Experts

Sheri is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care & education specialist. She has been in practice for two decades. Within that time, she has worked in a variety of settings- hospitals, wellness centers, outpatient clinics, retail, and corporate wellness. Currently, Sheri is the lead dietitian for a cardiac and pulmonary wellness center in the Bay Area. She also owns Sheri The Plant Strong Dietitian, LLC where she offers recipe development, educational services, and brand partnerships with wellness companies. Sheri’s focus is to help everyone to eat more plants. She encourages an inclusive plant-based diet that is balanced and does not exclude any foods outside or allergies or food intolerances.

As a nutritionist, I've always been fascinated by the connection between what we eat and how we feel. But it wasn't until I faced my own health struggles that I truly understood the transformative power of gut health. Through my journey to overcome my crippling fatigue and autoimmune issues, I discovered that a healthy microbiome is the key to unlocking our body's natural ability to thrive.That's why I founded Goodness Lover—to share this life-changing knowledge with others and provide them with the tools and resources they need to discover the goodness within themselves.We believe that everyone deserves to feel their best, and that starts from the inside out. Join us on this journey to revolutionise your health and well-being, one gut-friendly choice at a time.SARAH OTTOCO-FOUNDER, NUTRITIONIST

Melissa Boufounos is a certified holistic nutritionist in the Ottawa area who helps teen and adolescent hockey players optimize their nutrition and health so they can maximize their performance potential on and off the ice.Along with her education in Natural Nutrition from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Melissa has earned Precision Nutrition Level 1 and Level 2 nutrition coaching certifications. She has a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Seneca College and a post-graduate diploma in Sports Journalism from Centennial College. As a media nutritionist and freelance nutrition writer, Melissa has recent bylines in Mindbodygreen and Clean Plates and has been featured as a nutrition expert in articles for Shape, Well + Good, Forbes Health, Eat This, MSN, and more.  

Martine Lund Nielsen is the Chief Marketing Officer of Ella’s Flats, where she leads all brand, digital, and go-to-market efforts for the clean, all-seed cracker company. Martine brings deep expertise in marketing, digital strategy, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) growth, with a career spanning a variety of globally recognized brands. Originally from Norway, Martine has a personal connection to the product—Ella’s Flats are a nod to traditional Norwegian all-seed crackers, a staple she grew up enjoying. This cultural resonance fuels her passion for the brand and its mission to offer nutritious, clean-label snacks to health-conscious consumers. At Ella’s Flats, she is driving the company’s next chapter of growth, focused on expanding reach and deepening customer engagement nationwide.

Madeleine Macks is the Chief Operating Officer of Ella’s Flats, where she leads business operations, strategy, and growth for the family-owned brand known for its clean, all-seed crackers. Prior to joining Ella’s Flats, Madeleine was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she advised Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups across the consumer and retail sectors. Her work spanned brand strategy, innovation, supply chain optimization, and go-to-market planning. She also has a background in real estate and international development—areas she advised on during her time at BCG. Madeleine graduated with honors from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her MBA with a concentration in Strategic Management. She is passionate about building mission-driven businesses that put real food and wellness first.

🍎 Passionate about using evidence-based nutrition to empower individuals and communities towards healthier living. Specializing in diabetes nutrition, enteral nutrition, and addressing food insecurity through innovative approaches.💡 Expertise:• Recipe Development: Dedicated to creating delicious, culturally diverse recipes that are both nutritious and flavorful.• Food Photography: Capturing the artistry of food to inspire healthier eating habits and promote culinary creativity.• Nutrition Education: Utilizing motivational interviewing techniques to empower clients and patients with practical, evidence-based nutrition knowledge.🌍 Mission: Committed to advancing public health through nutrition education and advocacy. Passionate about tackling food insecurity and promoting sustainable, health-conscious food choices.Let's connect! I'm eager to collaborate on initiatives that promote wellness and equitable access to nutritious food. Reach out to discuss how we can work together to make a positive impact.

Lauren Hersh, a native of Washington, DC has an enthusiastic passion for all things health and wellness. Her passion for envisioning spaces and community spawned her 16-year career in commercial real estate development where she promoted relationships with national, regional and local restaurant and retail businesses. Lauren’s creative ability to strategically curate symbiotic environments offers an integrated approach to align concepts, brands, and partnerships in the urban real estate market. Lauren is also a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.Lauren is Chief Executive Officer, leading Official Ritual in both spiritual and physical expansion to serve more communities with wellbeing.

