Merilee A. Kern, Founder and CEO
Healthy Kids' Catalog Founder, CEO and child health advocate Merilee A. Kern is also the author of the healthy living-themed fictional children's book entitled "Making Healthy Choices - A Story to Inspire Fit, Weight-Wise Kids" - winner of iParenting Media's 2006 "Excellent Products" award under its original title.  She is also Editor-in-Chief of "WEIGHT-WISE KIDS," a free quarterly electronic newsletter that "serves up" news and information that fosters healthy children. 

Ms. Kern has worked in the $48-billion plus weight loss industry for over half a decade, including a multi-year tenure as a marketing and public relations executive for eDiets.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIET) - a leading online nutrition, fitness and healthy living destination.  She also currently pens family health-related articles that have been published in media outlets nationwide. In January 2007 Ms. Kern was named a Finalist in the 3rd annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business, an international competition recognizing the accomplishments of outstanding women executives, business owners, and the companies they run, which are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards and hailed by the New York Post as “the business world’s own Oscars.”

Ms. Kern is a life-long fitness enthusiast and a former bodybuilding champion twice over, having previously won the titles of "Miss South Florida" and "Miss Palm Coast". She has participated in sports throughout her youth, and has spent all of her adult years devoted to good nutrition, fitness and healthy living - a lifestyle that she now imparts on her two young children. She also owns and operates Kern Communications (www.kerncommunications.com) - a boutique public relations and marketing communications agency.  Ms. Kern earned her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degree, both with a Marketing specialty, from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 


BOARD OF ADVISORS

Kelli Calabrese, MS, 2004 Personal Trainer of the Year, Author of Feminine, Firm & Fit, and Editor of  Personal Fitness Professional Magazine and Wellness and Fitness Entrepreneur Magazine
Kelli Calabrese is a renowned fitness expert, business owner, international presenter, author, spokesperson, editor and mother of two preschoolers. Her passion for fitness began when Calabrese joined her first group fitness class at the age of thirteen. The knowledge that she came from a family prone to heart disease and cancer drove Calabrese, at a young age, to make health and fitness a top priority in her life. After attaining her first fitness certification at the age of seventeen, she made the decision to reach out to others to help them to make fitness a part of their lives.  At the age of 22 Kelli had completed 3 Science degrees including an Associates in Biology, a Bachelors with High Honors in Exercise Physiology and a Masters in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Science. Since 1987, Kelli has also acquired twenty fitness and nutrition-related certifications allowing her to prescribe exercise programs for healthy adults as well as children, athletes and those with special needs and health conditions. She is certified to instruct kick boxing, SPIN, Pilates, PACE, strength training and more.

Calabrese is the co-author of "Feminine, Firm, and Fit", a twelve-week fitness makeover program for women. She has been spoken internationally on fitness-related topics, and is published in hundreds of magazines and professional journals. She is the editor of “Personal Fitness Professional” and “Wellness and Fitness Entrepreneur” magazines. For the book "The Power of Champions", Calabrese assisted in hand picking fifty four of the world's top trainers and invited them each to contribute a chapter to the book. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Personal Trainer Business Alliance and is an Expert Fellow and Advisor for the National Board of Fitness Examiners. She is a Fitness Expert for iParenting.com and Family Energy Magazine. Kelli is the 2004 Personal Trainer of the Year for Online Trainer and is the Lead Exercise Physiologist and Advisor to NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Training Association). Calabrese is a former spokesperson for The American Council on Exercise.                                           

Susan L. Burke, M.S., R.D., L.D., CDE
Susan Burke is a registered and licensed dietitian and the Chief Nutritionist at eDiets.com (NASDAQ:DIET) where she is responsible for creating and administering the nutritional and wellness components of the company’s online diet programs, including that for eDiets.com’s personalized online Trim Kids® plan.   Ms. Burke earned her Master’s degree in Nutrition Education at Queens College in Flushing, New York. She is a certified diabetes educator, and has earned certificates of training in adult weight management, and childhood and adolescent weight management from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  She is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Dietetic and American Diabetes Associations as well as the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Ms. Burke is Media Representative for the Florida Dietetic Association.  Her experiences in private practice include counseling for cardiac disease and prevention, diabetes education and weight-loss techniques.

Donna Krech, Thin & Healthy Inc. CEO, Motivational Speaker, Author, Health Industry Veteran
A successful entrepreneur, speaker and author with over 25 years in both the weight loss and fitness industries, Donna Krech is the consummate expert.  A media personality, hosting Fitness Insider on Oprah's Oxygen network and sharing her message with the world through TSTN, she is dedicated to showing her devotees that fitness can be fun, and that weight loss can be easy.  Through her cutting edge, trend-setting companies and public speaking engagements, Donna helps health seekers nationwide understand the REAL solution to permanent and profitable weight loss far beyond food, itself.  Among Donna’s primary goals is to see the devastating pandemic of overweight and obese conditions in children stopped, and reversed, in the shortest order and healthiest manner possible.

Jonathan Ross, NSCA-CPT, ACE, 2006 ACE Personal Trainer of the Year
Jonathan Ross, NSCA-CPT, ACE, 2006 ACE Personal Trainer of the Year, Co-Author of both the Family Fit Plan (www.FamilyFitPlan.com) and "The Power of Champions," owns and operates Washington D.C.-based Aion Fitness, LLC (www.AionFitness.com). Jonathan leverages his personal experiences with obesity to fuel his passion for enhancing lives through physical activity - namely that related to his parents who, together, weighed 800 pounds, ultimately resulting in the loss of his father to obesity-related disease.  Jonathan was named among Men’s Journal Magazine’s "Top 100 Trainers in the Country".  He is a sought after expert source who has provided his insight and perspective to top-tier publications, including Women’s Health and Fitness,  Men's Health, Tennis, Better Homes & Gardens, Fitness, The Washington Post, and Cooking Light.

