Diana Castañeda
Founder of Corales de la Tierra. Diana received a Master of Arts in Montessori Education from Saint Mary’s College...

worked in the education field for more than ten years. Her professional experience includes working as a Montessori preschool teacher, an assistant at a Reggio Emilia based preschool, a children’s yoga instructor and a behavioral consultant for individuals with developmental disabilities.
In her position as a behavioral consultant, Diana established herself as a leader and supervisor. She created and led a Spanish-Speaking Parent Support Group. In addition to gaining diverse professional experiences, Diana has also traveled extensively in Europe, North America, Central America and South America.
Her travels have given her insights into many different cultures and have taught her diverse ways of interacting with people and nature.

Cami Courtright
With over fifteen years of experience as a mentor and instructor of independent living skills. She is known by her colleagues and...

clients as authentic, grounded and humble. She has an ease with people that allows those around her to relax. She has worked with a variety of populations including individuals with developmental disabilities to boost independence. She has experience as a behavioral consultant and worked with clients overseeing vocational training, improved functional communication and skills acquisition.
Cami enjoys being outdoors and has infused nature-based knowledge in her approaches to working with individuals. She has also facilitated groups for cultivating social skills, writing/creativity and self-esteem issues. Cami has traveled to Central America and throughout western Europe and Scandinavia. Cami’s interests include finding new walking trails, independent film and writing.
A fun fact about her is that for five years while living in Sebastopol she wrote a humorous blog about the town!

Gregory Washburn
Specializing in vocational development. Before devoting his time to helping people find and maintain meaningful…

…Greg was a dedicated student. He spent years studying art, history, science, and English literature, while also traveling to Europe, and living in Alaska—giving into his love of wonder and a desire for awe.
He began his tutoring and mentoring career while studying astronomy and math at Santa Rosa Junior College. Greg started by tutoring students in math. Eventually, he was asked to work for the College to Career program where he tutored students with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. Greg transferred to the University of California, Berkeley where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English.
Afterwards, he went right back to working with people with disabilities. He’s been happily working as an vocational coach ever since.

Mike Saliani
He has recently joined Corales. He worked for 12 years as a supported living counselor with developmently disabled…

…adults at Lifehouse Agency in Marin County.
He has also worked as an activities coach with troubled teens at Tahoe Turning Point in Lake Tahoe. Mike is an accomplished professional musician and songwriter. He currently teaches music to children and adults including those with disabilities in Sonoma County.
Mike's younger disabled brother first inspired him to work with people with disabilities. His laid back, playful nature seems to make people feel at ease around him.
Mike enjoys time with his family and working on his music.

Brian Lenius
He comes to Corales with over thirteen years of experience as a mentor and instructor of independent living skills…

He has a BS degree in Psychology and Human Development as well as a Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, focused on conflict resolution and non-profit organizational development. He has worked with international students for over seven years, behavioral-challenged youth in a boarding school setting for two years, and as a Behavioral Consultant for 3 years. He enjoys camping out, hiking, meditation, dancing, and creative writing. Brian is known for being kind, well-grounded, and reliable in even the most drastic situations. He is attending the Purpose Guides Institute. He brings focus to discovering and aligning with a person's true essence and purpose in life to all whom he works with. As a military kid, he moved on average every 3 years, living in the desert of Nevada, on a hill base in Hawaii, in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and on the outskirts of Frankfurt Germany.

Aaron Ash
Often been described as a jack of all trades. He graduated from Colorado College with a bachelors of arts degree in drama…

In college he worked in the theater scene shop building sets. After college he spent a year and a half learning permaculture in the Sonoran desert. This endeavor instilled a deep sense of how interconnected humans are with our mother Earth.
Aaron worked as a camp counselor at various summer camps working with kids of all ages from 7-16. Additionally he is trained in nonviolent communication (NVC). During his time working at Bridging Worlds Behavioral Services he was trained in heart centered ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis).
A fun fact about Aaron is that he built his own tiny house.

James Reed
recently joined Corales, inspired by his past experience working in behavioral services. He is a writer, carpenter, a budding…

…musician and the father of a young daughter. James is trained in Shiatsu massage therapy.
He has lived in Sebastopol for eight years. He deeply appreciates serving the population that Corales serves because he is genuinely inspired by the courage and openness of the clients and by the generous hearts of the Corales staff.
James is known for the gentle way he interacts with clients and how his kind, encouraging nature allows people to feel comfortable being themselves.

