Our People
Board of Directors
President
Norman Morrow, BS, PhD
Joined the Board: 2010
Norman has been responsible for the day-to-day management of HTWF’s financial affairs since 2001. In 2019, he became President of the Foundation and is currently serving in that capacity.
Norman is retired from ExxonMobil Corporation, but continues to provide consulting services on air pollution regulations and compliance for the petroleum and chemical industries though his own company – Fresh Air Consulting. The balance of his time is spent fishing, traveling and visiting with his and Bonnie’s children and grandchildren.
As HTWF expands to provide broader and more extensive services to the Healing Touch Community, Norman is striving bring in new blood and new ideas.
Secretary
Deborah Poelker: HTP-A, BS, MA, Retired Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Deb began her HTP journey in February 2020, as a Level 1 Student and currently is working toward HTP Certification. Deb has recently stepped into the role of Acting Secretary for the Healing Touch Worldwide Foundation Board and also sits on the Boards Grants Committee. She is inspired by the HTWF mission of advancing HT worldwide and has particular enthusiasm for the foundations vision to fund grants for quality scientific research regarding the benefits of HT.
Having retired from a 20-year career in the mental health field in 2019, and having worked in the environmental sciences prior to that, Deb considers energy healing as a natural progression in her career path.
Treasurer
Barbara Cox
Bio coming soon!
Member
Lisa Mentgen-Gordon, CEO Healing Touch Program
Lisa Mentgen-Gordon is the CEO of Healing Touch Program. Lisa believes that Healing Touch, founded by Lisa’s mother, Janet Mentgen, is a magnificent and significant gift to the world, which makes it easy for her to spend most of her time expanding, enhancing, and spreading this program. Her love lies in helping others to spread the work of Healing Touch to all and is dedicated to awaken the idea of deliberate living, and to raise the vibration and quality of life worldwide through Healing Touch.
Advisory Council
Karen B. Chin, RN, MS, HTCP/I
Joined the Board: 2009
Karen began on the board in 2009 as the secretary. She was involved with the update of the Bylaws and the ongoing development of policies and procedures. Karen had the privilege of serving as President from 2012 – 2016.
Karen’s background is varied, having been an operating room nurse both in civilian and military capacities. She served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for 25 years retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Having just moved from Texas to New Hampshire, Karen teaches RN nursing students on a part time basis, and looks forward to setting up Level 1 Healing Touch classes in her area. She also enjoys being a HT mentor. Her interests include karate, in which she holds a 2nd degree black belt, as well as learning piano. Her growing HT business is called Touch of the Phoenix.
Karen’s vision for the HTWF is that we do our utmost to indeed spread Healing Touch worldwide.
Carol Komitor, CMT, HTCP/I, HTACP, ESMT
Healing Touch for Animals, Founder
As a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner/Instructor (HTCP/I), Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) and Certified Hospital Based Massage Therapist (CHBMT), Carol witnessed the powerful and often dramatic effects of energy medicine on humans. Her experience since 1991 as both a veterinary technician and an HTCP/I inspired her to develop energy medicine techniques for animals. Carol’s passion for animals and her knowledge of energy medicine brought about a program of hands-on courses offering a cooperative model that bridges holistic animal healthcare with traditional veterinary medicine.
Based on years of experience working with world class trainers, veterinarians, animal shelters, private clients and through extensive studies, Carol Komitor formulated the curriculum for the multilevel energy medicine program known as Healing Touch for Animals® (HTA). HTA techniques were created and cultivated by Carol through study, practice and experiential knowledge.
Madeleine Ferbal, MA, HHP, HTCP, HTACP/I
Madeleine began her journey into holistic health in 2001 and became a Holistic Health Practitioner in 2007. She has been a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner since 2008 and a Healing Touch for Animals Certified Practitioner / Instructor since 2012. In 2014, she joined the Board of Directors of Healing Touch California where she currently serves as the President and strives to support HT practitioners throughout the state. Madeleine is a big advocate for self-care and has a blended personal practice working with both humans and animals in the Southern California area. When not teaching or working with her private clients, she enjoys volunteering her time with other HTA practitioners providing energy work to animals of various rescue organizations in the community.