Julia Griggs Havey, Best-Selling Author and Motivational Speaker
Julia Havey is author of the best-selling books, The Easiest Diet I Never Went On, Take Control Recipes and Awaken the Diet Within, From Overweight to Looking Great (Warner Books).  Due to her own struggles with, and ultimate triumph over, a personal battle with obeisty, she has appeared on the Sally Jesse Raphael Show and QVC shopping channel, and has also been written about in the pages Woman’s Own, The National Enquirer, Successful Slimming, Pounds Aweigh, Glamour and The Globe. On January 8, 2003 USA Today chose Julia’s book as one of it’s top diet books of the year, noting, “a pound for pound must read book with heft”. Julia’s book has realized best-seller status on Amazon.com, reaching the #10 spot on overall rankings and the #2 seller on the Health rankings…just behind the renowned Dr. Atkins.

Brian Calkins - NSCA-CPT, ACE        
Recognized as one of the top fitness professionals in the country, Brian Calkins has been helping health-seekers safely and effectively lose weight and feel great since 1999. In June of 2004 Calkins was honored as one of the nation's top 50 personal trainers by the American Association of Personal Trainers. Calkins has a strong passion for helping people educate themselves about health & fitness and improving their energy & vitality. He is author of various fitness publications, including "Burn Body-Fat the Right Way!," and is co-author of "The Power of Champions".  In addition to serving as a fitness presenter, Calkins has been featured on local and national radio, television, and in newspapers and magazines. He is president of Cincinnati-based HealthStyle Fitness, Inc. I n August 2005, Brian’s success in the fitness industry was featured in the The Wall Street Journal. 

Doug Jackson, M.Ed., CSCS

Doug Jackson is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who holds a Masters Degree in Developmental Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Psychology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. After being unhealthy during childhood, fitness turned Doug’s life around. Doug now spreads the word that everyone can and should enjoy the vast benefits of fitness. Doug’s work has appeared in various magazines, books, and online fitness websites and Doug has appeared on Phil Kaplan’s Mind and Muscle Fitness Hour, Dave Depew’s Fitness and Nutrition Hour, as well as NBC’s South Florida Today to discuss the realities of fitness and sort through the misinformation that the public is constantly bombarded with.  In the past Doug has taken part in serving as an Expert Fellow for the National Board of Fitness Examiners, directed and produced Your 24/7 Personal Trainer, a strength training instructional video, and co-created a university personal fitness training program. Doug also publishes and is Editor-in-Chief of Fitness Empowerment, an industry leading electronic newsletter that accepts free subscriptions at http://www.personalfitnessadvantage.com.

Charlie Foxman, Certified Martial Arts & Kickboxing Instructor, Certified Wellness and Weight-Loss Coach

Charlie Foxman, holder of two Black Belts, is an experienced martial artist who teaches hundreds of adults and children each year the ancient art of Tae Kwon Do and the modern day skills for self-protection.  He is a Certified Martial Arts Instructor (ACMA), a Certified Fitness Kickboxing Instructor and a Certified Wellness And Weight-Loss Coach.  As an accomplished instructor, Mr. Foxman is regularly sought out as an expert speaker on personal protection skills, physical fitness, nutrition and martial arts.  He shares his knowledge and passion of his chosen profession through numerous appearances at corporations, schools, organizations and community events.  He and his training programs have been featured on National television including Americas Most Wanted, Eye To Eye, Day One, American Journal and Nightline.  He was featured on the cover of Martial Arts Professional Magazine as well as St. Louis newspaper, television and radio programs.  Mr. Foxman has produced a video that teaches children basic personal protection skills.  His programs, volunteer efforts and video, “Children Beware!” have been recognized by the U.S. Congress.  He serves as a Field Agent for the Kid-Safe Network and Women Safe Network a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the safety of children and women.   In addition, Mr. Foxman is National Director for the National Association Of Professional Martial Artists.  He is sought out by professional athletes in order to enhance their performance and is credited with introducing Fitness Kickboxing to the St. Louis area.  He invented the EZRope, a fitness tool designed to enhance the health of children, adults and seniors.  He owns and instructs classes at Midwest Martial Arts Academy (BlackBeltEdge.com) in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Raphael Calzadilla, B.A., CPT, ACE

A 10-year veteran of the health and fitness industry who currently serves as “Chief Fitness Pro” for one for one of the Internet’s leading weight loss companies, Raphael Calzadilla specializes in a holistic approach to body transformation, nutrition and personal training. As an avid fitness motivator and educator and sought after expert source, Raphael has provided fitness and interpersonal communication seminars to credentialed industry peers. He has also published numerous articles in media outlets nationwide, and has volunteered his time as a public speaker to promote health and fitness within several school and corporate settings.  Raphael has assisted literally hundreds of clients in reaching their weight loss goals and has trained athletes to help them optimize their fat/muscle ratios.  In addition, Raphael is a natural competitive bodybuilder who has won several notable titles throughout his career. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Connecticut State University and is certified as a personal trainer with ACE and APEX. In addition, he successfully completed the RTS1 program based on biomechanics.

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