Meet Our Team
Aaron was born and raised in Miami, Florida, after struggling with his own demons of addiction, he decided to make a change, and put his recovery over everything. Aaron joined the Boca Recovery Center Team in 2017 & he takes great in pride in holding the title of Director of Business Development. Aaron plays a key role in our South Florida presence, but also travels nationwide to establish working relationships and to let the nation know Boca Recovery Center's Mission. He believes that no one is hopeless, and everyone deserves to receive the best quality care.
Alex Cuevas was born in Dearborn, MI and raised in Youngstown, OH. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance from the University of Toledo (Ohio) in 2010 and shortly after he relocated to Pompano Beach, FL. Alex began working in the substance abuse/treatment industry as a Behavioral Health Tech in 2012 while searching for opportunities in Finance. He managed to network and build relationships in the industry and worked as Receptionist, HR Supervisor, and Case Manager, before taking a position as Financial Administrator in 2014. Since that time, Alex has learned the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and developed extensive experience in both the business and financial aspects of the treatment industry. Alex remained heavily involved with, and assisted in, multiple detox/treatment startups across the country. He specializes in; executing and implementing operations, payroll, business insurance and employee benefits, lease and business agreements among other legal documents. With four years of business and finance experience under his belt, Alex feels fortunate to have been given the role of Director of Finance with Boca Recovery Center in 2018. In taking this position, Alex has been reunited with some colleagues that he worked with when first starting out in the industry. Most recently, after two successful years with the company, Alex was promoted to Chief Financial Officer where he continues to assist in current and new business ventures as the company continues to grow.
Benjamin “Bo” Garfield was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. Starting at the age of 17, he struggled with addiction for many years. In 2016, Bo was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer, and after aggressive treatment, he has been in remission since that time. Bo got sober almost 4 years ago, and in 2018, he received a Certified Recovery Specialist from Penn State, Abington. After working in treatment in Philadelphia area for several years, Bo moved to South Florida in 2019. He began working as a House Manager at a sober living facility, and then moved into positions of Behavioral Health Technician, Tech Supervisor, and now the role of Alumni Coordinator with Boca Recovery Center. Bo is actively involved in the program of Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and he enjoys sharing his strength and hope with others who are seeking recovery. Bo now has plans to work towards becoming a Certified Addictions Counselor. In his downtime, Bo can be found kayaking, playing with his Labrador, and spending time with loved ones.
Brent is a Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern in the State of Florida. From an early age, he had a desire to help others, greatly impacted by his disabled older brother who struggles with a rare form of Cerebral Palsy. Brent learned the importance of servitude, being non-judgmental, and to have unconditional positive regard for others despite their struggles in life. Brent attended college to pursue his passion to become a therapist, and graduated in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Brent remained at the college, and in 2017 earned his Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling. Throughout this time, Brent has been gaining hands-on experience by working in facilities specializing in substance abuse and mental health treatment. Brent specializes in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which focuses on concepts of mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. He is known for blending multiple styles of therapeutic approaches and interventions ranging from positive psychology to Gestalt, allowing him to focus on core underlying issues found in individuals who struggle with addiction and mental illness. In his downtime, Brent is a creator and storyteller for a comic book company, Arclight Comics. He is a fan of geek culture and a child at heart when it comes to enjoying life with his wife and family.
Casey Hiltner was born and raised in Margate, New Jersey, and moved to South Florida after reaching out to his childhood friend, Chris Ferry, for help with his addiction. With Chris’ support and encouragement, Casey found sobriety and remained in South Florida, and soon he began working for Chris as Boca Recovery Center was in its initial stages of development. Now, with several solid years of recovery under his belt, Casey has been working for Boca Recovery Center in their Admissions Department in various positions. For the past 2 years, Casey has taken a leadership role as the Director of Community Outreach, and he is excited to be relocating home to New Jersey, where he will continue in his role of Outreach at our Galloway, New Jersey facility.
