Vegan Summerfest features experts in the fields of health, nutrition, animal rights, the environment, exercise and other related lifestyle topics, plus talented chefs. The following speakers are already confirmed, with more to be added. Please check back for updates.
Michael Greger, MD
A founding member and fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. He has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. His latest book is How Not to Die. More than a thousand of his nutrition videos are freely available at NutritionFacts.org, with new videos and articles uploaded every day.
Neal Barnard, MD, FACC
Adjunct associate professor of medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine; President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; founded the Barnard Medical Center where they work with patients to prevent and reverse diseases through nutrition and lifestyle changes; led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health; authored more than 70 scientific publications as well as 18 books and hosted three PBS television programs on nutrition and health Visit Speaker’s Website
Kim Allan Williams, MD, MACC, FAHA, MASNC, FESC
Vegan Cardiologist; completed his internal medicine residency at Emory University, and overlapping fellowships in cardiology, clinical pharmacology, and nuclear medicine at the University of Chicago; board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases, nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular computed tomography; joined the faculty of the University of Chicago in 1986; served as professor of medicine and radiology and director of nuclear cardiology at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine until 2010, when he became the Dorothy Susan Timmis Endowed Professor and chair of the division of cardiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine; In 2013, Williams assumed the position of James B. Herrick Professor and chief of the division of cardiology at Rush University Medical Center; past president of the American College of Cardiology
Matthew Lederman, MD
Dr.Lederman is the Chief Health & Wellbeing Officer at WeHeal. He began his professional medical career studying conventional Western medicine to become a board-certified Internal Medicine physician. He quickly realized more skills and tools were needed if he was going to help people achieve his definition of optimum health: to live in a state of, “Life Is Wonderful.” He began his personal and professional evolution starting with additional training in nutrition and lifestyle medicine, eventually participating in the documentary Forks Over Knives as well as co-authoring 6 books, including a NY Times Bestseller. His latest book, “Wellness to Wonderful,” interweaves medical science, psychology, spirituality, and life wisdom to help people achieve lasting health, vibrancy, peace, and joy.
Most recently, Dr. Lederman completed his CNVC Trainer Certification as he found Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to be the foundation on which mind-body and interpersonal healing lies. He is particularly passionate about using technology and other creative outlets to bring NVC into this world, supporting individuals, families, and organizations. In addition, he strongly believes that effective care must be trauma-informed, and supports that intention through his continued work with the Polyvagal Theory and Somatic Awareness Principles.
After 10 years in the corporate world serving as the Whole Foods Market Vice President of Medical Affairs helping launch their national comprehensive medical & wellness centers and integrated hospital and insurance networks, Dr. Lederman moved on to build his newest ventures, WeHeal and webe kälm, with his work and life partner of 18 years. WeHeal & webe kälm are the culmination of decades of learning and practical experience organized into an easily accessible program and tools that do everything just short of guaranteeing lasting health, joy and satisfaction in your life.
Recognized as a “doctor of the future” by Dean Ornish, MD, and with work endorsed by Sanjay Gupta, MD, he also contributes as an adjunct medical school professor, corporate medical advisor, and lecturer worldwide. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with his beautiful wife and two daughters who inspire him every day to do everything in his power to help heal this world.
Alan Goldhamer, DC
He is the founder of TrueNorth Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility that provides medical and chiropractic services, psychotherapy and counseling, as well as massage and body work. He is also director of the Center’s groundbreaking residential health education program.
An outspoken professional who doesn’t shy away from a spirited debate, he is deeply committed to helping people stuck in self-destructive cycles reclaim their ability to change their lives. He has supervised the fasts of thousands of patients. Under his guidance, the Center has become one of the premier training facilities for doctors wishing to gain certification in the supervision of therapeutic fasting. Dr. Goldhamer was the principal investigator in two landmark studies. The first: “Medically Supervised Water-Only Fasting in the Treatment of Hypertension” appeared in the June 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Its publication marked a turning point in the evolution of evidence supporting the benefits of water-only fasting. The second study: “Medically Supervised Water-Only Fasting in the Treatment of Borderline Hypertension,” appeared in the October 2002 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Currently, Dr. Goldhamer is directing a team that is developing a prospective study, incorporating random assignment and long-term follow-up on the cost and clinical outcomes in the treatment of diabetes and high blood pressure with fasting and a health-promoting diet. After completing his chiropractic education at Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Goldhamer traveled to Australia, where he became licensed as an osteopathic physician.
