BOARD

We are growing our Board. Let us know if you know of someone who would be a great fit for leadership of Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc.!  

We're looking for leaders to help develop Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. as a sustainable model for Cape children and families and for other communities to replicate and build upon. Non-profit business development experience, including marketing, fundraising and finance are particularly sought.

President, Founder

Deb Willsea (Lower Cape Resident) comes to the Cape with 32 years experience developing a successful Toy Library in Rochester, New York that has been model toy library nationally and internationally from Ohio to Hong Kong. Deb brings her expertise on educational toys and enriching resource materials and passion for the critical role of play in child development, family literacy and societal health.

Deb recently authored a chapter “A Toy Library: Play Resource for the Whole Community” in the book Play and Social Justice: Equity, Advocacy, and Opportunity by Olga S. Jarrett, Vera L Stenhouse, John A. Sutterby, and Michael M. Patte.

She holds a degree in Sociology from St. Lawrence University and a MS in Development, Learning, & Instruction from University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education and NYS Teaching Certification for K-12.  She’s also completed courses and institutes at Cornell, Harvard and Yale Universities regarding Fundraising and Marketing, Non-Profit Excellence, and Play. Her 40-year experience spans contributions in the field of education – with a focus on reaching underserved populations through community-based organizations, museums and libraries.

Deb is an agent of playful enrichment. Her work has broadened from education to community development through collaborative program development. Teaching in the classroom has developed into “teaching” in the community including mentoring and training teachers, childcare providers, parents, and library staff.  She is passionate about creating enriching informal educational environments that provide access to materials, information, and expertise and modeling of best practices.  Her work has impacted more than half a million children and families.

Deb’s passion for children and families continues – leading the charge of developing Cape Cod Toy Library and CCTL’s outreach initiative of “Outdoor Play Oasis” at the Hyannis Public Library .

Previous endeavors

Her extensive community work includes

• Founding and developing Rochester’s nationally recognized Toy Library collection of 5,000 educational toys, resources, play learning spaces, and outreach programs, initially with the Junior League of Rochester and ultimately to become successfully integrated as part of Rochester Public Library & Monroe County Library System.

• Developing hands-on science, math, and computer technology training curricula, mentoring programs, and family STEM events for Universal Pre-K teachers and family childcare providers through Rochester Museum & Science Center.

• Collaborating with community leaders as Executive Director of Science Linkages in the Community and facilitating successful merging of programs and organizations.

• Serving as Family Programming Chair for Friends of Rochester Public Library.

• Chairing start-up project George Eastman Museum’s photography Discovery Room.

• Launching “Partners for Play” initiative to bring the community together to advocate for and create promotional brochures about the value of play.

• Developing a network of resources for the Center for Independent Living.

• Co-chairing founding committee for School District Parent/Family Resource Center.

• Serving as President of Board of Trustees, Chair of Strategic Planning for Children’s Institute’s research and evaluation for children’s social and emotional well-being.

• Serving on Board of Junior League of Rochester as Community Impact Director.

• Serving on Board of Trustees of The Harley School (2013-2022) as Vice President on Executive Committee, Co-Chair Strategic Planning, Tri-Chair DEI Committee, served on Enrollment & Marketing, Finance and Head of School Search Committees.

VIce President

Christopher (Chris) S. Galazzi (Lower Cape resident) brings a wealth of business, leadership and community experience.

Chris grew up on the Cape graduating from Nauset High School and has three daughters attending middle school and high school on the Cape. He attended college at Georgetown University and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Philosophy and Economics. He later completed a certificate program in the Wholesale Electricity Market from ISO-New England. Chris spent the first 15 years of his career as a business development specialist in Silicon Valley, New York and Hollywood, developing interactive television technology products and services for a number of ventures including American Express, AT&T and pre/post IPO Wink Communications, where he executed over 30 Licensing Agreements.

In 2004, Chris founded Zenergy Consulting, a marketing and project management service to individuals, and pro-social non-profit and for-profit ventures. Zenergy Consulting conceives and executes uniquely tailored strategic step by step knowledge growth, creating an environment of trust, where vulnerability creates space for equal parts innovation and joy. Engagements have included 

• Medical device maintenance and procedure CMMS service BioMed.TechZenergy, 

• Online innovation accelerator Invention City,

• Methane to gas start up Feed Resource, 

• Social marketing service Changents,

• Utility scale solar finance company Solbridge Energy,

• Healthy foods producer Applegate Farms, 

• At-risk youth and adult work skills training boat building program at Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 

• Emotional and cognitive educational programs at The Family Schools and Brewster Day Camp, and

• Education software developers Strawz, OKTV and Veritas Tutoring.

