About Us
Vision Statement
The Regional Integrated Co-Occurring Education Collaborative is a registered 503c(3) non-profit organization committed to advancing the knowledge and skills of aspiring students, mental health and substance use clinicians, and affiliated professionals in the treatment of co-occurring disorders. By enhancing education and awareness, emphasizing the strengths of all disciplines in integrated care, promoting evidence-based practices, and supporting the professional development of rural practitioners, we strive to improve treatment outcomes for those we serve. With a particular focus on South Central Minnesota, as well as neighboring states, we are dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation to empower practitioners in delivering effective, person-centered care that strengthens individuals and communities.
Board of Directors
President
Steve Lansing, PhD, LICSW
Steve Lansing, PhD, LICSW, is a Licensed Mental Health Professional in Rochester, MN, with over 50 years of clinical experience. As a former Air Force Intelligence Analyst who spent two years from 1968-1970 in the Republic of Vietnam, Dr. Lansing has a passion for working with veterans and other individuals with trauma. Steve in his interest in PTSD and complex trauma has completed extensive training in evidence-based trauma treatment and more specifically cognitive therapy. He was trained and is certified as an approved provider by the architects of Cognitive Processing Therapy with over 50 hours of clinical training and ongoing education and clinical work with dozens of individuals suffering from complex trauma.
Steve is the mental health specialist for the 3rd Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court as well as consulting with several veterans’ organizations and involvement in a local PTSD support group. Recently he and his wife Ann were also certified in Cognitive Behavior Conjoint Therapy, a process of working with intimate relationships where one of the parties suffers from PTSD. Steve has advanced degrees in psychology, social work, and pastoral counseling with additional training in crisis and trauma treatment. He is also a member of the SE Minnesota Mental Health Crisis Team.
Vice-President
Thad Shunkwiler, LMFT, LPCC, ACS, CCMHC
Thad Shunkwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work, he is a licensed behavioral health provider (LMFT & LPCC) with over a decade of experience in treating people with mental health and substance use disorders in Minnesota communities.
In 2021, he founded the Center for Rural Behavioral Health, whose mission is to improve access to mental healthcare for agricultural and rural communities in Minnesota. At a time in which the mental health of our country has never been worse, his innovative work in developing partnerships within healthcare, academic, and agricultural industries has sparked solution-oriented initiatives that have benefited the mental wellbeing of rural communities across the country. The outcomes of these transformational projects have influenced policy at both the state and federal levels of government.
His commitment to rural healthcare has garnered him several accolades to include being one of seventeen healthcare professionals in the country to be named a Fellow of the National Rural Health Association along with being awarded the Emerging Rural Health Leader honor by the Minnesota Rural Health Association.
More recently, while on sabbatical from MSU-Mankato, his desire to make an impact led him to establish both Midwest Mental Health Solutions, a training and consulting firm, and Mankato Marriage Solutions, a marriage and family clinic, specializing in couples therapy for the Mankato community.
As a peer-reviewed published author, TEDx speaker, and a national and international conference keynote presenter, Professor Shunkwiler is a recognized leader in behavioral healthcare.
Treasurer
Nicole Grams
Nicole Grams obtained a master’s degree from MSU-Mankato and has a significant educational background in corrections and chemical dependency studies. Grams has been employed in the criminal justice system over the past 25 years. In July of 2014, Grams was appointed as the Steele Waseca Drug Court Coordinator. She has been responsible for the implementation of the program serving both Counties in conjunction with NADCP standards. Grams is the project manager, facilitates meetings with stakeholders, performs grant management, and is responsible for overall supervision and case management. In 2025, Grams was appointed to serve as the Waseca County Collaborative Coordinator.
Grams currently serves on the Waseca County Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, MACPO Legislative Committee, and the Regional Integrated Co-Occurring Educational Collaborative. Over the years, she has served on several other boards including the Treatment Court Initiative Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Judicial Branch; Drug Court Liaison for the Third Judicial District; Fountain Centers Advisory Board; Dual Recovery Advisory Board; Criminal Justice Committees in Waseca and Steele Counties; and the Community Services Coordinator Team committee.
Secretary
Scott J. Westbrock, MSW, LICSW
At-Large Member
Mackenzie Weis
Mackenzie Weis currently is employed with the Minnesota Department of Corrections as a Senior Probation and Parole Agent. She has served Waseca County for over two years in this role. Within her role in corrections, Mackenzie works with individuals who face challenges with their co-occurring diagnoses daily. Within the nature of Mackenzie’s caseload, more often than not mental health diagnoses accompany the substance use diagnoses the offenders have. As Mackenzie continues to learn within her role, she wants to provide a unique perspective to team what she has learned in her role as well as providing education to other professionals who work with individuals with co-occurring disorders.
At-Large Member
Rick A. Gnemi
I continue to be a Certified General Real Property Appraiser licensed in the State of Minnesota and have served since 1977 Steele, Waseca, Dodge, Rice, Freeborn, and Mower Counties. I appraise both residential, commercial and agricultural real estate. I have served as a Steele County Commissioner, first elected in 2016. I served two terms ending in 2024. I attended weekly Drug Court in both Steele and Waseca Counties during those 8 years as a commissioner. I saw first-hand the change in lives as a result of Drug Court and was privileged to witness many graduates of this extensive program. My interest in co-occurring disorders stems from my association with Drug Court clients and listening to their daily struggles to stay healthy and drug and/or alcohol free as well as the challenges they face in maintaining strong family ties and values as they face their addiction(s).