Team Category: Leadership Team

Meredith Roman Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Meredith Roman Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Meredith Pizzi Founder and Owner | Executive Advisor

Meredith Roman Pizzi,, MPA, MT-BC, is a leader in Music Therapy Entrepreneurship and a passionate and energetic champion for the music therapy profession.  She founded Roman Music Therapy Services in 2006 and remains the owner as well as an advisor to the executive leadership team.

In 2009, she created Sprouting Melodies, an award-winning early childhood program, and in 2012 co-founded Raising Harmony, imparting her knowledge through training others in the use of music therapy strategies and tools with young children.

Educational Background

Meredith earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and completed her music therapy internship in an early intervention and therapeutic integrated preschool setting. She was selected as one of an elite group of 10 interdisciplinary fellows for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Post-Graduate Fellowship at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center through the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She earned the Post-graduate Fellowship Certificate in 2015.

Also in 2015, Meredith earned a Certificate in Disability and Health Policy from Suffolk University in Boston, MA, and followed with her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Suffolk University in 2016. In 2018, Meredith completed the Building A High Performing Minority Business certificate program at Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

Taking Music Therapy To New Heights

Meredith’s clinical expertise includes music therapy for infants, children and adults in private, educational, and community settings. She is passionate about raising the music therapy profession to a higher level and growing awareness for the potential of music therapy to address a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical needs.

She has devoted her career to developing business models for music therapy service delivery, advocating for music therapy on the systems level, and training and supervising students and professional music therapists in both clinical work and the professional skills required to be a music therapy business owner.

Meredith has worked tirelessly to support music therapists around the world in building their practices through online education and support, presentations, publications, and group and individual coaching.  Utilizing her key strengths, she combines depth and understanding of the field with a fresh look towards the future.

Meredith Pizzi is in demand both regionally and nationally as a keynote speaker or presenter at professional meetings and conferences, where she appeals strongly to a wide range of audiences.

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Learn more about Meredith’s background or book her for a speaking engagement.  

When she is not making music or leading the team, Meredith can be found frolicking with her husband and three children, enjoying the scenery and recreation around New England, or reading the next book on her book list.

Bryan Kohl

Bryan Kohl

Chief Executive Officer

Bryan Kohl has almost two decades of experience across private and nonprofit sectors, having intersected the music industry in a number of ways. He has led multiple growth initiatives and organizational transformations. He’s helped design numerous innovative learning strategies, and has coached leaders and teams on how to foster cultures of accountability, belonging, clarity, and trust.

As the former Executive Director of MindWise Innovations, a behavioral health organization focused on suicide prevention, Bryan helped guide its global reach to over 20 countries. Bryan was recognized as “Innovator of the Year” in 2022 by the Providers Council – the largest human services member association in Massachusetts. That was also when Bryan first learned about Roman Music Therapy Services as Meredith Pizzi, Founder, was also receiving the “Peer Provider Award” on behalf of the team that day. They shared the stage and have kept in touch and collaborated on projects since then.

Bryan also volunteers his time with other organizations. He serves as Executive Director of We Are All Music, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening and saving lives by bolstering brain health through music. He also sits on the Board of Trustees at Temple Shir Tikva, where he champions interfaith inclusion and belonging. Lastly, Bryan continues to coach new and seasoned leaders through his initiative The Imperfect Leader.

He holds a Master’s in Adult Education from Fordham University where he studied and researched instructional design, educational technologies, and the neuroscience of learning. He also holds a certificate in Disruptive Innovation Strategy from Harvard Business School Online and was trained in the GROW Coaching© model from Inside Out Development.

Bryan is based in Wayland, MA with his wife and two children. He finds immense joy experiencing live music, playing tennis, gardening, skiing (yes, he longs for snow all year long), and being with friends and family. 

 

 

Jennifer Ray

Jennifer Ray

Chief Operating Officer

Jennifer Ray is a UMASS Amherst grad with a BA in English. Since graduating, she has worked with the public in one form or another. Working in marketing and then as a manager with BJ’s Wholesale Club, she gained valuable experience in customer service. Moving out of retail, Jen took an administrative position with Commonwealth Psychology Associates as an intake manager.

