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I don’t know about you, but I’m not exactly the epitome of nutritional health. I don’t each as many fruits and vegetables as I should; pizza is a regular lunch staple; and I’m a little too fond of chocolate cake.

So, when I saw that March is National Nutrition Month, I knew I wanted to feature a nutrition expert in the first spotlight of the month. That’s where Maya Nahra comes in.

Nahra is registered dietitian and behavioral nutrition expert. As a proponent of real food and an advocate of a non-diet approach, Nahra’s mission is to help women learn to love the person in the mirror. Her main area of expertise is overcoming yo-yo dieting and defeating the “all or nothing” mentality.

“To be healthy, we must eat well and exercise,” says Nahra, “but we must also talk to ourselves the right way, and that's where I come in."

I sat down (virtually) with Nahra to find out more.

What is behavioral nutrition?

Behavioral nutrition is all about motivation, inspiration and lasting change through an adoption of a completely new environment with new habits that support the overall new goal. It's easy to live in “pizza and cake” or “carrots and celery.” We all know how to diet. Society has become really good at “dieting.” Behavioral nutrition says, "Let's stop the all-or-nothing mentality and find your middle ground."

Most of us know that, to be healthy, we need to eat right and exercise. But there is a third component: We also need to talk to ourselves right. That's where I come in.

Are most diets doomed to fail before we even start them?

The success of any diet is entirely dependent on your mindset. Are you going on a diet because you have a vacation to go on in two months? If so, what ”diet” are you most likely to return home to when that vacation is over? Your old one, the one that didn't support your weight loss.

However, if a “diet” is entered into with a right mindset, an authentic mindset, a mindset of openness and willingness for change and the unknown, a mindset of new habit creation and an entire lifestyle shift, then you'll be successful in your ventures. But, for that second option to hit home, you must have a strong and grounded “why”:”'Why am I doing this?”

What are most people doing wrong when it comes to nutrition?

Believing in adopted thought.

Adopted thought is that which the masses believe: Fat is bad. Low calorie is good. I can't eat what I love and lose weight.

These adopted thoughts never open up the realm of possibility and allow space for new nutrition thoughts and beliefs. Your own nutrition beliefs will ultimately lead to your best diet, that which works for you, not what someone told you will work for you. Folks who wrote diet books wrote them because it worked for them. Who’s to say it’s going to work for you? You are the ultimate expert on your own body. Every book and person and expert may have tools for you to pick up along the way. Some will work, some with not. The only way you'll know if it's right for you is if it makes you feel good.

What advice do you have for those who are doing all the “right” things, yet still struggle with their weight?

Redefine their “right.” We just discussed “adopted thoughts,” which may be the “right” thing for someone else, but not necessarily “right” for you.

I often have students and clients redefine their measurement tool of success. Meaning, if your only measurement of success to you on your health journey is the scale, find something else to measure and throw out the scale. Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy? Do you feel better overall than you have in the past? How good do you feel today?

If people could change only one thing about their diets, what should it be?

Eat real food. If it didn't grow from the ground or have a mother, don't eat it.

We are all working on some version of our own personal “good, better, best” model. Where am I at now and how can I strive to be better? My yoga teacher once said, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest … until your good is better, and your better is best.”

If you're not eating veggies at all right now, then canned is better than nothing. If you're eating canned, try fresh or frozen. If you're ready to move up to organic, move up to organic. If you are eating one meal a day, pop a KIND bar in your bag and start snacking. If you're eating white bread, try wheat. It's that simple.

What are you working on now?

My current project has been newly birthed to the world and is truly the first product of my passion and my heart. It's called Hello Beautiful Magazine, one of those revolutionary new types of live, digital magazines whose home is in the newsstand app on your iPad. Hello Beautiful Magazine is inspiration for your journey to self-love, and is filled with real advice, raw stories, and personal truths.

Because a journey back to ourselves, our passions, and our truth is really what it’s all about anyway, I would love for you to be a part of it. Please check it out here: bit.ly/WjYPNd

You can also find me at MayaNahra.com or HelloBeautiful.tv.

With the popularity of content marketing on the rise, more and more companies are turning to freelance writers. Have you been thinking about breaking into the world of corporate writing but aren’t sure where to start? In our latest #ConnectChat, held March 5 on Twitter, writer Susan Weiner discussed the ins and outs of how writers can break into the corporate market.

Weiner writes and edits articles, white papers, investment commentary, Web pages, and other communications for leading investment and wealth management firms. Her Investment Writing blog is popular with advisors who want to deepen their connections with clients and prospects. Articles she has written, edited or ghostwritten have appeared in Advisor Perspectives, Boston Globe, Bottom Line/Personal, CFA Magazine, Financial Planning, Louis Rukeyser’s Mutual Funds, Wealth Manager, and other national publications.

Weiner is also the author of “Simply Irresistible: Writing Financial Blog Posts People Will Read” (forthcoming, May 2013), which is based on her well-regarded class for financial advisors. You can sign up for her monthly newsletter, which has useful tips for financial writers and more.

Following is a recap of Weiner’s chat:

Why should writers consider writing for corporate markets?

Corporate markets can pay well and are growing with the rise of content marketing. [Companies] need journalists' skills, like understanding the "hook" and clear writing.

