MEET THE TEAM
Firefly's Co-Founders
Annie Kiel and Emily Winter met at Boston University School of Public Health in 2011. They realized a shared passion for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and both personally experienced the healing potential of a strong yoga practice and yogic lifestyle. Over three years of collaborating on various public health projects and sharing in each other’s yoga journey, Annie and Emily decided to join forces on realizing their ultimate dream: to marry yoga and public health. The two shared a common drive to design an evidence-supported public health program which would allow people everywhere to access and benefit from the power of yoga, breath work, and meditation. Combining their public health expertise with their yoga training, Annie and Emily founded Firefly Yoga International (Firefly) in 2013. Their greatest intention is that Firefly will allow for an accessible, affordable, and meaningful healing process for those who have experienced trauma. Firefly invites trauma-impacted individuals to find or rebuild the connection between their mind, body, and spirit, opening the doors to a holistic and sustained recovery.
Annie Kiel and Emily Winter met at Boston University School of Public Health in 2011. They realized a shared passion for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and both personally experienced the healing potential of a strong yoga practice and yogic lifestyle. Over three years of collaborating on various public health projects and sharing in each other’s yoga journey, Annie and Emily decided to join forces on realizing their ultimate dream: to marry yoga and public health. The two shared a common drive to design an evidence-supported public health program which would allow people everywhere to access and benefit from the power of yoga, breath work, and meditation. Combining their public health expertise with their yoga training, Annie and Emily founded Firefly Yoga International (Firefly) in 2013. Their greatest intention is that Firefly will allow for an accessible, affordable, and meaningful healing process for those who have experienced trauma. Firefly invites trauma-impacted individuals to find or rebuild the connection between their mind, body, and spirit, opening the doors to a holistic and sustained recovery.
Staff and Board of Directors
Annie Kiel, MPH, MA, E-RYT, YACEP
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Annie Kiel received her Master of Arts in Gender and Peace Building (GPB) from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica. The GPB program focused on approaching human rights and global development with a gender lens by drawing on the role gender plays in violence, social and racial justice, health inequity, and peace building. At UPeace she conducted independent research on sex trafficking of women and girls in Costa Rica. Annie earned a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health, focusing on global health with an emphasis on program design, implementation, and management. She conducted an independent study on the testing and diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus infection among adults in the United States. Annie has over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with various organizations including domestic violence agencies, sexual assault centers, international and domestic sexual and reproductive health organizations, and was the Project Director for a national multi-site clinical study of HIV and substance abuse at Boston University. She has worked in various capacities while serving in the nonprofit sector, including: fund development, research, program development and implementation, project management, and administration. Annie's biggest passions are working on issues related to: gender equity, women’s rights, survivor empowerment, and behavior change initiatives promoting individual and community wellness. She is also an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, with 1800+ teaching hours and has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and conferences including: Yoga for Emotional Health and Healing, yoga and action (social justice), and prenatal and yin yoga teacher trainings. In November 2016, she became a certified Health and Wellness Coach. Annie thrives on building strong communities locally and globally!
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Annie Kiel received her Master of Arts in Gender and Peace Building (GPB) from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica. The GPB program focused on approaching human rights and global development with a gender lens by drawing on the role gender plays in violence, social and racial justice, health inequity, and peace building. At UPeace she conducted independent research on sex trafficking of women and girls in Costa Rica. Annie earned a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health, focusing on global health with an emphasis on program design, implementation, and management. She conducted an independent study on the testing and diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus infection among adults in the United States. Annie has over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with various organizations including domestic violence agencies, sexual assault centers, international and domestic sexual and reproductive health organizations, and was the Project Director for a national multi-site clinical study of HIV and substance abuse at Boston University. She has worked in various capacities while serving in the nonprofit sector, including: fund development, research, program development and implementation, project management, and administration. Annie's biggest passions are working on issues related to: gender equity, women’s rights, survivor empowerment, and behavior change initiatives promoting individual and community wellness. She is also an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, with 1800+ teaching hours and has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and conferences including: Yoga for Emotional Health and Healing, yoga and action (social justice), and prenatal and yin yoga teacher trainings. In November 2016, she became a certified Health and Wellness Coach. Annie thrives on building strong communities locally and globally!
