Mary Tolena is a speaker, consultant, and rhythm event facilitator specializing in team building, group unification, and team culture development. She offers corporate drum circles and other learning programs through her San Diego-based business, RhythmLift.

Mary also serves the Drum Circle Facilitator community with coaching and training in the areas of program design for adult groups, and building one’s DCF practice. See http://MaryTolena.com/rhythm-event-program-design/   

A Certified Village Music Circles Drum Circle Facilitator, Mary is a long-time collaborator with Arthur Hull. She is on the faculty and the program development team for VMC’s new programs: the Hawaii Facilitators Immersion Playshop, and Train-the-Trainer program.   

Mary is also a qualified facilitator for HealthRHYTHMS and the TaKeTiNa Rhythm Process. For many years, Mary led the Seattle World Percussion Society, the non-profit that produces the annual World Rhythm Festival. Mary is a regular contributor and organizer for the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild‘s annual conference.  

With a lifelong passion for helping groups evolve and thrive, Mary’s “life before drumming” includes decades as an experiential educator and business executive. Mary developed her company’s collaborative culture, values, and quality practices as key competitive assets. 

Mary holds two master’s degrees, in Management, and Leadership & Organizational Development. She has traveled widely in the U.S. and abroad as a drumming and facilitation practitioner, trainer, and life-long learner.