Christopher Ferry is a passionate addiction recovery advocate based in Boca Raton, Florida. Born and raised in Ventnor, New Jersey, his strong desire for helping people began early on and it has stayed with him ever since. Growing up, Christopher loved playing ice hockey and was on the varsity team at St. Augustine Prep School. By 18 years old, he was invited to try out for the USA National Team Development Program (Team USA). Shortly afterwards, he walked away from ice hockey and began using drugs. Christopher developed an addiction that continued for many years, and his life spiraled out of control. During this time, Christopher served as the Co-founder of a Jacksonville-based insurance franchise called We Insure Florida, from which he had to step down in order to enter treatment for his addiction. Christopher ultimately entered into drug treatment programs on two occasions, and finally, on February 21, 2013, Christopher found long-term sobriety. As soon as he was able to get sober, Christopher decided to transform his challenging past into a present triumph through helping others who have gone through similar struggles. Now with many years sober, he is the proud Owner/Founder of Boca Recovery Center. Utilizing his in-depth marketing expertise, he aims to encourage people battling with the disease of addiction to find a positive outlet in the form of drug and alcohol treatment. Additionally, Christopher is Certified National Master Interventionist (C.N.M.I.) and received his certification from the National Association of Drug & Alcohol Interventionists (N.A.D.A.I.). He has also studied marketing and business development extensively. After everything he has endured, Christopher has adopted “Never Say Die” (Never Give Up) as his life- long motto. During his free time, Christopher enjoys attending sporting events. He also has an avid interest in physical fitness. Most importantly, he loves spending quality time with his family and close friends.
Dexter Green comes to Boca Recovery Center with extensive experience in substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. He graduated from NJCU in 2005 with a Master's Degree in Education and Rehabilitation with a concentration in Psychology. He is Board Certified to provide therapy in the state of FL as a Master’s Level Addiction Professional, Mental Health Professional, Criminal Justice Addiction Professional, IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Certified E- Therapist. Dexter has over 15 years of experience working with individuals, adolescents and families who suffer with addiction and mental health diagnoses. During his tenure, he held positions as a Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and Clinical Director. Dexter uses a number of evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Family Systems Theory. Dexter takes a holistic, strengths-based, person-centered approach to treatment that utilizes effective and relevant interventions to meet his clients’ needs. When he is not working, Dexter enjoys spending time with family and coaching youth football.
Diane German has been with Boca Recovery Center for the past two years. She was born and raised in Queens, New York, and attended high school with a focus on Accounting and Business Administration. Diane worked for various corporations in New York City, and then moved to Florida in 1989 where she worked as the Terminal Manager at the Fort Lauderdale Airport. In 1996, Diane began a career at Harte Hanks, one of the largest Logistics Firm in the World. She was quickly promoted within the organization, spending 21 years there. In 2018, Diane wanted a career change, so she joined the team at Boca Recovery Center as a Behavioral Health Technician. Being in recovery herself, Diane enjoyed being able to work with clients with whom she could connect with and support each day. Within a year, Diane was promoted to the Human Resources Officer, a position that she enjoys very much because it allows her to remain with the organization but use her business administration skills within the HR department.
Dr. Alison Tarlow is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the States of Florida and Pennsylvania, and a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP). She has been a practicing psychologist for over 15 years. She began her career as a Postdoctoral Resident at The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders, specializing in the treatment of women’s issues, including Post Traumatic Stress, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Addiction. Dr. Tarlow developed a successful private practice in Boca Raton, Florida, and began consulting for treatment centers and programs throughout the South Florida area. Before joining the clinical team at Boca Recovery Center, Dr. Tarlow was the Clinical Director of an organization for three years, and was responsible for the development of a medical detox facility in Palm Beach, and two substance abuse treatment facilities (in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida). She has specialized training in a variety of evidenced-based practice, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Dr. Tarlow is also a Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator in the State of Florida, and incorporates this experience into her work with clients and their families. Dr. Tarlow has written numerous articles on the topic of substance abuse treatment for Sober World Magazine, and has presented at conferences and training events throughout the United States.
Francisco U Cruz, M.D. is board certified in General Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He has been practicing psychiatry for 14 years and has extensive experience treating mental illness and substance use disorders in a variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and detox levels of care. Dr. Cruz believes in a holistic approach to mental illness incorporating bio-psycho-social-spiritual elements to help patients achieve emotional stability and true inner peace. He strives to provide excellent client centered care and use new treatment modalities to improve the quality of life and overall health of his patients.