What’s the biggest difference between writing for publications and writing for corporations?

Writers need to consider corporate goals. Clients often don't think in terms of word count, and may be new to working with writers. Your sources may be all inside the client company. Pay and terms can be much better.

Is the pay comparable to writing for publications?

The pay is better in my experience. Also, I can get a 50 percent down payment when I charge on a project basis -- a big advantage!

What is the pay cycle like? How quickly can a writer expect to be compensated?

I think 30 days to pay is typical. Some big companies have longer pay cycles. You can't get a down payment with a traditional publication; you can with corporate writing.

What are some of the different types of corporate work that are available?

My favorites are articles and white papers. I describe white papers here: ht.ly/ihcPK 

Websites and sales materials can also benefit from a journalist's eye. There are forms of copywriting that require more advertising flair, too.

What's the best way to encourage more corporate clients: letters of introduction (LOIs), in-person meetings, phone calls?

Personally, I prefer one-on-one networking to learn about needs before I pitch my services. Try to identify people in hiring roles, such as director of marketing/PR/etc. LinkedIn can help.

How can writers find out who is responsible for making corporate writing assignments at a particular company?

It takes research to identify the folks who hire. I find the hiring managers mainly through word-of-mouth and networking. There are common titles, too: director of marketing, editorial director, PR head. The paid version of LinkedIn can also help identify folks in key roles. I compiled a list from business directories at the library.

Do you recommend sending LOIs to the individuals you mentioned. Have you had luck with that?

LOIs work for some people. They haven't worked for me. I've tried postcard campaigns with little luck. I think follow-up phone calls may be the key. [Consider] offering a free report? In my case, I had teaser copy on the front and then a Web address to download a free report.

What's the best way to get your foot in the door with these managers, outside of word-of-mouth?

Social media gives you incredible access. Interact with prospects in a discussion, not promoting yourself at first.

Which social media platforms are best for that?

Many prospects have found me through my participation in LinkedIn Groups for my industry. I like LinkedIn best for my industry, but I have one great client who found me through Twitter. Putting out my own blog content on social media also positions me with prospects.

There are so many LinkedIn groups, even in specific industries. How did you decide which one(s) to participate in?

I experimented. Also, I looked to see where people I respect participate.

What do corporations look for in writers? What skills/experience should you look to highlight?

Companies want clear, fast writers who understand their businesses. Learn about an industry you like. I found that companies liked my track record of writing for trade publications. The work is similar.

So if you write mainly for health publications, would a good strategy be to reach out to health companies? Or does it not matter?

Great question! It makes sense from a corporate viewpoint, but it raises ethics questions. Editors may worry that you'll lose objectivity. But it makes sense to have a specialty. Specialists can charge more.

If you write for a corporate client, can you still use them as a source in your articles for publications, or is that a no-no?

I suggest asking the editor about that. Disclosure is essential.

You mentioned white papers. What’s a typical time frame for producing a white paper?

Four to six weeks to complete a white paper -- but a lot depends on how quickly the client gives feedback. For projects like white papers, it's important to designate one person to coordinate the company's feedback. Also, specify how long the company has to respond. Otherwise, it can drag on forever.

After the work is done, are writers expected to do anything else (like help promote it), or is it strictly writing?

In my experience, it's strictly writing. But, one of my newer clients has hired me to write social media updates regarding new pieces.

With companies doing more content marketing, some are hiring ghost bloggers. Have you done ghost blogging? Any tips?

I’ve ghost-blogged for a couple of firms. In one case, I'd written a white paper for them, and then plundered the white paper for blog posts, spinning the content in new ways. With another client, I blogged about a topic I knew well.

That’s a great way to get the most out of content.

I try to re-purpose whenever possible. More companies should take their complex content and re-purpose it into shorter pieces.

How is the job market for corporate writing compared with years in the past?

In my industry -- financial services -- it has bounced back since 2008-2009. With the rise of content marketing, the demand for writers will continue in corporate world.

Do you recommend targeting certain industries? I know education and healthcare both have seen cutbacks.

I've been successful targeting industries, but it's tough when times are tight there. Sometimes cutbacks boost business for freelancers, as companies cut in-house staff.

What are some of your big “don’ts” for aspiring corporate writers?

Don't pitch story ideas. Instead, listen to what their needs are.

Don't expect immediate results. The sales cycle can be a lot longer than in journalism.

Here's a "do": Do ask questions about their needs and focus on the benefits they'll get from your work. I used to trot out my portfolio in in-person meetings. Then I learned to focus on asking questions. Ask, "What problem can I solve for you?"

Whether you're writing for a publication or corporate project, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. Send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, or get timely experts and story ideas by email. Both are free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com.

Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive updates by email, drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It’s free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

If you have any questions or need assistance with any aspect of ProfNet, please drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com.

