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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.

Executive Board
Kimberly Dong, MS, RD, LDN

President
Kimberly Dong, MS, RD, LDN

Represents and serves the membership of MDA by managing, staying informed, and ensuring  more »

President-elect
Denise Conforti, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office in the role of  more »
Vanessa Cavallaro, MS, RD, LDN

Past President
Vanessa Cavallaro, MS, RD, LDN

Facilitates a smooth transition in leadership for the Association as an advisor to  more »
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN

Secretary
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN

Responsible for coordinating the agenda to Board Meetings and for the writing and  more »
Vanessa Kane, RD, LDN

Secretary-elect
Vanessa Kane, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Kara Becker, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD

Treasurer
Kara Becker, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD

Oversees the organization’s finances and is a member of the Finance and Audit  more »

Treasurer-elect
Melanie Mott

MS, RD
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of office,  more »
Peggy O'Shea Kochenbach, MBA, RD, LDN

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
Linda Davenport, RD, LDN, CDE

Oversees and guides the Dietetic Practice Groups, Special Interest Groups, and District Associations  more »
Kerri Hawkins, MS, RD, LDN

Liaison-elect to COP and Area Associations
Kerri Hawkins, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Directors
Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof, MS, RD

Director, Education
Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof, MS, RD

Ensures quality professional development programs are offered to all members throughout the year  more »

Director-elect, Education
Erin Whitney Evans, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, Member Communications
Kristina Spellman

Responsible for managing and coordinating communication efforts to MDA members.   more »

Director-elect, Member Communications
Cristin Jones, MS, RD

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, Public Relations
Michael DeAngelis, MS, MPH, RD

Oversees and guides the work of the Media Representatives and the Public Relations  more »

Director-elect, Public Relations
Sandra Klemmer, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Stacey Tarrant, RD, LDN

Director, Technology
Stacey Tarrant, RD, LDN

Responsible for managing and coordinating technology efforts and electronic communication efforts to MDA  more »

Director-elect, Technology
Laura Thompson, MS, RD, LD

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, State Policy Representative
Cynthia Taft Bayerl, MS, RD, LDN

Oversees the Public Policy Panel to address state legislative and regulatory issues.  more »

Director-elect, State Policy Representative
Rubina Husain, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Carrie Taylor, RD, LDN

Director, Career Pathways and Awards
Carrie Taylor, RD, LDN

Responsible for coordinating mentoring to students seeking to become members of our profession  more »

Director-elect, Career Pathways & Awards
Peggy Leung, MS, RD, LDN, CLC

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of office,  more »
Committees and Chairs
Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, LDN

Nominating Committee Chair
Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, LDN

Oversees the geographically diverse three-person Nominating committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »

Nominating Committee, Chair-elect
Kelly Kane, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC

Elected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »

Nominating Committee
Andrea Gulezian, MEd, RD, LDN

Elected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »
Janel Ovrut

Membership Chair
Janel Ovrut

MS, RD, LDN
  more »
Julie Robarts

Mentoring Chair
Career Pathways Committee
Julie Robarts

MS, MPH, RD, LDN
Oversees the Mentoring Committee which develops and implements a yearly plan of action  more »

State Professional Recruitment Coordinator
Career Pathways Committee
Elizabeth Harnois

RD, LDN
Provides career guidance materials and creates mentoring opportunities for students, second career individuals,  more »

Scholarships and Awards Chair
Career Pathways Committee
Erica Stevens

Oversees committee which nominates candidates for awards and honors at the national and  more »
Rena Prendergast, MTS, RD, LDN

Liaison to Massachusetts Nutrition Board
Rena Prendergast, MTS, RD, LDN

Represents MDA at Massachusetts Nutrition Board meetings. Reports on activities to the Board  more »

Liaison to Licensure Board
Public Policy Panel
Elaine Lyons, MS, RD, LDN

Represents MDA at Massachusetts Licensure Board. Reports on activities to the Board of  more »
Kathryn Baron Rocha, RD

Public Policy Coordinator
Public Policy Panel
Kathryn Baron Rocha, RD

Serves as key connection between ADA government relations and grassroots leaders on ADA  more »

Reimbursement Chair
Susan Lewis

MS, RD, LDN, CNSD
Chairs the reimbursement committee  more »

2010 Convention Co-Chair
Annual MDA Convention Committee
Valerie Machinist

Oversees the planning and execution of the MDA Annual Convention, including oversight of  more »

2010 Convention Co-Chair
Annual MDA Convention Committee
Lisa Bielak

Oversees the planning and execution of the MDA Annual Convention, including oversight of  more »