“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
DR. ANDREW DARIAN: Professor of Education & Pedagogical Director. Andrew’s career in leadership began when he was 19, working as General Manager and Vice President of a successful corporation in the printing parts industry in his hometown of Chicago, IL, planting franchise stores throughout the US and in the United Kingdom. In his mid-twenties, a newly realized passion for teaching inspired him to leave the business world to pursue a career as an educator. Over three decades, Andrew served as a school administrator and taught all ages from 2½-year-olds to doctoral students. He earned a Waldorf Education teaching degree, B.S. in Elementary Education, B.A. in History, M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction, and Ph.D. in Education. He has served as a Professor of Education, worked as a school consultant, and was co-founder and lead teacher of the Waldorf School of Louisville. Andrew currently works at Desert Marigold School in Phoenix, AZ where he mentors and assesses teachers from preschool through high school. He has served on a number of school boards and is enthusiastic to work with the Board of Directors at Doing Grief. Andrew is also a contributor and curriculum designer for Doing Grief educational and support programs for schools.
BETH GEORGES: Strategy Consultant and Business Advisor. Beth earned a B.S. in Communication from Arizona State University. She spent over twenty-five years in Corporate America, sixteen years in the pharmaceutical industry back east. During that time, Beth launched two medical publications, and worked closely with different Pharma companies to co-create and fulfill medical education projects. She was provided a rare invitation to join Johnson & Johnson Inc.’s Ethicon division as Marketing Communication Manager, where Beth launched different types of sutures domestically and internationally, and participated on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Review panel to critique this world leader in suture manufacturing. Beth transitioned into the non-profit world where she volunteered with Hospice of Peace, part of St. Anthony Hospital System in Denver Colorado. She soon became the Vice President of Fundraising, built an eight-member Board of Directors and designed a robust fundraising plan. Beth also assisted with leading the Board of Directors and fundraising activities for Flight for Life. A few years later, she joined The North American Menopause Society as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. Over the years, she has served on many boards, from the Ronald McDonald House in Denver Colorado, a Chamber of Commerce Board in Cleveland, to the Customer Experience Advisory Board for UC Irvine. Beth’s strategic skills, depth of experience in many industries, and in different business functions provided her a rich foundation to become a Business Advisor and Strategist for The Georges Group for thirteen years. She holistically analyzes organizations to ensure successful goal attainment. Doing Grief is fortunate to have Beth’s holistic, strategic perspective as a member of our Board.
REV. DR. CARI JACKSON: Emotional Intuitive, Spiritual Midwife & Social Healer. Using her exceptional spiritual gifts for almost 40 years, Cari has helped countless individuals harness and transform life-limiting narratives and unhealed traumas to profound embrace of peace, joyfulness, power, and unconditional love. Cari is former director of spiritual care and activism at Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and is the developer of Taking Back My Life!TM, an empowerment and healing program for survivors of sexual assault. She incorporates wisdoms from Ancestral, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Ifa, Jewish, and other spiritual traditions to connect deeply with broad audiences. As president of Excellent Way Consulting, Dr. Cari enhances the capacity of spiritual leaders and communities to support the thriving and dignity of all people across demographic and cultural differences. Cari has served as adjunct faculty at Union Theological Seminary and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, where she taught “The Christian Chase for Power” and “Ministry in Multicultural Contexts.” Cari holds a Ph.D. in Christian Social Ethics, Master of Divinity, Juris Doctorate, and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology. She is the author of five books including The Gift to Listen, The Courage to Hear; Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt; and For the Souls of Black Folks; and is a contributing author for Sisters in Mourning. Her current writing project is a romantic dramedy screenplay.
