CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW PROFILE
Board of Trustees
Lorna R . Tangara, MPH
Lorna Romero-Tangara, President & Executive Director, is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of work experience in the non-profit field.
Dr. Jorge Bascara, M.D., Vice President
Dr. Jorge Bascara, MD, is a practicing psychiatrist in New Jersey. Dr. Bascara has been a Member of the Board of Trustees of MCAC for more than 25 years.
Dr. Norman San Agustin, MD
Dr. Norman San Agustin, MD, is a Founding Member of Morris County Aftercare Center (MCAC) which celebrated its 33 years of service to our community last year.
Cleous Young, Secretary
Cleous G. Young is an active community leader and is a second year member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Young’s 2015 CGI commitment is eliminating global homelessness.
Samuel Acevedo, Treasurer
Samuel Acevedo is a Founding Member of Bridges To Success, Inc. and was the President & Founding Member of Community Action for Social Affairs, Inc., (CASA) for more than 30 years
Our Staff
Karl Tangara, MA, CPA
Chief Operating Officer. Click to find out more about Karl.
Loretta Chong, MA, CPA
Loretta Chong is MCAC’s Director of Finance and Human Resources. Ms. Chong received her bachelor’s degree in Finance from The College of New Jersey and her Masters in Accounting from the University of Virginia. She is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining MCAC, Loretta was the Vice President of Reporting & Analytics at Neuberger…
Dr. Rolando M. Robleza, MD
Rolando M. Robleza, MD, is Morris County Aftercare Center’s Medical Director. He is currently an attending physician at the Alcohol and Drug Detoxification Unit at Saint Clare’s Health System, Boonton Division. Dr. Robleza was with the U.S. Navy Medical Department (1977-1983) and was honorably discharged with the rank of Commander. He has served as a…
Dr. Salvatore Rifici, MD, F.A.S.A.M
Dr. Salvatore Rifici, MD is the Medical Director for Sussex County Aftercare Center. Dr. Rifici is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine (2004-Present) and is a member of the AMA and ASAM. He is licensed to practice Medicine in New Jersey and New York (retirement status). Dr. Rifici received his BS degree in Science from Fairleigh…
Donald H. Marks, Assistant Physician, MD PhD
Donald H. Marks, Assistant Physician, MD PhD is an internal medicine physician and medical researcher. His professional areas of interest are pharmaceutical medicine, improving healthcare access, social justice, and the effect of medications on the mind. Dr. Marks is the author of over 30 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and holds 5 U.S. patents. ReplyForward
Dr. Elmer Gilo, MD
Dr. Elmer Gilo, MD, has been MCAC’s Assistant Medical Director for more than 20 years. One of the very important contributions that he brings to MCAC is his position as Medical Director of the Morris County Correctional Facility in NJ. There exists a strong collaboration between the two agencies. Officers come to MCAC to pick up…
Dr. Daniel Bascara, MD
Daniel Bascara, M.D. is MCAC’s staff psychiatrist. Trained at the University of Pennsylvania and Saint Louis University, Philippines, Dr. Bascara currently serves as the staff psychiatrist at the Stevens Institute of Technology and the Mental Health Clinic of Passaic. He is Board-Eligible with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is also a psychiatrist of Morris County…
Matthew J. Villardo, RN, Director of Nursing
Matthew J. Villardo, RN is Morris County Aftercare Center’s Director of Nursing He is a Registered Nurse with 16 years of experience treating individuals with chronic mental illness and chemical dependency. He is licensed in both NJ and NY where he has worked in various levels of care, such as inpatient detoxification and rehab settings…
Betsy Birch, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing
Betsy has been a Registered Nurse for 45 years . She is certified by the NJ Board of Nursing . She has also been certified in Basic Life Support as well as Advanced Life Support for the past 30 years. She is certified in Critical Care Nursing and EKG interpretations . During her 30 years…
Heather Bath, LPN, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing
Heather Bath is Assistant Director of Nursing at the Sussex County Aftercare site. She has been a nurse since 1999, getting her LPN degree, then later completing her RN degree through Excelsior College in NY in 2013. She has worked in long term care settings, home care for 12 years, drug and alcohol addiction, wound…
Stephanie Puco, RN, Intake Nurse
Stephanie Puco, RN, Admissions Nurse, received her nursing education from Warren County Community College and is currently enrolled in the BSN program at Chamberlain University. Stephanie has been an RN in inpatient detox and rehabs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Pyramid Healthcare and Alina Lodge, since 2014. She is currently a staff RN at…
Steve Shann, LPN
