THE COUR EXPERIENCE TEAM
WORKING BOARD
Debbie DiManno
Debbie’s path to Cour Experience took her from a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology to various careers in the medical field modalities such as Cardiology, GI, and Genetic Biotech. Her interests took her into the business sector working for Fortune 500 companies such as HP, Philips, Siemens, and Exact Sciences.
She spent 30 years working in Western Medicine and her extreme health issues made it clear that Western Medicine didn’t have all the answers. She understood that much of her healing had to come from within. She realized that her “biography was her biology”. She became “well” as a result of using modalities like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. She has always been a natural coach and found herself inspired to share everything she has learned.
Debbie chose to get involved with youth when her teenage daughter started experiencing anxiety, secondary to a motor vehicle accident trauma. Debbie decided to avoid medication and instead chose Biofeedback training and HeartMath for her daughter’s treatment which was quite successful. Ironically, many of her daughter’s friends were having similar issues related to stress, anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
Debbie decided that she could no longer just sit and watch the horrific phenomena surrounding our youth. Something had to be done before another young life was lost to suicide!
Cour Experience, INC. was created as a result of the significant need of our children to have balance in a world that is changing at the speed of light.
Debbie DiManno
Chief Executive Officer
BS in Exercise Physiology, SEL Yoga Certified
Cour Experience, Inc.
Marci Mitchell
Chief Operating Officer
BA in Government, Clark University, Certified EFT and TFT Tapping Practitioner, former Major, United States Army
Cour Experience, Inc.
Marci Mitchell
Marci is an original member of the Cour Experience team, a 3rd generation native Californian, and a joyful optimist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Clark University with a major in International Relations. She is an Army veteran, having served as a Military Intelligence Officer after college in Munich, Germany, Naples, Italy, and various locations in the US.
Marci is a wife and mother of two sons, Patrick and Hershel, who is a transgender male. Both of her kids deal with depression and anxiety. As a family, they have dealt with emotional overwhelm, school trauma, self-harm, suicidality, transgender issues, and autism spectrum issues. Marci is passionate about helping youth find joy, balance, and purpose in a stressful world.
Marci discovered metaphysical teachings when she was 17, connecting with a belief system that led her down a new path. It has been on a journey of self-discovery and transformation lasting over 38 years. She is passionate about helping people live joyful, balanced, and purposeful lives and she believes we can all come together and create a world that works for everyone. It begins with the younger generations and she is here to do her part to support them.
GOVERNING BOARD
Gabriella Lundquist
President of the Board
BA in Communications, licensed Financial Advisor, Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS)
Cour Experience, Inc.
Gabriella Lundquist
Gabriella Lundquist is a registered representative with and securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA and SIPC.
Gabriella was born and raised in Sweden in a household where goal-setting, visualization, and courageous execution were the norm. She moved from home at the age of 16 to study business and pursue a career in tennis. After high school, she came to the United States on a full tennis scholarship and earned her BA in Communications. Gabriella is also a licensed Financial Advisor (registered through LPL Financial), an active partner at Ideal Life Advisors, and an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) with 14+ years of experience as a Wealth Advisor.
As a Wealth Advisor, Gabriella assists her clients with specific goal-setting, plan development, and investment strategies. She's very passionate about helping her clients build their wealth and improve their overall net worth. She helps people reach true happiness by teaching the importance of nurturing the connection to our hearts when we make important decisions in our lives.
From a young age, she learned the importance of cultivating our deepest desires through listening and following your heart. Gabriella strives to provide guidance for our younger generations by inspiring youth to define what they truly desire for their future, for others, and for future generations. It takes patience, courage, and most of all it takes heart to do it!
Syonia Peterson
Syonia Peterson is one of the founding members of Cour Experience. She spent 23 years as CEO of Folsom Technology Group, Inc. and the past 11 years as a Software Asset Manager for California ISO in Folsom, California.
Syonia and her husband are raising two young men with autism and have dedicated their lives to helping their sons navigate their own lives with grace, joy, and purpose. Like all parenting, it is a labor of love, filled with triumphs and trials, laughter, tears, and profound beauty.
