Funke Afolabi-Brown, MD; Founder, Restful Sleep MD
Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown is a triple-board-certified sleep medicine physician and pediatric pulmonologist with an extensive clinical background spanning more than 15 years.
Her medical journey started with her pediatric residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, following rigorous medical training in Nigeria. She obtained her pulmonary fellowship training at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, after which she served on the faculty board of Drexel University College of Medicine. To broaden her expertise, she undertook a fellowship in sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She remained on faculty as associate professor at the Perelman College of Medicine and attending physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for about seven years.
She founded a private practice called The Restful Sleep Place, where she offers sleep services to children and young adults. Her clinical focus revolves around providing specialized care for children and young adults with various sleep disorders.
Dr. Afolabi-Brown’s impact extends beyond her clinical practice, as she founded Restful Sleep MD. Through this initiative, she diligently serves as a speaker and consultant with a mission to emphasize the significance of sleep as a fundamental aspect of health for busy professionals and organizations.
In addition to her substantial contributions in the field, Dr. Afolabi-Brown has authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts, and is also the best-selling author of the book, Beyond Tired: A Sleep Physician’s Guide to Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems for Good.
Jimmy Becker, M.B.A.; Founder, Financially Speaking
Jimmy Becker is the founder of Financially Speaking where he provides one-on-one financial planning services that are unbiased and actionable. He also creates and presents customized workshops on many dimensions of financial decision-making to employee groups, adult education learners, and graduate students. Jimmy began his career on Wall Street as an options trader and understands the financial services industry from the inside out. He earned a B.A. in economics from Brown University and an M.B.A from the Yale School of Management.
Alex Bickford, M.B.E.; Director, College Finance, Bright Horizons College Coach
Alex Bickford joined Bright Horizons College Coach as part of the college financing team from the education finance department of Citizens Bank. Before his stint with Citizens, he worked as an assistant director of financial aid at Southern New Hampshire University. Alex has spent most of his professional career working in financial aid and has assisted traditional undergraduate, adult learners, and master’s degree students in financing their educations. He has a master’s degree in business education, a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management, and an associate’s degree in culinary arts.
Kristen Cascio, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.; Program Manager, MIT HR Work-Life
Kristen Cascio is a licensed independent clinical social worker and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. Kristen is a program manager for Work-Life, where she oversees MIT MyLife Services and backup care benefits, coordinates programming via the Seminar Series, and works on a variety of resources and projects to support the overall wellbeing of MIT’s community. Prior to joining MIT, Kristen was a behavioral health care manager at Tufts Health Plan, where she worked directly with individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses to coordinate the resources needed to achieve safety and wellness in the community. Kristen has extensive experience in crisis intervention, including conducting emergency mental health assessments and staffing 24-hour crisis hotlines related to mental illness, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Kristen received her B.A. in psychology from Clark University and her M.S.W. from Simmons University.
Michelle Clifton, B.S.; College Finance Consultant, Bright Horizons College Advising
Michelle Clifton has spent the majority of her professional career in higher education. She began her career at the Rhode Island School of Design, working with student accounts and student loans. At Babson College, she worked in a variety of roles within student financial services, including financial aid, student loans, and student accounts. She most recently served as Babson’s associate director of financial aid, providing financial aid counseling for undergraduate and graduate students, reviewing and awarding applications, processing appeals, and overseeing all loan processes. Michelle is an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and volunteers for FAFSA Day Massachusetts, where she guides students in completing their online financial aid applications. She holds a B.S. in management from Northeastern University.
Patricia C. D’Agostino, J.D.; Partner, Margolis Bloom & D’Agostino
Patricia C. D’Agostino is a partner at Margolis Bloom & D'Agostino, practicing in the following areas: estate and long-term care planning, MassHealth applications and appeals, planning for children with special needs, settlement planning, guardianship and conservatorship, and probate administration. She has developed a specialized practice in advising clients on how to supplement the cost of care at home or in an assisted living facility through the use of myriad MassHealth, Veterans Administration, and low-income programs.
