Meet Our Advisory Board

Devin Alexander

Chef, Best-Selling Author and TV Host
www.devinalexander.com

New York Times bestselling author Devin Alexander is a veteran in the fight against obesity and she’s winning the war with her unique approach to healthy cooking. Having maintained a 55-pound weight loss for over 15 years, she lives and eats her message: you don't have to deprive yourself to be fit and healthy.

Ann Cooper

Renegade Lunch Lady
www.chefann.com

Chef Ann is a celebrated author, chef, educator and enduring advocate for better food for all children. She envisions a time soon when being a chef working to feed children fresh, delicious, and nourishing food will no longer be considered “renegade.”

Kevin Crawley, CEC

Chef Instructor, Johnson & Wales University

Chef Crawley has been widely featured on both television and radio and has participated in numerous guest chef demonstrations and competitions around the United States and abroad.

Lorena Garcia

Chef and Media Personality
www.cheflorenagarcia.com

Chef Lorena has taken on the challenge of combating childhood obesity using her culinary knowledge. She has developed “Big Chef, Little Chef,” a lifestyle modification plan that educates children of all ages and their families about the benefits of nutrition and of living a healthy, happy and positive life.

Barbara Jirka, PhD, SNS

Brand Manager K12 Schools, Tyson Food Service

Dr. Barbara Jirka is the brand manager for the K12 school segment for Tyson Foods, Inc. in Springdale, Arkansas. She oversees customer and brand marketing and development of programs designed to provide solutions for K-12 customers. Dr. Jirka currently serves on the School Nutrition Association Board of Directors.

Amy Kalafa

Executive Producer, Two Angry Moms
www.angrymoms.org

For over 15 years, Amy has produced award-winning films, television programs and magazine articles in the field of health education. Since childhood, Amy has been passionate about social justice and environmental issues. She is now compelled to express that passion by speaking out as an Angry Mom fighting for the health of America’s kids.

Catherine Mullarkey, Esq.

Attorney at Law

Catherine Mullarkey has more than 20 years of corporate and not-for-profit corporate law experience. Her involvement with the American Culinary Federation Chef & Child Foundation goes back to its very beginning in 1989.

Dr. Ellen Rome, MD, MPH

Cleveland Clinic

An expert in the field of eating disorders and obesity, Dr. Rome runs the Cleveland Clinic’s Pediatric Obesity Initiative, working to decrease childhood obesity through healthier exercise and eating habits in partnership with communities and schools.

Joel Schaefer, CCC

President and Chef, Allergy Chefs, Inc.

Joel is currently the president and chef for his own company, Allergy Chefs, Inc. specializing in food allergy and special diets training and product development and has recently joined the AllergyFree Foods team as their Research and Development Chef.

Shawn M. Talbott, PhD, LDN, FAIS, FACSM

Nutritional Biochemist and Author
www.shawntalbott.com

Dr. Talbott’s most recent project is an award-winning feature-length documentary film, “Killer At Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat,” which explores the startling details underlying the American Obesity Epidemic—and serves as a “call to arms” for concerned parents, school districts, elected officials, health professionals, and entire communities to empower themselves in reversing this deadly trend.