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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
Inger Hustrulid, RD, LDN, ACSM

President
Inger Hustrulid, RD, LDN, ACSM

Represents and serves the membership of MDA by managing, staying informed, and ensuring  more »
Vanessa Cavallaro, MS, RD, LDN

President-elect
Vanessa Cavallaro, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office in the role of  more »

Past President
Pat Bebo, MS, RD, LDN

Facilitates a smooth transition in leadership for the Association as an advisor to  more »

Secretary
Mayra Seyfarth, MS, RD, LDN

Responsible for coordinating the agenda to Board Meetings and for the writing and  more »

Secretary-elect
Kara Becker, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Sharon Collier, RD, LDN, MEd

Treasurer
Sharon Collier, RD, LDN, MEd

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

Treasurer-elect
Katherine Mahon, MS, RD, CDE, LDN

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 »
Andrea Gulezian, MEd, RD, LDN

Liaison-elect to COP and Area Associations
Andrea Gulezian, MEd, RD, LDN

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

Director, Education
Denise Conforti, MS, RD, LDN

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

Director-elect, Education
Kerri Hawkins, MS, RD, LDN

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

Director, Member Communications
Ashley Bade, RD, LDN

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

Director-elect, Member Communications
Carrie Taylor, RD, LDN

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

Director, Public Relations
Erin Coffield, RD, LDN

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

Director-elect, Public Relations
Laurie Danca, RD

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

Director, Technology
Jessica Lane, MS, RD, LDN

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

Director-elect, Technology
Kendrin Sonneville, MS, RD, LDN

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

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

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

Director-elect, State Policy Representative
Josefine Wendel, MS, RD, LDN

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

Director, Career Pathways & Awards
Kimberly Dong, MS, RD, LDN

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

Director-elect, Career Pathways & Awards
Melanie Cohen, MS, RD, LDN

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

Nominating Committee Chair
Gail Oliveira, RD, LDN

Oversees the geographically diverse three-person Nominating committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »
Vanessa Ludlow, RD, LDN

Nominating Committee
Vanessa Ludlow, RD, LDN

Elected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN

Nominating Committee
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN

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

State Professional Recruitment Coordinator
Career Pathways Committee
Janel Ovrut

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

Mentoring Chair
Career Pathways Committee
Alison Rainey Doak, MS, RD, LDN

Oversees 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 »
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 »

2009 Convention Co-Chair
Annual MDA Convention Committee
To Be Determined

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

2009 Convention Co-Chair
Annual MDA Convention Committee
To Be Determined

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