our people
We believe that our potential for positive impact is rooted in our ability to reflect and practice internally what we are promoting to our school and community partners externally.
To do this, we are continually exploring what it means to ‘work mindfully’ and build a ‘mindfulness organization.’ We are engaged in evolving our team structure and organizational systems to better reflect our commitment to diverse experiences, forms of knowledge, and understandings of mindfulness practice.
Our Team
Sarah Manion
Executive Director
Sarah Manion
Executive Director
A Cape Cod native, Sarah (she/her) grew up attending Brewster Elementary and the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School, experiences that profoundly influenced her life and career. She holds a B.A. in African Studies and Environmental Science from Swarthmore College, and an M.A. in Nature-Culture Sustainability Studies from the Rhode Island School of Design.
After graduating, Sarah left the states for Africa where she lived for almost a decade. She worked as a multi-sector project manager leading diverse project portfolios in the for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors.
Recently, Sarah lived in Rwanda where she held roles as the Technical Advisor to the Rwandan Minister of Infrastructure and Manager of an alternative handbag production facility for Kate Spade. She has experience in strategic planning, complex operational development, and team management as well as expertise in artisanal textile and ethical fashion production.
Sarah is a committed mindfulness practitioner and fiber artist. She leaned on both practices as tools to cope with the challenging transition back to the United States. Her practice has since unfolded into a delightful exploration of the intersection of art, ecology, and mindfulness as a way to deepen our connection and understanding of ourselves, each other and our shared world. She spends as much time as possible outside, knitting sweaters, weaving textile, and sewing creatures. Sarah is the aspirational future owner of the Cape’s first sustainable alpaca farm and slow craft retreat center.
Sara Anton
Director of Philanthropy
Sara Anton
Director of Philanthropy
Sara Anton was born and raised in the Boston area and spent her childhood summers on Cape Cod. After graduating from Union College in 1993, she moved to Colorado where she embraced mountain life for 2 years. She then returned home to obtain her master’s in social work from Boston College. After receiving her MSW, Sara managed an $8.5 M Campaign at the Walker Home & School in Needham, where she fell in love with fundraising.
In addition to the Walker School, Sara has worked with the Breckenridge Music Festival (BMF), the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound (APNS) and Gosnold Behavioral Health. At the BMF, Sara witnessed firsthand the way that music can lift our spirits, touch our souls, and provide a profound sense of connection, even in the most turbulent times. At APNS, she helped supporters unite on an issue that brought to light the fragility of our coastal environment and the urgent need to protect it. And at Gosnold, Sara connected with families and individuals who had been directly impacted by the disease of addiction and whose resilience and strength were unparalled.
At Calmer Choice, Sara plans and oversees the fundraising program to expand philanthropic support and meet the short-term and long-term needs of the organization. She manages a diverse portfolio of donors, and develops, plans, and implements strategies focused on engaging, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors. Sara is constantly coming up with innovative and inspiring ways to thank donors for their support and relies on the collaboration of her team to constantly bring new ideas to the table. Sara earned her CFRE in August of 2022 and is a member of the Board of Directors at Philanthropy Partners of Cape & Islands. She is also a member of the Leadership Cape Cod Community Leadership Institute’s Class of 2024. Sara and her husband, Matt live in Sandwich and have 3 children- Sean, Addie, and Nate – and a sweet ‘Mississippi mutt’ named Dottie.
Eileen Gustin
Director of Finance
Eileen Gustin
Director of Finance
Coming soon!
Stephanie Goley
Director of Program Operations
Stephanie Goley
Director of Program Operations
Stephanie Goley has worked for Calmer Choice since 2015. In 2012, Stephanie moved from California to Cape Cod, but is originally from the Chicago area. She holds a master’s degree in education and has worked as a classroom teacher and administrator for staff development. She holds a Mindfulness Teacher Certification from the International Mindfulness Teachers Association (IMTA).