EXPERT ALERTS:

Yahoo!'s Telecommuting Ban
Dr. MaryAnne Hyland
Associate Professor of Human Resource Management
Robert B. Willumstad School of Business
Adelphi University
"The uproar over Yahoo! banning telecommuting is not a surprise to me. As technology has made it easier for individuals to work from home, more employers and employees have embraced the idea of flexible work arrangements. Research suggests that employees want some control over their schedules and that telework reduces turnover. However, not every company implements telework well and not every employee is a good teleworker. As with many things, the devil is in the details. The type of work, the amount of telework, the company culture, and the work style of the employee all can affect the ‘success’ of a telecommuting arrangement."
Dr. Hyland's expertise is in human resource management, benefits, and accommodating women in the workforce. A former benefits analyst for Fortune 500 companies, she studies current trends in benefits and HR management, including flexible work arrangements, telecommuting, and diversity recruitment and retention. She has been quoted by the Associated Press and Long Island Business News, among others.
Media Contact: Kali Chan, chan@adelphi.edu

Choice of Workspace is Critical for Positive Work Environment
Sara Armbruster
Vice President, WorkSpace Futures and Corporate Strategy
Steelcase
“For years, we have studied how to leverage the workplace to enhance and augment the collaboration process. We have found  that people are at their best when they have choice and control over where and how they work, within an appropriate cultural context for their country and their organization. It requires that companies offer a range of spaces, from casual environments to more structured areas, from boisterous team spaces to quiet individual areas for focused work. For some companies, home or third places like coffee shops or libraries can be part of an effective ecosystem of workspaces, but each organization has a distinct culture and what works for one company does not always work for another. Allowing people to choose how they work best will encourage workers to be more efficient and happier, when the organization's protocols and culture support it.”
Media Contact: Sarah Sanzari, ssanzari@peppercomm.com

‘Lean In’ and Corporate Women’s Initiatives: Can Women Have It All?
Elisabeth Marchant
President and CEO
Womenetics
“This is not about a group hug for women. ’Leaning in’ requires not only a support system at home, but also at work. That’s where a well-designed corporate women’s initiative comes in. When companies lack the resources or the will to implement substantive change, it’s simply the workplace of 40-50 years ago with new window dressing. Changes must be systemic and instigated from the top down, not by women appealing from the bottom up. Fortunately, some companies get it right; their women’s initiatives have staying power, attract and retain talented women, and significantly enhance profitability.”
Marchant is president and CEO of Womenetics, a company that accelerates business by advancing women leaders. As the debate rages about “having it all,” and supporting female leadership, she has a lot to say about corporate women’s initiatives and work/life balance. Significant companies confer with her as they tackle gender diversity and advance women to leadership ranks.
Website: www.womenetics.com
Media Contact: Mary Huff, huffcomm@comcast.net

Sequester’s Impact on Research, Development and Economic Growth
Robert Atkinson
President
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
“The most devastating, long-term effects of the across-the-board cuts mandated by sequestration will be in innovation and economic development. The resulting reduction in federal support for R&D could ultimately reduce U.S. GDP by over $200 billion per year.”
Atkinson is the author of “Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage” and serves on the National Innovation and Competitiveness Strategy Advisory Board. He is based in Washington, D.C.
ProfNet Profile: www.profnetconnect.com/robatkinson
Website: www.itif.org
Media Contact: William Dube, wdube@itif.org

What Groupon Needs in Its Next CEO
David Moore
CEO
City Rewards Network
"Even with Andrew Mason out, the Groupon business model is still flawed. Merchants are required to deeply discount to the point of losing huge on campaigns. They don’t return to run another Groupon. There is a happy medium in the daily deal industry, and the new Groupon CEO, whoever it will be, must figure that out quickly. The company must make amends with merchants. Groupon is still a very valuable company, and it can be salvaged if they find the right executive team to do it."
CityRewardsNetwork.com combines deals and coupons from Groupon, Coupons.com, Yelp and Living Social in the top 600 U.S. cities. It also offers exclusive deals. More than 1,000 merchants run over 3,000 exclusive daily deals on CityRewardsNetwork.com. The company has aggregated over 3.5 million deals in the last 30 days from content partners.
Website: www.cityrewardsnetwork.com
Expert Contact: dmoore@directresponseconcepts.com

Contrary to Coverage, Tax Legislation Makes Charitable Giving Advantageous
Harvey Wallace
Managing Member and Co-Founder
Brown Smith Wallace
“Contrary to what you might have heard, in certain situations for high-income taxpayers, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 actually increases the benefit for giving to charity. While the budget deal did not create a specific limitation on deducting charitable contributions, the general limitation on itemized deductions (the Pease limitation), was brought back and made permanent. Charitable giving remains a matter of personal choice; however, your decision should not be based on misguided tax advice or rumor.”
Wallace earned the designation Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the designation Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, and National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He is based in St. Louis, Mo.
Website: www.bswllc.com
Media Contact: Nina Kult, nkult@commongroundpr.com

Cloud and Healthcare Privacy
Nilesh Chandra
IT Strategy Expert
PA Consulting Group
“There are several regulations (e.g., HIPAA) that govern patient protection and privacy that need to be considered when storing clinical data in the cloud. As a result, most healthcare companies are taking a conservative approach and only testing the waters with cloud-based storage and processing for non-identifiable aggregate data. Until concerns about security and privacy protection are fully addressed, the adoption of cloud computing will be limited to only a small subset of all healthcare and clinical data available to organizations. One approach that we have seen work in mitigating risks is to take a hybrid approach, combining cloud and internal computing environments. In such a case, clinical data is stored on the cloud, but instead of storing individually identifiable attributes like name and address, a unique identifier is stored on the cloud. The same unique identifier, as well as individually identifiable attributes, is stored on internal environments. This allows for maximizing the advantages offered by cloud computing – scalable, on-demand computing capacity – while still maintaining patient privacy. However, so far this approach has only seen limited adoption.”
Media Contact: Carrie Gray, carrie.gray@paconsulting.com

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In light of March as National Nutrition Month, here are various experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss nutrition issues. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive updates by email, drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It’s free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

If you have any questions or need assistance with any aspect of ProfNet, please drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com.

