Board of Directors

Leadership devoted to advancing play-based learning on Cape Cod

Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. is guided by a dedicated board of leaders who bring expertise in education, business, law, nonprofit management, and community engagement. Together, they ensure the organization remains a thriving resource for children and families across the Cape.

Deb Willsea – President & Founder

Deb is the visionary behind the Cape Cod Toy Library. Before moving to Cape Cod, she created the Rochester Toy Library in New York, which became a nationally and internationally recognized model from Ohio to Hong Kong. With over 30 years of experience developing toy libraries, play-based programs, and family resources, Deb has worked in museums, libraries, and community organizations to expand children’s access to enriching environments.

She recently authored the chapter “A Toy Library: Play Resource for the Whole Community” in the book Play and Social Justice: Equity, Advocacy, and Opportunity. Deb holds degrees in Sociology and Development, Learning & Instruction, as well as certifications in K–12 teaching and trauma-informed play.

Her lifelong passion is creating accessible, joyful, and inclusive play opportunities that foster child development, family literacy, and community health. Deb has led the Cape Cod Toy Library’s expansion into community spaces such as the Outdoor Play Oasis and now into its permanent home in West Barnstable.

Christopher (Chris) Galazzi – Vice President

Chris brings extensive business, leadership, and community experience to Cape Cod Toy Library. A Nauset High School graduate and Georgetown alum, he began his career in business development in Silicon Valley, New York, and Hollywood, working with American Express, AT&T, and Wink Communications. In 2004, he founded Zenergy Consulting, advising nonprofits and businesses in marketing, project management, and organizational growth across industries from renewable energy to healthcare.

Chris is passionate about the power of play. “Scientific research is proving what educators have known for years,” he explains. “The quality of a child’s play has a direct impact on confidence, resilience, and lifelong joy.” He supports the Toy Library as a way of helping Cape families translate the science of play into the art of play — for children and adults alike.

Brighid brings expertise in nonprofit governance and financial management, informed by her work across global health, research, and education. She has supported projects ranging from women’s health studies in Ghana, Tanzania, Pakistan, and Turkey, to cutting-edge cancer research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. She began her career in nonprofit consulting and also has experience in fundraising and executive search.

A Simmons University MBA graduate and Boston College alum, Brighid is also an accomplished musician and artist. She lives in West Barnstable with her husband, Mark, and their two children, who are Toy Library regulars. Brighid shares, “I was drawn to the Toy Library because it radiates warmth. Watching my daughter light up as she discovers new ways to play shows me just how much this resource matters to families.”

Brighid Mullane-Paci – Treasurer

Lauren Atsalis – Secretary

Lauren is a trusts and estates attorney with more than a decade of experience advising families in Massachusetts and Florida. Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, she is a graduate of the prestigious New England Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. She has also volunteered with organizations including We Can Corporation and the Boston Estate Planning Council.

A native Cape Codder, Lauren returned with her husband to raise their two young children in their hometown community. She also helps run her family’s shellfish farm. “As a mother,” she says, “I see the incredible value of play in early childhood development. Every time my children visit the Toy Library, they discover something new — and I cherish those moments.”

Joe is a Senior Software Developer for National Public Radio (NPR), where he has worked for over a decade. Originally from Ohio, he and his wife returned to her hometown of Barnstable to raise their two sons, Cedar and Morgan. Cedar and Morgan attended the Mass Audubon Nature Preschool, reflecting Joe’s family commitment to outdoor, play-based learning. Both sons now attend the Barnstable Community Innovation School in Hyannis

An avid cyclist and open-source contributor, Joe can often be found biking with his family around Hyannis Main Street. He values the Toy Library as a community hub that brings families together and offers children the freedom to learn through exploration and discovery.

Joe Kampschmidt – Board Member

Kristin is a professor in Stonehill College’s graduate marketing program, where she also directs MBA and data analytics programs. Her professional background includes nearly three decades in corporate marketing and management across industries such as consumer goods, pet products, and specialty foods. Before her business career, Kristin earned a degree in early childhood education and taught pre-K through second grade.

Kristin combines her passions for education and business in her work with the Cape Cod Toy Library. She consults with local nonprofits and businesses, volunteers in marketing strategy, and leads workshops for young professionals. A resident of Sandwich, she believes deeply in the Library’s role in helping families and children discover joy through play.

Kristin McGillicuddy – Board Member

Kathy Raymond – Board Member

Kathy is an educator, Montessori school owner, and small business leader with a passion for outdoor play. She has led Montessori Beginnings since 2008, transforming its grounds into the first certified nature-based play space on Cape Cod. Under her leadership, the school has been recognized multiple times for excellence in childcare.

Kathy has presented on the importance of outdoor play at regional conferences and worked with other Cape schools to expand access to nature-based learning. She sees her role with Cape Cod Toy Library as an extension of her mission to promote early childhood education and broaden access to high-quality, play-based environments for all families.

Ceci Phelan Stiles – Board Member

Ceci serves as Director of Language Access & Health Equity for Cape Cod Healthcare, where she coordinates interpreter services and training to reduce barriers to care. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has built a team of 20 interpreters serving hospitals and clinics across the Cape. She also chairs Cape Cod Healthcare’s Cultural Diversity Committee.

Her work is rooted in building inclusive environments and ensuring families of all backgrounds have equal access to services. Ceci values the Cape Cod Toy Library for its role in welcoming diverse families and fostering cultural connection through play.

Emily, a Brewster native, is the Executive Director of Cape Cod Young Professionals (CCYP). She previously held leadership roles at the American Library Association and the National Head Start Association, focusing on communications, fundraising, and advocacy. Emily also has experience working with The Pew Charitable Trusts and in higher education.

With her background in library science and community building, Emily sees the Toy Library as a vital hub. “Access — to information, materials, and connection — is power,” she says. “The Toy Library makes that access joyful, enriching, and meaningful for Cape families.”

Emily Wagner – Board Member

Past Board Members

Cape Cod Toy Library would not be what it is today without the dedication of our founding and past board members. We thank them for their years of leadership and commitment to play.

  • Danielle Gomes – Board Member (2022-2025)

  • Kristen Carbone Berner – Founding Board Member (2017–2019)

  • Sharon K. Donegan – Board Member (2019–2022)

  • Janet Ware Doucette – Board Member (2018–2022)

  • Catherine (Cady) Douglass – Board Member (2019–2022)

  • Carrie Jackson Hillman – Board Member (2019–2024)

  • Camilla MacLean – Board Member (2022–2023)

  • Jamie Selldorff – Founding Board Member (2018)

  • Jane Teixeira-Henry – Founding Board Member (2018)