In May of 2020, she completed a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and is excited to bring her nonprofit experience and knowledge to the Advisory Council of HTWF.
Mary Duennes RN, BSN, MA, HTCP/I, QM
Bio coming soon!
Grants
Grants Chair
Norman Morrow, BS, PhD
Joined the Board: 2010
Norman has been responsible for the day-to-day management of HTWF’s financial affairs since 2001. In 2019, he became President of the Foundation and is currently serving in that capacity.
Norman is retired from ExxonMobil Corporation, but continues to provide consulting services on air pollution regulations and compliance for the petroleum and chemical industries though his own company – Fresh Air Consulting. The balance of his time is spent fishing, traveling and visiting with his and Bonnie’s children and grandchildren.
As HTWF expands to provide broader and more extensive services to the Healing Touch Community, Norman is striving bring in new blood and new ideas.
Scholarships
Scholarships Chair
Karen B. Chin, RN, MS, HTCP/I
Joined the Board: 2009
Karen began on the board in 2009 as the secretary. She was involved with the update of the Bylaws and the ongoing development of policies and procedures. Karen had the privilege of serving as President from 2012 – 2016.
Karen’s background is varied, having been an operating room nurse both in civilian and military capacities. She served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for 25 years retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Having just moved from Texas to New Hampshire, Karen teaches RN nursing students on a part time basis, and looks forward to setting up Level 1 Healing Touch classes in her area. She also enjoys being a HT mentor. Her interests include karate, in which she holds a 2nd degree black belt, as well as learning piano. Her growing HT business is called Touch of the Phoenix.
Karen’s vision for the HTWF is that we do our utmost to indeed spread Healing Touch worldwide.
Scholarships Member
Norman Morrow, BS, PhD
Joined the Board: 2010
Norman has been responsible for the day-to-day management of HTWF’s financial affairs since 2001. In 2019, he became President of the Foundation and is currently serving in that capacity.
Norman is retired from ExxonMobil Corporation, but continues to provide consulting services on air pollution regulations and compliance for the petroleum and chemical industries though his own company – Fresh Air Consulting. The balance of his time is spent fishing, traveling and visiting with his and Bonnie’s children and grandchildren.
As HTWF expands to provide broader and more extensive services to the Healing Touch Community, Norman is striving bring in new blood and new ideas.
Scholarships Member
Donna Adams Ackerman
Bio coming soon!
Marketing
Marketing Chair
Nancy Lavergne, HTCP, Past President
Joined the Board: Spring 2012
Nancy joined HTWF as a committee member in April 2012 and became a the Board member in August 2012. Nancy has been the fundraising chairperson since 2012. She has also held the roles of Vice-President role (2013-2016) and President role (2016-2019) during this time. She has successfully implemented new fundraising events; Heel to Heal Walk/Run’s as well as Virtual races, and internet raffles, generating new revenue for the foundation.
Nancy worked 17 years in finance prior to moving to the US from Canada and shifted careers, working sixteen years in sales and contract negotiations. In 2004 Nancy experienced a Healing Touch session and it was so powerful that it guided her to become a HT practitioner. HT has brought an awareness of an inner passion she did not know she had and shifted all energies in her life at the core. She left her sales job in 2011 to join a holistic facility in Cincinnati, Ohio where she practices energy medicine.
Nancy’s passions today include volunteering Healing Touch, decorating, DIY projects, sewing, golfing, pickleball and especially spending time with her grandchildren and family.
Nancy envisions the growth of the foundation into an organization providing significant credibility in research, impacting education and energy medicine worldwide.
Support
Support Assistant
Leslie Bugio, B.Sc.
Member September 2010
Originally from Flushing, Michigan, Leslie spent her younger years enjoying the cold weather until her family relocated to Austin, Texas where she graduated from high school. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Art History from San Houston State University, Leslie worked for 12 years as an Architectural Sales Representative in Houston, Texas.
With the birth of her children Nicholas and Emily, her growing family became her top priority and she transformed into a proverbial soccer mom and community volunteer.
Ever searching for spiritual connection on her journey, Leslie found Healing Touch after severely breaking her leg. Healing Touch has since become a passion of hers, and she continues to heal and grow as a level 3 HT student, and assistant to Bonnie Morrow.