Our Team
Executive Director
Darenys Radich
Darenys Radich is wife to her amazing husband, Paul, mother to their 6 children (ages 15-28), and co-creator of the Little Dates Club as well as its Executive Director. Being a happily married homemaker for almost 30 years, she hopes to change the Catholic dating culture through LDC so that many others can experience the joys of connection, relationship and ultimately the beautiful covenant of marriage. She and her husband met as graduate students at the Catholic University of America and have lived in the DC area ever since. She loves people, parties, dancing, interior design, talking about dating, crocheting, reading (especially wholesome romance), movies and bringing people together for fun events!
Darenys Radich
Darenys Radich is wife to her amazing husband, Paul, mother to their 6 children (ages 15-28), and co-creator of the Little Dates Club as well as its Executive Director. Being a happily married homemaker for almost 30 years, she hopes to change the Catholic dating culture through LDC so that many others can experience the joys of connection, relationship and ultimately the beautiful covenant of marriage. She and her husband met as graduate students at the Catholic University of America and have lived in the DC area ever since. She loves people, parties, dancing, interior design, talking about dating, crocheting, reading (especially wholesome romance), movies and bringing people together for fun events!
Darenys Radich is wife to her amazing husband, Paul, mother to their 6 children (ages 15-28), and co-creator of the Little Dates Club as well as its Executive Director. Being a happily married homemaker for almost 30 years, she hopes to change the Catholic dating culture through LDC so that many others can experience the joys of connection, relationship and ultimately the beautiful covenant of marriage. She and her husband met as graduate students at the Catholic University of America and have lived in the DC area ever since. She loves people, parties, dancing, interior design, talking about dating, crocheting, reading (especially wholesome romance), movies and bringing people together for fun events!
Darenys Radich
Board of Directors
Maria Creitz is grateful to God for the gift of nearly 25 years of marriage to her best friend and for the privilege of being a mother to the seven wonderful children He has entrusted to her. As co-creator and board member of the LDC, she hopes to help make the vocation of marriage a reality for many others.
Maria Creitz
John Vernon
John Vernon is an attorney and strategic advisor who has worked across sectors with a focus on helping organizations translate complex ideas into practical, lasting solutions. He has advised startups on market strategy and growth, implementing systems and tools that improve operational effectiveness. His experience on for-profit and non-profit boards includes both early-stage growth and institutional decision-making, giving him a balanced perspective on governance, execution, and long-term impact. Before striking out on his own, John spent several years at the law firm Shulman Rogers and also at Paladin Capital Group, a venture capital firm focused on cybersecurity and emerging technologies, where he helped invest in and build companies from the ground up. He has also worked in public policy and consulting roles. In the community, John serves on both the School Board and Pastoral Council at St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis. He has a JD from Villanova University School of Law and an MS and BS from the University of Notre Dame. He is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Maryland Bar and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Emma Karch
Emma Karch serves as an Administrative Specialist at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where she works in Strategic Planning and Internal Controls. She supports knowledge management, internal controls, and enterprise risk initiatives, helping maintain accurate documentation, strengthen organizational processes, and assist with oversight activities. Emma has played a key role in projects that modernize workflows, streamline processes, and enhance team efficiency across divisions. Prior to joining the FDIC full-time, Emma gained experience in human resources and operational support through internships in both the private and public sectors. Her work involved conducting staffing and resource analysis, performing audits, supporting data management initiatives, and assisting in process improvements and system modernization projects that promoted data-driven decision making and operational effectiveness. Emma holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Fr. James Glasgow
Fr. James Glasgow is the third of seven children, born and raised in Montgomery Country, MD (his immediately older brother besting him also in the priesthood, being ordained one year before him). Fr. James studied mathematics at The Catholic University of America and in the course of his time there recognized the call from our Lord to enter seminary, whereupon he continued his studies at Catholic University while living at the St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, DC. From 2016-2021, he was sent to the Pontifical North American College, in Rome for his theological studies. He was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2020. From 2021-2024, Fr. James was assigned as the parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Rockville, Maryland. He is currently in residence at St. Patrick’s, and is assigned as the chaplain to the Catholic Newman Center at George Washington University.
Kristi Melgaard
Kristi Melgaard is a wife and mother of three. She met her husband in the University of Maryland pep band, when she sat next to him for 8 hours on a coach bus to a basketball tournament in Providence, Rhode Island. They talked the whole way there and back. That was in 1990. Dating was much more comfortable back then. Now she hopes to encourage a healthy Catholic dating culture for this next generation, including her own children. She has been homeschooling since 2002, with only one child left at home. In her spare time, she serves on the planning team for Mother of God Scholars (a Catholic homeschooling academy), accompanies the Kings Cathedral Youth Band Program on alto saxophone, keyboard and drums, designs costumes for HST (Homeschool Talent, a Christian homeschoolers' performing arts organization), sings in the choir at Saint John Neumann's parish in Gaithersburg, and keeps score for Upwards basketball league. She loves history field trips and traveling to the U.S. National Parks and Europe.
