Admissions and Outreach
Angi Grassley, MBA
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR
Angi earned her Bachelor of Science in human services from Metropolitan State University and completed her Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She comes to Polaris® with nearly a decade of experience in the admissions, mental health, and substance abuse fields through her previous work at an LGBTQ+ substance abuse program.
Angi knows from personal experience the struggles that families can go through when trying to find the best program for their child. That experience drives her passion for helping families navigate the many options they face when looking for a program that will bring the best possibility for recovery.
Wendy Adamson, CADC-II
CLINICAL MARKETING MANAGER
A seasoned professional, Wendy Adamson is a CADC II, who not only possesses a comprehensive understanding of addiction and the recovery process, but psychiatric issues as well. Wendy’s initial training came from working on the front lines in a detox center where she first honed her skills. Later, she went on to become the Director of Outpatient Services at Promises Treatment Center where she continued to build on her expansive wealth of knowledge.
With over twenty two years of personal recovery, Wendy is an excellent communicator with an easy demeanor that translates across a multitude of treatment settings. Also a dedicated philanthropist, Wendy was instrumental in directing the vision of Hav-A-Sole, a non-profit organization that delivers shoes to the homeless.
Wendy has directed the implementation of marketing strategies, executing outreach and building relationships with the community, and in just one year Have-A-Sole has become a thriving organization that has given more than six thousand pairs of shoes to those in need.
Wendy also has a passion for writing with her articles appearing in Huffington Post, Singular Magazine and the Santa Monica Mirror.
Julie Barron
HR AND COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR
Julie has been working in the mental health field for nearly 15 years, beginning her career as a residential counselor working with at-risk boys in the foster care system. She eventually became a licensed psychiatric technician and quickly advanced to working as a Compliance Director, where she gained extensive experience both in group home settings and in residential treatment.
Julie’s transition to working in Human Resources began during her employment at a behavioral healthcare facility in Tarzana. Her experience there ignited a passion for HR that reshaped her professional journey.After spending many years as an HR and Compliance Director in adult programs, Julie is excited to return to working with youth and is deeply committed to supporting the staff who care for them.