He is the author of The Health Promoting Cookbook and co-author of The Pleasure Trap: Mastering The Hidden Force That Undermines Health and Happiness. Visit Speaker’s Website
Tim Kaufman
Tim Kaufman of FatManRants was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in his early twenties. He was in chronic pain most of his life. By the time he had reached the age of 37 he was addicted to Fentanyl, alcohol, and fast food. At over 400 pounds he was unable to perform simple daily tasks. He had many chronic health issues and was almost immobile. He had lost his interest in life and had almost given up. Tim started a journey to regain his health. He started to change one small thing at a time. He is now an athlete who thrives on a plant-based whole-food lifestyle and leads a healthy, happy, productive, and very active life that is free of all medications he was once on. His passion is to spread the message that anyone can transition to a healthy, active lifestyle and dramatically change their life regardless of their current situation or size.
Tim has appeared on Podcasts from around the world and has been filmed for upcoming movies. He has been featured in Runners World Magazine, Good Morning America, Today, People, WebMd, ESPN, and many other media outlets.
Tim uses his platform as an international speaker to educate, inform and motivate people about plant-based nutrition, fitness, addiction recovery, overcoming physical challenges, and emotional and spiritual wellness. Visit Speaker’s Website
Jen Howk, PhD
Jen is a writer, researcher, and coach who has been vegan for twenty years. She has a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University, and her academic work focuses on the social, psychological, and political determinants of resilience and well-being. As a coach, she is interested in helping clients discover new ways of thinking about and approaching difficult problems in relationships, work issues, family issues, and health concerns. She’s a self-taught permaculture enthusiast with a few hundred fruit trees and an ever-expanding collection of other plants. She’s also proud companion to her rescue squad of three dogs, two rabbits, two guinea pigs, the groundhog who lives under her shed and eats the entire garden every year, and a free-range house mouse named Misha. For more information or to reach out, visit www.jenhowk.com
Victoria Moran
Featured twice on Oprah, the author of Main Street Vegan and The Love-Powered Diet is director of Main Street Vegan Academy, cofounder of the Compassion Consortium, host of the Victoria Moran Podcast, and lead producer of the documentary A Prayer for Compassion. Her next book will be Age Like a Yogi.
Dawn Hilton-Williams
Dawn Hilton-Williams, fondly dubbed “The Vegucator,” champions the cause of 100% whole food, plant-based (WFPB) living and health equity as Founder of Herban Eats, LLC and Co-Founding Executive Director of Power is Giving, Inc.
A WFPB certified nutrition professional, Dawn is also a contributing culinary and wellness equity columnist with decades of culinary expertise and author of clinically endorsed cookbook & guide, “Flava My Plate,” which seamlessly blends affordable, nutritious vegan recipes with facts and strategies to combat lifestyle-driven chronic diseases.
With a focus on optimizing BIPOC community wellness through vegucation, Dawn provides flavors and facts that support accessible and sustainable change.
Jonathan Balcombe, PhD
Biologist; life-long animal advocate; author, Pleasurable Kingdom (first in-depth examination of animals’ capacity to enjoy life), Second Nature, and The Exultant Ark (present animals in a new light and presage a revolution in the human-animal relationship); author of the New York Times best-seller, What a Fish Knows(explores the private lives of the planet’s most misunderstood and maligned vertebrates); Associate Editor for Animal Sentience, the first scholarly journal of animal feeling
Robert Breakey, MD, dipACLM
Graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School; Head of his medical group’s “IHA Center for Lifestyle Medicine”; on the Board of Directors of Plant Based Prevention of Disease (P-POD); Chairman of the Board of the Plant Based Nutrition Support Group (PBNSG).
Maribeth Abrams, MS, CNC
Certified Nutritional Consultant; Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; Certified Lifestyle Educator; author of The 4-Ingredient Vegan and Tofu 1-2-3; NAVS Board Member; Associate Editor Vegetarian Voice magazine; vegan for 20 years; mother of two teens vegan since birth.