Bridget Franovich
My name is Bridget Franovich. My husband, Dave, and I have been married for 24 years. We have seven children, five girls and two boys, ages 22 to 7. I graduated from The Catholic University of America in 1995 and have homeschooled our children for the past 17 years. Our oldest graduated from Franciscan University in May 2025. We live an hour north of Washington D.C. in a small town called Derwood. I have lived most of my life in Maryland. My husband is from Revere, just outside Boston, MA. Our family stays very active with school, sports, our parish of St. Peter's in Olney, MD, as well as visiting extended family in MA, FL. and DE throughout the year.
Paul Radich
Paul Radich is the lucky husband of Darenys Radich, and father of six children. He grew up in Oregon, studied Great Books, physics, and theology, and earned a doctorate in philosophy. His family has lived in the Rockville, MD, area for almost 30 years. He has taught middle school, high school, and now teaches at The Catholic University of America, in the Busch School of Business and Economics. Paul’s academic work focuses on human dignity and human flourishing in the context of marketing and business ethics. He has served on the parish council at his local parish, and on the ethics committee of the American Marketing Association. He and Darenys love to dance, and they have seen nearly every PG romantic comedy (please recommend any that you like). For 25 years they have participated in a Teams of Our Lady group, a movement that began in France in the 1940’s and fosters conjugal spirituality. Darenys and Paul help mentor younger couples whenever they are asked, and in the past have helped with the marriage preparation program in the parish, focusing on communication and intimacy. They love to have massive gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, welcoming everyone into their home. They look forward to meeting you soon.
Max Torres
Max is the father of eight children and grandfather of six with Devra, his wife of 36 years. They joyfully adhere to Catholic teaching on romance, marriage and family and firmly believe that the Church gets relationships, sexuality, and more fundamentally, the human person, right. He serves on the Board of the Little Dates Club because he believes that: fecund love between a man and a woman in marriage is the path God has laid down for most people to become one with Him; ultimately, unity with God is the only goal worth pursuing in life; restoring a healthy, low-pressure.
Ethan Hennessy
Ethan Hennessy is the Assistant Director of Social Ministry for Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland’s largest private provider of human services. At Catholic Charities he oversees parish outreach and engagement as well as coordinating the organization’s AWARE sessions, and alternative break trips for college students traveling to Baltimore for immersive volunteer experiences. Hennessy previously held roles at both the administrative and program levels in Catholic Charities as the Associate to the Executive Director and a Job Placement Specialist. Hennessy also works at Loyola University Maryland in the athletics department providing gameday statistical work for the Greyhounds division one athletics contests in the Patriot League. He holds a BA from Valparaiso University in Geography and an MA from Brandeis University in Sustainable International Development. Hennessy enjoys traveling, covering college basketball, playing sports, going on walks, and reading. Ethan participated in the club and met his girlfriend through it. He joined the LDC board because he felt a call to give back and he found the club to be a great way to meet young adults who want to grow in their faith and are looking to go on dates.
John Vernon
Maria Creitz
Maria Creitz is grateful to God for the gift of nearly 25 years of marriage to her best friend and for the privilege of being a mother to the seven wonderful children He has entrusted to her. As co-creator and board member of the LDC, she hopes to help make the vocation of marriage a reality for many others.
John Vernon is an attorney and strategic advisor who has worked across sectors with a focus on helping organizations translate complex ideas into practical, lasting solutions. He has advised startups on market strategy and growth, implementing systems and tools that improve operational effectiveness. His experience on for-profit and non-profit boards includes both early-stage growth and institutional decision-making, giving him a balanced perspective on governance, execution, and long-term impact. Before striking out on his own, John spent several years at the law firm Shulman Rogers and also at Paladin Capital Group, a venture capital firm focused on cybersecurity and emerging technologies, where he helped invest in and build companies from the ground up. He has also worked in public policy and consulting roles. In the community, John serves on both the School Board and Pastoral Council at St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis. He has a JD from Villanova University School of Law and an MS and BS from the University of Notre Dame. He is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Maryland Bar and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Emma Karch serves as an Administrative Specialist at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where she works in Strategic Planning and Internal Controls. She supports knowledge management, internal controls, and enterprise risk initiatives, helping maintain accurate documentation, strengthen organizational processes, and assist with oversight activities. Emma has played a key role in projects that modernize workflows, streamline processes, and enhance team efficiency across divisions. Prior to joining the FDIC full-time, Emma gained experience in human resources and operational support through internships in both the private and public sectors. Her work involved conducting staffing and resource analysis, performing audits, supporting data management initiatives, and assisting in process improvements and system modernization projects that promoted data-driven decision making and operational effectiveness. Emma holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Emma Karch
Kristi Melgaard
Fr. James Glasgow
Fr. James Glasgow is the third of seven children, born and raised in Montgomery Country, MD (his immediately older brother besting him also in the priesthood, being ordained one year before him). Fr. James studied mathematics at The Catholic University of America and in the course of his time there recognized the call from our Lord to enter seminary, whereupon he continued his studies at Catholic University while living at the St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, DC. From 2016-2021, he was sent to the Pontifical North American College, in Rome for his theological studies. He was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2020. From 2021-2024, Fr. James was assigned as the parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Rockville, Maryland. He is currently in residence at St. Patrick’s, and is assigned as the chaplain to the Catholic Newman Center at George Washington University.