Having lived with anxiety all her life, Syonia is committed to seeking effective strategies to help both herself and her kids navigate a complex world. She is passionate about sharing these strategies with kids, teens, and adults so that each can find their own peace, calm, and comfort as they travel the road of life.
Syonia is a musician and singer, playing and singing in multiple bands in the greater Sacramento area. She is a lover of the outdoors and a student of Nature and all it has to share. She is a data and science-based person who balances her intuitive nature with the need to prove the theory.
Syonia Peterson
Treasurer of the Board
Cour Experience, Inc.
Rosey Gamez
Secretary of the Board
Cour Experience, Inc.
Rosey Gamez
Rosey has over 20 years experience in Human Resource and organizational design with companies like Apple, CyberSource, TOMRA, Pearson Education and is the owner of a Boutique HR Consulting and Talent Search firm, Inspired HR Solutions, in Northern California. She’s a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Teacher, Trainer and Speaker.
She has experience with global as well as domestic organizations and understands the unique
challenges involved. She has supported teams large in over 20 countries and is well versed in
domestic and multinational Talent Acquisition as well as Mergers and Change Management for
small to large organizations.
Rosey has an MBA from Brandman/Chapman University with a focus in Human Resources and
Organizational Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Chapman
University.
Rosey’s path to Cour Experience was fostered out of passion for giving back to the community
but also out of her families’ experiences. In 2018 her family had a year that changed the course
of their lives. In January, her 14-year-old daughter attempted suicide and was diagnosed with
chronic depression, anxiety and psychosis. Additionally, her 85-year old father was diagnosed
with Atrial Fibrillation which caused a blood clot and required the amputation of his left leg. Late
that year, her husband of 24 years and best friend of 36 years, passed away unexpectedly of
meningitis. These events sent the family into an emotional roller coaster, including several visits
to mental health institutions, and countless hours with therapists and psychiatrists.
The path to recovery involved a team of experts from schoolteachers, counselors and
psychologists, doctors, nurses as well as compassion and understanding from friends, family,
and co-workers. There were big lessons in the importance of mental health care as part of
overall wellness. A rich life, full of joy, passion and presence requires attention to our mental and
emotional wellness as well as physical health. Rosey’s philosophy in life is “it takes a village.”
Only together can we accomplish change, growth and true meaning.
ADVISORY BOARD
Terence Shigg
Advisory Board Member
MS in Counseling Psychology, COO for Any Body Can Youth Foundation, trained in EMDR, HeartMath, Blue Courage, Critical Incident Skills Management (CISM) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), retired Law Enforcement Officer, retired Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Cour Experience, Inc.
Terence Shigg
Terence L. Shigg is a retired federal law enforcement officer (27 years) and a practicing licensed marriage and family therapist (12 years). For 20 years, he was a leader in the largest federal labor union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). His education includes a BA in Psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from National University. In 2012, he was honored with a Leadership award from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, San Diego for his role in developing and presenting suicide awareness training. He has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Blue Courage (bluecourage.com), HeartMath (Heartmath.com), Critical Incident Skills Management (CISM) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
He currently serves as the Chief Operation Officer (COO) for Any Body Can Youth Foundation (abcyouthfoundation.org). Terence has developed relationships with national and local politicians, leaders, and organizations. He is active in his church (The Rock – sdrock.com) and volunteers as a community chaplain.
Dr. Mark E. Holthouse MD
FAAFP, ABIHM, ABoIM, ABFP
Training: Medical degree at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
Residency training at UC Davis Medical Center / US Air Force David Grant Medical Center in Family Medicine.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (first test cohort 2013 in CFMP)
Board Certified American Board of Integrative Medicine
Board Certified American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine
Experience
• Chief of Ambulatory Care Mather and McClellan Hospitals USAF
• UC Davis Medical School Teaching Faculty
• Co-Founder Placerville Family Practice Inc.- Placerville, CA
• Founder of Center for Functional and Integrative Medicine, Inc.- Cameron Park, CA
• Co-Founder True Health Center for Functional Medicine- El Dorado Hills, CA
• Over 25 years in Family Medicine along with Functional medicine since 2006
• Loma Linda University School of Medicine teaching faculty Preventive Cardiology and Metabolic Medicine
• IFM teaching faculty
Dr. Mark E. Holthouse MD
Advisory Board Director
MD, Board Certified Family Medicine, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Board Certified American Board of Integrative Medicine, Board Certified American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine
Cour Experience, Inc.
