Leadership

Nikki Beinstein, Founder + President, began her career working in the fields of technology, healthcare, retail banking and nonprofit development. It wasn’t until she had two children, however, that she fell in love with education. After teaching Sustainable Business at Colorado Mountain College, she attained a Colorado teacher’s license in English Language Arts for Grades 7-12 while teaching middle school at a tiny rural charter school and founding The Serious Type. Nikki won a Colorado Book Award in 2009 for Phlogs: Journey to the Heart of the Human Predicament with and about her co-author and mentor, the late George Stranahan; authored the young adult chapter book The Middle World (2016) as well as the children’s picture book Breathe, Bison (2024) illustrated by Elizabeth Argüello. Nikki is a graduate of the Horace Mann School in New York City, Cornell University (BA, Psychology) and Yale University (MBA, Finance and Strategy) where she was chosen by her classmates as their student class commencement speaker. Her most recent professional experience included the role of Finance Manager and the Lead Middle School teacher at the Marble Charter School. A long-time resident of the Roaring Fork/Crystal River Valleys of Colorado, she has two teenagers, a dog and a cat.

Tara Sheahan, Secretary, is the Founder of Breathelab and the Oniya Bison Rewilding Center outside of La Jara, Colorado, who brings wisdom from her personal and professional journeys, neuroscience studies, and meditation practices to create, share and teach intentional breathing. Breathelab is a culmination of her personal and professional wisdom presented in a simple practice and process. After being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 1998, Tara began working with renowned Aruvedic practitioners and neuroscientists, using breath work and meditation to support her healing from chronic illness to full recovery. She was eventually able to manifest her dream of cross-country ski racing in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games at age 45 and within 2 years, was finishing among the top 10 ski racers in the country. Tara has trained at One World Academy global leadership and wisdom school, where she is currently a fellow. She’s also worked with renowned neuroscientists including Dr. Rudy Tanzi of Harvard Medical School and Aruvedic expert Dr. John Douillard. Tara is a student of Indigenous wisdom traditions to reconnect us to Grandmother Earth wisdom. She has taught breath work & meditation at eBay, Conscious Capitalism, The Aspen Brain Institute, World Caring Conference and on the TedX stage with her son Aidan. Tara works with non-profit, Foundation For Our Children, teaching breath work as part of humanitarian aid supporting children in crisis who are recovering from trauma and PTSD. Tara has two sons, one who is in the spirit realm and the other who lives in Denver. 

Sara Hebert, Treasurer  - In recent years, Sara's life-long passion for health in all forms brought her to study soil, our food system, and the possibilities of regeneration. She applies her expertise in strategy and human development - along with her dedication to spiritual practice - to foster shifts, healing growth and connection that make life and work better. A mother, gardener and adventure enthusiast, Sara also volunteers with high school horticulture classes, at locals farms and food organizations and serves as Treasurer of the Board for The Serious Type.

Staci Maione is the founder of Ameliorate Your Life, a group of like-minded beings on a journey to better health, purpose, and a sense of belonging as well as Agape Rescues Children whose mission is to both rescue and heal the youngest victims of sex trafficking.  Staci's healing technique is often guided by the needs of individual and the moment. Her clients often report feeling elevated upon the conclusion of a session with Staci while she provides guidance to help them access joy in their lives moving forward. A born helper and host at heart, Ms Maione has dedicated her life to continuously refine her healing techniques and opening her home and heart to anyone in need of a fresh start. After spending several years studying and achieving various yoga certifications, Staci continued to develop with energy-work trainings and nutritional education. Soon enough it was time to gather the incredible people and proven techniques she used to transform her life and the lives of others in one high-vibration community…Ameliorate Your Life was born. Whether she’s whipping up something healthy in her kitchen, knee-deep in dirt in her garden, or helping a client realign the energy in their home, Staci always approaches life with lightness, gratitude, and a serious sense of play. A resident of Las Vegas, she is the mother of two teenage daughters. 

Pam Rosenthal is also known as Bonte Lane, which means "Path of Kindness" and is what Pam uses as the DJ name for her KDNK Community Radio show as of 2014. Since then Bonte Lane has hosted many community events with crystal singing bowls and song circles. Currently Bonte Lane Medicine Music is available for private and group crystal singing bowl meditations and song circles. Pam began her adulthood hosteling across Europe and New Zealand. She soon met her husband Dan and together they became ski instructors, real estate developers, pizzeria owners, tour guides and parents to two daughters based out of Breckenridge, Colorado. In 1999, Pam began her musical journey, buying her first instrument, a bass. By 2004, Pam and her family moved to Carbondale.  With her daughters as students and she as a teacher at the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork, Pam became a professional musician, playing with several bands since, including Pam and Dan, The Queen Bees, and Starfish Enterprise. Pam Rosenthal holds a BA in Music from Naropa University and studied Yoga of the Voice with Silvia Nakkach and Sound Healing with Jonathon Goldman.