Our Team

Ronald Kirby, Chief Executive Officer

Ronald Kirby is the founder and owner of People Advocating Transition (The P.A.T. Center), a facility dedicated to the provision of outpatient mental health services. Mr. Kirby is a graduate of Philander Smith College and has over 20 years of expertise in the mental health care industry. The P.A.T. Center serves clients in the Pine Bluff and Little Rock areas. Among The P.A.T. Center’s listed accolades is membership in the Arkansas Minority Business Owners Association and certifications through Outpatient Behavioral Health (OBH) site and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Nicole Johnson, Clinical Director

Nicole Johnson, LCSW, AADC, CS is the Clinical Director of The P.A.T. Center. The Clinical Director provides oversight of OBH services provided by qualified Mental Health Professionals and Paraprofessionals. She received undergraduate degrees in social work and psychology in 2003 and graduate training in social work from The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2005. In the 16 years that she has been with the agency, Mrs. Johnson has provided supervision for mental health and substance abuse programs, supervised interns for BSW and MSW programs for various colleges, obtained certification as an Advance Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) and Clinical Supervisor, obtained certification as a Safe Home Study Supervisor, and has been trained in TF-CBT. She is dedicated to serving others in the community by identifying gaps in service areas, increasing awareness of mental health issues, and accomplishing the mission and vision of The P.A.T. Center. In her spare time, Mrs. Johnson is dedicated to spending time with her family and has hobbies of cooking and traveling.

Bruce Horton, Director

Bruce Horton is the Director of ‘day-to-day’ operations at The P.A.T. Center, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degree in Addiction and Substance Abuse from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He received a Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health from John Brown University. He has worked in the Mental Health and Behavioral Health fields for 32 plus years. He has worked in many different settings including inpatient Residential Psychiatric Care, inpatient Acute Psychiatric Care and Out patient community Mental Health. Mr. Horton has worked with client’s ranging from three years of age to adults. He is the Corporate Compliance Officer and the CPR, CPI instructor. He has been employed with The P.A.T. Center, Inc. since 2008.

Allen Cooper, Clinical Director

Allen Cooper is the Director of the day to day operation at the PAT Center. Mr. Cooper received his Bachelors Degree from Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. He has worked in the Mental Health field for the past 30 years in various settings including Residential and Acute Psychiatric care and several outpatient community mental health programs. Mr. Cooper has worked as a case manager for past 19 years with clients with serious and persistent mental illness and dual diagnosis who have difficulty with their current needs not being met by tradition outpatient treatment.