Book Store

Aromatherapy
Information

2007 International Conference
Events and Photos

Teleconferences

Educational
Resources

Support AIA

Advertising
Opportunities

Contact US

Meet the Board of Directors

Raphael d'Angelo, M. D. - President (2008)
Raphael J. d'Angelo, a native of Long Island, entered the U.S. Air Force in 1965 after high school. Following training as a medical lab technologist, he served in Viet Nam before an assignment brought him to Oklahoma and an honorable discharge in 1969. After completing college prerequisites, he entered the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and graduated with an M.D. degree in 1976.

Dr. d'Angelo then accepted a reserve commission in the Air Force and was assigned to Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, for family practice residency training which he completed in 1979. Invited to remain in the residency program as a teacher, he stayed until his release from active duty in 1982. As a civilian, Dr. d'Angelo practiced family medicine for ten years in rural Oklahoma before relocating to Aurora, Colorado in 1992.

He is the director of alternative therapies and practices holistic medicine, medical aromatherapy and microcurrent at Clinix Health Center in Centennial, Colorado. He completed his aromatherapy training from the Australian College of Health Sciences and studied with the Emerson College of Herbology in Canada. Dr. d'Angelo has taught medical aromatherapy to medical doctor candidates for the American Board of Holistic Medicine of which he is a charter diplomat. He has lectured on various aromatherapy topics all over the country and teaches a basic and advanced course in aromatic medicine. Dr. d'Angelo has conducted research on the effects of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria.

Lora Cantele, RA, CSRT, AAS - President-Elect (2008)
Lora Cantele, is a Registered Clinical Aromatherapist, Swiss Reflex Therapist, manufacturer of aroma-therapeutic products for her company Enhancements Aromatherapy LLC and Director/Board Certified Educator of the Penny Price Academy of Aromatherapy-USA. Lora is a writer and speaker in the field of aromatherapy. Lora conducts specialty aromatherapy workshops for a variety of hospital support groups, health and wellness fairs and women’s expos. Lora is featured regularly as
the Aromatherapist-On Call for Aromatherapy Thymes Magazine.

Lora is a consultant in clinical aromatherapy. She received her certification from the Australasian College of Health Sciences and has completed additional studies with many international leaders in the field including Shirley, Len and Penny Price in the U.K. and France. Lora is one, of only three, certified U.S. practitioners of Shirley Price’s Swiss Reflex Therapy. She obtained her Associate Degree in Applied Sciences at the International Academy (Chicago).

Her mission is to empower her clients by teaching her them how to achieve and sustain good health and well-being through the use essential oils, herbs, relaxation, simple exercises and good nutrition. She views herself as an educator first and foremost.

“I am very excited to be working with the AIA. The goals of AIA and my own nicely coincide with each other. As many natural health care providers will tell you, most of them have become professionals in the natural health arena by having gone through their own health challenges, only to overcome them by natural means. I am no different. What I have learned from my journey is that there is a NEED for aromatherapy and other natural health practices to become more integrated into mainstream medical and dental. As professionals dedicated to our industry, it is up to all of us
to do what we can to move aromatherapy forward in the healthcare industry. I am proud to be among the professionals associated with this organization and I am thrilled to help in it’s development and with its mission. I encourage others who seek a professional organization dedicated to the science, increased research and education in aromatherapy.”

Articles by Lora have appeared in publications such as the NAHA Aromatherapy Journal and Aromatherapy Thymes Magazine, Woman Newspapers Group (IL) and Quintessential Barrington magazine (IL). She has been interviewed by Today’s Dietitian and on the Cathi Watson radio program.

Lora will serve as President-Elect during 2008 and assume the position of President in 2009.

Nancy C. Graves, BS, MBA, CA - Secretary (2008-2009)
Nancy Graves has been studying the healing arts for over 10 years. With a Bachelors of Science from Penn State University and an MBA from Pepperdine University, she brings forth both a scientific and business perspective to her services for AIA. She is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Kundalini Yoga Instructor and a Reiki Master Instructor. Trained in an array of Energetic Healing modalities, she currently also provides support for a local nursing care facility.

“The Alliance of International Aromatherapists has an important purpose in bringing together a community of professionals whose interest is to set a high standard of service through education, scientific research and esteemed private practice so that the value of aromatherapy can be recognized more strongly as a natural, affordable approach to health care. I am proud to be an active part of this awesome, avant-garde organization.”

Bev Day, MBA, CFE, CA, RA - Treasurer (2008)
Bev Day is a Registered Aromatherapist, aromatherapy and business educator, seminar leader, and an award-winning writer. For over ten years, her passion for the holistic health care field has lead her to study natural health topics and in particular aromatherapy. She owns and operates the Rocky Mountain Aromatherapy Institute.

Bev has created seminars for business, government, and the public since 1990, including financial analysis programs for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("N.A.I.C."). Bev draws business expertise from her 22-year career with the Colorado Division of Insurance. During her journey from field examiner to Chief of Financial Affairs, Bev learned what makes successful companies tick and what causes companies to fail. She has been able to translate what she saw in the insurance industry into everyday business success strategies.

Several of Bev’s articles have been published nationally, including "Is Your Business Taxing You?" and “Will A Personal Judgment Cost You Your Business?” She won The Examiner’s editor’s choice award for “The Art of Financial Regulation.”

Nancy d'Angelo, CA - Executive Director

Nancy d'Angelo is a clinical aromatherapists, and an essential oils formulator and blending expert. She owns and operates Julia Rose Botanicals, LLC, and provides expert essential oils guidance and education for those in the community and in the aromatherapy industry.

