Staff

Don Power—Don is our Founding President and currently serves on our Board of Directors. Don, and his wife Angie, bring a wealth of experience and success related to their business, Florida Auto & Truck Exchange, and their extensive training in Marriage Education.
​Emails: [email protected] or [email protected]

Sophie Chesed - (Administrative Coordinator) joined the Marriage & Family Works team in the spring of 2018 as our go-to administrator. Sophie handles all of the day-to-day functions of the organization that keep us running smoothly as well as continuously working on the development and maintenance of our website and social media accounts. Sophie is often the first point of contact to couples scheduling their one on one coaching sessions or registering for workshops. Studying Biblical Studies, Apologetics, & Entrepreneurship at Liberty University, Sophie is driven by the desire to see healthy relationships built and restored through the power of God and unity. She and her husband Dinu met while working in Asia with Youth With A Mission and are passionate about helping couples with different cultural backgrounds grow and love one another. They reside in Bradenton.
To reach Sophie, send her an email to [email protected].

Christina Vazquez - (Development Director & Secretary of the Board) joined the Marriage & Family Works team in January of 2019 as our Development Director. In this role, Christina’s primary focus is to build & execute the organization’s development plan. As Marriage & Family Works continues to grow, she is bringing greater awareness and building relationships that will strengthen our reach and impact within the community.
A native Floridian, Christina along with her husband Eloy, have raised 6 amazing children and are the proud grandparents of 3. Through the many years of their marriage, they have learned that a strong & happy marriage has had the greatest impact on their children’s lives. They date often, talk much and can be found ocean side every free moment they have together. Their 16 yr. old daughter can often be quoted as saying “#relationshipgoals” when describing her parents ongoing displays of affection!
Christina knows first hand the hard work and investment it takes to build a family full of connection, love, and lots of laughs. Wanting every family in her community to experience this same level of joy is what fuels Christina’s passion for this mission. Christina and her husband are also very active in their home church and serve as Youth Pastors. Christina also serves as Secretary of the Board for Marriage & Family Works.
To connect with Christina, send an email to [email protected]

the board

Micah Larimore—Micah joined our Board in 2009 with a passion and vision to see marriages saved. Micah is the owner of Blooming’s Landscape & Turf Management in Sarasota, FL. We are grateful for all of Micah’s contributions to our Team, including the creation of our Hope Cottage, for families in crisis.

April Dacas—April joined our Board in 2008, and served as Secretary of the Board for many years. April and her husband Len are effective and dedicated Marriage Coaches, who help many couples to strengthen their own marriages. April and Len are the owners of Len’s Roofing, in Bradenton, FL.

Beth York - Beth joined our Board in 2019 serving as Treasurer. Beth and Doug are dedicated Marriage Coaches who specialize in helping couples in crisis as well as premarital coaching. They have been married for almost 20 years.
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In the past, Beth and Doug have made every mistake that you could possibly make to destroy a marriage, but through coaching, persistence, and using the tools that they learned, today they have an amazing marriage! Beth is a personal banker in downtown Sarasota & Doug is the owner of Hometown Quality Construction in Bradenton.  They have one son, Nick.

Dr. Richard "Rick" Marks, PhD, LPC - Dr. Richard Marks earned a PhD in counseling psychology, an MA in marriage and family therapy and an MA in religious education.  He is a licensed professional counselor and a Clinical Fellow with the AAMFT, a member of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counseling, a member of the American Counseling Association, and has spoken at national conferences such as the IAMFC, AACC, Smartmarriages, The Florida Addiction Summit and the annual NARME conference.  Dr. Marks is a sought after conference speaker for businesses, social service organizations, military and faith-based organizations.  His training includes working with trauma victims, substance abuse, sexual addictions, troubled marriages, and general mental health issues.  Since 2004 he has led a monthly HOPE Weekend marriage intensive, as well as individual marriage intensives, using the RelateWell process, with highly distressed couples with 85% still being together and reporting marital satisfaction after a year of completing the intensive program.

Dr. Marks has been married to Louella since 1984 and they have three healthy and mature adult children. Louella was a homeschool mom and wife.  She did an excellent job as all three of their children have graduate degrees from Ivy league schools.
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Dr. Marks was raised in a broken home where emotional, verbal, and physical abuse existed.  He developed an addictive personality and was deeply insecure.  After coming to the Christian faith when he was 17, right out of high school, he enlisted in the US Navy as a chaplain’s assistant.  This is where his interest and love for counseling began to take root and blossom.  This is when he met Louella, who also came from a broken home where abuse and alcoholism dominated.  Two wounded people found each other, fell in love, and married.  Yet, neither knew about healthy mature love.  They were forced to learn this out of their own marital journey.  Fortunately, they
did and passed these skills and principles on to their children and to others
in the profession. Today, Dr. Rick trains therapists and counselors using the RelateWell process to aid them and empower the couple with the emotional and relational skills needed for a loving and thriving marriage. He is the author of Relationships for Life and the RelateWell relationship curriculum.

Dr. Rick helped start Marriage Works for Don and Angie in 2008 in Manatee County.  He has traveled and spoken on healthy marriage and family issues for over 25 years and is passionate about healthy relationship initiatives in community.

OUR BIGGEST THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE

Alan Irving - Our former fearless Chairman of the Board. After serving as a Board member since 2008, Alan was elected Chairman of the Board in December 2011. Alan and his wife, Nicole have fifteen children and reside in Bradenton,  where Alan is the owner of Irving Financial Services. We miss you !

Sandy James— Sandy was a staff member, and non-voting member of the Board. Sandy joined our Staff, as Director of Marketing & Advancement, in 2009. Sandy’s experience in marketing and program development are combined with her ability to connect one-to-one with the young, single women in our programs. Sandy and her husband John have twins, Colt & Cameron . She served us well and has moved on to the Joy FM where God uses her extraordinary talents

Kristen Ross—Kristen was a staff member, and non-voting member of the Board. Kristen and her husband Tom have been Marriage Coaches with us since 2008, and together have lead marriage & parenting classes. She still helps in so many ways. An awesome woman of God who loves family and marriages. Kristen currently serves helping her brother with his golf business. Kristen and Tom founded the Providence Community School, in Bradenton. Kristen and Tom have 3 children, Hannah, Charlie and Abby.

​Nathan Groff - (Administrator) - Graduated from the University of South Florida with my master’s degree in Social Work, with his focus area being young people and the family unit. Nathan specializes in adoption and foster care cases due to his background of being adopted from South Korea when he was five months old. He has also had the privilege of serving as a youth pastor in a local church for four years, and have been involved in various youth, substance abuse, and mentoring ministries and organizations for the past several years.