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Steve Dimitriou, A.I.F, C.P.F.A.; Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Mayflower Advisors
Steve Dimitriou is a co-founder and managing partner at Mayflower Advisors, with more than 30 years of experience in the retirement-plan industry. He has been named Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year by PlanSponsor Magazine, and is the former president of both the American Retirement Association (ARA) and the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), the largest retirement-plan advocacy group in the nation and the preeminent sponsor of professional development and continuing education in the industry. As such, he meets regularly with congressional members and various governmental agencies, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. Steve has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (A.I.F.) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (C.P.F.A.) designations, and is a graduate of Colby College, where he earned an Honors B.A. in both physics and economics.
Lauren Dumont, Psy.D.; Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, Kendall Psychological Associates
Dr. Lauren Dumont is a clinical psychologist and the clinical director at Kendall Psychological Associates based in Cambridge, MA. Through her work in private practice, she engages with individuals, couples, and groups to help them achieve enhanced wellbeing. Dr. Dumont integrates empirically based techniques with tailored approaches for each of her clients. She also regularly works with companies and organizations in Cambridge to promote employee and organizational wellbeing through seminars, workshops, and groups. Her knowledge base, expertise in stress management, and sense of humor often put people at ease as they navigate their journeys toward health and wellness. Dr. Dumont holds a doctorate from Loyola University Maryland and has worked in various outpatient settings, including New York University, the University of Delaware, and Drexel University.
Ruth E. Freeman, L.C.S.W.; President and Founder, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Ruth E. Freeman is a licensed clinical social worker who has taught parenting education to hundreds of parents annually over the past 35 years. She is co-founder of the Connecticut Parenting Education Network and lead author of Building Family Futures, a University of Connecticut train-the-trainer parenting education curriculum. She has also served as the family services director for The Cove Center for Grieving Children. Ruth’s approach to parenting education incorporates her clinical experience with children and families in crisis, as well as key concepts synthesized from a wide range of sources. Ruth freely and humorously shares the real-life blunders, challenges, and successes that she has experienced applying positive parenting as a mom, stepmom, foster mom, and “Nana.”
The Future of You (Nan Ives, M.B.A. and Lisa Stornaielo, M.S.; Co-Founders)
Nan Ives and Lisa Stornaielo are the co-founders of The Future of You, a venture that was born out of their personal experiences with retirement. Recognizing the need for a life plan, they immersed themselves in the pre-retiree experience, seeking to understand how people rebalanced their lives and regained a sense of purpose in retirement. From there, they leveraged their expertise in transition planning and life coaching to develop a transformative four-step process that empowers individuals to design their ultimate retirement life. With their passion for helping others and their profound understanding of the retirement experience, Nan and Lisa are on a mission to inspire and guide people toward a rewarding and fulfilling retirement.
Dionne Garcia, S.H.R.M.-C.P., B.A.; Faculty Retirement Plan Counselor, MIT
Dionne Garcia is the faculty retirement plan counselor at MIT, where she assists faculty as they transition into retirement. Prior to joining MIT, Dionne acquired over 15 years of experience as an enrolled actuary with the DB Pension Administration and other actuarial work. Dionne holds an Honors B.A. in actuarial science from Western University, and a S.H.R.M.-C.P. designation.
Alex Gonzalez, B.A.; Director, College Finance, Finance Education, Bright Horizons College Coach
Alex Gonzalez brings a wealth of experience helping students and families access financial aid and scholarship programs. Prior to joining Bright Horizons College Coach, he worked as a scholarship advisor at Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC), managing eight program sites and supporting a cohort of more than 400 students. Alex has also held university positions in financial aid and admissions and athletics. At the University of Portland, Alex was responsible for awarding merit scholarships and was the university liaison to community-based scholarship programs. He continues to be a trusted expert in the financial aid community, serving on regional scholarship selection committees. Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and ethnic studies from the University of Oregon.