Molly Norton, MA
Board Chair
Molly Norton is the Cofounder of Sparklight Partners, which provides strategic planning and start-up assistance to nonprofits and small businesses. Molly lived in Rwanda for four years where she worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society helping beekeepers around Nyungwe National Park to develop their honey production skills and market their products to tourists and local markets. She also started a farmer training course and demonstration farm that supplied food for a pediatric nutrition and feeding program. Prior to moving to Rwanda, Molly started the Food Justice program at Just Food in New York City and managed the Africa department for Geographic Expeditions in San Francisco. She holds a MA in International Environmental Policy with a focus in agriculture policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Board Chair
Molly Norton is the Cofounder of Sparklight Partners, which provides strategic planning and start-up assistance to nonprofits and small businesses. Molly lived in Rwanda for four years where she worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society helping beekeepers around Nyungwe National Park to develop their honey production skills and market their products to tourists and local markets. She also started a farmer training course and demonstration farm that supplied food for a pediatric nutrition and feeding program. Prior to moving to Rwanda, Molly started the Food Justice program at Just Food in New York City and managed the Africa department for Geographic Expeditions in San Francisco. She holds a MA in International Environmental Policy with a focus in agriculture policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Jonathan Rucks, MA
Board Vice-Chair
Jonathan Rucks serves as the Director of Advocacy for PAI where he works to champion policies that put women in charge of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. He is responsible for the development and management of advocacy strategies to inform and influence public policy at the federal level in the US as well as in developing countries. Jonathan has more than 10 years of experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Prior to joining PAI, Jonathan worked for Pathfinder International, a major U.S. government implementing partner, and spent eight years working in the House of Representatives for both Representative Jan Schakowsky and Representative Jim Oberstar. Jonathan holds a master’s degree in Strategic Security Studies from the College of International Security Affairs at National Defense University in Washington, D.C. His undergrad degree in Political Science and English is from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. Jonathan has lived in Washington, D.C. since 2004.
Board Vice-Chair
Jonathan Rucks serves as the Director of Advocacy for PAI where he works to champion policies that put women in charge of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. He is responsible for the development and management of advocacy strategies to inform and influence public policy at the federal level in the US as well as in developing countries. Jonathan has more than 10 years of experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Prior to joining PAI, Jonathan worked for Pathfinder International, a major U.S. government implementing partner, and spent eight years working in the House of Representatives for both Representative Jan Schakowsky and Representative Jim Oberstar. Jonathan holds a master’s degree in Strategic Security Studies from the College of International Security Affairs at National Defense University in Washington, D.C. His undergrad degree in Political Science and English is from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. Jonathan has lived in Washington, D.C. since 2004.
Julia Karol, MA
Board Member
Julia Karol is the President and COO for Watermill Group. She is responsible for overall firm operations and helping Watermill portfolio companies develop and implement their strategies. Previously, as a Watermill Principal, Julia helped guide the day-to-day operations of the firm, directed the firm’s investor relations and managed fundraising initiatives for acquisitions. Prior to joining Watermill, Julia worked at Jumpstart, a national nonprofit organization. Julia serves as a Partner for Social Venture Partners, Boston and previously founded and served as board chair for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network in Boston. She received a M.A. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership from Stanford University, a Graduate of the Harvard Business School OPM program, and she completed the Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Julia has a B.A. from Tufts University.
June Tsang, MBA, MS
Board Member
June Tsang is a nonprofit management and global health economics professional who currently serves as Senior Manager of Global Program Management at the Center for Reproductive Rights. She is responsible for building the organization's program management function, including coordinating, planning, and implementation of the Center’s program work for greater efficiency and consistency, and improving staff engagement and capacities towards a global culture of learning. June’s experience ranges from strategic planning and business development with an international sexual and reproductive health and rights NGO to the co-editing of a women’s health and rights publication (Our Bodies, Ourselves) that was translated and adapted by grassroots organizations globally. June proudly hails from the Bronx, NY where she was raised by her refugee family. She has seen first-hand the benefits of social and public health programs, and fully believes in Firefly's valuable contribution toward healing for those who have experienced trauma. June received her MBA in Nonprofit Management and MS in Global Health Policy and Management from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
Corrie Haley, MPH, RYT-200
Board Member
Corrie Haley is the Medi-Cal Manager for the Health Net of California’s Quality Improvement department. She manages a team implementing quality improvement strategies and designing evaluations to address barriers to accessing high quality healthcare for over 3 million Medicaid members. Previously, Corrie managed maternal and child health programs as a Senior Program Manager at the Boston University’s Center for Global Health and Development. Corrie holds a Master of Public Health degree, concentrating in environmental health, from Boston University. She is also a 200-hour certified yoga teacher with over 700 hours of teaching. On and off the mat, Corrie is driven by her passion to help people reach their full potential and better their quality of life.
