The Holistic Moms Network National Team is a group of dynamic individuals dedicated to natural health and parenting. We are honored to have each and every one of them involved in our organization and thank them for their hard work and unflagging enthusiasm. We hope you have an opportunity to interact with each one of them through your involvement in HMN!
Read our recent blog about the mamas who run our organization here.
To learn more about our team, read our brief bios:
Meet Holistic Moms Network Founder, Nancy Massotto:
Residence: NJ
Children: Two Fabulous Boys
Life Experience: I have spent my life in education and service and truly believe in the power of making a difference. I have a BA, two MAs and a PhD in Political Science and Government and Politics, with an emphasis on international relations, gender studies and feminist theory. I have worked as a professor, a waitress, an executive secretary, a non-profit research associate, a government caseworker (among others) and, most importantly, as a parent. Every experience is and has been a learning opportunity!
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Holistic healing, creating mother-to-mother support and building community, and sustainability
Wished for World Change: Connection. If we begin to understand that we are all connected – to each other and to the planet in physical, emotional, and spiritual ways, we will begin to respect and honor one another.
What Inspires Nancy About HMN: The power of moms (and dads) to make a difference, to empower themselves through education and support, and the great love we all have for our children. Together, we can truly move mountains!
Favorite Quote: ”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
For more information, visit Nancy’s website or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
HMN National Team & Regional Chapter Mentors
Karen Armas Landau, Trustee
Residence: NJ
Children: Two sons – 8 yrs (10/00) and 9 mos (6/08)
Life Experience: I’ve done a lot of wandering in my life, education, profession, interests and, though I find myself in New Jersey for more than a decade now, I feel I am still wandering in many areas of my life. Luckily I’ve been wandering by choice! My education comes from the different parts of the world where I have lived, from Kenya to Kyoto to Polynesia to Vermont; as well as my traditional education: Masters of Intercultural and International Management and BS of Psychology. I’ve taught English, Science, Cross-Cultural Communication and – believe it or not! – time management. My longest job was working in a non-profit that provided legal and management assistance for charitable non-profits, where I started as a Program Associate and ended up the Assistant Director, having played many roles in between.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Natural and least intrusive therapies; NON genetically modified organisms; educational choices.
Wished for World Change: For people to be more caring of the earth and its people, plants and animals. I don’t just mean in a strictly environmental, conservation sort of way, but also in terms of the corruption of governments, or banks, or pharmaceutical (or other) companies.
What inspires Karen About HMN: So many things inspire me about HMN: the people! The ideas! The support!
Favorite Quote: “Todo se puede en la vida” my husband used to say that all the time “anything is possible”
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Emma Catarino, Graphic Designer
Residence: NC
Children: Two children
Life Experience: BA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. Minor in Communications Media Technology. 12 years of experience in Graphic Design.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: 1) Eating (organic, whole foods, local sources,etc.). 2) Green living: green cleaners, green products, reusing items, reducing waste. 3) Natural parenting: homebirth, breastfeeding, babywearing.
Wished for World Change: Stop all the hate. The wars, the power plays, the anger-they cause so many of our worlds problems.
What inspires Emma About HMN: Holistic Moms is such an encouraging group. People reach out to help complete strangers in any way they can. My local chapter has started a fund to help members in need with holistic purchases that they wouldn’t normally be able to buy.
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Nina DeSanto, Director of Mentoring and Chapter Development
Residence: PA
Children: One – Nicholas
Life Experience: My mission in life is to learn as much of anything that I can, and be able to leave this physical existence knowing I have experienced everything that I ever wanted too and acquire all the knowledge that I seek. My educational background consists of many avenues but my major studies are in business management, public speaking, psychology, and many avenues of healing modalities. My professional background consists of : Business owner, Education Director (which I loved doing. I traveled all over the world and met some wonderful people), Corporate Party Planner, Intuitive Business Consultant, Acting, Platform artist/public speaker.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Green Living, Healing in many avenues, Organic living: especially cooking and gardening.