Chris is also serving on the Board of Triumph Sails, Inc. and working with Clean-Seas, Inc. He has enjoyed membership in 

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences,

• American Wind Energy Association,

• Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand,

• Hyannis Rotary Club,

• Georgetown Alumni Association as former AAP175 Chairman of the Admissions Program

• Nauset Regional School Committee, Vice Chairman as a publicly elected two term member.

Chris enthusiastically supports Cape Cod Toy Library because – "Scientific research is proving what educators have known for years; the quality of child's play has a direct impact on adult cognitive and emotional intelligence, as well as confidence and resilience, which are integral to a sense of personal satisfaction and joy in life. The Toy Library creates space for families and communities, translating the science of play into the art of play, for both children and adults of all socio-economic backgrounds. I am excited to bring my skills and experience to support Deb and her team"

treasurer

Brighid Mullane-Paci  (Mid Cape Resident) Having begun her career in non-profit consulting with a focus on executive search, Brighid’s expertise in financial governance is informed by a wide variety of professional and volunteer experience. From fundraising for a commercial kitchen in rural El Salvador, to supporting an expansive women’s health study across Ghana, Tanzania, Pakistan and Turkey at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to providing comprehensive financial management for cutting-edge cancer research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Brighid brings extensive and varied experience to CCTL.

Brighid holds an MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management from Simmons University, and a BA from Boston College where she studied English and Philosophy, with a minor in Italian Language and Literature. She plays the violin, viola and baritone ukulele and is an accomplished musician, having performed in orchestras and played as a member of a few local independent folk rock outfits based in the Cambridge-Somerville area. She is an artist, most recently establishing a regular portrait practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also enjoys yoga, CrossFit, and reading. Born in Dorchester, MA and raised in Plymouth, MA, she has lived in West Barnstable since 2020 along with her husband, Mark, and their two-year-old daughter, Ava who is also a big fan of the Cape Cod Toy Library!

Brighid says of the Cape Cod Toy Library, “I was so drawn to this place because it radiates a sense of warmth, a kind of coziness that comes from the care that’s put into creating this experience. CCTL cares about its mission, about the families in our community, and is passionate about kids finding joy in learning through play. I see the look of concentration on my daughter’s face as she plays with a new toy or performs a new activity, her smile as she discovers how it works, and what she can do with it. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, how she is learning to create, learning to learn. What’s more - I can see how much she loves it each time she runs to get our big, blue toy bag when we say, “Time to go to the toy library!”

Secretary

Lauren Atsalis (Mid-Cape resident) joins the CCTL’s board with over a decades-worth of experience as a Trusts and Estates attorney, having practiced in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Both she and her husband, John, are native Cape Codders who returned to the Cape to raise their family in close proximity to their respective families. 

Lauren’s career has focused on sophisticated estate planning for high net worth individuals, families and businesses.  She has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in her field in Massachusetts by Super Lawyers – a designation reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys who are under the age of 40.  Lauren is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Florida and has represented high profile clients in all aspects of estate planning, including charitable planning.  She recently graduated from the inaugural class of the New England Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel – a national organization of lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors. 

Lauren’s past and present volunteer experiences include the following: We Can Corporation volunteer attorney, numerous leadership roles within the Boston Estate Planning Council, member of the Boston Foundation Professional Advisors Network and countless others. She is founding member of the OVL Littles Group at the Osterville Village Library.  

As a mother of young children, Lauren advocates for the importance of play among children.  “I am a huge proponent of playing with my kids, but I also have to remind myself to take a step back and let them play on their own.  It is amazing to me to watch my toddler play independently, whether he’s building a tower of magnetic tiles or creating a dialogue between some of his favorite toys.   Watching them learn is something I truly cherish, even something as “simple” as my youngest pushing a car around and saying “vroom."  This is one of the reasons we love the Toy Library: every time my children visit, they develop new ways to play, learn and even to interact with new little friends.

