Joanne Kessler, founder of the Children’s Nutrition Center, is a  Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with a Master’s of Science Degree in Nutrition from Yale University. Mrs. Kessler has been in Private Practice for over 18 years and is profoundly knowledgeable in dealing with children with nutritional problems including but not limited to obesity, failure to thrive, food allergies and early on-set diabetes. Joanne has practiced in the area of weight control for many years and is certified in Childhood and Weight Management by the American Dietetic Association.

She is a professional speaker with a positive upbeat approach that not only entertains but educates. Over the last 14 years she has conducted hundreds of lectures for parents, children, health professionals, and corporations.

Biography:
•             Master’s of Science in Nutrition from Yale University
•             Certified Diabetes Educator
•             Governors Obesity Task Force Partnership Alliance
•             Certified in Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Management
•             Certified in Pediatric Nutrition 2001-2009
•             Member of the American Dietetic Association

Dana Ryan is a  Professor of Teaching at the International Institute of Higher Learning. He is the author or co-author of 3 books on nutritional for kids and  teaching and was for many years a high school principal and nutrition teacher. He continues attending medical/nutritional conferences, lectures and educational seminars.

Dana has a Doctorate in Education and Master of Arts in Teaching English from Harvard University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

Carol Leahy has been PTA President for 16 years and on the board for over 23 years of the Garden City, KS. Parent Teacher Association. “At the unit level, I have held every position imaginable,” she says.  She has served on the Kansas State PTA board of managers as the local convention committee chairman for 2 years, and currently represents district presidents on the Legislative Action Committee, as well as serving as a commissioner on the Member Services Commission.

When she is not busy with PTA business or working at a small home-based desktop publishing business, Carol loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, sewing, gardening and traveling. She is active at her church, where she serves as the president of the women’s compassionate service organization.

Dr. David Westheimer is board-certified in pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Since the completion of residency, Dr. Westheimer has remained active at Cincinnati Children’s hospital. He spends time in the pediatric emergency room and teaches pediatrics to resident physicians from Children’s Hospital.

He graduated with honors from UCLA and thereafter the American Heart Association awarded Dr. Westheimer a year-long research fellowship at the University of Texas during medical school. During this year he published a scientific paper in childhood nutrition as it relates to obesity patterns in children.

Dr. Westheimer chose pediatrics because he enjoys children’s contagious optimism and resiliency. He also cherishes the relationships formed while caring for families over time.

Janice Hubbard is a nutrition author and former professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at the University of Houston. She is a Visiting Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. Her degrees include a Ph.D. in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition from the University of California, Berkeley.. Her research examines scientific, economic, and social influences on food choices in schools.