Wished for World Change: I would give every homeless child a loving home
What Inspires Nina About HMN: Wow, I can go on forever with this one! There are so many things that inspire me about HMN. The amazing People I have met who go beyond the call of duty to step forward and help someone out. Respecting and honoring someone regardless of his/her different holistic views. The Team work among my fellow National Team Members, who no matter what you ask, are always there for you. The strength you are given knowing there are others who understand you, hence the feeling of belonging and being “home”.
Favorite Quote: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS having a human experience”
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Parvathi Kumar, Online Coordinator 
Residence: NJ
Children: Two sons, Rohith (08/2003) and Abhijith (06/2005)
Life Experience: I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and raised in Montreal, Quebec. I completed undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering in Canada and along the way spent many years training in classical guitar and Bharata Natyam (south indian classical dance). I then worked as an IT software developer in Denmark, CT and NJ, completing a Masters in Computer Science at NJIT. In 2007 I resigned from the IT world to devote myself to family and in 2010, I formally started my own photography business, since photography has also been a lifelong passion!
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Environment, Healthy Food, Yoga
Wished for World Change: Know yoga, know peace. No yoga, no peace.
What inspires You About HMN: When I joined in 2004, I immediately knew that this was a group where I would truly feel at home. It is always a comfort to know there is a place nearby of like-minded souls with whom I can share information, gather wisdom and where we can all benefit from each other’s experiences. I am grateful for all that I have learned, been made aware of and for all the people I have met because of HMN. I hope I can offer as much as I’ve gained!
Favorite Quote: ”Follow your bliss.” – Joseph Campbell
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Jennifer Oh, Director of Membership Benefits, Volunteer Coordinator, and Regional Chapter Mentor, CA
Residence: CA
Children: 2 (a 5 1/2 yr boy and a 2 1/2 yr girl)
Life Experience: I started out as a fashion designer in NYC (graduating from Parsons School of Design with a BFA) and worked as a woman’s knit designer. During that time, I started a small non-profit group, MESSY (Movement to Educate and Support our Youth). We went into schools and to organizations and assisted with art programs. This was right when schools were dropping art programs due to funding. I went to a 6th grade class in a not so great school in Brooklyn (most substitute teachers refused to teach there) and taught them art once a week. I also ran a program at the Brooklyn Library’s main branch in Grand Army Plaza – combining a reading program with an art program. In total, we had about 5 different programs we offered and ran. Doing this taught me invaluable lessons on paying attention to the needs of our community.
After a decade, I made a huge switch and became the Managing Director of Tiger Claw’s Eastern Division. Tiger Claw is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of martial arts equipment. If you use it in a martial arts school – we carry it. Recently, I returned to California and became Tiger Claw’s VP of Marketing and Public Relations. Working at Tiger Claw has given me an opportunity to meet so many amazing people, many of whom live holistically. Discussions on meditation, health, and bettering our body, minds, and soul are not uncommon. Seeing people do tai chi or qigong in the office is not unusual.
All of this has culminated in me becoming passionate about being as holistic as possible and to be able to guide my kids in this journey. They have taught me to be conscience of what we put in our bodies, on our bodies, and what we surround ourselves with. I hope you find this information useful and become as passionate as I am.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Whole/Traditional Food, Gentle Parenting, and Healthy and Holistic Home – these are vital to my peace of mind.
Wished for World Change: For people to learn – learn about themselves, their bodies, and what’s around them. And Compassion – with compassion comes empathy, with empathy comes understanding, and with understanding comes learning.
What inspires Jen About HMN: I have often said that HMN has made me a better mother. I became a member when my son was born and I received so much knowledge, caring, and support that I was able to confidently raise my children the way I felt comfortable. I have met wonderful, like minded moms who laugh, entertain, and educate me. HMN has provided me with great friends and the support I need during the good AND the bad times. To this day, I am learning from other HMN moms and discovering new ideas, techniques, and options that may help my family. It is so comforting to know that HMN has always been here when I needed them the most.