Danielle Gomes (Mid-Cape resident) came to the United States from Brazil in 2005 to learn English.  She lived in Florida from 2005-2007.  In 2008 she moved to Texas for a year where she completed a one-year course for international students at the Christ for the Nations Institute. There she studied English, The Bible Old & New Testament, Women’s Studies, Psychology and Leadership in a church environment and was awarded a Leadership Certificate.  In December 2008, Danielle moved back to Brazil.  From 2011-2014 she completed 3 years of Brazil’s 5-year Bachelor’s Degree program in Psychology.  Danielle and her husband served for 7 years in a church as Associate Pastors, 2 years as youth leaders and 4 years as young adult leaders.  In those years she trained girls and made discipleship. Danielle and her husband moved to the Cape in 2018 for her husband to begin his position at Reach Assembly of God in Hyannis.  Danielle helps with the youth classes, Bible study, and youth ministry and helps the Brazilian community in whatever is needed.  Danielle has taken some social inclusion courses on how to work with children with autism and other special needs in a school environment.

Danielle and her husband have three children, currently 10, 7, and 7 months. 

Danielle wants to provide her volunteer services to the Toy Library and Outdoor Play Oasis in any way she can help. She has already participated in the Toy Lending Library introductory video and has translated several forms into Portuguese. She’s looking forward to learning how to help families check out toys. She’s glad to be part of the Cape Cod Toy Library Board to help strengthen her understanding of the English language, culture and environment.

Carrie Jackson Hillman, (Lower Cape resident) is a parent with a passion for making a difference in her community. Her extensive years of leadership experience in Boulder Colorado following her college years earning her BS from the University of Vermont, brings a wide range skills to the support the development of Cape Cod Toy Library programs and outreach.  

Carrie was a founder and director of Colorado Democracy Challenge in Denver, CO where she designed the program, classroom sessions and voter registration goals to implement a statewide high school voter registration program. Carrie played a key role in all aspects of the program planning and implementation.

Carrie also served as Program Director and Special Projects Manager for New Era Colorado Foundation in Boulder and Denver.  She paired her passion for local politics, youth civic engagement and non-profit collaboration to change the way young voters can participate in voting and elections in Colorado. Carrie also lobbied for successful passage of local policy including City of Boulder SmartRegs policy that requires energy efficiency in rental housing, City of Boulder Disposable Bag Fee, state of Colorado legislation for Secure Online Voter Registration and state of Colorado legislation for Voter Preregistration for 16 and 17 year olds.

Most recently, Carrie enjoyed serving as a Garden Education Volunteer for The Family School, in Brewster MA working with preschool students and teachers to establish, tend and harvest an educational, hands-on garden. Her love of gardening from seed to harvest, as well as her experience developing programs and volunteers will surely help Cape Cod Toy Library grow to serve Cape children and families.

“I look forward to bringing Cape Cod families closer through the joy of shared play!”

Joe Kampschmidt (Mid Cape resident) was born and raised near Cincinnati Ohio and a relatively new resident to Cape Cod. Joe met his wife Karen Cahill, originally from Barnstable and a Barnstable High School graduate, in Washington DC and they moved back to the Cape to be near her family and to start a new family.

Joe has a four year old son named Cedar and a two year old son named Morgan. Cedar is currently enrolled in his second year in the Mass Audubon Long Pasture Nature Preschool program and loves the outdoor environment and program.

Joe graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Joe has worked as a Senior Software Developer for NPR (National Public Radio) for the last ten years. The last five years Joe has been working remotely full time from Hyannis.

Joe is an open source code contributor and an avid biker. You may see him and his family riding their cargo bike around Hyannis Main Street.

Kathy Raymond (Mid Cape resident) is an educator, mother, small business owner, podcaster, and nature-based enthusiast. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Kathy grew up playing outdoors. In 2008, she became owner of Montessori Beginnings and began putting her business experience to work. Responsibilities include marketing, social media, budgeting, human resource management, family and community engagement, team building and teaching.

In 2013, the school became the first Cape Cod center to have a certified, nature-based play space. Consulting with Cape Cod’s Heritage Gardens, Kathy, the faculty, and families transformed the grounds into a bustling, nature filled space. Under Kathy’s leadership, Montessori Beginnings was honored by the former Cape Cod Magazine in 2014 and 2017, as Best Childcare. The school also has been recognized as one of the top five Cape Cod schools by the Cape Cod Times newspaper.