EXPERT ROUNDUP: National Nutrition Month

Steven Lamm, M.D.
Dr. Lamm, known to millions as the doctor on ABC-TV’s “The View,” is a practicing internist, faculty member at New York University School of Medicine, and the director of men’s health for NYU Medical Center. He regularly offers his analyses and commentary on a wide variety of health and medical-related topics on television and radio, including “Oprah” and “Lifetime Today.” Other appearances include “Today,” “Nightline,” “Dateline,” Fox News, BBC and over 200 network appearances discussing a variety of topics. Passionate about digestive health, Dr. Lamm combines his extraordinary education and experience with down-to-earth solutions for digestive health. His new book, “No Guts, No Glory,” was published in April 2012. Additionally, he is an advocate for natural supplements, such as Pycnogenol, because of the scientific research behind the supplement’s spectrum of health benefits. As a widely respected medical practitioner and professor of medicine, Dr. Lamm’s appointments include: instructor in medicine NYU; medical director of Life Extension Institute; honorary police surgeon, New York State Athletic Commission; and the New York Heart Association Advisory Panel.  He has also participated in an expert witness panel on behalf of the New York Attorney General's Office.
Media Contact: Alexandra Luber, aluber@mww.com

Cheryl Forberg, RD
Nutritionist, Chef and Author
NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”
Forberg is a James Beard Award-winning chef and a New York Times best-selling author. She was recently named by the Huffington Post as one of “35 diet and nutrition experts you need to follow on Twitter.” In 2011, she was named one of America’s 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness by health and wellness website Greatest.com. She received her culinary education at the California Culinary Academy (CCA) in San Francisco, and has apprenticed in French restaurants from Champagne to Strasbourg. She was chosen for the opening team of Postrio, Wolfgang Puck’s first venture in northern California, and was a private chef for Lucasfilm, Ltd. in northern California. She went on to earn a degree in nutrition and clinical dietetics and a registered dietitian credential from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2004, she was selected as the nutritionist for the NBC hit show, “The Biggest Loser,” to help overweight contestants transform their bodies, their health and, ultimately, their lives. She co-wrote the eating plan for the show and has shared cooking and nutrition tips with the contestants for 13 seasons. Additionally, she has written or contributed to all of the books in the NYT best-selling Biggest Loser series, including “The Biggest Loser: 6 Weeks to a Healthier You,” which was named Best Diabetes Diet and ranked second as Best Weight Loss Diet by US News and World Report. She has also authored or co-authored other books, including “Positively Ageless: A 28-Day Plan for a Younger, Slimmer, Sexier You”; the James Beard Award-winning “New Mayo Clinic Cookbook”; and her most recent work, “Flavor First: Cut Calories and Boost Flavor with 75 Delicious, All-Natural Recipes.” Her writing and recipes have appeared in mainstream culinary and health publications, including Sunset, Health, and Prevention magazines, as well as The Washington Post. She is a blogger for the Huffington Post and a columnist for The Saturday Evening Post. She lives in Napa, Calif., and is available to discuss weight loss and maintenance, healthy cooking, and anti-aging nutrition.
Website: http://www.cherylforberg.com
Media Contact: Molly Antos, mantos@sspr.com

Christine Avanti
Celebrity Chef and Nutritionist
Avanti is a published author, classically trained French chef, certified nutritionist, TV persona and co-host on Food Network’s show “Fat Chef.” She has been Hollywood’s go-to nutrition/culinary expert for celebrities such as Jeremy Piven, Audrina Patridge, Giuliana Rancic, Johnny Galecki, Paula Abdul, Rich Sommer, Jason Statham, Samantha Harris, Chelsea Handler, Henry Winkler, Kym Johnson, Steven Segal and Marcus Allen. As the author of “Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salads” and “Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food,” Avanti has counseled more than a thousand clients one-on-one in her private nutrition and fitness coaching practice located in New York City and Los Angeles. She’s also shared her advice with viewers on the “Today” show, “Dancing with the Stars,” “Rachael Ray,” “The Doctors,” “Good Morning America,” and “Oprah’s All Stars,” to name a few. Avanti would be happy to share her newest diet/weight-loss tips and healthy food/cocktail recipes around St. Patrick’s Day and spring break, as well as offer her summer slim-down advice for a beach-ready body. Her unique take on dieting and weight management involves eating (not starving!) and surprisingly avoiding the “fat-free” and “sugar-free” packaging that so many dieters gravitate toward this time of year.
Website: www.christineavanti.com/about/
Media Contact: AlexaRae Antekeier, alexarae@finnpartners.com