Favorite Quote: “Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” – Shel Silverstein
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Staceyann Smith, Membership Coordinator
Residence: New Jersey
Children: Two energetic kids
Life Experience: BS in Imaging & Photographic Technology, MS in Instructional Design, PMI certified Project Manager. Have worked as a Corporate Trainer, an Adjunct College Professor, IT Project Manager. Following passion for herbal & homeopathic medicine by taking several year-long apprenticeships and courses.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Holistic/Non-Toxic Living, Breastfeeding, Holistic Healthcare
Wished for World Change: Acceptance
What inspires Staceyann About HMN: The support and education that HMN provides for parents, instilling the confidence in them to follow their instincts and make choices that are not always the norm in raising their children.
Favorite Quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Albert Einstein
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Andria Kyriakides Somers, Office Manager
Residence: NJ
Children: One daughter, Zoe, born January 2012
Life Experience: Since getting my BFA in Film/TV from NYU Tisch School of the Arts I have worked in a variety of fields, including post-production, event planning, music education and multiple non-profit organizations. I also spent a few years discovering my roots in Cyprus and began working in radio there. I had the opportunity to host a weekly radio show while living there and continue to host it remotely.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Organic eating, green living, holistic medicine
What Inspires Andria about HMN: Finding Holistic Moms as a new mom has helped me feel confident about the decisions I am making as a parent. The support, knowledge, diversity, ideas and the community are all amazing!
Wished for World Change: For people to be open-minded; only good things can come from being willing to listen, learn, accept and change.
Favorite Quote: “Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.” Dalai Lama
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Kimberly Stack, Regional Chapter Mentor, CT
Residence: CT
Children: Three children
Life Experience: I have a BS in Marketing Management from Goldey Beacom College. After college I began my career doing advertising production, as well as web programming, for a national craft magazine. Later I pursued web programming at an optics company where I created web-based applications for the company Intranet. A few years later I was given the opportunity to become a software engineer for machine vision systems, at the same optics company, and began taking courses towards an Associate?s degree in Lasers/Electro-Optics Technology. I have to say I loved it! Two semesters into the degree, I was blind-sided by the love of my life, and we quickly got married and had our first child. The degree was put on hold, but I did return to work for one more year until our second child was born. I then decided to stay home and raise our children. It was the hardest, but best decision I?ve ever made.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Food/nutrition, the environment, anti-consumerism.
Wished for World Change: Greed. If no one was capable of being greedy, then I believe we could all live in harmony with each other and in balance with the environment.
What inspires Kimberly About HMN: There was one part of a sentence on the entire HMN website that convinced me to become a member back in 2006, “in an environment that does not judge or criticize.” From there, the diversity and passion of all the HMN members I’ve known (across three different chapters so far) have inspired me to be who I am today: aware, informed, yet ever-learning on this journey that feels so right.
Favorite Quote: “We must become the change we want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
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Aimee K. Wood, Editor of the Wise Mom, Regional Chapter Mentor, DC, MD, NJ, NY, VA, WV
Residence: NY
Children: I have a daughter, Anna and a son, Evan.
Life Experience: BA in Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MS in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health, Editor of Living Simply site on BellaOnline.com, Montessori assistant directress at the Arlington Montessori House, Arlington, VA.
Top 3 Holistic Passions: Alternative Schooling, Nutrition, Spirituality
Wished for World Change: Intolerance
What inspires Aimee About HMN: Everyone’s passion to live their best life naturally and true to their heart. I have met the most wonderful women and have found the most inspiration from HMN mamas. It is their desire to never give up that touches me so.
Favorite Quote: “In the end what matters most is – How well did you live, How well did you love, How well did you learn to let go.” Unknown
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