Kathy has presented at Dean College, regarding the importance of outdoor play and how to effectively set up and maintain an outdoor play space on a budget. She has also co-presented at Cape Cod’s All Cape Professional Day. The Nature is Curriculum collaborative presentation, explored the bounty of teachable moments, resources and materials nature provides all year long.

Kathy has formed strong community connections (Kind Hearts for Kids, Sandwich Community Partnership, the Sandwich Food Pantry), by hosting events, donating time, resources, and having school faculty and students oversee donations. Local school administrators (Bridgeview Montessori, Joyful Noise Preschool, Northside Nursery School) have visited the school to discuss how to bring more nature-based play into a space.

Passionate about education, community and nature, Kathy’s main goal is to educate individuals to the importance of early childhood education and the power of play. Another goal is help broaden access to high quality, nature-based spaces and heighten community awareness to their value and importance. Kathy’s business experience began in high school through retail customer service, then supervising, merchandising, budgeting, and store management.

An educator for over twenty years, Kathy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. She received her Infant-Toddler Montessori diploma from North American Montessori Center. Kathy also holds an Associate in Science degree from Cape Cod Community College.

Ceci Phelan Stiles ( Mid Cape Resident) has served as System Sr. Manager of Communication Systems and Diversity for Cape Cod Healthcare since 2000. Ceci is results-driven, bilingual professional with nearly 15 years of management and healthcare experience and a successful track record of leadership, program design and program implementation. Ceci’s background and master’s degree from Lesley University in Intercultural Relations combined with her extensive travel throughout Latin America and the Caribbean has enabled her to develop a strong understanding of cross culture communication and the importance of cultural diversity. She also uses her strong communications and management skills to coordinate and provide interpreter services and diversity training at Cape Cod Healthcare for medical patients as well as for doctors, nurses, new employees and other medical professionals Cape-wide. Ceci recruits, trains and supervises a team of twenty interpreters in order to promote high quality medical care and customer service by facilitating understanding between people who utilize different languages. She has designed and implemented solutions to reduce cultural and linguistic barriers across two community hospitals and seven other entities at Cape Cod Healthcare, the Cape’s leading health care provider. Ceci serves as the LEP/CLAS Coordinator overseeing adherence to system-wide LEP/CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards of Care) programs and identifying improvements in language access and equity services system-wide. Ceci also serves as chairperson of the Cultural Diversity Committee and Customer Services Committee.

Previously, Ceci worked for The International Educator (TIE) a leading resource for international school jobs around the world. She served as the Coordinator of Services including all aspects of marketing, advertising and finances, oversaw the publication of an international newspaper and online news site, and liaison to international schools assisting with insurance, advertising and staff recruitment.

Ceci has raised her two grown children on the Cape in Marstons Mills and appreciates the resources and opportunities Cape Cod Toy Library brings to families across the Cape from diverse backgrounds.

Emily Wagner ( Lower Cape Resident), originally from Brewster, is now back and raising her children on the Cape. Emily is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and earned her Masters in Library Science from The Catholic University of America. Emily became the Executive Director of CCYP (Cape Cod Young Professionals) in April 2024. Before joining CCYP, she served as Director of Communications for the National Head Start Association and Deputy Director of Advocacy Communications for the American Library Association. Emily also bring experience in fundraising, communications, and organizing from years working in higher education and with The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Emily is pleased to serve on the CCTL Board because she “believes that libraries are the present and the future. I pursued my Masters in Library Science because I believe access—to information, to materials, to lifelong learning, to community—is power. Both professionally and personally, my mission in life is to support community hubs that promote literacy (of all kinds!), cultural enrichment, and connection.

Founding Board Members

Kristen Carbone Berner has more than 15 years of experience providing play therapy and working with special needs children and their families. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Stetson University, and obtained her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is an actively involved parent and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Kristen currently works at the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in Harwich, where she provides student support. Her work includesproviding classroom support, as well as individual educational guidance and small group instruction of stress management, problem solving, conflict resolution and social skills.  She can be found at school functions, parents groups, and community events.  