Karin Lapping, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Nutrition
Save the Children
“We need to fight for children to get the right nutrition so they can reach their potential and survive. Chronic malnutrition is the underlying cause of one third of all child deaths -- that’s more than 2 million a year.”
Lapping  is an expert on the hidden crisis of chronic malnutrition, which affects more than 170 million children around the world. She develops and manages large-scale nutrition projects in developing countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Cambodia. She can also speak to the “double burden” of over- and under-malnutrition simultaneously taking hold in some emerging economies. She is available to speak to how maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices can make or break a child’s future – by preventing permanent developmental damage and protecting them from deadly disease.
Media Contact: Tanya Weinberg, tweinberg@savechildren.org

Sondra Kronberg, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., C.E.D.R.D.
Clinical Nutrition Therapist
“It is estimated that 35 percent of ‘normal dieters’ progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25 percent progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders. In the U.S., 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life.”
Kronberg is a clinical nutrition therapist based in Long Island, N.Y., who specializes in counseling people with eating disorders. She is a past member of the board of directors of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), the leading U.S. non-profit organization supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. Each year, NEDA helps millions of people across the country find information and appropriate treatment resources through its toll-free, live helpline, its many outreach programs and its website. NEDA advocates for advancements in the field and envisions a world without eating disorders.
Website: http://www.MyNEDA.org
Media Contact: Vicki Greenleaf, vicki@greenleafandassociates.com or vicki@socialchangepr.com

Mary Ellen Herndon, MPH, RD, LD
Registered Dietitian
MD Anderson Cancer Center
“Research shows that making small changes, like adding breakfast or making sure to eat a healthy snack every few hours, can lead to bigger diet changes over time and better health, which can ultimately help you to ward off diseases like cancer.”
Herndon works with employees to make healthy changes to their diets. In her weekly newsletter and individual counseling sessions, Herndon shares tips related to healthy cooking techniques, nutrition news and research and cancer prevention reminders. She also leads MD Anderson’s Healthy Bites, an online nutrition challenge that encourages adults to make one healthy change to their diet each month. She is available for interviews on how small nutrition changes can equal a healthy diet in the long run.
Media Contact: Bridget Gabbe, bridget.gabbe@gabbe.com

Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology
MD Anderson Cancer Center
“For nonsmokers, obesity is the leading cause of cancer. By combining a healthy diet, daily exercise, and an overall awareness of food intake, individuals can lower their cancer risk.”
Dr. Daniel-MacDougall is conducting novel research to uncover the role diet plays in the development of cancer. An epidemiologist by training, her research interests lie in analyzing the diet and lifestyle differences among populations and understanding how these variations contribute to cancer risk. Her work has extended to other relevant areas, including obesity, physical activity, diabetes, and energy balance. A forthcoming paper to be published by Dr. Daniel-MacDougall examines the association between fiber and fiber-rich plant foods and renal cell carcinoma risk. She is available for interviews on foods that lower cancer risk.
Media Contact: Bridget Gabbe, bridget.gabbe@gabbe.com

Dr. Joya Chandra, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Pediatrics
MD Anderson’s Children’s Cancer Hospital
"Studies have shown that obesity is a risk factor for certain health conditions such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Recipes in @TheTable encourage healthier eating habits in children early in life to help reduce their risk of developing these conditions as adults."
Dr. Chandra is the lead collaborator on @TheTable, an online cookbook developed by the Children’s Cancer Hospital, filled with over 300 healthy, family-friendly recipes. Born from the desire to equip cancer patients’ families with healthy eating strategies during and after treatment, @TheTable evolved into a resource any family can use. Dr. Chandra's research, supported in part by The Gerber Foundation, is directed toward discovering the relationship between a pediatric cancer patient’s diet and their treatment outcome. In addition to her research, Dr. Chandra is studying the effectiveness of a video game-based intervention designed to encourage children to make healthy food choices and working to establish community-based healthy eating initiatives in the Houston area. She is available for interviews on instilling healthy eating habits in children.
Media Contact: Bridget Gabbe, bridget.gabbe@gabbe.com

Stella Volpe, PhD, RD, LDN, FACSM
Professor and Department Chair
Department of Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Drexel University
“Losing weight can be a difficult process, because people need to make behavioral changes to perhaps lifelong habits. The major changes are decreasing portion sizes and increasing physical activity throughout the day. In one of our studies, we found that by simply decreasing portion sizes in a university dining hall, we were able to prevent freshmen weight gain. Changes in portions and increased physical activity lead to a negative energy balance, and that will lead to successful, long-term weight loss.”
Volpe is an expert in obesity and diabetes prevention, exercise physiology. She is chair of the Science Board of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, and vice president of the American College of Sports Medicine. Her research in obesity and diabetes focuses on mineral metabolism, exercise and diet trials, and changing the environment to encourage healthier eating and physical activity.
Media Contact: Rachel Ewing, raewing@drexel.edu

Alison Ventura, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Drexel University
“Feeding practices are the choices parents make about which foods to offer; when, how frequently, and how much food to offer; and how to interact with children over food. Parents can help children develop healthy food preferences and eating behaviors by employing feeding practices that are patient, positive, and attentive to children’s hunger and fullness levels.”
Ventura is an expert in infant feeding practices, early childhood nutrition, obesity prevention during infancy and early childhood, parent feeding practices and their relation to children's eating behavior.
Media Contact: Rachel Ewing, raewing@drexel.edu