Stephanie initially discovered Calmer Choice through her child’s school and was inspired to take on a greater role in the organization. She has had many roles at Calmer Choice, first as an instructor, and recently took on a new role as Director of Program Operations. She also was the Mindfulness Coach for DY Regional School District. One of her favorite things about working for Calmer Choice is going back to the same school year after year and building relationships with kids through elementary school, and helping support their classroom community through mindfulness. She finds many of the students excited to have Calmer Choice back and they love to share how they have been using mindfulness in their lives. When she isn’t teaching and practicing mindfulness, Stephanie is playing with her husband, three kids and dog at the beach.
Venessa Clark
Instructor
Venessa Clark
Instructor
Venessa is a native of Cape Cod and originated from Falmouth. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and has spent over a decade shaping the lives of children in public schools. With 10 years of classroom experience, Venessa transitioned into an Assistant Director role at a nature-based school for two years, where she worked to foster a holistic and hands-on approach to learning.
While Venessa has practiced mindfulness intermittently over the years, it was after the pandemic that her practice truly deepened. She now integrates mindfulness into her personal life and educational philosophy, believing in its transformative power to enhance teaching and learning. Passionate about supporting children's growth, Venessa continues to inspire through her dedication to education, mindfulness, and nature.
She's expanding her knowledge and skills by pursuing a 200-hour yoga and mindfulness teaching certification to integrate these practices into her daily life and share them with others. With a passion for personal growth and family life, Venessa always seeks ways to connect with herself and the world around her.
Venessa cherishes spending quality time with her husband, four children, and two active cats. Outside family life, she loves expressing her creativity through crafting, drawing, and exploring new places through travel.
Liliana Bejarano-Cryer
Instructor
Liliana Bejarano-Cryer
Instructor
Liliana is a Colombian American teacher with a degree in Educational Sciences from the District University of Bogota, Colombia. She has been an instructor of the Calmer Choice mindfulness program for children and adults in the Cape Cod area since 2017. She took core courses with Mindful Schools and completed the Instructor Training from Calmer Choice in 2017. She is a certified TSM -Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness- instructor and has become a mentor for new mindfulness instructors. During her time working with Calmer Choice, she has worked with hundreds of children from different School Districts in the area. She also has facilitated online workshops and courses for educators.
Liliana leads weekly sitting groups in English and Spanish and is the author of the mindfulness children’s book series, “Sky the Skunk is not Invited to the Party” and soon to be released, “Millie the Elephant Forgets her Lines.” Liliana has made Cape Cod her permanent home. She lives in Yarmouth with her husband and considers herself to be an adopted daughter of the sea.
Liliana es una maestra colombo-estadounidense, Licenciada en Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad Distrital de Bogotá, Colombia. Ha sido instructora del programa de atención plena de Calmer Choice para niños y adultos en la región de Cape Cod, Massachusetts, desde el año 2017. Tomó cursos básicos con Mindful Schools y completó la capacitación de instructores de Calmer Choice en 2017. Es una instructora certificada en Mindfulness Sensible al Trauma y se ha convertido en mentora de nuevos instructores en la Organización. Durante su tiempo trabajando con Calmer Choice, ha trabajado con cientos de niños de diferentes distritos escolares del área. También ha facilitado talleres y cursos en línea para docentes.
Liliana lidera grupos de sesiones de prácticas semanales formales de Mindfulness en inglés y en español, y es la autora de la serie de libros para niños en atención plena, "El Zorrillo Sky no es invitado a la fiesta"; dentro de poco lanzará, "Milie Elefante Olvida sus Líneas". Liliana ha hecho de Cape Cod su hogar permanente. Vive en Yarmouth con su esposo y se considera una hija adoptiva del mar.
Sasha Christakis
Instructor
Sasha Christakis
Instructor
Sasha was born and raised in Croatia, where she graduated from the University of Zagreb - Faculty of Teacher Education in 1984, and then worked as an elementary teacher for 12 years in Zagreb. Her journey of mindfulness started back in Croatia in the late eighties, where she started sharing its benefits with her students and colleagues. In 1996, Sasha relocated to Cape Cod, USA. After changing different jobs, she established her own studio in 2000 where she has been practicing massage therapy and yoga for adults and children.