Gigi is a LMHC, CAP, Certified Sex Therapist, as well as Florida Supreme Court certified for Family Mediation and SASSI certified. For the past 15 years Gigi has worked with the dually diagnosed population with trauma specific issues. Gigi specializes in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT facilitates interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, reality acceptance, emotional regulation, and mindfulness. Through the practice of DBT, patients challenge distorted thinking, reduce impulsivity and emotional pain. By developing mindfulness and awareness they are able to improve the quality of their relationships and lives. Gigi is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Jake Powers has worked at Boca Recovery Center for the past 3 years, starting as a Behavioral Health Technician, and then moving to the position of Case Manager, and now his current role as Facilities Manager/Safety and Compliance Officer. In this role, Jake is in charge of ensuring that all of the facilities of Boca Recovery Center are up and running safely and smoothly and kept in top-notch condition. Jake has been in recovery for many years and he enjoys providing sponsorship to men seeking sobriety through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Jake is also currently attending Florida Atlantic University, where he is in the midst of seeking his Bachelors’ Degree in Business and Finance. When Jake finds downtime, he enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife and infant daughter and two rescued pit-bulls, or he can be found fishing or on the golf course.
Jennifer Mccarty was born and raised in South Florida. After completing school, she came to Boca Recovery Center as a Behavioral Health Technician in 2017. After showing hard work and dedication, she was promoted to Intake Coordinator at our Detox location, where she is typically the first person that our clients will meet with as they orient to the program. Jen enjoys working directly with our clients to ensure that they are comfortable and ready to engage in our treatment program.
Jonathan, is a Marriage and Family Therapist and the Boca Recovery Center Family Weekend Coordinator. Born in Lima, Peru, his family moved to the Fort Lauderdale area when he was 7 years old. Jonathan attended Lynn University, graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He then went on to complete his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Nova Southeastern University. Since graduation, Jonathan has worked at several facilities as a clinical therapist, focusing on the treatment of Substance Use Disorders and co-occurring mental health issues, with a focus on treating not only the individual, but also the family unit.
Joe grew up in New Jersey which is where he originally tried to get help for his addiction, finally coming to Florida he was able to get sober. He has worked in the field of addiction since 2013 as a licensed interventionist and assisting in the admissions process. Being in recovery himself, Joe can relate and aid others in the recovery process. He helps clients with the entire admissions process including tours of our facilities for clients and family members, transportation arrangements and getting clients settled once they arrive. Joe understands the days leading up to admitting into a facility can be stressful and aims to make the process as comfortable as possible for clients and their loved ones.
Justin is Boca Recovery Centers's Chief Legal Officer and specializes in behavioral healthcare regulation and compliance. Justin has worked extensively in matters involving state and federal regulation of mental health and substance abuse facilities, including, but not limited to, consulting start-up and established businesses, handling licensure and accreditation applications, drafting policy and procedure manuals, representing clients at audits, and counseling clients with regards to regulatory compliance matters. Justin's valuable experience includes his aggressively advocating for clients in a wide array of contracts. Justin was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida in 2006 and a Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2009. Justin is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, as well as the federal courts in the Southern District of Florida. When not working, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf as much as possible and rooting for the University of Central Florida’s athletics programs.
Kathryn is a certified addictions counselor (CAC) (ICADC) (CET) with multiple years of experience in the field of Dual Diagnosis. Kathryn's passion and enthusiasm for assisting individuals suffering from chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders is unparalleled. Throughout her career, Kathryn has attained positions of progressive responsibility within nationally renowned treatment facilities. Her prior experience and expertise includes recovery counseling, admissions coordinator, family program development, clinical coordinator, operations management, and program director. Kathryn is responsible for managing the Boca Recovery Center programs and on her free time she can generally be found offering support to her recovery community. Kathryn has spent nearly 10 years in media and outreach to bring awareness of our present opioid epidemic. Her work includes coordinating alumni events; developing Parent and Family Support groups; working with her community on addiction prevention programs.
Lindy Yackk grew up in Wilmington Delaware surrounded by a large family. Addiction was normalized throughout her day to day life and community. Experiencing the damage it caused, she developed a passion to make a difference in the lives of addicts and their families, to give back and help guide them to a better life. The process of admitting to treatment can be terrifying to an addict. Lindy has over 8 years of experience in working with addicts during the vital moment of asking for help. She has dedicated her life to helping any addict seeking recovery find the hope and freedom they deserve.