Steve Shann has been an LPN since 1981. He received his training from Morris County School of Technology (Vo Tech). He is a certified Telemetry/EKG technician through Essex County College. Mr. Shann has worked in all modalities of nursing including acute, long-term, and private duty as well as substance abuse treatment. He has worked at…
Betsaida Albarran, LPN
Betsaida Albarran is a dedicated dispensing LPN with Morris County Aftercare Center. Betsaida likes to be called by her nickname Betsy. She received her training at Union County College in Cranford, NJ. She passed the NJ State Nursing boards and became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1999. Betsy has extensive experience as a Correctional Nurse in…
Johan Witto, LPN
Johan Witto is a Licensed Practical Nurse, who is certified by the NJ Board of Nursing. Mr Witto has also been certified in Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association. He completed his training at Berkeley College and has extensive experience at subacute and rehab centers. Mr. Witto brings a wide range of knowledge…
Karen Jabara, LPN
Karen Jabara has been an LPN since 2020. She received her training from Morris County School of Technology (Vo Tech). She is a certified Phlebotomist through Morris CountySchool of Technology and a licensed massage therapist. When not working at MCAC Karen works as a pediatric nurse.
Maria Kajogo, LPN
Maria Kajogo is a Licensed Practical Nurse, who is certified by the NJ Board of Nursing. She has her Associates Degree in Health Science as well. Ms. Kajogo is also certified in Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association. She completed her education and training at Berkeley College in 2012. From there she spent…
Jayna Gulan, BSN, RN
Jayna Gulan, BSN, RN received her Bachelors of Nursing from accelerated nursing program at Gwynedd Mercy University while maintaining a GPA of 3.57. Prior to going to nursing school, Mrs. Gulan finished her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Jayna has received an award for Everyday Champion Award at her…
Tara Triassi BSN, RN
Tara has been a nurse for 14 years with experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long Term Care, Mental Health and Substance Abuse treatment. She currently works in an inpatient psychiatric hospital where she is charge nurse. She had experience of helping people in mental health crisis, substance abuse detox and recovery, and medication management. Tara is licensed in both New York and New Jersey…
George Chernetz, RN
George has been a Registered Nurse since 2012, specializing in various areas of discipline. Has greater than 1 year experience at inpatient Mental Health and Rehab/Detox units. Has volunteered, for over 15 years, as a first responder on local First Aid Squad Has also volunteered, for over 2 years, at local Red Cross.
Nancy Dimitrovski, MSW, LCSW, LCADC
Nancy Dimitrovski, Director of Substance Abuse Treatment has a Master’s degree from Kean University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) with over 20 years of experience in the addiction’s field, 17 of which have been dedicated exclusively to medication-assisted treatment. Ms. Dimitrovski was also the…
Jeanne Marshall, MFA, MA, LCADC
Jeanne Marshall is the Director of Substance Abuse Treatment at Sussex County Aftercare Center. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from Montclair State University and is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. With 10 years of experience in medication-assisted treatment specializing in opioid addiction, Ms. Marshall was the Assistant Clinical Director at Morris…
Dr. Joanne Clifford, MA, Ph.D., CADC, LCADC
Joanne Clifford has a Master’s degree in Counseling and a PhD in Business with a concentration in adult learning and employee engagement. Her background includes designing, writing and delivering corporate training programs in an IT organization. She has completed the courses and requirements for her Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) and is continuing…
Marcel Redfearn, MA, LSW, LCADC
Marcel Redfearn has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University specializing in addictions. Ms. Redfearn comes to MCAC with 6 years of experience in working with people who have Substance Abuse Disorders and of who are dually diagnosed. Ms. Redfearn’s experience ranges from working in Intensive Outpatient, partial care, as well as…
Ernest Polite MSW, LCADC
Ernest Polite MSW, LCADC has over thirty years of experience in the fields of counseling, criminal justice, and co-occurring counseling education. With a Masters Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University, Mr. Polite is also an International Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor; a Certified Criminal Justice Specialist; a Certified Criminal Justice Professional; a State Trained HIV Counselor; and…
Tara Fincher, BA
Tara has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. Her background includes experience in the fields of social work and addiction services. Tara has been an Investigative Social Worker for the Department of Social Services Neglect and Abuse Agency, where she refined her counseling skills and knowledge of social issues….