Milton Mills, MD
He practices urgent care medicine in the Washington DC area, and has served previously as Associate Director of Preventive Medicine and as a member of the National Advisory Board, for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). He has been a major contributor to position papers presented by PCRM to the United States Department of Agriculture regarding Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and has been the lead plaintiff in PCRM’s class action lawsuit that asks for warning labels on milk. ; co-author of PCRM’s report on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.
Ed Adams
Formerly taught mathematics at a high school and technical college in Wisconsin, and also worked as a student services counselor at the technical college. He developed an interest in line dancing as a hobby and has now been dancing for about ten years. He line dances regularly three times a week and has been teaching line dancing for about two years. Adams lives on a tree farm in Wisconsin and, with his wife Helen, is engaged in conservation. projects benefiting native and migratory birds, animals, and the environment.
Chip Ballew
Carol H. Barnett, PhD, JD
Co-Coordinator, Rochester Area Vegan Society; provides the recipes, cooking and food sampling for a six-week course in Plant-Based Eating which has reached more than 300 people in the Rochester area; mother of three adult children who are lifelong vegans.
Ted D. Barnett, MD, FACLM
The “High-Tech Doctor with Low-Tech Solutions.” Diagnostic & Interventional Radiologist and senior partner with Borg and Ide Imaging in Rochester, NY, where he has practiced since 1986. Board-certified in Diagnostic Imaging (1984); board-certified in Vascular & Interventional Radiology (1995); one of the first 204 physicians board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine (2017). Dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine using the principles of Lifestyle Medicine and plant-based nutrition. Founder and CEO of Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Group, (2015); Founder and President, Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute (2017), which licenses a medically-supervised 15-Day WFPB Jumpstart. Teaches a 6-week 12-CME Plant-Based Nutrition course, accredited for physicians by the University of Rochester, which has reached almost 1,000 people in the Rochester, NY area. Co-Coordinator, Rochester Area Vegan Society since 1995; father of three adult children who are lifelong vegans.
Christine Melanie Benson
A decade-plus vegan with her own powerful story of food-based healing, Christine Melanie Benson is also an author, personal coach, attorney, and host of the Vegan Posse podcast. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Christine brings her expertise in self-healing and her training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy even to her fiction works, as demonstrated by her novel Marrying Myself, which features a vegan protagonist and both entertains and inspires readers to fall in love with the world around them and, most of all, themselves. A welcome alternative to the meathead characters in mainstream women’s fiction, Marrying Myself was named a top media pick of the year in 2023 by VegNews magazine. In her role as host of the Vegan Posse podcast, Christine talks to vegans from around the globe who are living lives of integrity and compassion, with an eye toward justice – not just keeping the peace but creating it through their food choices and beyond. Formerly of Boston and New York City, Christine now makes her home in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mark Mathew Braunstein
He has been a vegan since 1970, is the author of six books, including Microgreen Garden, Sprout Garden, and Radical Vegetarianism. His articles about veganism have appeared in Vegetarian Times, Natural Health, and elsewhere. Visit Speaker’s Website
Harold Brown
President, Farm Kind, Ltd.; born and raised on a cattle farm in Michigan and spent over half his life in agriculture including three years in the dairy industry; featured in the Tribe of Heart documentary, Peaceable Kingdom, the Journey Home, his story is one of transformation from animal farmer to vegan animal advocate; works as an advocate for sustainable independent family farms, environmental justice, social justice, and peace through non-violence.
Eileen Wieder Crone, MS
She is a Registered Dietitian, ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist, Registered Yoga Teacher and adjunct professor at Harrisburg Area Community College in central Pennsylvania. She is passionate about sharing wellness, fitness and the benefits of spending time in nature with others. She has through-hiked the Appalachian Trail, bicycled around the perimeter of the US and studied yoga internationally. When Eileen isn’t hiking, practicing and teaching yoga, she enjoys preparing green smoothies and other raw, vegan delights
Anne Dinshah
Co-author (with H. Jay Dinshah) of the forthcoming book Powerful Vegan Messages; co-author of Apples, Bean Dip, and Carrot Cake: Kids! Teach Yourself to Cook; author of Dating Vegans; vice president of American Vegan Society; managing editor of American Vegan magazine; professional rowing coach; lifelong vegan, third generation vegetarian, and mom to vegan son Clint.