Jennifer Nasser, Ph.D., RD
Assistant Professor
Department of Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Drexel University
"Many people believe that obesity and food addiction are one and the same condition and that obesity is caused by food addiction. This has not been proven, and a lot of data suggests that it is not true. For example, in our study on psychoactive effects of chocolate using a validated drug addiction questionnaire, (published in 2011), we showed positive effects from eating chocolate with a study population that was 97 percent lean and only 3 percent obese. However, the tendency to have loss of control while eating may make it difficult to lose weight and maintain a reduced body weight."
Nasser is an expert in obesity, food addiction, food and nutrient effects on the brain. She does clinical research on dopamine-mediated mechanisms in the brain that influence food intake behavior.
Media Contact: Rachel Ewing, raewing@drexel.edu

Jennifer Quinlan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Drexel University
“It's not enough to just tell low-income and limited-resource consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables. Often, these populations have limited access to store and keep fresh produce or don't know how to prepare it. It's important that we also teach vulnerable populations about the value of frozen, dried, and canned fruits and vegetables without salt and sugar that are good alternatives for incorporating produce into their family’s diets.”
Quinlan is an expert in food safety and food access for minority populations. She does research on food microbiology and ensuring food microbial safety.
Media Contact: Rachel Ewing, raewing@drexel.edu

Kelly Jones
Clinic Director
Medithin Weight Loss Clinics
“Eat real food. If it came out of the ground or from an animal that ate what came out of the ground, you are on the right track. Keep in mind that even real food has natural sugar in it. Don't go too crazy on fruit and starchy foods like potatoes. Do make sure you get lean protein and lots of vegetable.” Jones has over 11 years of experience in the healthcare and fitness field, with a strong focus on personal training and healthy eating.  In her role as clinic director at Medithin Weight Loss Clinics, Jones has taken her experience to offer a weight-loss program that focuses on learning to eat healthy, losing body fat, and preserving lean muscle mass while ultimately achieving quick results. Because of this, Medithin Weight Loss Clinics has a proven track record of success helping patients lose weight and keep the weight off. Jones is a firm believer that with the right tools, knowledge, and inspiration, people can make the necessary changes to achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Media Contact: Katryna Kirby, kkirby@pretc.net

Carolyn Dean, MD, ND
Medical Advisory Board Member
Nutritional Magnesium Association
"Magnesium deficiency in our soils and, by extension, in our diets plays a significant role in heart disease, arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation. Too much calcium and too little magnesium can cause some forms of arthritis, kidney stones, osteoporosis and calcification of the arteries, leading to heart attack and cardiovascular disease."
Dr. Dean is a health pioneer with over 25 years of experience with aging,  nutrition, diet and health issues. She has authored 30 books, including, "Future Health Now Encyclopedia," "The Complete Natural Guide to Women’s Health,” "Hormone Balance," "365 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power: Tips, Exercise, Advice," "The Yeast Connection," "IBS for Dummies" and "The Magnesium Miracle." She is regularly interviewed on radio, TV and magazines, including ABC's “The View,” “Know the Cause” with Doug Kaufmann, “Your Health with Dr. Richard and Cindy Becker,” “The Woman's Connection” with Barrie Switzen, “Weekend Today” in New York, WNBC with Dr. Ian Smith, “Health Matters” with Christine Crosbie, and Global TV, to name a few. She can speak expertly about health benefits of magnesium as it relates to diabetes, heart health, brain health and osteoporosis, and is available to answer questions via email and/or phone.
Website: http://www.nutritionalmagnesium.org
Media Contact: Boris Levitsky, boris@netimprovements.com

Jessica Cox
Culinary Nutritionist
eMeals
“This year’s National Nutrition Month theme, ‘Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day,’ is a reminder to focus on an overall healthy diet, rather than ‘diet’ plans that require strict adherence to complicated rules. With a little planning, you can maintain a healthy diet that fits your lifestyle, schedule, and tastes without eliminating favorite foods.” Cox, a registered dietitian and chef, is the culinary nutritionist at eMeals, a meal planning service based in Birmingham, Ala., that helps busy families enjoy healthy meals together. She creates original recipes that are both good and good for you; writes and edits meal plans; styles food for photography; and writes nutrition content for the eMeals blog. Cox is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Alabama Dietetic Association, the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and the Food and Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group. She also serves as a board member for the annual FoodBlogSouth conference and is a contributing editor for the Food and Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group’s quarterly newsletter, Tastings. Her writing and original recipes have been featured on the Kids Eat Right website, The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association’s blog, Local Table magazine, and several Oxmoor House cookbooks. She is available to discuss nutrition education, nutrition writing, food writing, recipe development, recipe analysis, editing and content creation.
Media Contact: Molly Antos, mantos@sspr.com