Jen discovered Roman Music Therapy Services as a stay at home mom, bringing her daughter to Sprouting Melodies classes.

Jen began her career at Roman Music Therapy Services as the Sprouting Melodies Enrollment and Marketing Associate in 2015. Her role has evolved and changed as she has taken on event planning, payroll, invoicing and HR functions. The ever-continuing opportunities for growth, a great team of colleagues, and the opportunity to make a difference to so many people and families is why Jen loves her job.

Besides spending time with her growing children, Jen enjoys running, reading, writing and working towards her Master’s.

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Shannon Laine, MM, MT-BC

Shannon Laine, MM, MT-BC

Shannon LaineClinical Program Manager

Shannon Laine, MM, MT-BC, is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and music educator, holding a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy from Anna Maria College and a Master’s in Music Education (Autism Concentration) from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Having founded the first community music school-supported music therapy program in New Hampshire in 2006, Shannon has an extensive background working with clients ages birth through adult with a variety of diagnoses in both school and community-based settings.

In addition to attending advanced music therapy training (including Neurologic Music Therapy and Sprouting Melodies), Shannon maintains a special interest in the intersections of music therapy and music education. A member of the disability community since she was a teenager (when her cousin was born with Down syndrome), Shannon now raises a son who identifies as neurodivergent.

Shannon remains committed to advocacy within the disability community and beyond and has volunteered in numerous capacities. She has volunteered for Special Olympics, is a founding member of the New Hampshire Music Therapy Taskforce, has rewritten the New Hampshire Arts Standards (as a disability specialist), and currently serves as President Elect of the New England Region of the American Music Therapy Association. She is a supporter of strengths-based and neuro-affirming practices that allow all individuals to reach their fullest potential. Shannon is a former with the New Hampshire/Maine Leadership & Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) trainee through the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire, having completed 300 hours in leadership and disability training. She is a 2023 graduate of the New Hampshire Leadership Series.

Lauren Carey

Lauren Carey

Lead Office Administrator

Lauren Carey (she/her) is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Minor in Education. Lauren is a singer and pianist, and first learned about Music Therapy through her work with the Seven Hills Foundation based in Worcester, MA.

Prior to working at Roman Music Therapy Services, Lauren has worked in various teaching, student support, and administrative roles in schools in Boston, MA and Hartford, CT. Lauren is thrilled to bring her passions for music and social justice, as well as her administrative experience, to Roman Music Therapy Services.

Outside of work, Lauren likes to sing, crochet, try new ice cream places, and spend time with her family and friends!

Leanne Warren

Leanne Warren

Executive Assistant

Leanne Warren (she/her) is a graduate of Worcester State University, where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and Care with a minor in Psychology. After beginning her career as a preschool teacher in various daycare settings, as well as Head Start, she transitioned into a role as a nanny.

In her journey, Leanne discovered a passion for yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and natural living. Throughout her previous roles, she recognized her love for helping others grow and succeed, which has shaped her approach to support. She has since found her calling as an Executive Assistant, where she thrives in providing background support and empowering others to achieve their goals.

Outside of work, Leanne enjoys swimming, reading, practicing yoga, exploring nature on walks, journaling, and attending concerts. She is excited to bring her skills and passion for uplifting others to Roman Music Therapy Services!

 

Emily Hawley, MT-BC

Emily Hawley, MT-BC

Meet Emily Hawley, music therapistMusic Therapist
Internship Supervisor
Lead Music Therapist

Emily Hawley (she/her) is a 2019 graduate from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy and a Minor in Psychology. Emily received her board certification in October of 2019.

As a clinician, Emily works with a wide variety of individuals and groups, while specializing in services for adolescents with an array of social and emotional needs. She thoroughly enjoys working with this population and expanding her skill-set across demographics. Emily has also enjoyed her work with adults with developmental disabilities, children with complex dual diagnosis and geriatric memory care patients. She has helped facilitate several self-care workshops and presentations on utilizing music to promote wellness in everyday life. Emily is passionate about supporting others in their journey of self-discovery and skill building to create a foundation to thrive.

In her free time, Emily loves writing and recording her own music, playing and dancing with her nieces and trying new food!