Sasha has been connected to Calmer Choice since 2013. In the beginning mostly as a supporter and volunteer, and then completing the training in 2015, she became an instructor. Learning about Calmer Choice and its mission, she had found the perfect unity of her two main paths and passions - teaching children and mindfulness. As much as her heart is in teaching the Calmer Choice program to children in schools, Sasha also really enjoys sharing the teaching with adult populations. When she has free time, she loves spending it with her family or on nature walks.
Sue Costello
Instructor
Sue Costello
Instructor
Sue relocated to the Cape in 2021 after living and working in the Boston area for 30 plus years. As a recently retired clinical social worker, Sue worked with children and families in their homes and schools. Sue’s special interests are working with children with incarcerated parents and supporting children and families who’ve experienced loss. Ten years ago she was fortunate enough to receive training to teach mindfulness to school aged children and it became the most rewarding part of her work. She loved seeing and hearing how students reported feeling calmer, more peaceful and happier after each lesson.
Sue was delighted to discover Calmer Choice and completed the Instructor Training in the spring and summer of 2022.
Sue volunteers as a Big Sister here on the Cape as well as serving as a board member for The Children’s Room–Center for Grieving Children and Teens in Arlington, MA.
When she’s not working, Sue loves to garden, exercise, connect with family and friends and laugh as much as possible. Sue lives in Yarmouth Port with her husband and dog.
Carolyn DeCristofano
Instructor
Carolyn DeCristofano
Instructor
Carolyn first encountered mindfulness practice twenty years ago, when she read Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Wherever You Go, There You Are. For many years, her practice was on-again/off-again. Still, she always found herself returning to it and seeking experiences to deepen it. Meantime, in her work as a STEM education curriculum developer, researcher, and professional development facilitator, she drew inspiration from educators who intentionally centered their educational practice on creating kind, people-focused, and responsive learning communities. Wanting to engage more deeply in supporting such communities, she decided several years ago to pursue mindfulness in education and to explore becoming a mindful awareness instructor with Calmer Choice.
Carolyn is also a children’s author. She enjoys cooking, knitting, and dabbling with music, as well as spending time with her husband Barry, friends, and extended family. She and Barry live off-Cape in a 160-year-old home, which they share with two rescue cats.
Patricia Kennedy
Instructor Mentor
Patricia Kennedy
Instructor Mentor
After having taught in the public schools as a special education teacher for 25 years, Poppy retired and went through the instructor training to become a member of the Calmer Choice team. Poppy has had the privilege and honor to be teaching mindfulness to children from preschool to middle school over the past 7 years. Poppy is reminded of the importance of this work as she has heard from her students how learning to live more mindfully has helped them to cope with the challenges of everyday life. This past year, due to the pandemic Poppy has had the opportunity to co-teach several programs virtually, including a four-week parent-child class. Poppy is grateful to have her own mindfulness practice as well as a love for the great outdoors that supports a sense of presence, gratitude and curiosity.
L. Forest Malatesta
Lead Facilitator
L. Forest Malatesta
Lead Facilitator
Forest grew up on Cape Cod and has spent time living in various areas of the country. She is an instructor of mindfulness, a health coach, and a public health advocate with diverse experience in the fields of health advocacy and education. Forest received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Emory University in 1995 and studied at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine focusing on International Health and Development. She later worked at the Harvard AIDS Institute in Cambridge, MA on an international prevention and education program, and has held patient health advocacy roles at Outer Cape Health Services in HIV/STI counseling, complex case management, and helped launch the successful Community Resource Navigator Program.
More recently Forest served as the Director of Community Based Programming at Calmer Choice developing programs for a variety of audiences across Cape Cod. She has been teaching with Calmer Choice since 2015. Currently, she serves in the role of Lead Instructor and enjoys teaching both children and adults.
