MEET THE TEAM
Firefly's Co-Founders
Annie and Emily met in 2011 at Boston University School of Public Health. They realized a shared passion for women’s 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-based public health program which would allow people everywhere to access and benefit from the healing powers 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 survivors to find or rebuild the connection between their mind, body, and spirit, opening the doors to a holistic and sustained recovery.
Annie and Emily met in 2011 at Boston University School of Public Health. They realized a shared passion for women’s 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-based public health program which would allow people everywhere to access and benefit from the healing powers 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 survivors to find or rebuild the connection between their mind, body, and spirit, opening the doors to a holistic and sustained recovery.
Firefly's Board of Directors
Annie Kiel, MPH, MA, E-RYT
Co-Executive Director and Founder
Annie received her Master of Arts in Gender and Peace Building from the United Nations University for Peace (Costa Rica), where she focused on gender mainstreaming for international programming in developing countries. She conducted independent research on sex trafficking of women and girls in Costa Rica. Annie received her Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health, focusing on global health with an emphasis on program design and implementation. She conducted an independent study on the testing and diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus infection among adults in the United States. Annie has over 16 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with various organizations including domestic violence agencies, sexual assault centers, international and domestic reproductive and sexual health organizations, and was the Project Director for one site of a national multi-site clinical study of HIV and substance abuse. She has worked in various capacities while serving in the nonprofit sector, including: development, research, program implementation, project management, and administration. Annie's biggest passions are working on issues related to: gender equality, women’s rights, survivor empowerment, and behavior change initiatives promoting individual and community wellness. She is also Registered Yoga Teacher, who strongly believes that yoga is a lifelong practice that can cultivate a better awareness of achieving balance on (and off) the mat. Annie has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and conferences including: Yoga for Emotional Health and Healing, yoga and action (social justice), Yoga Journal conferences, prenatal, and yin yoga teacher training's. In November 2016, she completed training to become a certified Health and Wellness Coach. Annie thrives on building strong communities locally and globally!
Co-Executive Director and Founder
Annie received her Master of Arts in Gender and Peace Building from the United Nations University for Peace (Costa Rica), where she focused on gender mainstreaming for international programming in developing countries. She conducted independent research on sex trafficking of women and girls in Costa Rica. Annie received her Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health, focusing on global health with an emphasis on program design and implementation. She conducted an independent study on the testing and diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus infection among adults in the United States. Annie has over 16 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with various organizations including domestic violence agencies, sexual assault centers, international and domestic reproductive and sexual health organizations, and was the Project Director for one site of a national multi-site clinical study of HIV and substance abuse. She has worked in various capacities while serving in the nonprofit sector, including: development, research, program implementation, project management, and administration. Annie's biggest passions are working on issues related to: gender equality, women’s rights, survivor empowerment, and behavior change initiatives promoting individual and community wellness. She is also Registered Yoga Teacher, who strongly believes that yoga is a lifelong practice that can cultivate a better awareness of achieving balance on (and off) the mat. Annie has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and conferences including: Yoga for Emotional Health and Healing, yoga and action (social justice), Yoga Journal conferences, prenatal, and yin yoga teacher training's. In November 2016, she completed training to become a certified Health and Wellness Coach. Annie thrives on building strong communities locally and globally!
Emily Winter, MPH, E-RYT, SEP(c)
Co-Executive Director and 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 ten 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.
Co-Executive Director and 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 ten 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.
Molly Norton, MA
Chairwoman of the Board
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.
Chairwoman of the Board
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
Vice-Chair of the Board
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. Jonathan 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.
Vice-Chair of the Board
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. Jonathan 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.
Besty Glass, MSW, LCSW
Firefly Board Member
Betsy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has practiced, as a mental health professional, in outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings with children and families for the past ten years. She recently moved to South Lake Tahoe, CA and accepted a position with Barton Memorial Hospital as a Medical Social Worker and program designer for behavioral health services in their rural health clinic, Barton Community Health Center. Born and raised on the East Coast, receiving her Bachelor of Arts at West Virginia University and Master of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, the vast outdoor opportunities in the west inspired her relocation. Betsy has immense compassion not only for her role in supporting the enhancement of individual and community quality of life, but also for physical activity and the great outdoors. Recognizing a need to consider methods beyond the common Western approaches to medicine in her practice, she incorporates alternative, holistic healing opportunities for individuals coping with the impact of trauma and other related mental health conditions. Betsy looks forward to offering mental health expertise to the practice of trauma-informed yoga.
Firefly Board Member
Betsy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has practiced, as a mental health professional, in outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings with children and families for the past ten years. She recently moved to South Lake Tahoe, CA and accepted a position with Barton Memorial Hospital as a Medical Social Worker and program designer for behavioral health services in their rural health clinic, Barton Community Health Center. Born and raised on the East Coast, receiving her Bachelor of Arts at West Virginia University and Master of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, the vast outdoor opportunities in the west inspired her relocation. Betsy has immense compassion not only for her role in supporting the enhancement of individual and community quality of life, but also for physical activity and the great outdoors. Recognizing a need to consider methods beyond the common Western approaches to medicine in her practice, she incorporates alternative, holistic healing opportunities for individuals coping with the impact of trauma and other related mental health conditions. Betsy looks forward to offering mental health expertise to the practice of trauma-informed yoga.
Julia Karol
Firefly 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
Firefly 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