• President

    Michael R. Neise, PhD, has more than 40 years of experience in education and psychology. He graduated from Creighton University with a BS is Psychology and a secondary major in special education; completed his Master’s in Education from University of San Diego; and received his Doctorate in Educational Psychology, specializing in Clinical Psychology and Special Education. Dr. Neise has been a licensed psychologist in the state of Nebraska since 1989. From beginning as a special education teacher in the classroom, to serving as the Chief Clinical Officer for a private agency working with the Nebraska State’s Children and Family’s reform, Dr. Neise has developed a unique person-centered approach focused on helping individuals or groups achieve positive outcomes.

  • Vice President

    John Hoffman has been dedicated to his work with children and youth. His experience includes being a foster parent for nearly 15 years, direct service care, program development, and management. Before joining Paradigm in 2011, John held leadership positions at two major behavioral health care organizations as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. John attended Creighton University for undergraduate studies and completed his Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. John guides our operations with a sharp eye for detail, practical solutions, and the relentless pursuit of quality.

  • Executive Director

    Dani Kessler has over 20 years of experience working with children and families. Her experience includes both field work as well as management; and she was a licensed foster parent for 10 years. Dani has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her Master’s Degree is in Human Services. Dani provides supervision for Family Support Workers providing In and Out-of-Home Family Support, Parenting Time/Supervised Visitation, and private or court ordered supervised visitation. Her dedication to the staff has a direct impact on the successful outcomes with the families we serve.

  • Behavioral Health Services Coordinator - Omaha Service Area

    Nichol Hammrich-Haga joined Paradigm in September 2021. She supervises Paradigm’s Family Centered Treatment (FCT), Intensive Family Preservation (IFP), and Outpatient Competency Restoration (OCR) programs in Omaha. In December 2025, she earned her FCT Supervisor Certification through the Family Centered Treatment Foundation (FCTF). Nichol has over 20 years of experience working in the human service field. Her experience includes providing direct services through case management, therapy services to children, adults, families and couples and crisis response services. Nichol also has experience in program development, supervision and teaching. Nichol graduated with her BS in Interdisciplinary Sciences from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from the University of South Dakota and her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Wyoming. Nichol is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner in the state of Nebraska. She is passionate about developing strong teams and ensuring every program she oversees reflects Paradigm’s commitment to its C.A.R.E.S. Model.

  • Behavioral Health Services Coordinator - Lincoln Service Area

    Julie Griesenbrock joined Paradigm in August 2026 as the Behavioral Health Services Coordinator for Paradigm’s Lincoln Family Centered Treatment program, OCR, and IFP. She brings a decade of progressive experience in Nebraska’s behavioral health and family services field, spanning direct care, family preservation therapy, and clinical supervision. Most recently, she served as Clinical Supervisor for Family Centered Treatment at Lutheran Family Services, where she supervised clinical staff, led program development and compliance, and partnered across teams to strengthen service delivery. Julie holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Doane University, her FCT Supervisor Certification through the Family Centered Treatment Foundation, and training in trauma-informed modalities including EMDR, TF-CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. She is committed to building strong programs and supporting families through evidence-based, compassionate care.

  • Admin Support (IT, HR, Training)

    Scott Fouts provides support for all of our operations. Paradigm is committed to being in compliance with HIPPA and records retention through a virtual paperless office. He brings extensive knowledge of how Information Technology services can aid workers in being efficient, so they can focus their energies on the children and families. He has many years of experience in training and human resources.