Kristi Melgaard is a wife and mother of three. She met her husband in the University of Maryland pep band, when she sat next to him for 8 hours on a coach bus to a basketball tournament in Providence, Rhode Island. They talked the whole way there and back. That was in 1990. Dating was much more comfortable back then. Now she hopes to encourage a healthy Catholic dating culture for this next generation, including her own children. She has been homeschooling since 2002, with only one child left at home. In her spare time, she serves on the planning team for Mother of God Scholars (a Catholic homeschooling academy), accompanies the Kings Cathedral Youth Band Program on alto saxophone, keyboard and drums, designs costumes for HST (Homeschool Talent, a Christian homeschoolers' performing arts organization), sings in the choir at Saint John Neumann's parish in Gaithersburg, and keeps score for Upwards basketball league. She loves history field trips and traveling to the U.S. National Parks and Europe.
My name is Bridget Franovich. My husband, Dave, and I have been married for 24 years. We have seven children, five girls and two boys, ages 22 to 7. I graduated from The Catholic University of America in 1995 and have homeschooled our children for the past 17 years. Our oldest graduated from Franciscan University in May 2025. We live an hour north of Washington D.C. in a small town called Derwood. I have lived most of my life in Maryland. My husband is from Revere, just outside Boston, MA. Our family stays very active with school, sports, our parish of St. Peter's in Olney, MD, as well as visiting extended family in MA, FL. and DE throughout the year.
Bridget Franovich
Paul Radich
Max Torres
Max is the father of eight children and grandfather of six with Devra, his wife of 36 years. They joyfully adhere to Catholic teaching on romance, marriage and family and firmly believe that the Church gets relationships, sexuality, and more fundamentally, the human person, right. He serves on the Board of the Little Dates Club because he believes that: fecund love between a man and a woman in marriage is the path God has laid down for most people to become one with Him; ultimately, unity with God is the only goal worth pursuing in life; restoring a healthy, low-pressure.
Paul Radich is the lucky husband of Darenys Radich, and father of six children. He grew up in Oregon, studied Great Books, physics, and theology, and earned a doctorate in philosophy. His family has lived in the Rockville, MD, area for almost 30 years. He has taught middle school, high school, and now teaches at The Catholic University of America, in the Busch School of Business and Economics. Paul’s academic work focuses on human dignity and human flourishing in the context of marketing and business ethics. He has served on the parish council at his local parish, and on the ethics committee of the American Marketing Association. He and Darenys love to dance, and they have seen nearly every PG romantic comedy (please recommend any that you like). For 25 years they have participated in a Teams of Our Lady group, a movement that began in France in the 1940’s and fosters conjugal spirituality. Darenys and Paul help mentor younger couples whenever they are asked, and in the past have helped with the marriage preparation program in the parish, focusing on communication and intimacy. They love to have massive gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, welcoming everyone into their home. They look forward to meeting you soon.
Ethan Hennessy is the Assistant Director of Social Ministry for Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland’s largest private provider of human services. At Catholic Charities he oversees parish outreach and engagement as well as coordinating the organization’s AWARE sessions, and alternative break trips for college students traveling to Baltimore for immersive volunteer experiences. Hennessy previously held roles at both the administrative and program levels in Catholic Charities as the Associate to the Executive Director and a Job Placement Specialist. Hennessy also works at Loyola University Maryland in the athletics department providing gameday statistical work for the Greyhounds division one athletics contests in the Patriot League. He holds a BA from Valparaiso University in Geography and an MA from Brandeis University in Sustainable International Development. Hennessy enjoys traveling, covering college basketball, playing sports, going on walks, and reading. Ethan participated in the club and met his girlfriend through it. He joined the LDC board because he felt a call to give back and he found the club to be a great way to meet young adults who want to grow in their faith and are looking to go on dates.