Forest’s interest in the roles of body, mind, and spirit in health and healing has also led her to pursue study and training in integrative healing modalities, including acupuncture, Reiki, massage therapy, and health coaching. Her favorite current subject is parenting two adventurous teenagers.
Paul Melville
Facilitator
Paul Melville
Facilitator
A United States Army veteran and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts, Paul holds an Associates of Science in Broadcasting, a Bachelors of Science in Communication and Journalism, and a Masters of Social Work. He is a sought-after trainer, an engaging parent educator, and a valued leader in human service circles across Massachusetts. In addition to leading Calmer Choice mindful awareness sits and teaching mindfulness to adults, Paul facilitates a monthly support group for local dads, coordinates the Cape Cod Fathers and Family Network, and is Director of Training and Technical Assistance at the Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts.
Paul is a cis-gender straight white male who uses he-series pronouns. He believes passionately that those with privilege have a responsibility to educate themselves and each other, and to use their privilege to help turn the tide on systems that continually disadvantage people of color and other marginalized groups.
In addition to his mindfulness practice, Paul nurtures himself by reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors with the people he loves.
Emma Miles
Instructor
Emma Miles
Instructor
Emma is originally from Cape Cod, where she grew up attending school in the Barnstable district and wandering the woods of Marstons Mills. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Green Mountain College in Vermont, where she pursued a certification in Permaculture Design, as well the creative arts, culminating into a final art show at the Feick Gallery showcasing her poetry.
Emma’s mindfulness practice began in College, where she took classes on mindfulness and Yoga philosophy, and later began offering community gathering spaces to practice mindfulness through drawing, movement, and sitting meditation, awarding her the Outstanding Senior Award for her acts of community service. Emma has since traveled to Ireland and Scotland, where she holds dual citizenship and a deep love for the landscape and history of her ‘native’ home, where she hopes to continue to visit and draw inspiration from.
Since moving back to Cape Cod, Emma hopes to hone her skills as a mindfulness instructor and has found great joy working with kids. She hopes to continue to weave her interests in poetry, community, and mindfulness to make Cape Cod a more hospitable place for local families and young people to thrive!
Marie Morgan
Instructor
Marie Morgan
Instructor
Marie is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with an MSW from Boston College. She combines traditional therapy with holistic practices to promote well-being on Cape Cod. As a trained Calmer Choice instructor, she loves teaching mindfulness in schools and is passionate about sharing its benefits with her community.
Since 1988, Marie has deepened her mindfulness practice through retreats and trainings. When not working, she enjoys beach walks with her family and two dogs, yoga, painting, and dancing to any music that moves her.
Song Sutthimaitree
Instructor
Song Sutthimaitree
Instructor
Song's native country is Thailand, and mindful awareness is in her culture. As a result, she has a long history with mindfulness practice.
Song has worked in the hospitality industry where she encountered many kinds of people and circumstances. Her mindfulness practice has helped her navigate professional challenges and she sees mindfulness as part of her work-life integration.
In 2010, Song worked as a massage therapist, and a year later she became a yoga instructor. From these experiences, Song's personal awareness expanded as did her belief that all people have the ability to cultivate mindfulness. For Song, mindful awareness is the art of living.
Song joined Calmer Choice as an instructor in August 2022.
Teri Treille
Philanthropy and Community Outreach Coordinator
Teri Treille
Philanthropy and Community Outreach Coordinator
Teri is an integral part of our team, overseeing volunteer management, community engagement, and development initiatives. She recruits, trains, and supports a dedicated group of volunteers, ensuring their contributions align with our mission and programs. Teri also builds strong relationships with community partners and coordinates impactful events that enhance our outreach.
Teri spent many years dedicated to corporate responsibility, philanthropy and sustainability at Cisco and eBay. Her focus was strategic reporting, social impact, human rights, and employee engagement. After joining Calmer Choice, Teri reconnected with mindfulness after years of distraction – with a new intentional focus on listening, self-care and engaging more fully with nature. She was introduced to mindfulness while completing her MBA at Portland State University in Oregon.