Marco M Oliveira is a native of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, living in the United States for the past 31 years. He received his Master in Nursing Science Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with Family Practice concentration from the University of Miami – UM. Marco Oliveira works with Dr. Cruz MD as a Nurse Practitioner caring for Boca Recovery Center clients, specialized in the treatment of mental health and substance addiction illnesses. Marco believes that patient’s treatment must be guided by a holistic approach and by a multi-disciplinary team, in order to heal body, mind, and soul. He has also worked for 7 years at Cleveland Clinic Florida – IMCU Department as a Charge Nurse, caring for Liver, Heart, and Kidney transplant patients. For the past year he has worked 1 day a week on the RN Float Pool at Cleveland in the ER and IMCU. Marco says that he enjoys his work as a bedside RN so much that, despite now having a higher degree as ARNP-FNP, he maintains his RN job at that facility to keep his skills sharp. He has also worked as a Flight Nurse. He is married to Carolina Assis, an ARNP at Cleveland Clinic Family Practice Dept and has 2 children that gave him 3 grandchildren. Marco enjoys boating and you can find him on weekends at one of the sandbar sites in South Miami. Another passion on his curriculum is aviation. He holds an airplane license with a rating to fly a few of the private jets in the market. He also has a Hangliding certificate but said that his wife has clipped his wings because of the high risk of flying it off mountains with no engines, propelled only by wind currents.
Maryssa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as a Master’s Certified Addictions Professional in the state of Florida. Maryssa’s inherent passion to help others led her to pursue the social work field at Florida Atlantic University. Throughout her course of study, she developed a growing desire to work in the field of substance use disorders. Upon completing the Advanced Standing program to obtain her Master’s degree in social work, Maryssa began her career as a clinical support staff member. Maryssa grew into the role of primary therapist where she was able to continue developing her skills as a therapist, group facilitator, and case manager. Maryssa takes a strengths-based, solution-focused approach to develop a strong rapport and empower her clients to create change in their lives. She believes that the development of self esteem and self love is essential to maintaining long term sobriety. Maryssa’s experience allows her to address a broad range of issues including substance use, codependency, self esteem, co-occurring mental health, anger, emotion regulation, and behavior modification.
Maxx has been working in health insurance related fields for 15 years and has been specializing in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Utilization Review for ten of those years. Max recently graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor’s in Business and is in the process of furthering his education by obtaining a Master’s Degree. Maxx's extensive knowledge of health insurance, specifically in regards to the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health component equips him to advocate for our clients seeking treatment at all levels of care. Maxx is passionate about recovery and he uses this drive to ensure our clients are receiving the best possible care to treat their disorders. Maxx a huge asset to Boca Recovery Center and the clients who seek treatment with us every day.
Megan Marchese is a great asset to our staff and housing department of Boca Recovery Center. Megan moved to Florida from Plymouth Meeting PA, in search of her passion to help others. She started working for Boca Recovery Center as a Behavioral Health Technician in 2017, and soon became our Housing Supervisor. Megan brings to Boca Recovery Center a strong knowledge of twelve step programming, a warm and positive attitude, and the gift of great organizational skills. Megan enjoys being able to work directly with our clients, ensuring that they are able to feel comfortable and safe as they embark upon their journey in sobriety.
Michael Ferry was born and raised in Ventnor City, NJ. After his own personal struggles with addiction, Michael relocated to Florida to start his journey through recovery in 2014. Over the past 3 years, Michael has gained a wide variety of knowledge in the treatment industry including marketing, admissions, community outreach and is currently a nationally certified interventionist. The Boca Recovery Center Family is pleased to announce Michael Ferry as Director of Marketing and we're excited to have the added expertise he brings to the team. His goal is to assist those suffering from addiction and their families in the best way he can.
Nicola Kierce is Chief Nursing Officer for Boca Recovery Center. She was born and raised in Florida, and after completing high school, Nicola studied Nursing at Broward College, completing her degree in 2005. For almost 10 years, Nicola worked in the hospital setting, gaining experience in many areas including Emergency Medicine, Bariatric Surgery, and Mother and Baby. In 2014, Nicola began working in the field of Substance Use Disorders, taking a position at a treatment facility where she remained for 5 years as a Director of Nursing. She returned to school at Perdue University, where she received her Bachelor of Nursing Degree in 2019, and is currently completing her Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatry. Nicola joined the team at Boca Recovery Center in 2019, when they opened their Medical Detox and Residential Program in South Florida. Since that time, Nicola has been instrumental in developing our Medical Detox and Residential facility in Pompano Beach, Florida, and she will now be overseeing the opening of our Medical Detox and Residential facility in Galloway, New Jersey. Nicola shares that working in Substance Use Disorder treatment is so meaningful to her because she is able to see individuals who come in broken and defeated, and they leave treatment with restored lives, and an ability to return to society with hope for a better existence.
