About Us

As the Care Partner for his wife, Jeanette, Whitney is a passionate advocate for families with a member with dementia. He is a dedicated community volunteer, playing a role in the success of many nonprofit organizations in the valley to include the Sonoma Valley Fund, he is President emeritus, Village of Sonoma Valley, he is a founding board member emeritus, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club and the Education Foundation. In 2012 he was selected as the Alcalde, honorary mayor, by Sonoma City Council in recognition of his nonprofit leadership.

Tom and his wife, Kathrina, are caregivers for his mother-in-law who is suffering from dementia.

His background includes being a public school teacher and administrator, as well as multi-leadership positions in business, focusing on leadership training and personnel development.

He completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Education from the University of Nebraska. He attained his Ph.D in Education with an emphasis in Leadership Training from Claremont Graduate University, in conjunction with the Peter F. Drucker and Matsutoshi Ito Graduate School of Management.

Tom is an Advisory Board Member for the Connective Leadership Institute (CLI), Pasadena, CA and is also a CLI Certified Practitioner and Member of the International Leadership Association (ILA).

Mary Piasta, Esq. is vehement about creating a world that embraces neuro uniqueness while building a community to support caregivers.  After all, we are all caregivers in some way.  Mary blends personal and professional experience to serve as a legal resource and sounding board for the complex issues caregivers need.  Combining a passion for law with a deep-rooted commitment to the ties of family, Mary adeptly navigates the intricacies of family-owned businesses and multi-generational family estates to resolve legal tangles, sort out complex real estate issues, and alleviate the legal complexities of family ties.  With a compassionate outlook, she counsels families gripped by the specter of dementia; as a granddaughter, mother and daughter, Mary has seen and grappled with care challenges within her own close knit family.  
 
Mary feels blessed to call wine country home, where she lives with her husband, three children and fur babies.

Working as caregiver for his wife, Dorothy, in early stage Alzheimer’s he has networked with many other caregivers of spouses and family members challenged with dementia. He is passionate in helping others with knowledge and support to care for a loved one as well as oneself. He brings extensive experience as a training specialist in various industries and is recognized as a born teacher and networker.
He values caregiver help available from Alzheimer’s Association, Council on Aging, and other resources and wants to make all that and more available to many others. He also knows that we must identify and reach out to many more in our community who need support and help.

Dr. Brooks has practiced as a psychotherapist in traditional and integrative medical settings for over 35 years. Her practice in Sonoma includes individuals and family members who are coping with symptoms of cognitive decline.

Heidi Lage is a caregiver to her mother who suffers from dementia. Heidi is passionate about forming a community in which we can learn, grow and support one another through the journey of caring for a loved one affected with memory loss. Heidi has lived in Sonoma Valley for over twenty years and has been an active member of the community. She is a practicing licensed marriage and family therapist. She has a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Nevada Reno as well as a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sonoma State University. Heidi also has over 20 years of experience as a social worker for a nonprofit agency providing care and advocating for those in need.