Janet Bond Brill, Ph.D., R.D., LDN, CSSD
Nutritionist , Award-Winning Author
"Most Americans (men and women) will die from cardiovascular disease. I have made it my mission to teach people that heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure can be prevented, treated and reversed through a healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise). I give people these simple lifestyle tools on a silver platter."
Dr. Brill, a spokesperson for Go Red, is the author of “Blood Pressure Down: The 10-step program to lower your blood pressure in 4 weeks -- without prescription drugs” (Crown/Three Rivers, May 2013); “Cholesterol Down: 10 simple steps to lower your cholesterol in 4 weeks -- without prescription drugs” (Crown/Three Rivers, December 2006); “Prevent a Second Heart Attack: 8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease” (Crown/Three Rivers, February 2011); and “Nutrition Together,” a healthy eating and weight-loss program written for Fitness Together Inc.
Website: http://www.DrJanet.com
Media Contact: Kate Bandos, kate@ksbpromotions.com

Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, BC-ADM
Registered Dietitian, Diabetes Educator, Book Author
"National Nutrition Month presents an excellent opportunity to increase your readers' awareness that prediabetes now affects 80 million Americans – 35 percent of all adults and 50 percent of people over 65! Yes, you read these stats correctly! Research shows that losing a few pounds and keeping them off, partnered with a 30-minute walk most days, can prevent or delay the progression to type 2 diabetes. But how to eat healthfully to prevent diabetes remains a mystery for many and a challenge for others. Healthy nutrient dense sources of carbohydrate should be tops among food choices for people with prediabetes."
Warshaw is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and author of several books published by the American Diabetes Association, including “Real Life Guide to Diabetes” and “Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy.” She focuses on offering practical solutions for healthier eating and diabetes meal planning.
Website: www.hopewarshaw.com
Media Contact: Kate Bandos, kate@ksbpromotions.com

David McInerney
Co-founder
FreshDirect
“All around us we see how nutrition is infiltrating our national psyche, from Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, to a rise in consumer demand for organic and superfood options like blueberries and wild salmon. We should change the notion that convenience, selection and taste mean sacrificing an ideal of good eating... Just take the strawberry: The more perfect it looks and the longer it lasts in your fridge, the more likely it was modified from its original state. The best-tasting and most nutritious strawberries are the ones that don’t look perfect and that won’t last long in your fridge.”
McInerney, a food sourcing expert, is co-founder of FreshDirect, an online retailer of groceries in the New York and Philadelphia metro areas. FreshDirect works with a panel of nutritionists year-round to ensure their food offerings contain the utmost nutritional value and flavor.
Media Contact: Meghan Kelly, mkelly@gobraithwaite.com

Amy Marlow, MPH, RD
Nutrition Advisor
Happy Family Brands
“Dietitians value quality of life, first and foremost. Dietitians know that feeling good and staying healthy means keeping nutrient-rich foods at the center of their diets, but it does not mean they deprive themselves of delicious-tasting foods.”
Marlow works with FreshDirect, an online retailer of groceries in the New York and Philadelphia metro areas, to ensure their food offerings contain the utmost nutritional value and flavor.
Media Contact: Meghan Kelly, mkelly@gobraithwaite.com

Lisa Cohn, M.M.Sc., M.Ed., R.D.
President
Park Avenue Nutrition
“Calcium is one of the nutrients most likely to be lacking in the American diet. Incorporating dairy into your diet not only helps with a lower BMI and body weight, but also aids in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and even PMS in women. Swapping out high-calorie cream in your morning coffee with a low-calorie, all-natural one gives you the nutrients you need without the guilt. This change saves you half the calories you’d typically consume. Other calcium-rich snacks like cheese sticks, cottage cheese and yogurt are great to keep in your kitchen, so you are more likely to grab them when hunger strikes. Your body needs to have a healthy amount of ‘good’ bacteria in the digestive tract, and most yogurts are made using probiotics, which benefit the digestive tract. Yogurt also has power-boosting protein and bone-building calcium, and can help you lose weight or even fend off a cold.”
Cohn did her undergraduate work at University of Rhode Island and holds two masters degrees, one in medical science from Emory University School of Medicine and the second in health promotion from Columbia University. She began her career at the American Health Foundation in New York, where she directed a Ford Foundation-sponsored evaluation of the “Know Your Body” School Health Education Program and served as national representative to the U.S. Department of Education. Cohn brings 20 years of research, writing and lecturing to her nutrition practice. She helps clients develop the right strategy for them with her science-based, exceedingly sensible, holistic approach, while she strives to treat the whole person from the inside out.
Website: parkavenutrition.com
Media Contact: Brooke Aronoff, baronoff@lippetaylor.com

Tim Whelan
Vice President of Dining Services
Sunrise Senior Living
"Nutrition is a vital component of a long and healthy life and can have a great positive impact on the management of chronic disease. Developing healthy and satisfying meals for seniors can be difficult, since it requires balancing taste preferences, nutrition and sometimes health issues. When we are creating a new dish, we look at ways to incorporate tons of flavor without extra fat, calories and sodium. This can be achieved through emphasis on herbs, citrus, and other flavor enhancers."
Whelan works to ensure Sunrise provides a consistent, high-quality dining experience at all of its more than 300 communities, which includes a significant focus on senior nutrition and well-being. He continues to refresh Sunrise’s menu by introducing additional choices for healthy cuisine, new items based on residents’ preferences and further integrating regional food specialties; and champions professional development and sharing best practices between Sunrise’s community chefs. Whelan joined Sunrise from the merchandising division of Balducci’s, where his responsibilities included driving improvements in produce and prepared food, implementing new recipe and menu programs, vendor selection, and leading teams in the training and rollout of new products. Previously, he served in leadership roles at Marvelous Market, Oasis Markets, Whole Foods and Marriott In-Flite Services. He has more than 30 years of experience and can provide perspective on senior nutrition and be a source for any articles related to older adults as it relates to meals and dining.
Media Contact: Jennifer Crawford, jennifer.crawford@mslgroup.com