Originally from Memphis, Teri has also lived in many other wonderful places including San Francisco, Brussels, Amsterdam, and London. She lives in Mashpee with her husband, her son, and a doodle named Teddy. Her weekends are filled with cat matchmaking at the MSPCA and enjoying Cape Symphony performances.
Board of Directors
Garth Smelser
Co-Chair, Mindful Fed Program Manager
Garth Smelser
Co-Chair, Mindful Fed Program Manager
Garth Katto Smelser is a mindfulness program manager and meditation teacher with a passion for cultivating personal and organizational wellness and resilience. He co-founded both Mindful NOAA and Mindful FED: first-of-their-kind federal mindfulness communities of practice. Garth has a rich and diverse background, having served as a US Naval Officer and federal leader in the US Forest Service and US Department of Commerce.
Garth’s meditation teaching journey began with the non-profit, Calmer Choice, helping bring mindfulness practices into grade schools, and Garth now serves on their board. Garth trained to be a certified meditation instructor with the Engaged Mindfulness Institute. From students to senior executives, Garth has delivered hundreds of mindfulness trainings and presentations to tens of thousands around the United States and Canada. Currently a faculty chair at the Federal Executive Institute and Mindful FED program manager, Garth is using his expertise in mindfulness and leadership experience to help federal government reimagine workplace wellbeing.
David Troutman
Co-Chair, Co-owner of Scargo Cafe
David Troutman
Co-Chair, Co-owner of Scargo Cafe
David Troutman has worked in the restaurant industry for 50 years; the last 37 of which were spent as co-owner of Scargo Cafe.
A 1976 graduate of Barnstable High, he received his bachelors degree from Suffolk University in 2006 and is a graduate of the class of 2015 Community Leadership Institute.
David is a founding board member of Calmer Choice and as such was the United Way recipient of the Ron Reed award for dedication to a board. He is also currently active on the boards of WE CAN, Leadership Cape Cod, and is the Immediate Past Chair of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce in addition to being named Chair of the recently created “Second Summer Cycle” charity ride. David is also a long time steering committee member and mentor for the Y-Achievers.
With volunteerism as a primary passion, David was named this year’s “Volunteer of the Year” by Philanthropy Partners of Cape Cod as well as being named Alumni of the Year by Cape Cod Community College. David has been featured in recent years as a dancer for Cape Wellness Collaboratives "Dancing With the Docs", a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as a mentor for EForAll and is a presenter for several of SCORE's educational seminars.
David lives in West Barnstable with his beautiful wife Pam.
Sabrina Kane
Secretary Attorney at Law
Sabrina Kane
Secretary Attorney at Law
Sabrina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Smith College; a Master of Arts in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany; and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law, from which she graduated magna cum laude. Almost a Cape Cod native (having moved to Hyannis at age 3!), Sabrina practiced law in Maryland before returning to the Cape to practice Elder and Special Needs Law.
She is a member of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (MassNAELA), for which she serves on the Special Needs Law Steering Committee and the Public Relations Subcommittee. She is also a member of Cape Cod Young Professionals and the Estate Planning Council of Cape Cod. Sabrina has served as Co-Treasurer of the Yarmouth Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) since 2018.
Having personal knowledge of the benefits of a mindfulness practice, Sabrina leaped at the opportunity to pay the blessings of her practice forward by volunteering for Calmer Choice. Sabrina has worked on the Calmer Choice Newsletter since 2017, interviewing a wide range of individuals who are connected to our organization. She joined the Board of Directors in July 2019.
Kelli Grew
Board Member Beacon Financial Planning
Kelli Grew
Board Member Beacon Financial Planning
Kelli is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®). In 2010 She received her Bachelor’s Degree with a dual concentration in Finance and Management from the University of New Hampshire. After college, Kelli joined a financial planning firm in the greater Boston area and spent 7 years commuting to their offices from her home in Yarmouth. In 2019 she decided to make the jump professionally back to the Cape and joined the Beacon Financial Planning team.