Josh Hsu, M.F.A.; Client Services Director, ArborBridge
Josh Hsu has over 20 years of experience in the test prep industry—and 22 years of experience teaching music, directing, acting, and playwriting to high school, college, and graduate students. He has tutored thousands of students for standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, AP, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, and more. Not only a tutor, Josh has also trained hundreds of tutors and teachers, designed and written curricula for standardized exams, and designed and coded educational apps. Today, he continues to support families by helping them plan their test preparation journeys. Josh earned his M.F.A. in drama from the University of California, Irvine.
Autumn Cloud Ingram, L.C.S.W.; Parenting Teacher and Coach, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Autumn Cloud Ingram truly enjoys supporting families and helping them to adapt to the challenges of parenthood. She is a licensed certified school social worker, a certified parent educator, an Evidence Based Birth® instructor, and a doula. Autumn is passionate about working with adolescents and has done so for 10 years in school, therapeutic, and home-based settings. In addition, she is a strong advocate for maternal mental health and improving birth outcomes. Autumn is the founder of ParenTechnique, LLC, which provides therapy to families from conception through postpartum with a specific focus on birth trauma and terminations. She also loves empowering families through pregnancy and birth by teaching the Evidence Based Birth® childbirth class. Her passion lies in reproductive justice and improving health outcomes for birthing people and their babies. She has supported diverse families through a variety of pregnancy outcomes. Autumn continues to serve as an advocate for evidence-based pregnancy and postpartum care and educating families on their right to informed consent.
Kathy Kasabula, B.A.; Program Manager, MIT HR Work-Life
Kathy Kasabula oversees the many services that support MIT’s Technology Childcare Centers (TCC) and works closely with MIT’s child care management vendor, Bright Horizons, to ensure that TCC centers are able to meet the needs of the families they serve. Kathy visits all TCC locations regularly and works closely with parents and a host of MIT departments in order to coordinate projects, establish systems, monitor activities, and resolve problems. Kathy also manages the MIT Childcare Center scholarship program for employees and postdoctoral scholars, leads “Choosing Quality Childcare” sessions, oversees the campus lactation rooms, and is a contributor to many Work-Life projects offering support to MIT children and families. Kathy holds a B.A. in communication from Rhode Island College, a graduate certificate in project management from Boston University, and is certified in the Classroom Assessment Scoring System®, a leading quality improvement system for measuring and improving classroom interactions.
Rahul Kay, M.P.H., M.B.A.; Senior Vice President, Enterprise Wellness, FlexIt
Rahul Kay is the senior vice president of Enterprise Wellness at FlexIt. He has a background in mental health, cultural sensitivity, and organizational design. He was the CEO of Sukhi (an employee mental wellness firm), a former consultant at McKinsey & Company, a UN global health official, and a group therapy facilitator. Rahul has led training for 75,000+ employees across 60+ organizations, and has been featured by Harvard University, the World Bank, and Microsoft. He studied clinical psychology at Tufts University and abnormal psychology at Cornell University, and earned an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Ryan Kelley, M.S.; College Admissions Consultant, Bright Horizons College Coach
Ryan Kelley’s first experience working in college admissions came as a tour guide at Stonehill College. He began his professional career as an admissions counselor at Roger Williams University (RWU) in Rhode Island. Working in a small admissions office helped him learn all aspects of the admissions process, from recruitment and application review to operations and yield events. After RWU, Ryan moved to New York City to work at Fordham University, where he served as the Honors College liaison and oversaw the transfer admissions process. Ryan’s most recent admissions role was at the University of Colorado Boulder. There, he worked closely with transfer students while overseeing the freshman admissions application review process. In that role, he chaired the admissions and scholarship committees, and engaged with a wide variety of representatives from across campus in creating an academically strong, diverse, and well-rounded class. Ryan earned his M.S. in management from Fordham University.