An acclaimed entrepreneur, Kim co-founded Kim and Scott's Gourmet Pretzels, growing it into a national health-conscious brand before its sale to J&J Snack Foods in 2012.Her achievements include being named Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year (2009) and receiving the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Star Award (2010). Inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame (2011) and honored as a JWI Woman to Watch (2010), she's a TEDx speaker and Vice Chair of Northwestern University’s Council of One Hundred. With a MSA from Northwestern's Medill School and a BBA from the University of Texas, Kim's expertise is a driving force in Twisted Alchemy's success.

Kelly Lacob is a healthcare technologist, product designer, and systems thinker redefining howwe deliver care—making it more preventive, personalized, and accessible. Trained at Stanfordand Johns Hopkins in human biology, bioengineering, and business, Kelly has built her careertranslating early-stage science into scalable products that change lives for traditionallyunderserved patient populations.Before co-founding Xella Health, Kelly led the product design and roadmap for the firstCRISPR-powered diagnostic platform at Mammoth Biosciences, and the development andlaunch of the first FDA-cleared point-of-care and at-home PCR test at Visby Medical—adiagnostic breakthrough that helped power early COVID-19 response efforts. Her portfolio ofpast products spans more than a dozen healthcare innovations, including a remote-monitoringplatform for hypertension, diabetes, and preeclampsia, a surgical-supply bundling solution thatreduced postoperative infection, a community-based hearing-screening platform enablingtask-shifting to lower-level health workers, and a smart wound sensor and mobile app to preventpressure sores.Now as Co-Founder and CEO of Xella Health, Kelly is applying her expertise in product designand commercialization to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday clinicalcare for women and their families.

My lifelong passion for hospitality has shaped both my personal journey and professional career.I’ve worn many hats over the years: Restaurant Manager, Restaurant Owner, Chef, and Mentor to rising culinary professionals at Johnson & Wales University.I’ve been part of resort and private club development, led full-scale operations as a General Manager and Regional Manager, and worked with incredible teams to bring memorable experiences to life. Travel has been a constant inspiration - whether exploring the coastlines of New England, the deserts of the Southwest, or the vibrant flavors of Europe.Along the way, I’ve pursued another great love: photography. I’m rarely without a camera or a notebook, always documenting meals, street scenes, and the little details that tell the story of a place. This Cafe Life began as a personal project - a way to organize my photos, journals, menus, maps, and memories.It’s grown into a curated collection of travel guides, recipes, and visual stories meant to inspire and inform. I hope you’ll find This Cafe Life to be your go-to for artful travel, culinary inspiration, and thoughtful suggestions - whether you’re planning your next big trip or simply daydreaming over coffee.

After years of health struggles, Jamie Koll, founder of Girls Who Eat, was diagnosed with a chronic disease in 2018, sparking her passion for clean and non-toxic living. By focusing on the ingredients in her diet and environment and making small, sustainable changes, she improved her energy, mental clarity, and digestive health. This journey led her to become a certified health coach in 2019 and gain expertise as a functional supplement specialist, educational influencer, and ingredient expert.Her personal health challenges fueled her mission to decode ingredient labels, embrace holistic wellness, and share her knowledge to empower others on their own paths to healthier living. Today, Jamie continues to inspire with her dedication to creating a world where knowledge and clean living go hand in hand.

Jade Cheng has dedicated her life towards promoting a healthy, sustainable, delicious lifestyle. She is a World Economic Forum Cultural Leader and serial founder of several 7/8 figure companies serving the world’s best tasting plant based foods at affordable prices. As the world’s foremost leading expert in plant based technology and prolific food scientist, she has developed over 1600+ unique products and formulations In a past life she pioneered plant-based fine dining, hosting dinners for $200-$2000/person for celebrity and high profile clientele including Stella McCartney, Jessie J, Chris Hemsworth, MIA, Vera Wang, Moby, and many more.Jade was named 2018 ELLE China 30 Under 30, Tatler Magazine’s Gen T 100 List, and has been featured in 100s of media outlets in the US and China from Forbes, Vogue, SELF, Instyle, WSJ, Eater, New Yorker, HK Economic Times, and more.