About Us
Empowering survivors of Intimate Partner Violence to lead healthy and successful lives.
Anafiel House was founded in 2018, after Mark Warner and his wife, Dana, assisted a friend going through an abusive situation. They found that by providing some assistance, counsel and encouragement, this young lady became free from her abuser and went on to lead a life of independence.
Today, Anafiel House, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization located in Ringgold, Georgia, providing services to the Northwest Region of Georgia (Bartow, Catoosa, Walker, Whitfield, Murray, Gordon and Floyd), as well as Hamilton and Bradley Counties in Tennessee.
With our transitional and referral services along with comprehensive case management, we have the ability to assist Survivors navigate resources that will allow them to become independent, strong individuals to lead healthy and successful lives.
Meet The Team
Mark Warner
Executive Director
Mark Warner is the founder and Executive Director of Anafiel House, guiding new advocates in the field of Intimate Partner Violence and overseeing the background details of the organization. Mark hails from Northern Michigan but has been a permanent fixture in North Georgia for more than a decade. Mark is a seasoned technical communicator with more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology. Mark currently holds a master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University. Mark believes that no survivor of Intimate Partner Violence should be left to face the challenges of recovery alone. It was his unshakable drive that saw Anafiel House go from a concept to an incorporated nonprofit organization. Mark has found his life's passion in service to his community and plans to continue fostering and growing Anafiel House as his lasting legacy.
Callora Pearce
Assistant Director
Callora Pearce brings to Anafiel House over 33 years of administrative & managerial skills, hospitality, as well as providing exceptional customer service. With these skills and her personal experience, combined with being a survivor herself, Callora understands the importance of the support needed to empower and encourage survivors during difficult times.
Rhonda Cook
Client Care Representative
Rhonda Cook, MSW brings to Anafiel House over 25 years of social work experience in a variety of settings with diverse clients. As a social worker, Rhonda understands the role of advocates and posses the skills necessary to facilitate change. As the Client Care Representative for Anafiel House, Rhonda assists client in identifying those services required to meet their needs. Rhonda is a warm, open, encouraging, and direct, believing that healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgement. This philosophy makes Rhonda an integral part of the Anafiel House team.
Our Board Members
Amy Renae
President
Board of Directors
Amy Darby is a mother of 2 and the owner and operator of Luna Yoga in Fort Oglethorpe. After being a stay-at-home mom for 14 years, she pursued her teaching certificate in Vinyasa Yoga; obtained two certificates for Children’s Yoga; as well as an extra certification for Restorative Yoga. After 5 years of teaching privately, Amy decided it was time to open her very own space in May of 2019. Her mission was simple: To create an atmosphere where EVERYONE was welcome; teach that EVERYONE can do Yoga; to make it affordable; and most importantly, to create a loving, non-judgmental sanctuary for healing.
“Yoga has changed my life in many ways, so I feel it is only appropriate that I share my knowledge. As a Survivor of abuse from childhood into adulthood, yoga has helped me tremendously with my mental and emotional health. I am a Safe Place, as is my business; and will always be”
Amy has always had a keen interest in helping others with their survival and makes herself available to anyone.
“I want to make myself available to help because I understand firsthand, the courage it takes to move forward.”
Dr. Michelle Dennis
Treasurer
Board of Directors
Dr. Michelle Dennis serves as Executive Dean and Chief Academic Officer (interim) of Adler University’s Online Campus. She previously served this campus as Chair of the Department of Leadership and Applied Psychology and, prior to that role, as the Director of the MA and Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology programs. She has held various positions in the field of higher education over the past 22 years and previously worked as a statistician.
Dr. Dennis also serves as a Reviewer for the International Journal of Smart Education and Urban Society. She has previously served the Online Administration Network of the Association for Professional, Continuing and Online Education as Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion and she is a member of the Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prisons. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University, her MA in Training and Development from Roosevelt University, and her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the American College of Education. Dr. Dennis has published in the areas of online faculty management and virtual student and faculty engagement.
Linda Knox
Secretary
Board of Directors
Linda Knox currently works as a technical account manager for a computer software company that specializes in property management and has 33 years of experience in affordable housing. Linda is a survivor of domestic abuse and understands the intricacies and issues that people often face while trying to recover from their abuse. This knowledge, and Linda’s desire to help people recover from abusive relationships makes her a valuable asset to the Anafiel House team.
Our Volunteers
John Johnson
Heather Bryson
Anna Blake
Sylvia Kirby
Kenneth Myers
