wayne marto
Professional Experience: Sales & Marketing
Beneficial Sound Focus: Founding Director & Gong Master
Wayne recently stepped away from the IT industry after 25 years to focus full time on Beneficial Sound. He worked in the content management space, performing numerous sales related roles for companies like Fujitsu, Hyland Software, Lexmark and Ibml.
Wayne has always had an entrepreneurial fire, launching a successful landscaping business at the age of 18, and running and operating an import/export business in Berlin, Germany after graduating from college.
Wayne comes from an extended family of musicians and has studied the gong extensively under Kundalini Gong Master, Mehtab Benton. His authentic style of playing, infused with passion and intention, promotes deep relaxation and transformation.
Wayne has a degree in Psychology, is a certified Gong Practitioner and is a member of the American Sound Healers Association.
"When I heard the gong for the first time, I was deeply moved by the resonating, vibrational healing qualities of the sound. I was swept away by a reflective sense of renewal, a releasing of unwanted emotions and a powerful sense of strong new beginnings. The gong has forever changed me, leading me on a journey of awakening, and uncovering my true passion: to share the healing sounds of the gong with all those willing to listen."
dr. daria davidson
Professional Experience: Integrative/Holistic MD
Beneficial Sound Focus: Board Member/Director
For over 35 years, Dr. Davidson has been a practicing, board-certified, physician in Emergency Medicine. She has been a board-certified Integrative/Holistic Medical doctor since 2004. During her 20 years as an emergency medicine physician, she spent 11 years working in, and running, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Wichita, Kansas.
She served for 6 years as a board member of the American Heart Association at the Kansas Affiliate level. She sat as president of the American Heart Association Sedgwick County Affiliate, and president-elect of the Kansas Affiliate when she moved from Kansas to Washington state in 1995.
Diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in 1992, the doctor also became the patient. This disruptive health issue started a change in the direction of her future. She had been told she would never hear the word “cure”. Remaining hopeful, calm and confident was a serious challenge. That challenge led to exploring other modalities to compliment traditional western medicine. 25 years later she remains free of any evident cancer. Dr. Davidson is a firm believer in the mind, body, soul connection for health.
“Wayne’s Gong Meditation events are wonderful. His talent, authenticity, passion and intention sets a foundation for an incredible experience. What a lovely gift for us all.”
mathew Heimbold
Professional Experience: Marketing. Advertising. Branding.
Beneficial Sound Focus: Board Member/Vice President
Mr. Heimbold is an award-winning movie trailer editor and advertising expert. Over the last eleven years he's finished TV spots and Theatrical Trailers for over fifty properties, including successful campaigns for Iron Man, Les Miserable, Planet of the Apes, and Guardians of The Galaxy and many others. He has been nominated for 4 Golden trailer Awards and 2 Key Art Awards and won a Golden Trailer for The Grudge 2. Mr. Heimbold graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science.
Prior to his advertising career he was a founding partner of The Roberts Company, a utility contracting firm. He grew the company from its inception, winning contracts with Arkansas Power and Light, Louisiana Power and Light, and Gulf States Utilities, culminating in reading over one million meters per month for these entities, as well as executing contracts for The City of New York, Tampa, and Los Angeles to name a few.
Mr. Heimbold is a life-long musician and practices meditation regularly. He is a firm believer in the healing qualities of sound, particularly in the beneficial attributes on the gong.
“Beneficial Sound’s Gong Mediations are deeply moving, powerful experiences. Yes, they are relaxing and stress-busting, but they also have the ability to move us to the vastness beyond the finite self, leading us on a journey of deep self-exploration and gnosis.”
ian cox
Professional Experience: Financial Investment Analyst and Business Consultant
Beneficial Sound Focus: Board Member/Treasurer & Operating Director
Mr. Cox has worked for over 15 years in the financial services industry as a both a Financial Investment Analyst and Business Consultant. Being financially astute with company income statements, balance sheets and business strategy is both a passion and a profession.
Mr. Cox has degrees in Political Science from the University of Washington, and Accounting from Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
"With my extensive accounting experience, my active left brain is always looking for ways to deeply relax. I feel privileged to have connected with Wayne and experience his hypnotically soothing Gong performances. Each Gong Meditation feels like a deep therapy session to me and I enthusiastically support the work Wayne is doing in sharing this Gong experience with everyone.”
Katie Stickney, MA, lmhc
Professional Experience: Mental Health Counselor
Beneficial Sound Focus: Stress Reduction Program Manager (Seattle, WA)
Katie has worked as a therapist and chaplain with a number of social service agencies including working with domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, homelessness, addictions, and spirituality. She strives to remain up to date on current events and research in her areas of expertise, while also remembering that each client’s experience of life will be unique. Katie is always wondering, “what is that like for you?”
Kate is a WA State Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church and has a degree in Elementary Education/General Science and Masters in Pastoral Counseling. She is a WA State Approved Supervisor and Endorsed Pastoral Counselor by the United Methodist Endorsing Agency.
“Within seconds, the resonance of the Gongs brought me deeply and easily into a state of relaxation. Throughout the bath, images, memories and emotions would rise to the surface and then wash away. Some were joyful, while others invited past pain. Some brought a clear state of "just being," while in others I received visions of new possibilities. All of what emerged felt important for my spiritual growth and healing of past hurts. For several days after the gong bath, I felt a distinct clarity of mind and increased energy."
Claudia Weber, MA
Professional Experience: Corporate Veteran’s Resilience Program Manager and Clinical Trauma Professional
Beneficial Sound Focus: Stress Reduction Program Manager (Portland, OR)
Claudia is a U.S. Navy Veteran with expertise in trauma counseling, community mental health, pain management, transformational change and corporate leadership.
Having spent 17+ years working in corporate America, Claudia was inspired to find holistic and alternative ways to cope with the stress in this environment. Her personal healing journey led her around the world, exploring and learning ancient healing traditions.
Claudia has developed a unique and gentle style of counseling that blends ancient traditions as well as modern techniques, to greatly reduce stress, anxiety and PTSD symptoms.
Claudia is currently the Director of H.E.A.R.T. Partners LLC. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Certified Behavioral Analyst and a Wellness Coach.
"There are experiences in your life that both inspire you and touch something that changes you forever. Wayne’s Gong Meditation was one of those experiences for me. I was swept away by the sound of the gongs into deep relaxation and release. I was immediately inspired to learn more about this healing journey and incorporate sound healing into my practice.”