Board of Directors

Ben Boomer - President

I am Dibéłizhíní (Black Sheep) of my mother’s clan, born for the Boomer lineage (British Isles) of my father. Growing up in Dinétah (Navajo Nation) has given me the gift of a perspective that bridges cultures—from traditional ceremonies to cookies under the Christmas tree.

I’ve been fortunate to learn about balance in life through the stories, songs, and teachings of my people and from those who have generously shared the wisdom passed down from their ancestors. These lessons continue to guide me in striving to live in harmony with myself, others, and the world around me.

I am passionate about supporting indigenous tribes in preserving their wisdom and healing traditions. As these teachings are empowered, they bring the world closer to healing & balance one step at a time.

Madeline Gelmetti - Vice President

Madeline brings over a decade of knowledge working for nonprofit organizations with the previous few years in nonprofit administration. She works as a behavior analyst serving individuals of all ages with disabilities in the school, home and community setting. Madeline finds deep joy in community connections, quality time in nature, gardening and learning new things. She has practiced energy-work for fifteen years and is passionate about studying shamanism and shamanic practices. 

Mary Olivar - Executive Director

Mary's professional adventures have all been founded on promoting healing plants, vibrant healthy living, and a higher awoken consciousness. Dubbed the “Healthy Eating Guru” for Whole Foods Market, she inspired people to take charge of their health through the natural tools and resources available to them. Mary also volunteers as a leader for Shamanism without Borders, the global response network of shamanic practitioners who tend to traumatic events. When not espousing the virtues of plants and deepening one's connection to Mother Earth, Mary can often be found in Austin, Texas, singing, joyfully dancing, gardening, or happily cooking for her husband and three well-fed children.

Steve Vierra - Treasurer

Stephen Vierra is an entrepreneur, and co-founder of SkillSet Group, a Staffing and Recruiting Firm out of Santa Ana, CA.  His business background is focused in Psychology, Sales, and Customer Service. Stephen is a shamanic practitioner, musician and song writer and has been studying the traditions of shamanism here in the U.S., Mexico, and Peru for many years. Stephen brings his leadership qualities and people connecting abilities to help support the mission and values of CSEE. 

Patricia Liles - Secretary

Patricia is a retired, licensed speech and language pathologist. She worked in the field of special education for 35 years as a therapist, diagnostician and teacher of young children. She also brings 15 years of experience as a community mediator.  She has traveled in Peru and Mexico and studied shamanic practices with indigenous peoples since 1996. Pat brings experience with education, culture and mediation to the Board.

Christopher Casillas

Christopher Casillas co founded and leads Regenerating Sonora, a nonprofit focused on holistic community development. Prior to this, he helped shape culture and business development processes as an early employee of a tech startup, turned billion dollar company. His love of people and adventure lead him to visit some 40 countries, and to spend time with indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, and South America. Christopher considers tending wisdom teachings as central to his life task work and is a student and practitioner of various traditions.

Mikel Bruce

Mikel is the founder and proprietor of a successful web design and marketing company, tinyfrog.com. He brings a wealth of experience in design, SEO, and web technology. Mikel also has substantial experience with shamanism and has made multiple trips to South America. This combination allows him to understand the design attributes that help convey the cultural nuances and thus accurately portray the intent and feeling of CSEE. Mikel provides the technical and design infrastructure that is essential to scale and communicate effectively.

Gabe Nosseir

Veena Fox Parekh

Veena lives as a guest in Tongva territory, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in the Los Angeles River basin. Her 20+ year career has spanned the international development and non-profit sectors, corporate communications, brand positioning and reputation management for multibillion-dollar companies, and consulting for social impact businesses. She has been a student of shamanic practices for more than 20 years and believes that Indigenous knowledge and wisdom are critical to uphold – both as a social justice imperative and as a powerful guide for how humankind can create a sustainable future for all beings.