Jonathan Beazley, LADC, LMFT
Jonathan Beazley is the alcohol and other drug interventionist at the University of Connecticut and has served in this role since 2009. He is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) as well as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the state of Connecticut. Jonathan has been in the field of behavioral health since 1979, serving in numerous clinical and supervisory roles across the spectrum of mental health and substance abuse organizations. He is a frequent presenter and educator on subjects associated with substance abuse and other mental health issues. Jonathan serves as the chairperson of the clinical advisory board at TriCircle Inc. in Wallingford, Connecticut. He is the co-author of the 2018 book, Cannabis on Campus: Changing the Dialogue in the Wake of Legalization. Jonathan has a private psychotherapy practice in Coventry, Connecticut.
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.
Hilary Ben-Ami, M.S.
Hilary Ben-Ami is an executive functioning coach and former middle school English teacher who currently works with middle school through college students. As a middle school teacher, Hilary began after-school programs in writing for students who needed one-on-one support in writing initiation and organization. While teaching middle school, Hilary began a life coaching and student coaching practice when she noticed a gap in the achievement of students with ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and other learning differences. Hilary earned an Inspiring Teacher award in 2002 and was a Best Mentor for beginning teachers. She has a life coaching certification as well as a yoga and EFT (emotional freedom technique) certification. Hilary integrates the habits and practices of mindfulness in her work to create a balanced learning mindset. She believes that learning and success are achievable for all kinds of minds and that, with coaching, students can achieve resilient comebacks from challenging academic experiences. Hilary and her husband raised a daughter and a son who are now adults, and she knows the joys and challenges of parenting. She holds a B.A. in speech communications and secondary education and a master’s degree in elementary education.
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.
Kelley Bonner, L.C.S.W., M.A.; Founder, Burn Bright
Kelley Bonner is a licensed clinical social worker, burnout expert, and wellness advocate. She launched Burn Bright to help high-achieving professionals prevent burnout through mindfulness and self-care. Over the last 15 years, Kelley has worked with individuals, groups, and organizations to provide tools to reduce stress, enhance wellness, and strengthen workplace culture. Kelley has teaching experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and holds additional certifications in resiliency, mindfulness, and trauma.
Andrea Brinnel, Ed.D.; Parenting Teacher and Coach, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Andrea Brinnel has served as a school district special education coordinator, a consultant with the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and adjunct faculty at Bay Path University and the University of Hartford. She recently retired from her role as preschool special education coordinator at the Connecticut State Department of Education. Andrea has almost 30 years of experience in education and has been a classroom teacher and central office administrator in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. She also managed the School Readiness and Smart Start programs at the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. Her work in the fields of early childhood and special education has emphasized meaningful inclusion of children with special education needs in general education settings and building a continuum of services from birth through grade 3. Andrea has presented on early learning issues at both the 3rd and 4th annual International Educational Symposia in the United Arab Emirates and has taught national webinars about PreK to grade 3 leadership and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
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.
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.
Nicole Doyle, B.A.; College Admissions Consultant, Bright Horizons College Coach
Nicole Doyle has spent her entire career in education. She was a work-study student in the admissions office at the College of the Holy Cross, a tour guide, and a senior interviewer. After graduation, she spent one year on the West Coast participating in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before returning to work at Holy Cross as an admissions counselor. There, she developed a program to increase the number of international students on campus and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Central America. Most recently, Nicole spent many years in the admissions office at Skidmore College conducting interviews, providing information sessions to students and families, and reading over 1,500 applications each year. Nicole holds a B.A. in political science from the College of the Holy Cross.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lakisha L. Simmons, CEO; Brave Consulting LLC
Dr. Lakisha L. Simmons (affectionately known as Dr. Kisha) is a best-selling author and thought leader on investing for (early) retirement. She’s the author of The Unlikely AchieveHer™ personal development book and The Wealthy AchieveHer™ money planner. As featured in Forbes, Insider, and People, her workshops and tips have taught thousands to budget better, maximize retirement accounts, and invest for generational wealth. She empowers individuals to embrace the money mindset and strategies of millionaires to transform their lives.
Shannon Vasconcelos, M.A.; Senior Manager of College Finance, Bright Horizons College Coach
Shannon Vasconcelos has worked in student financial assistance at Boston University and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she served as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. At Tufts, she was responsible for reviewing financial aid applications, determining financial aid awards, and helping families through the college financing process. In addition, Shannon has served as an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Early Awareness and Outreach Committee, as a trainer for the Department of Education’s National Training for Counselors and Mentors, and as a volunteer for FAFSA Day Massachusetts. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Massachusetts and an M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.
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.