The Board of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association (MDA) is responsible for the organization’s operations, strategic planning, policy making, fiscal management and implementation of activities. Each member of the Board has a duty to serve the members of MDA by staying informed of the activities and fiscal matters of the association, and by assisting in the implementation of the MDA Strategic Plan. It is also a duty to report activities to the Board (via the consent agenda for each Board meeting) so that all Board members can remain informed. Most Board members serve a dual role of Board member as well as committee or section chair overseeing one of or more committees.
Take a look at the Organization Chart to see how the MDA Board is organized.
Read about specific board positions in our Job Descriptions.
Take a look at the Organization Chart to see how the MDA Board is organized.
Read about specific board positions in our Job Descriptions.
President
Vanessa Cavallaro, MS, RD, LDN
Represents and serves the membership of MDA by managing, staying informed, and ensuring more »President-elect
Kimberly Dong, MS, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office in the role of more »
Past President
Inger Hustrulid
Facilitates a smooth transition in leadership for the Association as an advisor to more »
Secretary
Kara Becker, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD
Responsible for coordinating the agenda to Board Meetings and for the writing and more »
Secretary-elect
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »
Treasurer
Sharon Collier, RD, LDN, MEd
Oversees the organization’s finances and is a member of the Finance and Audit more »Treasurer-elect
Denise Conforti, MS, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of office, more »
Delegate
Peggy O'Shea Kochenbach, MBA, RD, LDN
Functions as our representative to the House of Delegates (HOD) of the ADA. more »
Liaison to COP and Area Associations
Andrea Gulezian, MEd, RD, LDN
Oversees and guides the Dietetic Practice Groups, Special Interest Groups, and District Associations more »Liaison-elect to COP and Area Associations
Linda Davenport, RD, LDN, CDE
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »
Director, Education
Kerri Hawkins, MS, RD, LDN
Ensures quality professional development programs are offered to all members throughout the year more »
Director-elect, Education
Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof, MS, RD
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »
Director, Member Communications
Carrie Taylor, RD, LDN
Responsible for managing and coordinating communication efforts to MDA members. more »Director-elect, Member Communications
Kristina Spellman
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »Director, Public Relations
Laura Danca, RD
Oversees and guides the work of the Media Representatives and the Public Relations more »Director-elect, Public Relations
Michael DeAngelis, MS, MPH, RD
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »
Director, Technology
Kendrin Sonneville, PhD, MS, RD, LDN
Responsible for managing and coordinating technology efforts and electronic communication efforts to MDA more »
Director-elect, Technology
Stacey Tarrant, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »Director, State Policy Representative
Josefine Wendel, MS, RD, LDN
Oversees the Public Policy Panel to address state legislative and regulatory issues. more »Director-elect, State Policy Representative
Cynthia Taft Bayerl, MS, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of more »
Director, Career Pathways & Awards
Melanie Cohen, MS, RD, LDN
Responsible for coordinating mentoring to students seeking to become members of our profession more »Director-elect, Career Pathways & Awards
Kathryn "Kat" Brown, MS, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of office, more »
Nominating Committee Chair
Vanessa Ludlow, RD, LDN
Oversees the geographically diverse three-person Nominating committee that designates a slate of candidates more »
Nominating Committee
Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, LDN
Elected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates more »Nominating Committee
Melanie Mott
MS, RDElected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates more »
State Professional Recruitment Coordinator
Career Pathways Committee
Elizabeth Harnois
RD, LDNProvides career guidance materials and creates mentoring opportunities for students, second career individuals, more »
Mentoring Chair
Career Pathways Committee
Julie Robarts
MS, MPH, RD, LDNOversees the Mentoring Committee which develops and implements a yearly plan of action more »
Scholarships and Awards Chair
Career Pathways Committee
Kimberly Mirsky, MS, RD
Oversees committee which nominates candidates for awards and honors at the national and more »
Public Policy Coordinator
Public Policy Panel
Kathryn Baron Rocha, RD
Serves as key connection between ADA government relations and grassroots leaders on ADA more »