Nicole Newby, grew up in South Jersey in a close-nit family. Nicole struggled with addiction for a few years before ending up in South Florida to find recovery. Since entering recovery Nicole's passion and drive to want to help others became her mission. Nicole did graduate college with a degree in Communications but found her career path in helping others find their way to recover as well. The admission process is something Nicole knows well and has now been in the field for a little over 2 years. Nicole utilizes her extensive knowledge and ability to give back to family members and their loved ones who have been affected by addiction.
Patricia has worked at Boca Recovery Center since the doors first opened in 2016. She has held the position of Case Manager since inception of the organization and has enjoyed seeing significant growth and development within the company over the past 4 years. Patricia graduated from SUNY Albany with a Bachelors’ Degree in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. She has worked for many years in child welfare, foster care, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment. For 12 years, Patricia held the position of Regional Chairperson for “The Fresh Air Fund,” in New York City. Patricia moved to South Florida so that she could be closer to the beach and sunny weather. Patricia is a Certified Recovery Coach and enjoys working with the clients at Boca Recovery Center. She particularly enjoys being able to provide the clients with much needed resources, including aftercare referrals, tuition assistance, sober housing, medical/dental or legal resources, and other important information that will benefit the clients as they work on building a solid lifestyle in recovery. Patricia always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude, and in her spare time she can be found at the beach, enjoying time with family and friends, traveling, and bringing her knowledge of aromatherapy to the office.
Charlotte is nationally-recognized for creating and developing Christian Substance Abuse Programs as well as outreaches for the community. This includes Christian concerts and convocations to promote recovery, and women’s programming to offer support and guidance within Christian recovery. Charlotte has appeared on the Trinity Broadcast Network and has directed and performed in several videos pertaining to Christianity and the Twelve Steps. Charlotte is a Certified Addictions Professional and holds a music degree. She was also a successful performer in the entertainment business, until she heard the call for a higher purpose. Charlotte now incorporates her love and talent for music and the arts as a way to help people heal from the ravages of addiction. Charlotte’s mission is to bring healing and God’s love to people who are hurting and are looking for a better way of life. Boca Recovery Center is very excited to have Charlotte with us to oversee our Christian Spirituality Track.
Robert Cornett, has worked many years in treatment as well as a few years of experience in the healthcare industry. Robert grew up in Maryland and struggled with addiction prior to his path to Florida for recovery. Robert utilizes his own experiences when speaking to those struggling with addiction and their loved ones to help guide them in the admissions process. Robert is a proud member of Boca Recovery working tirelessly to assist those struggling with addiction and guide them into the beginning stages of their journey.
Originally from Canada, Sarah has been living in Florida for the past 19 years. She has been practicing Social Work since that time. Sarah's passion for therapy stems from growing up and advocating for a mother who had Schizophrenia, a disease that is often feared and stigmatized by society. Her family has also been touched by the disease of addiction and suicide. Through her work, Sarah remains committed to helping people overcome addictions to alcohol and drugs, depression, anxiety, and other stresses that affect all of us at some time in our lives. Sarah believes that healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgment, and she cooperatively assists her clients in clarifying their goals for treatment. Rather than adopting one methodology for all individuals and issues, Sarah draws from a variety of methods to create a tailored approach for each individual and situation. As a therapist, Sarah is warm, open, encouraging, and direct. She considers herself an active therapist, combining experience, education, creativity, and sense of humor with a down-to-earth, realistic approach to counseling. Sarah received her Bachelor of Sociology & Criminology from Saint Mary’s University, Nova Scotia, Canada, and her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from University of Louisville, Kentucky. Before going back to school and obtaining her MSW, Sarah was a Certified Child Welfare Supervisor for almost 14 years. She has also worked with adolescents and adults in the community, residential treatment centers and other psychiatric settings. She also has extensive experience counseling clients with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. Sarah believes that her background and experience, “enables me to be an extremely effective social worker who is comfortable counseling diverse groups of people.”
Teague was born and raised in Southern New Jersey. After moving to Florida 10 years ago, he was introduced into the world of recovery. He has worked at a variety of different treatment centers holding positions from Behavioral Health Technician to Admissions. In those roles, he saw a need for a liaison to be able to provide a clear, concise explanation to clients and their loved ones about the intricacies of health insurance. As Director of Client Accounts at Boca Recovery Center, Teague is the front line to answer any and all questions potential and current clients may have about their insurance coverage, as well as their families. He provides answers and compliance in an ever changing atmosphere of the substance abuse healthcare industry. In his free time, Teague enjoys playing the guitar, tinkering on his Jeep and spearfishing.