Debbie Freund, RN, CCAP- Director (2008-2009)
Debbie Freund has been using essential oils for 20 years in private practice and is the owner and founder of Scents & Scentsibility, Ltd.. She is certified in clinical aromatherapy with Dr. Jane Buckle and is a member of the AMTA. She has used essential oils the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta , the US World Cup and the Goodwill Games in 1992 in Seattle. Debbie is an experienced aromatherapy educator and has lectured extensively on the subject in the US and abroad. She spends her time writing, teaching and traveling and brings much experience to the AIA board. Her belief in the importance of aromatherapy education and assisting people to achieve professional goals makes her especially suited to this position.

Jackie Farnell, LMT, CA - Director - (2008-2009)
Jackie Farnell has been a licensed massage therapist and certified aromatherapist for twelve years. She owns Scents-bile Solutions, LLC an aromatherapy company providing aromatherapy blends and protocol for Alzheimer’s patients, elder care and end of life in over 450 long term care facilities as well as those being cared for at home

Jackie's award winning program is a contributor to Medicare’s Sharing Innovations in Quality web site. She is the consultant for the Alzheimer’s research studies at Texas Long Term Care Institute at Texas State University, researching the effects of aromatherapy on appetite, behaviors, insomnia relief and pain management. She anticipates beginning an aromatherapy study for Parkinson's disease at The Medical College of Georgia this fall.

Nicola McGill, LLSA, MIFA, NCBTMB - Director (2008)
Nicola McGill began her training as an Aromatherapist at the London School of Aromatherapy, in the UK, where she studied for a year and received a Diploma in Holistic Aromatherapy. This enabled her to become a professional member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists. She furthered her education in Complementary Healthcare by attending the Anglia Polytechnic University, and received a Diploma in Manual Lymphatic Drainage. In 2003 she received a diploma in Morrell Reflex Touch following training at the Morrell School, again in the UK. Prior to leaving the UK, Nicola became a Certified Infant Massage Instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage

She now operates her Complementary Therapy practice at the Whole Health Wellness Center in Boulder Colorado where she offers her clients Aromatherapy treatments to help maintain their physical and emotional health and well being by using the powerful healing properties of Natures Magical gifts, Essential Oils.

My passion for “True Aromatherapy” and the quest to further my knowledge and understanding grows with each new client I work with. My Goal is to promote and educate people on the many benefits and the safe usage of Essential oils. It is a truly wonderful therapy that deserves to be recognized as a natural complement to other therapies both complementary and orthodox. However, I am strongly in favor of regulating the profession and ensuring that Aromatherapy is practiced in a safe effective manner. Aromatherapy and its use in everyday life is becoming more and more popular with the General Public. If it is to grow and become an integral part of ones healthcare choice then standards need to be set in education and training, research needs to continue and Aromatherapists all over the world need to come together and support organizations like the AIA so that we can become respected Therapists with a voice full of passion and commitment to our modality.

Linda Weihbrecht, CCAP - Director (2008)
Linda Weihbrecht is a certified Clinical Aromatherapist, aromatherapy educator and certification examiner for R.J. Buckle Associates, LLC since 1999. Her background is as a medical assistant for over twenty-five years, ten years being spent in a hospital/clinical setting in the areas of family practice care, urgent care, pediatrics and occupational medicine.

Linda holds an Associate Degree in Specialized Business from the Central Pennsylvania College and an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from HACC. She is continuing her studies towards completing her RN degree. Linda has completed the certification program, Aromatherapy for Health Professionals as well as the instructor course for this program through R.J. Buckle Associates, LLC. She is also a certified ‘m’ technique practitioner and instructor. She has taken ongoing aromatherapy classes and has studied with Essential Oil Resource Consultants based in Provence, France and other leading aromatherapists. She presently works as a Clinical Aromatherapist for a hospital based women’s health department, WomanCare Resource Center. Linda has a special interest in working in the fields of oncology, hospice and palliative care.

Linda is also an apprentice in Healing Touch and has received training in guided imagery through the Peggy Huddleston’s Prepare for Surgery and Heal Faster program. She has completed Reiki courses I & II, therapeutic massage, reflexology and shiatsu courses.

She is the founder and facilitator of a hospital based support group, “Coping with Anxiety and Panic” (CAP). This group uses a “toolbox” approach for coping with anxiety disorders.

Linda received a hospital grant to do research on essential oils versus three types of resistant bacteria. This study, “The Activity of Ten Essential Oils Against Three Types of Multiply Resistant Bacteria” was presented at the 2002 NAHA World of Aromatherapy IV Conference in Seattle, WA and at the 2003 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology in Washington, DC. She is actively working in essential oil research.

Linda has provided many classes, aromatherapy services and lectures to various charitable organizations and businesses. She delivered the keynote address for The Broadway House in Newark, NJ owned by UMDNJ in conjunction with David Frank MD in 2004. She presented the latest research in essential oil therapies at the 2005 Planetree Conference in Chantilly, VA.

Linda’s passion is helping people in stressful situations find the coping tools they need to move forward. This may be in the form of workshops, classes or bodywork using essential oils. She is a fierce patient advocate and able to assist patients navigating post surgical and extended hospital stay issues. Stress reduction for businesses, personal life, caregivers or during illness are her specialty. Stress reduction, oncology and hospice needs are my specialty.