Patricia Souza
Advisory Board Member
MA in Education and Advanced Leadership Training, California Public Education Teacher, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent of Schools
Cour Experience, Inc.
Patricia Souza
Pat’s thirty-six-year career in California Public Education includes classroom teaching, elementary and junior high school principalships, and district level administration as assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and superintendent of schools.
She has a Masters's in Educational Administration and Advanced Leadership Training. She has had extensive successful leadership experience in the educational and personal/professional growth arenas.
Pat was co-partner and co-founder of a consulting firm serving the personnel needs of school districts throughout California. She was also a 10-year member of the Association of California Administrator’s Professional Assistance Team serving the legal needs of school administrators throughout California.
Pat believes in the efficacy of all people; young and old. She has a passion for bringing people together to create systems to support ongoing personal growth and harmony in their lives, the community and the world.
Kim Hughes
Kim Hughes is a licensed clinical social worker and the Clinical Director of Sierra Child and Family Services. She has been providing mental health services to youth and their families in El Dorado County since 1993. Kim earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Westfield State University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston College before making her way west in the summer of 1993. She has held a variety of clinical positions with Sierra Child and Family Services and currently leads a team of fine clinicians who provide educationally related mental health services for the EDUHSD.
In addition to her extensive training and education as a mental health clinician she has been practicing yoga for 20 years and in May of 2018, became certified as a yoga teacher. She approaches her work with a strong back and open heart. Kim empowers and celebrates the resiliency of young people and is passionate about working with them in their natural environments to help them recognize their potential to grow and become leaders themselves.
Kim Hughes
Advisory Board Member
MA in Clinical Social Work, LCSW, Clinical Director of Sierra Child and Family Services
Cour Experience, Inc.
Julie Legakis Rodriguez
Advisory Board Member
MS in Psychology, College Professor
Cour Experience, Inc.
Julie Legakis Rodriguez
Julie earned her Master's Degree in Psychology and is a Psychology Professor at Folsom Lake College. In addition to her formal training and experience, Julie has had a life filled with opportunities for growth. Julie is visually impaired and her disability has made her the strong and compassionate person she is today.
Julie’s unique perspective and her understanding of mindfulness techniques are a pivotal part of our program. She lives and breathes the belief that each and every one of us has the power to make the permanent changes we seek to live the life we desire with healthy, bodies, minds, and souls!
Julie became part of Cour Experience because her heart breaks every time she hears about another young person struggling with depression and anxiety. The suicide rates are at an all-time high for this age group, and it is happening every day. Our kids feel overwhelmed. The tools that Cour Experience share have helped Julie personally and wish she had them when she was younger. Cour Experience is here to make a difference. Julie is tired of just talking about doing something, she wants to be a part of the solution.
Vashti Summervill
Vashti is a certified teacher in the state of Idaho, a PCI Certified Parent Coach ® and a Therapeutic Educational Consultant. She also has a Master of Music degree and is a musician.
She is passionate about doing upstream work to reduce self-harm, anxiety, and depression in our youth. She produces the podcast “Teen Connectivity” - a show dedicated to helping parents navigate the wilderness of adolescence. She currently serves on the St. Luke's Pediatric Family Advisory Council representing families with children hospitalized due to a mental health crisis, is the secretary of the Idaho Suicide Prevention Coalition Board, trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), and is a QPR Instructor (Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training). She is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Vashti’s higher calling is to combine all of her training and certification to improve the lives of parents, children, and families. Vashti is a proud parent of two teenage girls.
Vashti Summervill
Advisory Board Member
MA, Certified Teacher, PCI Certified Parent Coach ®, Therapeutic Educational Consultant
Cour Experience, Inc.
Janet Bailey
Advisory Board Member
Phd
Cour Experience, Inc.