Marc Lehman, L.M.F.T.; Parenting Teacher and Coach, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Marc Lehman is a licensed marriage and family therapist from Avon, CT, who specializes in working with teens and young adults both in high school and college. With over 20 years of experience as a marriage and family therapist, Marc has worked with a broad spectrum of teens and their families as an interactive, solution-focused therapist. He worked with students in crisis and those struggling with substance abuse at New Directions in Enfield, CT. Marc was also a primary therapist at the Institute of Living Eating Disorders program. He founded U Are Heard, an on-demand counseling and coaching program that delivers online services to teens and young adults at home or away at school. Marc’s therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. He integrates complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, Marc works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing.
Michael Marquez, Psy.D.; Psychologist; Co-Owner, Bmore Liberated
Dr. Michael Marquez is a licensed psychologist and co-owner of Bmore Liberated, a group practice of queer-identified therapists whose passion lies in providing affirming care for marginalized communities. He has experience providing outreach and consultation with several organizations and clinics, with a focus on optimizing relationships and happiness during the pandemic and organizational policies to be more inclusive. Dr. Marquez holds a Psy.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Katherine McHugh, M.S.; Mindfulness Educator
Katherine McHugh brings over three decades of personal mindfulness practice to her training, and over 16 years of experience as a personal development consultant and mindfulness educator in corporate, academic, and community settings. With a master’s degree in comparative contemplative practices, Katherine trained at the renowned Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Working with a wide array of organizations, Katherine brings a tailored approach to each client and every new project. She has successfully coached CEOs, business leaders, and students to learn to live with more intention and focus, and to promote healing to thrive.
Cora Megan, M.A., IMH-E®; Parenting Teacher and Coach, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Cora Megan is an early childhood specialist and parent educator who has worked with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families for over a decade. She is currently a faculty member at the University of Connecticut in the Human Development and Family Sciences department, where she teaches courses in early childhood development and education. She formerly served as the director of The Nest Shoreline Campus, an early learning center located in Branford, CT. Cora is a trained Circle of Security Facilitator and a member of the Connecticut Association of Infant Mental Health. She views her work with families through an attachment lens, and provides support and guidance that promotes secure and positive parent-child relationships.
Ben Neely, B.A.; Chief Academic Research and Impact Officer, Revolution Prep
Ben Neely has spent more than 20 years helping families make their best decisions around the standardized testing process. After beginning his career as a high school math teacher, he held roles in curriculum development and engineering management, and has been with Revolution Prep for 15 years. Ben earned his B.A. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Briana Reid, Psy.D.; Clinical Psychologist, Kendall Psychological Associates
Dr. Briana Reid is a clinical psychologist at Kendall Psychological Associates. She works with adults who are struggling with trauma and PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, adjustment to life transitions, stress management, relationship issues, family caregiver support, issues related to physical health, and issues related to culture and diversity. Her approach to therapy is relational, culturally affirming, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and warm with some humor. She is intentional about developing a meaningful, collaborative relationship with her clients. Dr. Reid uses an integration of interpersonal, mindfulness-based, and cognitive-behavioral therapeutic frameworks. She is also trained in several evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Dr. Reid earned her doctorate from William James College with a concentration in clinical health psychology, and has worked in various settings, including outpatient programs, residential substance use programs, college counseling centers, and a VA hospital.
JoAnn Robinson, Ph.D.; Parenting Teacher and Coach, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
JoAnn Robinson is an internationally recognized researcher on parent-child relations and young children’s emotional development. She is a retired university professor who has served as director of early childhood studies, and has more than 80 papers published in scientific journals on supportive interventions for vulnerable families. Dr. Robinson has been part of investigative teams studying parents’ perinatal wellbeing and mental health for 30 years. Her published research focuses on the outcomes of supporting parents throughout pregnancy and early childhood. She served as co-investigator in nationally recognized research efforts, including the national study of Early Head Start and the Nurse Family Partnership where the benefits of home visiting on parent-child relationships and child development were demonstrated. Also of note are investigations she co-authored on the benefits of kangaroo holding for mothers, fathers, and their preterm babies. Recently, she has consulted with international organizations about supporting parents of infants and toddlers caught up in the world refugee crisis. Dr. Robinson is also a mother and a grandmother. When not traveling around the world to research and teach about infants, young children, and families, she serves as a Peace at Home Parenting teacher and coach.
