. Our bylaws permit 15 voting members.

Board President

Patricia Jirovetz, ATRL, LPC, ICGC-II, Creative Calm Counseling, LLC, Oshkosh, WI

Patricia Jirovetz is a Licensed Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Nationally Certified Gambling Counselor. Patricia currently works in private practice at Creative Calm Counseling LLC in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Patricia believes that everyone has a need to be seen and heard, so she provides venues where clients can experience this through creative modalities including talk and/or art therapy. Patricia has been involved with the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling for over 15 years as a helpline responder, Board Member, and past President of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Vice President

Ed Ramsey, LPC, CSAC, ICGC-II, APCSW, Eau Claire, WI

ED Ramsey is a licensed professional counselor, clinical substance abuse counselor, certified problem gambling counselor level II, and advanced practice social worker. He has worked with addicts and their families since 1976, starting at a residential facility for chronic alcoholics in VA. He was the AODA counselor and EAP coordinator at UWEC followed by a private practice, working with substance and process addicts and their families. He founded and worked at First Things First, an outpatient mental health and addiction clinic, until retirement in 2014. He is currently president of the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling board of directors and helped develop their gambling certification training program. He taught Addiction and The Family classes at CVTC and UW-Stout, as well as a weekend social work program at Mount Senario College. He is the author of the book “Addiction: Recovering Yourself”.

Secretary

Mark Wesenberg

Treasurer

Diana Abelt

Diana has been in recovery from gambling since April 2001.  She has started and run several Gamblers Anonymous meetings over the years.  In 2005 Diana became one of the first Call Responders for the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. Diana has been on the Board of Directors since 2011.

Jim Harrison, BS, MS, LPC, CSAC, ICGC-II, BACC

Jim Harrison is an AODA, Gambling Addiction, and Mental Health Counselor, working exclusively with adults 18 years of age and older in both individual and group counseling sessions. My accreditations and certifications include being a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed with the State of Wisconsin, and a International Certified Gambling Counselor, Level II (ICGC-II). My professional training includes a BS Degree in Biology (Secondary Education) and an MS Degree in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. In addition to having over 30 years of teaching and counseling experience, I have written curriculums on substance use disorders, gambling, STD and HIV/AIDS education, human growth and development, environmental education, as well as presenting these topics at various professional and educational conferences and workshops.

My treatment specialties include substance use disorders, OWI offenders, alternatives to revocation (ATRs), pre-sentence investigations (PSIs), OWI assessments, and gambling addiction counseling. I am also a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) monitor. My approach to treatment is non-judgmental, non-shaming, and non-labeling. I believe that group therapy is one of the more important aspects of treatment and recovery. We can learn from each other’s mistakes as well as from our successes. Group can also be one of our major support systems and networks.

In addition to my teaching and counseling background, I am a percussionist, having played with numerous concert bands, concert orchestras, rock and jazz bands, as well as drum circles. I use drum circles as an alternative and non-conventional as well as holistic approach to recovery.

My professional affiliations include the National Association for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors (NAADAC), the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling (WCPG), and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife Sandi and our children and grandchildren. My hobbies include music, kayaking, traveling, sports, cooking, gardening, nature, cultures, and ethnicities.

Jessalynn Harvath

LeAnne Holden

LeAnne Holden is a recovering problem gambler whose addiction lead her to do illegal acts, which cost her 8 years in prison. She has been striving to help others with addictions since her release in 2012. She is a member of the Board for the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling and active in her church with outreach programs.

Doug LaBelle, LCSW, ICGC II, CEAP

Doug LaBelle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Wisconsin, International Certified Gambling Counselor II, Certified Employee Assistance Professional and a Trainer with the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling.  He has over 34 years of experience as an administrator, clinician, trainer and presenter.  Doug has worked with organizations, groups, individuals, and families impacted by Behavioral Health Disorders including Substance Use Disorders and Gambling Disorder and is currently working as an Independent Consultant, EAP Professional , Presenter and Trainer with a specialty in Gambling and Gambling Disorder.

James Lewis, Attorney at Law

Attorney Jim Lewis received his Bachelor’s Degree with highest honors from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He then went on to the University of Wisconsin and earned his Law Degree in 1998. Jim has appeared on behalf of his clients in 25 Wisconsin Counties and both Wisconsin Federal District Courts. Although he has previously handled controversies in almost every area of the law, Jim currently concentrates his practice in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Bankruptcy, and Collections. Jim also practices in the areas of Business Organization, Real Estate, and Family Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and The Brown County Bar Association.

Andrew Schreier, ICS, CSAC, LPC, ICGC-II, Clinical Supervisor

Andrew J. Schreier is an Independent Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and International Certified Gambling Counselor – II. He is the Wisconsin Clinical Coordinator for Community Medical Services – South Milwaukee that provides medicated-assisted treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder. He provides oversight and guidance for all clinical and behavioral health services. Mr. Schreier also works at New Life Resources, Inc. that provides individual counseling/therapy, children and adolescent services, couples/marital counseling, step/blended families, group therapy, addiction counseling, psychological testing, and consultation. Experience over the years includes working in group homes, a halfway house, residential, medicated-assisted treatment, and outpatient treatment settings working with a variety of addictions. He presents on various topics related to substance use, mental health, gambling, clinical supervision, ethics, and various other topics to statewide and national audiences. Mr. Schreier is the host of “Talking Addiction & Recovery” Podcast.

Todd Zangl

Beginning in 1977, Todd worked for 17 years in the Department of Corrections as an agent and supervisor with Probation and Parole. In 1995 he began working as a private treatment provider in an outpatient mental health clinic, primarily working with substance abuse. In 2002 Todd and a fellow therapist started Brighter Days Counseling Center, an outpatient AODA and mental health clinic in Milwaukee. After his partner’s retirement in 2015, Todd worked the next three years as an outpatient treatment therapist, primarily working with addiction areas such as alcohol, other drugs, gambling, and smoking cessation. He is now retired. Todd has been a board member of the WCPG since 2015.

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