Janet Bailey
The human energy field contains information regarding an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Behavioral, emotional, and mental patterns are also contained within this energy field. As a medical intuitive, Janet is able to provide valuable information and understanding regarding the state of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Janet completed her Ph.D. with Dr. C. Norman Shealy and Dr. Caroline Myss in the Science of Intuition and Energy Medicine. She is a Medical Intuitive and Bioenergetic Diagnostician. Her ultimate goal is to assist her clients in understanding how mental, emotional, and spiritual energy affects all aspects of health and wellness. Her ability to intuit energetic imbalances allows her to formulate individual plans to establish balance and health for her clients. In addition to her active studies with Drs. Shealy and Myss, she incorporates her background in Medical Dietetics, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, and Clinical Hypnotherapy to address individual health issues.
Priscilla Jensen
Priscilla is a personal trainer, entrepreneur, health and wellness guru. She believes in the importance of Heart-Based Education, Social and Emotional Learning, understanding how emotions affect the rhythmic activity in the nervous system, and how anxiety inhibits cognitive and physical performance. Priscilla’s personal success story with Cour Experience tools fuels her intent to help youth who suffer from anxiety and depression and to teach them that Cour Experience tools can have a dramatic, positive impact on their daily lives.
Priscilla’s passion for health and wellness can be traced back to a young age when she found out her mother was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. As years went by her mother’s condition worsened, and she spent a significant amount of time caregiving for her mother. From this experience, Priscilla gained an important understanding of health and wellness, meditation, and mental health, as well as patience, compassion, and the drive to set a better example for the people who surround her.
Priscilla is also setting a new standard with her blog, Pampered by P by breaking the stigma of comparison in men and women that is caused by the fabrication of social media. Her blog incites change in the way men and women view themselves and promotes a positive shift in mindset when they realize, no matter what sex or gender, we all want the same things. .
Priscilla Jensen
Youth Advisory Board Member
PT, Health and Wellness Specialist
Cour Experience, Inc.
Claire Goss
Advisory Board Member
Counseling Psychology, M. Ed.
Cour Experience, Inc.
Claire Goss
Claire serves as an Educational Psychologist, Partners In Learning In Education, Inc for over 27 years. This educational psychology private practice provides professional services for preschool, primary, secondary, and college/university level students, including: cognitive, educational and learning style evaluations, educational counseling, consulting with educators, parents, students, mental health or medical personnel on issues related to learning, social development, behavior, school placement, IEP review and academic difficulties, coordinating intervention strategies, earning style coaching. Past experience includes Coordinator of Student Support Services, School Psychologist, Las Lomitas elementary School District, San Mateo County Office of Education (1981 - 2007). School psychologist, West Hartford Public Schools (1973 - Jun 1980). Adjunct Staff, Newington Children's Hospital, (1973 - 1977) Newington, CT, Educational Psychologist, Teacher- Grades 4-6, Reading Teacher- Grades 1-8, West Hartford School District, (1970 - 1973) taught all subjects and specialized in reading in summer lab. Also served as the school psychologist for the Juvenile Incarcerated Youth School of San Mateo County.
Having worked across a broad spectrum of students in my various roles as a teacher, school counselor, educational administrator, school psychologist, and educational psychologist for the past 40 years, I have found that learning cannot take place without a student’s positive emotional health.By providing youth with self care tools, we are supporting their present and future mental health well being. My hope is I can bring the tools that Cour Experience provides to more schools, both public and private, so that the schools can be the mental health educators for their students.
Education:
San Francisco State,
Administrative Credential, School Administration, 1983 - 1985
University of Hartford, MA and
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, Counseling Psychology and School
Psychology, 1970 - 1977
Enrolled in the University of
California, Berkeley/Professional Program in Neuropsychological Assessment
S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook,
University of Hartford, San Francisco State, Bachelor of Science (B.S.),
Psychology
University of Hartford, Master of Education (M.Ed.),
Counseling Psychology
"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
Willie Nelson
What they're saying!
It's time to help our youth become stronger.
We're on a mission to educate, inspire and transform lives, ages 4-104 using basic scientifically proven methods and tools to decrease stress, anxiety and to increase resiliency
and overall well-being.
© 2019 Cour Experience Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Non-Profit 501c3 EIN: 84-3383699
We're on a mission to educate, inspire and transform lives, ages 4-104 using basic scientifically proven methods and tools to decrease stress, anxiety and to increase resiliency
and overall well-being.
© 2019 Cour Experience Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Non-Profit 501c3 EIN: 84-3383699