Staff & Board

Stacy Sims (she/her) is a mind-body educator and author. In addition to founding the programs of The Well, Sims is a novelist, playwright, and children's books author. She has produced multiple theatrical works as part of her social practice of gathering stories out of community engagement. She talks about why she started the programs of The Well here.

Bryce Kessler (he/him) came to The Well in 2021. Born into a family of educators, Bryce has personally experienced the lifelong impact of amazing music and arts education. He's been playing piano and cello for 15 years and has a deep love and appreciation for orchestral music. In this role, he combines his personal passions for music, education, and arts administration to deepen The Well's national impact with Mindful Music Moments and Mindful Poetry Moments. He is a proud graduate of Baldwin Wallace University's (Cleveland, OH) Arts Management & Entrepreneurship program and Princeton High School (Cincinnati, OH).

Kami Lerma (she/her) transitioned from the Board to The Well staff in 2022. Kami is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and the founder of Wheelwork Integrative Wellness, LLC. Her work weaves coaching strategies, energy medicine, and body-mind-spirit practices to bring clients to a deeper understanding and connection with their true selves which leads to healing and authentic, lasting, positive change throughout their lives.

Patrick Raneses (he/him) is a Cincinnati-based musician and writer who joined The Well late 2022 to assist The Well's staff in the handling of the organization's communications channels and Mindful Music Moment's extensive music library, in addition to hands-on assistance across The Well's programs. His experience with a variety of nonprofit programmatic work alongside his personal passion for music, poetry, wellness, and education drives his day-to-day work with The Well's staff and their collaborators. Patrick is a graduate of Fordham University with a bachelor's degree in English Literature.

Rylie has been teaching education and yoga for the past 8 years, all throughout Cleveland, Hawaii, and Guatemala. She launched her own company, called “The Spirit Teacher” in 2021, with visions of sharing more yoga and wellness with the world, specializing in education. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelors and licensure in Early Childhood Education. She believes that a strong foundation leads to healthier and happier human experiences.

Alisa helps regional corporations to easily partner with startups for increased innovation speed and agility. She has over 20 years of experience in translating consumer insights into global new product launches. Alisa is also passionate about helping women entrepreneurs. She’s the host of The Beehive, a podcast she launched nearly six years ago to bring clarity to the product launch process for aspiring women entrepreneurs.

Jane is the Chief Financial Officer of Cavalier Distributing (Ohio), Cavalier Indiana, and Cavalier Florida, distributors of American craft and specialty import beer.

Jane started in public accounting with Grant Thornton and Rohrkemper Ossege and Combs and then moved into the non profit sector as Finance Director of the Contemporary Arts Center before joining Cavalier in 2013. Jane is a CPA.

Jill Smith has been the CLCI Resource Coordinator at the Academy of World Language since 2010 after a decade of nonprofit leadership. She was the Executive Director of the Center for Peace Education and then worked for four years for KnowledgeWorks Foundation and its subsidiaries.

Philanthropy has been a mainstay throughout Maggie's career. She has experience in both traditional and digital fundraising and currently focuses on strategic growth, program development, and client success. A professional enthusiast at heart, Maggie has a passion to connect, engage and support people and organizations with missions that are aligned with music, youth and nature.

Heather is the founder and director of DanceFix and HBDC. She is a choreographer, dancer and an advocate for community connections through dance.

Michelle D’Cruz is a creative strategist with deep roots in non-profit, public sector, and health-driven initiatives. For two decades, she has led creative campaigns at the hyper-local, state, and national level, strategically advised community-centered brand development from the ground up, and conceptualized and built story-driven campaigns—informed by a multi-disciplinary and inclusive approach. Michelle is the founder and creative director of MDC Design Studio—a creative hub for socially focused problem solvers. From national policy and resource-driven campaigns, to statewide initiatives connecting youth and young adults with mental health and substance use disorder services, MDC uses its creative capacities to lift up the work of community-centered organizations, to shape how individuals interact with educational content, and take those learnings back out into the world.

Rana Dotson has worked for over 20 years on labor and human rights, public policy, and international development. She is a senior international affairs officer at the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), working to fight labor exploitation around the world. Rana is a co-founder and lead organizer for the international human rights collective Border of Lights. She is a fellow with the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP), and National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship. She lives in the DC metro with her family.

Brian Raphael Nabors is a composer of emotionally enriching music that tells exciting narratives with its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language. Mr. Nabors has worked with institutions such as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as well as performed at many events across the US, including the Texas Music Educators Association Conference (TMEA), the Midwest Composers Symposium, and the International Double Reed Society Conference (IDRS).

As director of community outreach and philanthropy for integrative medicine at UC Health and UC’s College of Medicine, John Tew lectures frequently about the links among longevity, cognition and the pillars of healthy living.

Susan Tew is a strong supporter of education. She is an Emeritus Board Member of the Catholic Inner-City School Education board of trustees.

Julianna Eidle is a Cincinnati-based performer, organizer, and educator. A passionate collaborator, Julianna is Artistic Director of the Cincinnati New Music Ensemble, a resident Performing Artist with the Contemporary Art Music Project in Tampa, FL, and Assistant-Director of New Downbeat, a Cincinnati chamber ensemble rooted in intersectional feminism. Julianna holds degrees from Indiana University (BM and Performer Diploma) and the University of Cincinnati (MM,) where she is currently pursuing her DMA. Julianna has additional studies in Deep Listening, Yoga Teacher Certification, and The Well’s My True SELF program.

Dr. Tiffany N. Hinton is a long-time educator. Dr. T., as her students affectionately refer to her, is also a daily meditator, a dedicated yoga practitioner, a breath work enthusiast and an avid gardener. She is excited to join the Well as a True Body facilitator. With a Ph.D. in English, specializing in Africana Literary and Cultural Studies, Dr. T. has more than 20 years’ experience designing, facilitating and administering educational programs, including 12+ years as an English professor. As owner/operator of The ENGLISH Professorional, she combines competencies in culturally responsive/ sustaining, evidence-based curriculum and program development as well as facilitation to deliver a range of services to organizations and individuals, alike.

Ashley Miley is a facilitator and forever student of embodied living. Ashley is a My True SELF/True Body Project facilitator at The Well/A Mindful Moment, currently serving John P. Parker School and Dedicated Senior Medical Center. Ashley was drawn to MTS/TBP as it provided an opportunity to teach others what she had learned on her own trauma healing and embodiment journey-mindfulness, somatic work, energetic work, nervous system regulation, embodiment, and creative expression-while supporting others on their journeys. Ashley is also very passionate about trauma-informed, relational, and sacred sexuality work. She is working to create individual and group programs and retreats interweaving these various domains together to create holistic embodiment experiences. The teachers she has worked with include Kendra Cunov, John Wineland, Damien Bohler, Layla Martin, and David Treleaven.

Brooke Thomas (she/her) is a high school math teacher and mentor, trained in facilitating meditation and mindfulness practices for individuals and small groups. She advocates for the integration of mindfulness in education as a way to promote mental health wellness and create equitable and inclusive learning communities.