Freya Dinshah
Co-author of Apples, Bean Dip, and Carrot Cake: Kids! Teach Yourself to Cook a great new book that inspires kids to make healthy snacks and meals; author of The Vegan Kitchen which in 1965 was the first U.S. cookbook to use the word vegan in the title and espouse the vegan philosophy; lecturer & teacher; lifetime vegetarian (over 60 years vegan); President of American Vegan Society and editor of American Vegan magazine; inducted to the Vegetarian Hall of Fame
Michael C. Dorf, JD
Robert S. Stevens Professor of Law at Cornell University Law School; graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School; author of four books and numerous articles on law and its relation to social change; co-author of the book Beating Hearts: Abortion and Animal Rights; as a vegan activist, he applies the lessons he has learned from studying other justice movements.
Mylan Engel Jr.
Professor of Philosophy at Northern Illinois University specializing in animal ethics and environmental ethics; co-author (with Kathie Jenni) of The Philosophy of Animal Rights: A Brief Introduction for Students and Teachers (2010); lead editor of The Moral Rights of Animals (2016); he has developed a common sense approach to animal ethics, which he uses to defend ethical veganism and to argue that animal experimentation should be abolished.
Joann Farb
JoAnn Farb is a former microbiologist with a global pharmaceutical company, author of two books and mother of two life-long grown-up vegans. She publishes the Feast Lawrence News and blogs at JoAnnFarb.com about veganism, parenting and health. Visit Speaker’s Website
Sarina Farb
Sarina is a life-long vegan and second generation activist dedicated to making the world a better place. She speaks and writes about growing up vegan and dealing with “pushback”. Sarina was previously Tribe of Heart’s International Liaison, helping to make the award-winning animal films The Witness and Peaceable Kingdom: The journey Home understandable and accessible around the world. Also a science educator, Sarina is passionate about bringing ethics, holism, and true critical thinking into science curricula. She earned her degree in biochemistry and policy studies at Grinnell College where the also founded the vegan group AACT.
Lee Hall, JD, LLM
A 36-year vegan, Lee holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environment & Climate Law from Vermont Law School. Lee has taught animal law and environmental law, and has authored several books, including On Their Own Terms: Animal Liberation for the 21st Century. Lee penned the “Vegetarian” and “Environmental Racism” entries for the Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice (Sage), and the chapter “Nonhuman Rights and Human Sustainability” for Springer’s Encyclopedia of UN Sustainability Goals (Vol. 12, 2020)—the largest peer-reviewed project ever undertaken on the subject.
Amie Hamlin
She is the Executive Director, Coalition For Healthy School Food; wrote NYS Legislative Resolution that passed unanimously in the NYS Legislature in 2004 – requesting vegan entrees each day and nutrition education that includes information on multi-cultural and vegan eating styles; responsible for the first four vegetarian public (non-charter) schools in the United States (all in NYC) and a vegan option on the menu every day in NYC schools, oversees development of nutrition education curriculum (Food UnEarthed: Uncovering the Truth About Food), educational resources, and helping school transition to more plant-based menus; founder and president of Club Veg: Vegan Education Group in the Southern Tier of NY (Binghamton & Ithaca); founder of Growing Peace Farm, a veganic farm outside of Ithaca, NY.
Kathleen Kinsolving
Vegan; earned a BFA in Film and TV; presented film appreciation classes; teaches English at Centreville High School where her students enjoy such literature and films as the anti-hunting short story The Most Dangerous Game, and the great avian rebellion in The Birds
Raquela Karamson
A vegetarian since childhood, Raquela has always felt called to advocate for animals. After going vegan 10 years ago, she sought ways to make a real difference, using her creative talents and voice to raise awareness and share the message of compassion. Through donating, volunteering, and hosting vegan events, she has become a passionate advocate for this vital issue.
In 2020, Raquela founded Jewish Vegan Life to educate, support, and empower Jews from all walks of life to embrace a plant-forward lifestyle and discover the connection to their Jewish values. Raquela is also certified in lifestyle medicine by Harvard University Medical School. Visit Speaker’s Website
Joanne Kong
Nationally and internationally recognized speaker focusing on the ethical, health and environmental impacts of veganism. She is author of If You’ve Ever Loved an Animal, Go Vegan, and has given recent presentations at National Animal Rights Day, Green Food Fest in Jessheim, Norway, Veggie Pride Parade in New York City, and Oakland VegFest. A volunteer and speaker with the Humane Party, her highly-praised TEDx talk on veganism is included in Unbound Project, celebrating noted women around the world who advocate for animals. A critically-acclaimed concert pianist, she will appear in the upcoming documentary, Taking Note, about vegan musicians.
