When Marvin Dailey started his career, working in mental health wasn’t part of the plan. “I thought I was going to be a history teacher the rest of my life,” he recalled with a laugh.
After earning degrees in political science and special education from UWF, Marvin began teaching second-grade students with emotional disturbances. That experience introduced him to Lakeview Center’s mental health care programs.
In 1996, Marvin joined Lakeview Center as a behavior technician and soon transitioned to children’s case management under the guidance of Antonello Bucci. For 14 years, he worked as a case manager serving families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. “I consider myself very fortunate. Bucci was a great boss—I still call him ‘boss’ to this day.”
When Bucci moved into a new role, Marvin stepped up as supervisor of child case management—a position he’s held for 15 years. “
Today, Marvin oversees a team that serves children at risk for hospitalization or residential care. “Our families come to us when things aren’t going well. Kids are in crisis, the whole family is in crisis. We want to give them hope that things will get better.”
One of Marvin’s proudest accomplishments isn’t about his own title—it’s about the people he’s helped grow. “Hailey Vasick was one of my best hires in 15 years, without any doubt,” he says, pointing to her success story pinned on the corkboard behind his desk.
“She was probably only about 20, and a dynamite case manager. Then she got her master’s, got licensed and ended up being a supervisor. That’s probably one of the proudest things I’ve experienced at Lakeview—hiring somebody who was able to grow through the company and use those skills.”
He also values the lessons learned along the way. “Develop relationships with everybody. Treat everyone with respect—because one day someone might be your colleague, and the next day they may be your boss.”
Marvin’s heart for families shines through in his favorite tradition: coordinating with WEAR-TV for Communities Caring at Christmas. “Our families are often very poor, and Christmas is a difficult time,” he explains. “I love making sure kids have something under the tree—it’s one of my favorite things to do.” For Marvin, these moments remind him why the work matters.
In 2026, Communities Caring at Christmas donated Christmas presents for 150 children served at Lakeview Center, with Marvin serving as the liaison between several children’s services departments across our organization. Communities Caring at Christmas also supported 100 children served through FamiliesFirst Network.
After nearly 30 years at Lakeview, Marvin is thinking about the future. “If Lakeview will have me, I’ll retire here,” he says. “I love the organization. I love the people we work with. I love what we do.”
To work with compassionate team members like Marvin, visit our Careers site.