Heidi Roth, R.D., L.D.N., B.S.; Owner, Heidi Roth Nutrition
Heidi Roth is a registered/licensed dietitian, health coach, and nutrition expert with a passion for health and wellness. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in nutrition and dietetics. Heidi spent the first part of her career as a critical care neonatal dietitian and pediatric nutrition specialist. She went on to found her own corporate wellness consulting business, with a goal of making science-based nutrition recommendations simple, real, and fun. Today, Heidi shares her enthusiasm for nutrition and wellness virtually and in person through webinars, worksite seminars, individual counseling, and healthy food demonstrations. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and skiing, and considers herself to be a total foodie.
Sherri Snelling, M.A.G.; Consultant and Corporate Gerontologist, Care.com
Sherri Snelling is a corporate gerontologist, “authorpreneur,” and founder/CEO of Caregiving Club, a strategic consulting and educational content creation firm with an expertise in caregiver wellness, well home design, and brain health/Alzheimer’s disease. She is the author of the new book, Me Time Monday – The Weekly Wellness Plan to Find Balance and Joy for a Busy Life, and is the host of the podcast, “Caregiving Club On Air.” Snelling writes articles, appears on TV and radio, and has served on aging and caregiving advisory committees for the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and Georgetown University. She has a master’s degree in gerontology from USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and a master’s certification from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Megan Stubbendeck, Ph.D.; CEO, ArborBridge
Megan Stubbendeck is a 17-year veteran of the test prep industry with nearly 20 years of teaching experience. She facilitates programs to help parents and counselors understand the testing process and feel empowered to help their students. During her long education career, Megan has written curricula for a variety of exams, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, ISEE, SSAT, and U.S. History, for a number of test prep companies. She has also tutored more than 1,000 students and trained over 600 tutors. Megan earned her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where she taught in the history department.
Andie Lei Wang, A.S.A., M.S.; Retirement Plans Manager, MIT
Andie Lei Wang manages MIT’s retirement plans and the team that delivers retirement services to members of the MIT community. Prior to joining MIT, Andie acquired over 12 years of experience as an associate consultant, working on various actuarial and benefits projects—and another seven years of experience as a retirement finance manager, managing pension, 401(k), and other retirement plans. Andie holds an M.S. in actuarial science from Boston University and is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (A.S.A.).
Dan Williams, C.L.U., Ch.F.C., C.F.P.; Senior Partner and Co-Founder, The Dover Group
Dan Williams graduated from Babson College with a triple major in finance, investments, and entrepreneurial studies. Dan is a Certified Financial Planner, a Chartered Financial Consultant, and has been named one of Boston’s top financial planners by Boston Magazine. He is a frequent speaker to corporate, higher education, and senior organizations, and teaches several adult education courses in the Greater Boston community.
Gayle Parker Wright, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.-R.
Gayle Parker Wright is an L.C.S.W.-R in NY, a licensed social worker in NJ, and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. She graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in social work and from Columbia University with an M.S.W. Gayle is currently working toward her doctoral degree at Simmons University. She has over 30 years of experience working with individuals and families in underserved communities, and has provided services to populations such as foster care, criminal justice, mental health, substance abuse, case management, juvenile justice, and geriatrics. Gayle has worked in and provided services in various settings, such as residential, corrections, substance abuse, mental health, respite, and private practice. Over the last 25 years, she has served in many leadership roles, providing management oversight and clinical consultant services to community agencies. Gayle is a motivational speaker, sharing her life experiences and information to empower others.