Lea Payton Gebhardt, Ph.D, RD, LD - Lea is a registered and licensed dietitian that has dedicated her 16 year career to helping individuals achieve a healthy relationship with food. She holds undergraduate degrees in nutrition and human biology from James Madison University. She completed her clinical training at the Medical College of Virginia after finishing a Masters in Health Science with a focus in dietetics. This is where she initially began her research with eating disorders and completed and published her thesis: “Obligatory exercise, eating restraint, and body image disturbance in college males.” She completed her doctorate course work in Nutritional Biochemistry with concentrations in Comparative and Experimental Medicine and Maternal and Child health; currently she is completing research pertaining to sensory food aversions. She has extensive experience providing medical nutrition therapy for adolescents and adults suffering from disordered eating. Previously Lea was the Clinical Nutrition Manager at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia and later at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Most recently, Lea was the Nutrition Education Coordinator at the University of Texas and a member of the Eating Disorders Assessment and Support Team. She is active in her professional community and is the upcoming Strategic Planner/President for the Austin Dietetics Association. Lea provides many lecturers in the community and is an active peer reviewer for several clinical nutrition journals.
Adrien Paczosa, RD,LD - Adrien’s approach to healthy nutritional habits is one of whole-body wellness. She believes that living well requires a structured approach and a commitment to three specific areas: nutrition, fitness, and rest. Helping clients find the correct balance in these three areas is what Adrien does best. She strongly believes that with positive guidance and a realistic plan, everyone can improve their overall wellness.
Adrien worked her way through college as a certified fitness trainer. She understands how important a reasonable exercise plan is to a person’s overall wellness. After receiving her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois in Chicago, Adrien began her career as a Registered and Licensed Dietitian at a primary Chicago hospital. She worked closely with physicians and hospital staff members to insure that all patients received appropriate nutritional care. Along with the medical nutrition therapy, Adrien focused on sports nutrition with her personal training clients. She was promoted to Director of Food Service and Nutrition and was responsible for all food preparation and patient nutritional care.
Currently, Adrien has a private practice focusing on eating disorders, sports nutrition, and overall wellness.
Pooneh Jahadi (PJ) Yazdi, PhD, RD, received her Doctorate in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University in 2004 and completed a dietetic internship at University of Texas in Austin. While in graduate school she worked at M.D.AndersonCancerCenter in Houston as a graduate research assistant on a multi-center national nutrition and breast cancer study. She also taught nutrition at HoustonCommunity College for several years. Moreover, she was the head nutrition consultant for FIT4LIFE in Houston.She is liaision for the Website Editor, Newsletter Editor and Public Relations/Media Chairperson. This is PJ's first year serving on the Board.
When her family moved to Austin in 2005, she chose to help her husband build his pediatric dental practice. In January 2008 she decided to start her nutrition counseling practice in CedarPark. She is currently a nutrition consultant for Child Incorporated, the Federal Head Start program in the TravisCounty.
Katie Bright, M Ed, RD, LD - is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. She has a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Human Nutrition from the University of Kentucky and a Master's in Exercise Physiology from the University of Texas. While in graduate school, she worked as a Teaching Assistant for various nutrition classes and as an after school instructor for Neighborhood Sports. Katie played Division I volleyball at the University of Kentucky and still maintains a very active lifestyle. She is an avid cyclist and also enjoys healthy cooking. She created Austin Eat Right, www.austineatright.com, in 2010 where she writes nutrition articles and posts healthy recipes that she creates. Katie has a passion for nutrition and exercise and helping others to live a healthy lifestyle.
Chef Kimberly Granato, RD, LD is a licensed and registered dietitian and Le Cordon Bleu trained chef.She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida. She has practiced clinical, community and food service dietetics. Kim has served as the Public Relations Chairperson, Nominating Chairperson and is the incoming President for the Austin Dietetic Association. She is active in the community and other professional associations.
Chef Kim holds a degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts with Honors from Texas Culinary Academy. Currently she is a Food Service Manager for Leander ISD Child Nutrition Services, proudly serving the community in which she lives. She provides personal chef services in the Austin area through her business TasteMasters and is a member of the American Culinary Federation. She has also been an adjunct faculty member of Texas Culinary Academy, teaching nutrition to culinary students. She loves all of her work.
Kim is an avid gardener and believes very strongly in the joy and pride that comes from bringing your own garden grown produce to the table.It has the dual role of providing a fun activity and exercise, as well as providing fresh, wholesome and flavorful ingredients for one’s recipes.
A big believer of practicing what one preaches, Kim has rededicated herself to running and daily activity to be physically fit.She has found that the days that are the hardest to get going are the days she needs the exercise the most.The emotional benefits to exercise come through in her energetic personality.
Allison Enke, MA, RD, LD, earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at The University of Texas at Austin and completed a dietetic internship at The University (Hook ‘em Horns!!).She currently serves as a registered and licensed dietitian on the Exclusive Brands Team at Whole Foods Market, one of the world’s largest retailers of natural and organic foods.She is responsible for ensuring the nutrition information declared on the private label products is accurate and that labels comply with FDA, USDA and allergen labeling regulations.In addition to reviewing labels, Allison offers nutritional guidance during new product development and promotes the great value, quality and nutritional benefits of private label products through various media outlets.
Prior to joining Whole Foods Market, Allison provided nutritional counseling in a private practice setting, completed nutritional assessments as a dietetic consultant for long term care facility residents and carried out nutritional analyses for recipes featured on a grocer’s website.She is the incoming Bylaws/Parliamentarian for the Austin Dietetic Association and has served as the Nominating Committee chairperson, Membership Committee member and President for the Association in past years.Allison enjoys church activities, living in the fun and fabulous city of Austin, reading “foodie” books and spending time with family and friends.