Vance Lehmkuhl
Vegan columnist (“V for Veg”) for the Philadelphia Daily News; cartoonist, speaker, piano-player and all-around entertainer; founding member of vegetarian pop band Green Beings; creator of “Edgy Veggies” cartoon for VegNews; author, Joy of Soy (collection of his vegetarian cartoons); illustrator (created NAVS “Food/Friend” T-shirt) and feature writer for Vegetarian Voice.
Sally Lipsky, PhD
She has a Ph.D. in Education and Certificate in Plant-based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Knowing the importance of day-to-day food choices in maintaining long-term health and well-being, she educates others about practical ways to implement and maintain plant-centered eating habits. She has authored articles, curriculums for healthcare providers, a monthly newsletter, and the recently published book Beyond Cancer: The Powerful Effect of Plant-Based Eating. Also, she is leader of the Pittsburgh Plant-Based Support Group in partnership with PlantPure Communities.
Jill Nussinow, RD
Registered Dietitian with more than 30 years teaching a plant-based diet, including 20 years as an instructor at The McDougall program. Jill calls herself an Alternative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, as she doesn’t fit the RDN mold. She is the author of 4 award-winning cookbooks, has won multiple cooking contests and can be found in a number of DVDs. She is most known for her most recent cookbook Vegan Under Pressure which taught thousands of people how to use their Instant Pot. She is a forager of mushrooms, sea vegetables, nettles and wild weeds, as well as other true “natural” foods. Her passion is teaching, which she did in the culinary program at Santa Rosa Junior College for 30 years She now occasionally teaches sprouting, fermentation and actual cooking via Zoom. Jill regularly teaches at Rancho La Puerta resort and spa in Tecate, Mexico and hopes to bring a group there in 2025. Jill teaches Zoom breath awareness classes twice weekly, helping people calm their anxiety, lower blood pressure and blood sugar and achieve a better state of health. Visit Speaker’s Website
Myriam Parham, RD, CDCES
She has presented nutrition lectures for Dr. John McDougall Publix programs in Florida and is a frequent speaker at the NAVS Summerfest. She has also served on the PCRM Professional Advisory board for many years and participated in their GEICO nutritional intervention research program. She currently serves on the Health Care Advisory Team for the Plant-Based Lifestyle Movement (PBLM) since its inception in Florida. She is the president and co-founder of Florida Voices for Animals, Inc
John Pierre
Personal trainer to top celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs, and his client list has included Ellen DeGeneres and Emily Deschanel; vegan nutrition and fitness consultant who lectures throughout the US sharing the principles of compassionate living to people of all ages; best known for his innovative work helping older adults enhance cognitive functioning, and his fun, yet effective approach to functional fitness; author of The Pillars of Health.
Kathy Pollard, MS
Author: Eating Does It; Healing Ourselves and Our Planet with Food; Research Projects Manager: American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM); administrative officer: ACLM Global Sustainability Committee; adjunct faculty: University of New England graduate program in clinical nutrition; co-founder of SustainableDiet.com; previous instructor: T. Colin Campbell’s plant-based nutrition certification course.
Kathy was among the first instructors chosen to teach for the renowned T. Colin Campbell certification course in plant-based nutrition, which she taught for many years. As she aptly covers in her first book, the most effective action anyone can take to address the world’s biggest problems is through diet – it has the power to combat both climate change and rampant chronic disease, all without waiting for big policy changes, international cooperation, or costly drugs or medical procedures—and it’s free. Just eating can do that.
More at KathrynPollard.com
Roberta Schiff, MS
She has been presenting at Summerfest for over 10 years. She lives in Rhinebek NY where she is a health educator, nutrition counselor and coordinates Hudson Valley Vegans, planning events and educational outreach activities.