Diala Campa
She comes to Corales with an Engineering degree in Graphic Design. She began working in education helping to create…

…activities and educational materials for her mother’s pre-kindergarten class. This led her to begin working independently with teachers and educators in the creation of custom educational materials. She later worked for a bilingual education book publisher for ages K-12 creating visual support materials such as flashcards, activities, games, etc.

Diala participated in team sports for many years. The discipline and collaboration she learned from those experiences are qualities she continues to apply to her work and life. Diala is passionate about history and creative expression in all its forms. She enjoys reading, researching, and crafting in her free time. A fun fact about her is she’s a fan of the Tijuana Toros baseball team.

Brendan Gagnon
He joins the Corales de la Tierra team as the Human Resources Manager. Brendan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in…

…from Keene State College in New Hampshire before moving west to California. Prior to joining Corales, Brendan was a Montessori Elementary Teacher with 12 years of experience. In addition to providing Corales with an Educator’s perspective, another aspect of teaching that he became passionate about was community building through shared experiences and goals. Brendan now brings that passion and experience as a communicator, collaborator, and organizer to his role at Corales.

Outside of work, Brendan is an avid rock climber who can be found most days at a gym or crag around the Bay Area.

Gustavo Andrade
Joined the Corales de la Tierra team as a Spanish mentor, although his extensive background in various disciplines allows…

…him to mentor students in other subjects as well. Mentoring is not new for Gustavo as he has been active in mentoring and teaching since high school. There he tutored students in mathematics, biology and literature. While he was a university student Gustavo continued his work as a tutor in various subjects and for individuals with disabilities. After graduating with a Bachelors of Mathematics, Gustavo continued to advance his educational and professional development.
He studied yoga and Buddhist philosophy in India, gained experience as a programmer and a web developer in the United States and Mexico and studied massage, lion dance and martial arts in China. In addition to serving as a mentor for Corales de la Tierra, Gustavo additionally works as a masseuse in Tijuana, Mexico.
A fun fact about Gustavo is after suffering a knee injury while learning amateur boxing in Texas, he developed a non-surgical approach to the management of ACL injuries!

Elliot Lerman
Elliot has a masters of science in Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. He is also a behavioral…

worked in the education field for more than ten years. Her professional experience includes working as a Montessori preschool teacher, an assistant at a Reggio Emilia based preschool, a children’s yoga instructor and a behavioral consultant for individuals with developmental disabilities.
In her position as a behavioral consultant, Diana established herself as a leader and supervisor. She created and led a Spanish-Speaking Parent Support Group. In addition to gaining diverse professional experiences, Diana has also traveled extensively in Europe, North America, Central America and South America.
Her travels have given her insights into many different cultures and have taught her diverse ways of interacting with people and nature.

Holly Urquhart
She brings a diverse range of experiences to the Corales team. With a passion for nurturing and supporting individuals of all…

worked in the education field for more than ten years. Her professional experience includes working as a Montessori preschool teacher, an assistant at a Reggio Emilia based preschool, a children’s yoga instructor and a behavioral consultant for individuals with developmental disabilities.
In her position as a behavioral consultant, Diana established herself as a leader and supervisor. She created and led a Spanish-Speaking Parent Support Group. In addition to gaining diverse professional experiences, Diana has also traveled extensively in Europe, North America, Central America and South America.
Her travels have given her insights into many different cultures and have taught her diverse ways of interacting with people and nature.

Emanuel Estrada
He is a seasoned video editor, graphic designer, and podcast creator with over 18 years of experience bringing ideas to…

…life through visual and audio storytelling. Passionate about crafting high-quality videos, eye-catching designs, and engaging podcast content, Emanuel combines creativity with technical expertise to help brands connect with their audiences. His approachable and professional style ensures every project is not only polished and impactful but also tailored to meet the unique vision and needs of each client.
Fun fact, his favorite movies are the Lord of the Rings (extended edition, of course) and Back to the Future Trilogies. Great Scott!

The Team