Kristen moved to Cape Cod in 2005, along with her husband who was glad to return home to his family business - the Oyster River Boatyard in Chatham. She initially worked as a clinician and coordinator with Family Continuity in Hyannis for the Department of Mental Health’s Children’s services. Subsequently, she worked as a School Adjustment Counselor for the Monomoy Regional School District providing counseling services helping to develop student success plans and behavior plans at all levels in the district - elementary, middle, and high school. Through these work experiences she became deeply aware of children’s programs and needs on Cape Cod. She sees the establishment of a Toy Library on the Cape as a much needed resource that can help bridge the gap between Cape families and youth-centric programs - providing a safe and fostering atmosphere with education for parents and a launching pad for identifying and developing other innovative services and programs.

Kristen has consistently been an active volunteer in her community, beginning with the founding of a Best Buddies Chapter in 1995 that is still active today. Her passion for play and the importance of healing arts continued with several years volunteering at Camp Boggy Creek, one of Paul Newman’s therapeutic camps for children with chronic and  life threatening illnesses. There, she leveraged play and therapeutic camping to help children experience the kind of joy that might otherwise be difficult to find under such trying circumstances. Since then, she has used play as a therapeutic tool in schools, nursing homes, children's hospitals, hospice centers, mental health facilities, and Gilda's Clubs. She currently serves on the Cape and Island Critical Incident and Stress Management Team, which provides acute psychological support to service professionals after traumatic incidents. Kristen is also an active member of the Chatham Yacht Club, where she has coordinated their annual fundraiser on behalf of WE CAN, a women's empowerment organization that offers caring support, empowerment, and hope to Cape Cod women and families. 

Jane Teixeira-Henry, brought a wealth of knowledge and history of growing up on the Cape in Harwich as well as her breadth of work experiences.  Jane graduated from Harwich High School and attended college in Boston.

Her early career days gave her the opportunity to work at the United Nations for the Bureau of Technical Assistance, Section for Middle East and Africa recruiting experts from various professions to serve in developing African countries. This position inspired her interest in politics and world affairs and becoming a member of the United Nations Association of Former International Civil Service.

Other work experiences include serving as secretary to a squadron commander at Otis Air Force Base, working in the Employee Benefits Department for New York State Electric & Gas Company in Binghamton, NY, serving as Executive Assistant to the President of Oceanographic Research Inc. and defense contractor in Falmouth.  Numerous visits to Washington, D.C. to attend marine technological trade shows led to Jane’s relocation to DC.  Subsequently, she was hired by Senator Harrison Williams (NJ) to assist the Press Secretary and Legislative Director and later by U.S. Representative Charles Diggs (MI) to assist the Education Director in creating the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).

In 1974, Jane was the first to be hired on the newly-formed U.S House of Representatives’ Budget Committee and became Staff Administrator for six Budget Committee chairmen.

Since retirement in 1990, Jane has pursued other interests including volunteering for the Cape Verde Embassy, serving as a docent at Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, substitute teaching, and volunteering for DC Good Will Industries. When Jane and her husband, Col. George A. Henry, Jr. USAF (Ret.), returned to the Cape in 2006 they built an ADA-compliant Bed & Breakfast – Inn of Treasured Memories, in Harwich. Jane’s Board participation includes Maryland and Prince George’s County chapters of the NAACP, League of Women Voters Cape Cod Area, Wellfleet’s Highland Center, the Community Development Partnership and WE CAN.  She is also an active member of Harwich & Cape Cod Chambers of Commerce, Cape Cod NAACP, Rotary Club of Hyannis, the Accommodations Association of Harwich and African-American Association of Innkeepers International.

Jane enthusiastically embraces the mission and vision for Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. and the benefits for children and families across the Cape.

Jamie Selldorff, CPA, MBA, is a full time resident in Chatham.  Jamie began her career as a CPA working in public accounting, corporate audit and finance for the Campbell Soup Company and Sara Lee.  She received an MBA from Northwestern University - Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Marketing, Finance and International Business.  After business school, Jamie started one of the first women’s formal rental stores in Fairfield County after which she purchased the family’s first home on the Cape in Harwich. 