She consults with individuals & families to identify personal financial goals and resources, design financial strategies, and make personalized recommendations, that when implemented, assist the client in achieving their goals. Kelli is committed to delivering highly personalized service and building long-term relationships with clients. Kelli has over 10 years of experience and is currently taking on new clients who are seeking one-on-one investment guidance, wealth management, and income strategies.
Kelli is a member of the BFP Investment Committee, serves as the Vice President on the Estate Planning Council of Cape Cod, and donates her time to the Community Development Committee for Calmer Choice. Kelli and her husband share three young children; ages 7, 5, and 1. In her free time, Kelli enjoys running road races, gardening, going to the beach during the summer, and spending time with her family. As someone who was born and raised on the Cape, she enjoys connecting with people who share the same sense of community and love for other people.
Alexandra Liimatainen
Board Member Not for Profit Credit Portfolio Manager TD Bank Boston
Alexandra Liimatainen
Board Member Not for Profit Credit Portfolio Manager TD Bank Boston
Allie Liimatainen has 10 years experience in Commercial Banking across several industries in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors. Allie has gained excellent financial and credit analysis skills through various roles in her banking career, including structuring loan amounts and loan terms, data-driven decision making, and efficient business communication. She enjoys collaborating with others to find common solutions as much as she enjoys yoga and mindful walks!
Catherine Pichura
Board Member PL Studio 440 Owner
Catherine Pichura
Board Member PL Studio 440 Owner
Owner of PL Studio 440- Atelier in Harwich, Catherine Pichura is a dedicated professional with a deep passion for mindfulness and healing through art. As the owner of PL Studio 440, she facilitates Art4Healing workshops that guide participants through a mindfulness approach to expressive and therapeutic “color on canvas.” These workshops integrate meditation and guided prompts to aid in healing from multiple traumas and stressors.
Catherine's diverse experience in non-profit organizations has equipped her with the creativity, mindfulness, and problem-solving skills necessary for impactful leadership. In her role as a CASA supervisor, she led volunteers in supporting children in the foster care system, striving to find them safe and nurturing homes. As the Executive Director for the American Heart Association, Catherine increased revenue in the Southern Tier Region by 50% annually, leveraging her ability to develop new business opportunities and expand client relationships. Her expertise also includes managing budgets and optimizing costs without compromising the quality of fundraising events.
Catherine is passionate about the mission of Calmer Choice and is confident that her qualifications and skills will contribute to the organization's continued success in promoting mindfulness and healing.
Crystal L Piper, MD
Radiologist at Bay Radiology Assoc Inc
Crystal L Piper, MD
Radiologist at Bay Radiology Assoc Inc
Dr. Crystal Piper is a Cape Cod Radiologist. She did her pre-med coursework with a major in biology and a concentration in literature at Smith College. She did research for the Department of Health and obtained a Masters of Finance from RPI before earning a Medical Doctorate from Yale University. She did six years of residency training at hospitals in NYC, Queens NY, New Haven CT, and Seattle Washington. She found mindfulness and meditation to be an integral part of her well being, helping with her studies and the extreme challenges encountered during medical training. In Seattle, she was part of the Insight Meditation Society. Immediately prior to starting her career on Cape Cod, she spent a summer at the Zen Mountain Monastery where she deepened her understanding of contemplative lifestyles. She aspires to incorporate these understandings into her daily life and is passionate about helping others the way others have helped her.
Derek Thompson
Board Member, Principal of Plymouth South Elementary
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Honorary Board Member Professor of Medicine
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Honorary Board Member Professor of Medicine
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., Professor of
Medicine emeritus at UMass Medical
School is internationally known for his
work as a scientist, writer, and
mindfulness meditation teacher.
Dr. Kabat-Zinn is the founding executive director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society and is engaged in bringing mindfulness practices, especially mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), into the mainstream of medicine and society.
He was prominently featured in the Bill Moyer’s PBS special Healing and the Mind. Among his publications:
Full Catastrophe Living, Wherever You Go, There You Are, Coming to Our Senses, Mindfulness for Beginners