Moira Wood, BA, CADC
Moira Wood holds a Bachelors Degree in English and Journalism from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Ms. Wood worked at NJ 211 Addictions Hotline, where she provided information and referrals for substance abuse treatment in NJ. She also worked as a counselor at the PHP/IOP/OP level of care at Mount Olive Counseling…
Cindy Bruno CPRS, CADC-COUNSELOR INTERN
Cindy comes to MCAC after 25 years as a social worker in corrections. She became passionate about helping the addicted population after realizing the correlation between addiction and criminal activity. Cindy was one of the original Recovery Specialists in the city of Paterson with specialized training in group counseling, families in crisis, clinical pharmacology, mental illnesses,…
Preston West III
Preston West III is a Counselor Intern who has worked since 2012 in various therapeutic settings including Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Partial Care, Inpatient, Residential Detox and Drug Court. He has completed his 3000 internship hours at Bethel Counseling & Family Services in Newark, NJ and has worked at Dudley House and Sunrise House as a…
Dorothy Jimenez
Dorothy Jimenez joins MCAC as a Counselor Intern. Ms. Jimenez is a former House Manager at Mrs. Wilson’s Treatment Services for Women, a halfway house that provides transitional living, family and couples counseling, trauma counseling, outpatient and intensive outpatient levels of care for women seeking recovery from addition. Ms. Jimenez has had specialized training in…
Karen Trotter
Karen Trotter has joined MCAC as a CADC Intern after spending 20 years as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (Cpht). She completed her education as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor through New Jersey Prevention Network in 2016. Ms. Trotter has also completed the HALT training that helps recovery specialists identify relapse triggers.
Roman Gonzales
Roman Gonzales, MCAC Life and Safety Officer, and UDS & IT Tech, attended Berkeley College in New Jersey. Petty Officer Gonzales actively served in the U.S. Navy for eight years on the U.S.S. Bush and the U.S.N.S. Niagara Falls. He is currently a U.S. Naval Reserve.
Nikolaz Rael, Facilities Director
Nikolaz is our Facilities Director at Morris County Aftercare Center & Sussex County Aftercare Center. Nik has a diverse background as a musician, a teacher, and in construction. A professional musician for over 30 years, Nik continues to perform over 100 shows a year as a vocalist and instrumentalist in various musical acts throughout the…
Shirley Chan, BA
Shirley Chan is the Administrative Assistant at Morris County Aftercare Center and has been with the organization for 20 years. Shirley is in charge of all billings, transfers of clients to and from hospitals, jail, or other clinics. She also assists the Executive Director in the day-to-day administration of the clinic. Shirley was a schoolteacher in Hong Kong prior to working at MCAC….
Megen Lawrence, BA
Megen Lawrence, BA is SCAC/MCAC’s clinical assistant. Ms. Lawrence has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Centenary University. Prior to joining SCAC/MCAC, she served as a therapeutic riding assistant working with special needs children at Morning Star Farms in Fredon, NJ, and volunteered at Project Self-Sufficiency in Newton, NJ, providing support for at- risk families.
Juanita Guerrero
Juanita (Anne) Guerrero has joined MCAC on January 2020. She was assigned to be the Office Manager for SCAC, MCAC branch in Sussex County. Anne has earned her Degree in Business Administration at Manuel L. Quezon University in Manila, Philippines. She worked at Kohl’s as a Supervisor and then at Steinmart, also as a Supervisor….
Dr. Agustin Gomez, MD (In Memoriam)
Dr. Agustin Gomez, MD, is MCAC’s psychiatrist. Dr. Gomez is also the Psychiatrist at the Morris County Correctional Facility in NJ. Dr. Gomez has extensive years served with the US Army in Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany. He is also a strong proponent of Neuro-feedback and Acupuncture. Many patients with PTSD have expressed their great satisfaction with…