Jamie retired after working as a controller for a small Boston consulting firm that went public in the early 1990’s.  Since then she has been busy with numerous real estate projects in five states along with a horse farm in Litchfield, CT.  Jamie has been actively involved as a Board member of Rebuilding Together and the YMCA in Hartford, CT.  Since moving to the Cape she has become a member of the League Club of Cape Cod and serves on the boards of the Chatham Cultural Council and Cape Cod Children’s Place.  As the Chairperson of Cape Cod Children’s Place “Wish Upon A Star” summer gala she increased the attendance and revenue 50% over the previous year. Jamie’s enthusiasm, energy and expertise is a gift to the Cape and to the organizations she serves.

Past Board Members

Sharon K. Donegan, A retired Corporate Executive is a resident in Yarmouth Port. Sharon came to us with a rich background as a corporate executive with strengths in strategic planning and human resource management.

Sharon was born in South Dakota and raised in rural Nebraska with several siblings in large farming family.  After earning her degree as an Honors Scholar at Nebraska University in Business she was interested in a position that would give her opportunities to explore other parts of the country. She was recruited by IBM in 1962 and relocated to Boston.  Sharon worked in IBM Data Processing Division with a focus on Staff & Management in Boston, NYC, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Chicago.  She was selected by IMB’s CEO to participate in a 5 women task force to research the possibility of company discrimination of women. The completed report was picked up by NY Times, Sixty Minutes, Fortune and Business Week which led Sharon and a colleague to form a consulting firm.  In 1972, their Human Resource Management Consulting firm was incorporated as Boyle/Kirkman Associates in NYC.  Their special emphasis was on Integration of Women & Minorities.  In 1997 they sold the company. Sharon raised her son in the Yarmouth school system and continued independent HR Consulting until she retired in 2007.

Since her retirement, Sharon continued to use her leadership skills to positively impact the Cape community.  She served as Chairman: Cape Cod American Red Cross, Outreach Chair: St. Mary’s Church, Council Chair: Dennis Yarmouth Parent Teachers Elementary/Middle/High Schools, Board Member: Cape Cod Symphony, Trust Member/Chairman: Kings Way Condo Trust – Yarmouth Port, and Chairman: Yarmouth Conservation Trust.

Sharon’s interest in Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. began reading the June 3rd, 2017 Cape Cod Times article “Cape Cod Toy Library Launched” promotion of our first event, “Family Boat Play Day”, June 4th, at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum in Hyannis. Sharon immediately thereafter signed up to volunteer her expertise!

Sharon’s interest in Cape Cod Toy Library is best expressed in her words:

“The challenges facing children and families today can’t be solved by the schools or the government. We have to find other solutions and create safe, supportive learning environments that give children and families the freedom to learn naturally through play. Cape Cod Toy Library offers so much more than its name implies to the Cape community. This is something different than my previous commitments and gives me great pleasure to be a part of this unique project that can benefit young and old across the Cape!”

Janet Ware Doucette, MA LMHC, (Lower Cape - past resident) is grateful to share her unique perspective as a Cape resident for more than thirty years. She feels fortunate to have been able to raise her family on Cape Cod. Her children and their childhood friends have now become parents and are contributing to the various communities on this fragile land. Janet now enjoys “watching her grandchildren learn, thrive, and grow into the next generation charged with balancing a sustainable living while maintaining the beauty of Cape Cod.”

Janet comes with many hats of experience and expertise. Her background includes business consulting for start-up business planning and organization, technical advising, computer systems, accounting and budgeting. She served as Orleans Foundations, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer for several years. While in graduate school she was a business consultant helping women owned businesses learn computerized accounting and business management software.  Janet also did bookkeeping and business management for The Family School in Brewster and ran a business with her husband on the Cape. 

Janet has contributed to the growth and well-being of the Lower Cape community as a psychotherapist dealing with the alleviation of stress related illnesses and working with clients in transition. She’s seen first hand “the struggle many Cape families experience in order to raise educated, happy children who can then be empowered to sustain the businesses, traditions, and diverse lifestyles of Cape Cod.”

Janet received her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as well as her undergraduate studies in Behavioral Science from Lesley University and her Associates Degree in Psychology from Cape Cod Community College.  Janet’s professional background also includes her work as a professional speaker on topics of stress resiliency, biofeedback, meditation and mindfulness. She has served as a Life Management Therapist, Bio-feedback Specialist, Crisis Counselor. For several years, she worked as a Behavioral Medicine Consultant, Therapist, Executive Coach, Lecturer and Workshop Presenter at Canyon Ranch wellness spa in Lenox, MA. Janet is the Founder and President of Mindful Technologies that designs and produces digital audio and video meditations, corporate and public training seminars and software that helps reduce stress and inspired leadership.