Sara Funk, MA, RYT-200
Board Member
Sara Funk has worked in corporate finance for twenty years, currently at Target Corporation. Sara’s career in finance started in government, transitioning to for-profit companies in 2010 after working for Be The Match for six years, a nationally recognized nonprofit based in Minneapolis. Sara has a passion for telling the stories of business through the financial lens. With a Masters in nonprofit management from Hamline University, Sara has served on several nonprofit boards with a focus on strategic growth and financial stability for supporting the mission long term. Sara is also an active yoga instructor, completing her 200-hr certification at Kripalu School of Yoga in 2014. Her focus in practice is around alignment that provides the most benefit to the student and creating space for students to explore choice in their time on the mat.
Board Member
Sara Funk has worked in corporate finance for twenty years, currently at Target Corporation. Sara’s career in finance started in government, transitioning to for-profit companies in 2010 after working for Be The Match for six years, a nationally recognized nonprofit based in Minneapolis. Sara has a passion for telling the stories of business through the financial lens. With a Masters in nonprofit management from Hamline University, Sara has served on several nonprofit boards with a focus on strategic growth and financial stability for supporting the mission long term. Sara is also an active yoga instructor, completing her 200-hr certification at Kripalu School of Yoga in 2014. Her focus in practice is around alignment that provides the most benefit to the student and creating space for students to explore choice in their time on the mat.
Emily Winter, MPH, E-RYT, SEP(c)
Co-Founder
Emily received her Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health, with emphases in global sexual and reproductive health and managing complex humanitarian emergencies. Emily has over twelve years of experience working for global health non-profits and academic institutions, with various roles in health program design and implementation, curriculum development, and leadership and management. Much of Emily’s work has focused on meeting the physical and psychological health needs of survivors of sexual, domestic, interpersonal, and conflict-related violence in countries in crisis. She has worked with vulnerable populations throughout the United States as well as internationally, including coordinating a support group for women with AIDS in Nairobi, and developing a sexual health program for sex workers in Swaziland that was awarded funding by the United Nations Population Fund. She has extensive experience designing and running leadership and empowerment programs for homeless and youth at-risk in rural Appalachia and urban centers. Emily has served as a consultant to several global health and human rights agencies, including Physicians for Human Rights where she developed a curriculum for prevention of sexual violence in conflict zones. Emily is a Registered Yoga Teacher with hundreds of hours of training in Raja-Hatha Yoga, Tibetan Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Ayurveda and Herbalism. She is a Somatic Experiencing(R) (SE) Practitioner-in-training at the Trauma Institute and offers SE to individual clients in her private practice at Elevate Wellness in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Currently living, working and teaching in South Lake Tahoe, CA, she is most passionate about engaging her community in a conscious, holistic approach to wellness. In December 2018, Emily transitioned out of Firefly Yoga International to pursue SE full-time.
Co-Founder
Emily received her Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health, with emphases in global sexual and reproductive health and managing complex humanitarian emergencies. Emily has over twelve years of experience working for global health non-profits and academic institutions, with various roles in health program design and implementation, curriculum development, and leadership and management. Much of Emily’s work has focused on meeting the physical and psychological health needs of survivors of sexual, domestic, interpersonal, and conflict-related violence in countries in crisis. She has worked with vulnerable populations throughout the United States as well as internationally, including coordinating a support group for women with AIDS in Nairobi, and developing a sexual health program for sex workers in Swaziland that was awarded funding by the United Nations Population Fund. She has extensive experience designing and running leadership and empowerment programs for homeless and youth at-risk in rural Appalachia and urban centers. Emily has served as a consultant to several global health and human rights agencies, including Physicians for Human Rights where she developed a curriculum for prevention of sexual violence in conflict zones. Emily is a Registered Yoga Teacher with hundreds of hours of training in Raja-Hatha Yoga, Tibetan Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Ayurveda and Herbalism. She is a Somatic Experiencing(R) (SE) Practitioner-in-training at the Trauma Institute and offers SE to individual clients in her private practice at Elevate Wellness in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Currently living, working and teaching in South Lake Tahoe, CA, she is most passionate about engaging her community in a conscious, holistic approach to wellness. In December 2018, Emily transitioned out of Firefly Yoga International to pursue SE full-time.