CAROL PARKS, MBA, MS, CMHP, CRRA, TTS
Executive Director
Ms. Parks - "Carol" - joined FLA as Clinical Director in July, 2022, and has proven herself an ideal choice to lead FLA in supporting lawyer wellness to benefit Florida’s entire legal community.
Since the 1990’s, Carol has worked intensively with struggling professionals, including lawyers and physicians, gaining critical insights and skills to effectively support highly-skilled professionals in high-stress careers. In her overall clinical career that spans 40 years, Carol has directly provided clinical services, trained other clinicians, and successfully managed substance abuse and mental health programs ranging from a small boutique facility to psychiatric hospitals with more than 100 beds. Today, she offers primary expertise in addiction, concurrent illness, ethics and boundary violations, and trauma.
Widely lauded for her compassionate and empathic approach, Carol works tirelessly to educate, treat, and support those experiencing difficulties.
Carol also has more than 44 years of personal sobriety, and her own rehabilitation experience fuels a deep passion for helping others. For her own well-being and happiness, Carol routinely uses the cardio machines – she’s a “5AM regular” -- at her local health club, rides her bicycle along the beaches of south Florida, plays music, and makes architectural sketches, usually drawing buildings located around the world. Carol steadfastly maintains, “I am simply an example that the miracles of recovery can happen to anyone who works hard and seeks progress.”
Carol was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and credits her rural upbringing for her strong commitment to service and self-determination. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) in 1978, and was named “Who’s Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities.” She achieved magna cum laude honors while earning her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Nova University in 1980, and summa cum laude recognition while earning her M.B.A. from St. Leo University in 2013.
JOHN LESKO
Outreach Coordinator
Practicing as a litigator in Cincinnati, Ohio, between 1994 and 2007, John Lesko represented clients in state and federal proceedings, with venues including Ohio’s appellate courts and the Ohio Supreme Court. In 2008, drawing largely on his own experience as an attorney who had suffered with a debilitating substance use disorder (“addiction”), John began pursuing a new career as a clinician specializing in the rehabilitation of attorneys and other licensed professionals. Operating as both clinician and advocate, John has worked nationally with professionals’ licensing boards and employers, as well as courts and other agencies, to help hundreds of licensed professionals achieve recovery and reclaim their careers and
personal lives. John is convinced that any individual courageous enough to address a substance use or mental health disorder is deserving of a second chance. In 2019, John accepted the position of Outreach Coordinator for Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. (FLA).
At FLA, John provides outreach, including frequent CLE presentations, case management for FLA participants, and direct intervention services for struggling lawyers, judges and law students in Florida. As a Certified Addiction Professional, John has served as a manager of professionals’ treatment programs at nationally recognized facilities. John earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and his B.A. in economics from UCLA. Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, John remains a life-long (and regularly suffering) Cleveland Browns fan.
LAUREN MORRIS, LMHC
Case Manager
Lauren Morris has been working in the field of substance abuse treatment since 1990, after being personally, and gratefully, engaged in AA in 1984. She is particularly skilled in psychosocial rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling, transitional living, and societal re-entry following incarceration. Lauren has been a group facilitator for FLA for 20 years and a full-time case manager since January 2020. In her free time, she enjoys her feline friends, photography, and travel.
Eleni Uher
Office Manager
Born and raised in Chicago, Eleni’s first job in the late 1960’s was at the corporate office of Motorola. She quickly realized that her heart was in working with people, and not products. Eleni was initially hired August 1, 1994 at FLA as a receptionist/secretary and was then promoted to Office Manager. Often called “the face of FLA,” Eleni’s heart and passion is to support law students and attorneys as they navigate their path in recovery in any way possible.
ARIANA H.
Testing Coordinator
The newest member of the FLA team, Ariana handles the testing coordination for participants of the program. She enjoys reading and long walks on the beach, and volunteering in her spare time. Ariana is always happy to chat and help clients in any way possible.