“I first learned about the toy-lending concept after Rochester New York’s Toy Library found its current home in the Rochester Public Library. I became excited thinking about the benefits such an idea could have for the children and families of Cape Cod.  After talking extensively with Deb Willsea and encouraging her to lead the way for developing Cape Cod Toy Library, I knew I wanted to be involved.”

“There are many reasons why I believe in, and want to support, the Cape Cod Toy Library.  It is not just a great year-round and seasonal resource for families (intact, single, or extended) to bring their children for organized play and discovery.  It is a wonderful place for educators and therapists to utilize for their own organizational purposes and services.  Most importantly, it’s a safe harbor for children whose families are struggling or in transition.”

“Grandparents in today’s world are often providing child-care for their grandchildren.  The Cape Cod Toy Library offers a wide range of age-appropriate, educational toys for children while respecting cultural diversity and enrichment opportunities. Imagine choosing a new board game, sitting down with your child or grandchild and learning the rules and strategies of the play together. Imagine being able to borrow some rainy day toys from this lending library that will inspire a young child’s mind.  Imagine being able to watch your child’s mind grow as they explore and discover toys that are not available in local stores or the cost of which is prohibitive for many Cape Cod budgets.”

“Recently I observed a little girl, who had experienced the trauma of domestic violence, play with another child.  When I first met her, she did not know how to play at all.  She did not know how to interact with toys or children her own age.  Now in a safe setting, she and another little girl built a house out of Legos and then used small toy people to dialog with one another.  She was laughing and giggling, sharing and building, not crying, pushing or throwing things.  It was a joy to see this child enter an imaginary world where she was safe and free to explore.  Happiness is every child’s birthright.  Play is the world in which they can discover how to build happiness for themselves through interaction, communication, behavior and discovery.” 

 “I look forward to helping Deb bring this opportunity to Cape Cod, where the families, themselves, will make it their own unique tradition.  What a wonderful wash-a-shore treasure!”

Catherine (Cady) Douglass (Mid-Cape resident), born and raised on Cape Cod in Lower Cape, holds a degree in public communications with course work in education from the University of Vermont. During college she participated in several service learning projects working with local non-profits doing marketing and event planning. In addition, Cady spent over 150 hours student teaching in a Reggio-Emilia inspired childcare center.

When Cady learned of the Cape Cod Toy Library and the opportunity to share her passion for education and marketing and communication she enthusiastically came on board. Cady wants to help however she can with immediate needs as well as provide support with CCTL marketing and communications indefinitely.

As the 3rd of 4 children in her family, Cady is very close with her family. She admires her mother as a role model who has been a teacher on the Cape for over 30 years. Cady names her mother as the inspiration for getting her first job in childcare, when she was still in high school. Since that time, Cady has always worked with children in some capacity whether it be in a classroom, swim lessons or volunteering.

Camilla MacLean (Lower Cape resident) is happy to be back on the Lower Cape with her husband and two young kids after spending the last 18 years living in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. After receiving a BS from Skidmore College, she moved to NYC to pursue a career in design. She spent four years working for a high end accessories designer. Using the invaluable design and business experience she acquired there she opened her own boutique, specializing in eco-friendly home goods, clothing and accessories - the first of its kind in Brooklyn to appeal to a more fashion forward audience.

After the birth of their second child, Camilla and her husband co-founded a high end jewelry company together, based in Los Angeles and manufactured in NYC. Along with being the head designer, she developed brand identity, visual identity and all styles in the collection. She also developed marketing strategies to recruit customers and secured larger clients such as the Broad Museum in LA.

In addition to her professional experience, Camilla spent two years studying “RIE Parenting” and 4 years working in the classroom at her children’s Camilla MacLean (Lower Cape resident)cooperative preschool and elementary school. It was through these experiences that Camilla learned about the importance of play based education and how valuable it is for families to have a strong, supportive community behind them. Camilla was thrilled to learn about Cape Cod Toy Library and was eager to utilize her skills in any ways possible to make a positive contribution to the organization and to the families it serves.