Alyssa Sikora
For the last 18 years, she has practiced a variety of yoga to include Yin, Vinyasa, and Iyengar yoga. She is now a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) and Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) 500 through Yoga Alliance. She connected with the Iyengar philosophy because of its emphasis on anatomy and philosophy. The Iyengar method also helped advance her personal practice. Alyssa has studied with Senior Iyengar teachers such as Arun, Randy Just, Nichole Baker, Rebecca Lerner, and Abhijata Iyengar. In addition to yoga, Alyssa had a 10 year career working for the government. Alyssa has a Bachelor’s Degree in political science and a Master’s degree in international relations. Alyssa was also a Food for Life Instructor through PCRM for many years, and is a certified vegan chef through the Rouxbe Cooking School. Alyssa has traveled all over the world, but now calls Colorado home with her husband and two children. When Alyssa is not gardening, making DIYs, or cooking vegan food, she teaches yoga and homeschools her two kids.
Karen Steiner
In 2013 at the age of 55 she weighed 220 pounds (at 4’11”), was severely depressed and had aching joints. After a lifetime of yo-yo dieting she figured out how to stop overeating and lost 90 pounds. The process started with working in the three key areas, mindset change, mindful eating and self-acceptance. The changes in the way she saw herself led her to a Whole-Food Plant-Based diet. Her story was featured in the Spring ’22 print edition of Forks Over Knives Magazine. She is currently a Coach working with people who have a long history of overeating and yo-yo dieting. Visit Speaker’s Website
Kay Stepkin
Kay opened and ran Chicago’s first modern-day vegetarian business, The Bread Shop, from 1971-1996. The Bread Shop was a 100% whole-grain bakery, with an adjacent bulk food store and a restaurant across the street. The restaurant is still open, now owned by two former employees.
She incorporated Go Veggie!®, a not-for-profit, in 2001 and, through it, hosted Dine Outs, Turkey-Free Thanksgiving dinners, potlucks, cooking classes and an 8-segment televised cooking show: Go Veggie!® with Kay. For over 4 years, she then wrote The Veggie Cook, a syndicated biweekly vegan column for the Chicago Tribune.
Go Veggie!® is now DBA the National Vegetarian Museum, which opened as a travelling exhibit in Chicago and suburbs in 2017.
Michael Taylor
He is a business executive with 33+ years’ experience selling complex and high-level projects to executives, engineers, influencers and users. Understanding the art of the sell, support and how a customer buys is critical to success. Michael uses these same principals in successful “selling”/converting people to veganism and with a high degree of success in keeping them vegan. He travels in North America, South America and Europe for business and also contributes to VegWorld Magazine as the restaurant “critic.
Marcella Torres
Professional meal planner, dancer, PhD student in mathematical biology, and mother to a thriving vegan child; half of the husband and wife team of competitive bodybuilders behind Vegan Muscle and Fitness, where they have shared their training and nutrition tips, recipes and more since 2009; co-owner of Richmond, Virginia’s only plant-based personal training studio, Root Force Personal Training, which seeks to promote a fit and active plant-powered lifestyle and shatter the perception that strength and athleticism can’t be achieved with a plant-based diet – the mission: to generate as many fit vegan role models as possible to get the message across that a plant-based diet isn’t a handicap in the world of athletics – it’s an advantage!
Derek Tresize
Three-time natural bodybuilding champion and WNBF pro bodybuilder; A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer, is certified in Plant-Based Nutrition, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology; half of the husband and wife team of competitive bodybuilders behind Vegan Muscle and Fitness, where they have shared their training and nutrition tips, recipes and more since 2009; co-owner of Richmond, Virginia’s only plant-based personal training studio, Root Force Personal Training, which seeks to promote a fit and active plant-powered lifestyle and shatter the perception that strength and athleticism can’t be achieved with a plant-based diet – the mission: to generate as many fit vegan role models as possible to get the message across that a plant-based diet isn’t a handicap in the world of athletics – it’s an advantage!
Robert C. Victor
Former Staff Astronomer at the Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University, where he served for over 30 years; he still designs and produces occasional issues of their monthly Sky Calendar, and writes on sky watching for theCoachella Valley Independent, and for the California and the Michigan Science Teachers Associations; he received the Clifford W. Holmes Award for his “Major Contribution to Popularizing Astronomy,” and the Shiny Apple Award from Palm Springs Unified School District for sharing his passion and knowledge of the sky with students and parents.