Florida

Dr. Alison Tarlow
Psy.D

Chief Clinical Director

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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.

Dr. Francisco U Cruz
MD

Medical Director

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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.

Nicola Kierce
RN

Chief Nursing Officer

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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.

Marco Oliveira

Nurse Practitioner

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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 Lindsay
LCSW, MCAP

Lead Clinical Therapist

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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.

Jonathan Stiglich
MFT

Director of Family Services

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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.

Brent Lyles
RMHCI

Clinical Therapist

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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.

Patricia Angeles
CRC

Case Manager

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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.

Megan Marchese

Clinical Tech Supervisor

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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.

Maxx Goldenberg

Utilization Review Specialist

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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.

Diane German

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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.

Jake Powers

Facilities Manager

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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.

Benjamin “Bo” Garfield

Alumni Coordinator

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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.

Dr. Alison Tarlow
Psy.D

Chief Clinical Director

---

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.

Dr. Francisco U Cruz
MD

Medical Director

---

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.

Nicola Kierce
RN

Chief Nursing Officer

---

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.

Marco Oliveira

Nurse Practitioner

---

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.

Sarah Weinstein
MSW, RCSWI

Lead Clinical Therapist

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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.”

Reverend Charlotte Day
CAP

Clinical Therapist

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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.

Dexter Green
MA, MCAP

Clinical Therapist

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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.

Patricia Angeles
CRC

Case Manager

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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.

Megan Marchese

Clinical Tech Supervisor

---

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.

Jennifer McCarty

Intake Coordinator

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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.

Jake Powers

Facilities Manager

---

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.

Benjamin “Bo” Garfield

Alumni Coordinator

---

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.

Dr. Alison Tarlow
Psy.D

Chief Clinical Director

---

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.

Dr. Francisco U Cruz
MD

Medical Director

---

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.

Nicola Kierce
RN

Chief Nursing Officer

---

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.

Marco Oliveira

Nurse Practitioner

---

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 Lindsay
LCSW, MCAP

Lead Clinical Therapist

---

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.

Jonathan Stiglich
MFT

Director of Family Services

---

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.

Brent Lyles
RMHCI

Clinical Therapist

---

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.

Patricia Angeles
CRC

Case Manager

---

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.

Megan Marchese

Clinical Tech Supervisor

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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.

Maxx Goldenberg

Utilization Review Specialist

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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.

Diane German

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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.

Jake Powers

Facilities Manager

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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.

Benjamin “Bo” Garfield

Alumni Coordinator

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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.