Board of Directors

Katherine Floriano – Chairwoman When she joined the Institute of HeartMath at its inception in 1991, Katherine Floriano brought a background in social work, banking and real estate. Floriano negotiated the purchase of the institute’s 160-acre research and education center, obtained permits, planned renovation, oversaw contractors and managed use of the completed facilities. In 1997, she turned to fundraising and board development after being named IHM’s executive director, her current position. Perhaps her most important role is as ambassador for IHM’s work in education, corporate and political arenas at the local, state and national levels. Her passion for IHM’s work and its impact on children has made her a perfect spokesperson in working with corporate and private philanthropists to obtain funding for special projects.

Hobart S. Johnson – Director Hobart Johnson, M.A., graduated with honors from Trinity College in 1951. He became an engineer for Gisholt Machine Company, a machine tool producer. He spent most of the next decade overseeing the firm’s European operations. Johnson graduated in 1966 from Stanford University Business School in accounting and has since been involved in finance and marketing as an independent consultant. He has been active in civic affairs as president of his local chapter of Amigos de Las Americas and a director of San Francisco Spring Opera Theater. He believes in helping others help themselves and has been associated with many nonprofits, including the Human Awareness Institute and the Wellsprings Foundation. Johnson has been affiliated with the Institute of HeartMath since 1993.

Brian Kabaker – Director Prior to joining the Institute of HeartMath, Brian Kabaker co-founded and ran a successful electronics firm that developed revolutionary technology in the area of electrostatics. His innovative sales and marketing strategies quickly propelled the company into a leadership position in the marketplace. The company’s technologies are still in use today by high-tech companies around the world. Kabaker studied psychology at San Diego State University and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Kabaker was named the Institute of HeartMath’s director of facilities in 1997 and chief financial officer and director of sales and marketing in 2001. His focus is on increasing revenues and maintaining and growing the HeartMath brand.

Donna Koontz – Director Donna Koontz is a wellness professional with more than 20 years of experience in various sectors of the industry. She owns and operates Balanced Living, a training and consulting company that specializes in developing human potential. Koontz has an extensive background in sales, marketing and public speaking and has spent the last 18 years designing and facilitating core development programs for large domestic and international corporations. Acting is her special love; she can be seen in local TV commercials. Koontz, who has been affiliated with the Institute of HeartMath since 1995, is a wife, mother and grandmother and lives in Benicia, Calif.

Toni Roberts – Director Toni Roberts graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has worked much of her life in the nonprofit arena. She has volunteered for various Silicon Valley organizations for over 30 years. After 15 years in nonprofit management and development, she joined the Institute of HeartMath and became instrumental in bringing people from around the world to HeartMath seminars. Roberts is a Realtor for Intero Real Estate Services in the Silicon Valley and represents the fourth generation in her family to go into real estate sales and land development. In addition to her work with the IHM Board of Directors, she is a director of the Intero Foundation, serving at-risk children in the Silicon Valley.

Sandra "Sandy" Royall – Director Prior to her long association with the Institute of HeartMath, Sandy Royall managed the art departments for many of the major retail stores in Raleigh, N.C., where she became acquainted with HeartMath founder Doc Childre and his work. Royall soon became committed to the principles of IHM and relocated to Boulder Creek, Calif., where Childre took the HeartMath mission. There Royall began freelancing her design talent and gradually became more active with the institute. In 2000 she became IHM’s in-house graphic designer and began volunteering her time with the facilities team. Royall also was a graphic designer for Planetary Publications at that time, designing book covers and brochures and illustrating children’s books among other projects.

Claire Shafe – Director Claire Shafe has a strong background in sales and marketing. She has owned and operated a successful health and wellness company for 25 years. Shafe specializes in training adults and children in total health and well-being and achieving optimal performance. She possesses a deep sense of community responsibility and this prompted her to volunteer extensively for many years promoting and administering fundraising projects for schools in San Carlos, Calif., where she lives with her husband and children. Shafe, a life coach and consultant, has been a strong supporter and advocate of HeartMath for many years and she is a HeartMath 1:1 provider.