DR. DAVID BONINGER: Professor of Psychology; Business Consultant. David’s career has spanned both business and academic settings. In the 1990s, he taught and conducted research in social psychology with a focus on attitudes and persuasion, marketing, and the consequences of “if only…” thoughts that imagine alternatives to past events (counterfactual thinking). Next, he pursued an entrepreneurial venture in which, along with two partners, he took a wheelchair technology company from its start-up in 2000 to its acquisition in 2010. To help drive this success, David raised $4 million in small business innovation grants for product development, and he directed marketing and advertising efforts. After the acquisition, he served as Vice President of Communications for the parent company where significant year-over-year growth led to a second acquisition in 2014. He then chose to return to academics while continuing to consult for entrepreneurial ventures. From 2016 to 2025, he served as a professor in the Department of Psychology at Glendale Community College (GCC) in Arizona. During this time, David used Shea’s book, Doing Grief in Real Life, as a main text for the Understanding Death & Dying class he taught at GCC. Most recently, David spent a sabbatical year in Brisbane, Australia during which he examined factors that facilitate intergroup cooperation. Today, David continues to straddle business and academics (and the US and Australia) with an emphasis on consulting roles in both the private and non-profit sector.
JOHN LAHMAN: Retired High School Teacher, Counselor, Coach; Administrator & Financial and Investment Advisor. John grew up on a farm in Illinois. Early in his life he learned the importance of stewardship. This meant taking good care of all resources. On the farm, that meant waterways, terraces, and other conservation measures to limit soil erosion. It also meant taking good care of all personal and corporate assets, from farm equipment to livestock well-being. His sense of stewardship also translated into conscientious money management. John and his late wife Deborah who died in 2022 (after 46+ years of marriage) sought to balance their work lives with family activities as well as their own trip and travel priorities. John and Deb also co-authored the book, Embracing Amazing: Consciously Growing an Empowered Family (2022). John continues to serve with his children as a team of health and business coaches for the family business that Deb founded in 2007 – Living Well Now, based in Phoenix, AZ. The LWN mission is to promote health, wellness, and abundance for families. They currently serve over 10,000 members. John is a lifetime member of the Church of the Brethren and member of Circle of Peace Church in Peoria. He currently works with his son, Andy, as a financial advisor with Lahman Financial Services and is an Investment Advisor Representative for GWN Securities, Inc. John is the father of three and grandfather of five, ages 21 to twelve weeks. He enjoys golfing and hiking.
SHARI DIETZ: School Counselor. Shari Dietz started her career as a clinical therapist, working in a variety of settings including various behavioral health agencies, a battered women’s shelter, the criminal courts, and even a county jail. While working on a federal research project at the Lane County Jail in Eugene, Oregon, Shari helped develop the first mental health/drug court in the US in Eugene, Oregon. The federal research project included a partnership with the Lane County Sheriff’s office, the University of Oregon, the DA’s office, the Public Defender’s office and a circuit court judge. Following her 10 years in the clinical setting, Shari shifted gears and started working in the public school setting as a counselor in 2000. In 2004, she found herself working as a counselor at private special ed day schools (lock down facilities), which served the most violent and emotionally disturbed K-12 students in the public school districts throughout the county. Fourteen years later, Shari moved back into a typical public school setting as a school counselor. Today, Shari is in her third year as counselor for Desert Marigold School – a Pre-K through Grade 12 Waldorf-inspired charter school in Phoenix, AZ. Shari loves what she does and is deeply grateful for all the people who have touched her life with their stories and their hearts. Shari has a BA from Loyola University in New Orleans, and a Master of Arts from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX.
WILLA DARIAN: Professional Actor & Acting Teacher. Willa hails from the Midwest. She is a working actor, represented by Houghton Talent in Atlanta and Pink Hammer Entertainment in Los Angeles, CA. In addition to navigating the tough business of acting, Willa has worked in managerial positions, including as Co-Director of Operations for Sailor and the Dock, a local market, bar, arts and events venue in an eco-conscious conversion of a 1920s urban warehouse in Oklahoma City. From a young age, Willa had a fascination with the art of collaboration and human interaction. Sailor & The Dock presented an opportunity to play a role in helping grow an ecosystem of community-driven concepts, while connecting The Dock’s core values to the city through wellness programming for both the body and mind. Other work experience includes serving as Manager of Materials Support for Amplify, a company that creates curriculum and assessment programs for K-12 students and serves 15 million students in 50 states. She recently left her position at Amplify to pursue a full-time acting career and works as an acting teacher and coach at OFA Acting Studios in Oklahoma City.