Dawn Crayco, MPH
Deputy Director
End Hunger Connecticut!
"The topic of nutrition isn't limited to the quality of foods. As a state and as a country, we need to ensure that children in limited-resource communities have access to federal nutrition programs such as school breakfast, school lunch and 'suppers' whenever possible. Community leaders have the power to tap into these resources and commit to ensuring children in their communities are properly nourished and able to thrive inside and outside of the classroom."
Crayco is the deputy director of End Hunger Connecticut!, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of hunger in the state of Connecticut, promote funding for and access to nutrition assistance programs, and speaking out to help eliminate the root causes of hunger. EHC! works with the goal of helping low-income families move “beyond the food pantry” towards self-sufficiency. Crayco has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and a master’s degree in public health. She has six years of experience in community organizing and educating on the federal Child Nutrition Programs. Recently appointed a commissioner of the Hartford Commission on Food Policy, she continues to work towards strengthening policies and programs that increase access to nutritious foods and food security for low-income individuals. She is available to discuss the child nutrition programs available to families and provide guidance on establishing and sustaining programs such as school breakfast, school lunch and suppers.
Media Contact: Danielle Cyr, danielle@cocommunications.com

Jo Lichten, Ph.D.
Nutritionist, Speaker, Author
"Several studies report that fatigue affects about 20-30 percent of the population. Lack of energy can lead to increased accidents, difficulty focusing, health issues, change in appetite and weight gain, and lost productivity.”
Dr. Jo, author of the upcoming "REBOOT," has reviewed more than 500 medical research articles to uncover science-based strategies to improve energy related to the way we eat, think, sleep and move. Based in Orlando, Fla., she is a speaker who inspires busy people to stay healthy, sane and productive.
Website: www.DrJo.com
Media Contact: Kate Bandos, kate@ksbpromotions.com

David Goldman
Registered Dietitian and Trainer
"Pictures don't lie. That's why photo food journal apps like MealLogger are so effective at snapping people out of denial when it comes to their eating habits. Pictures serve as a wake-up call to ‘portion distortion.’ Seeing what you are about to eat -- or keeping track of eating patterns -- provides visual accuracy, awareness and accountability of nutritional intake. In fact, research has shown photo food journals to be more effective than traditional food journals. Plus, my clients say they were happy to toss aside the pen and paper for an easy-to-use app that empowers them to eat healthier, live healthier."
Goldman was the strength and conditioning coach's assistant at Columbia University, guiding varsity athletes through training programs and dietary modifications. He also taught the graduate course “Physical Fitness, Weight Management, and Relaxation” at Teachers College, Columbia University, providing graduate students with the knowledge and tools necessary to instill health and maintain balance in a stressful, demanding environment. In addition, he worked as a research coordinator and exercise physiologist in the Obesity Research Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he performed exercise training and testing among other duties. He received his bachelor’s degree from Colorado University (Boulder), where he studied psychology and Spanish, as well as kinesiology and applied physiology. He earned a master’s degree in applied physiology and nutrition at Teachers College, Columbia University, and became both a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a registered dietitian.
Struggling with his own health and weight for much of his life, Goldman devoted himself to learning as much about diet and exercise as possible. Accomplishing his own transformation inspired him to help others do the same. Now, armed with years of formal, Ivy League university education, as well as real-life, hands-on exercise and diet coaching, he is excited to offer the personalized guidance needed to help individuals achieve their own transformations, whatever they may be. MealLogger, a photo food journal nutrition app, is one of the effective tools Goldman uses to guide his individual and corporate clients to a healthier lifestyle. He is available to share success stories about how clients have improved their nutritional intake with assistance from MealLogger.
Media Contact: Colleen Barton Sutton, colleen@redjacketpr.com

Mark Messina, Ph.D.
Co-Owner
Nutrition Matters, Inc.
"Soy protein actually directly lowers blood cholesterol levels, so soy foods are a very heart-healthy food and heart disease is the No. 1 killer among men. In addition, there is very exciting information indicating that modest amounts of soy can actually reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer."
Dr. Messina is an internationally recognized expert on the health effects of soy. He has appeared on CNN and is regularly quoted by the media in publications including the New York Times, Newsweek and USA Today. Dr. Messina has presented to both consumer and professional audiences in 44 countries on topics including soy and cancer risk, heart health, menopause and men’s health. He is the co-author of “The Simple Soybean and Your Health.” His research has appeared in numerous professional journals, including the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of Nutrition, Lancet, and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. He is a former program director in the Diet and Cancer Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, where he initiated a multimillion-dollar research program investigating the role of soy in cancer prevention. He co-owns Nutrition Matters, Inc., a nutrition consulting company; is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University; and the executive director of the Soy Nutrition Institute. He is a featured expert on the Soy Connection website: tinyurl.com/bdt494l
Media Contact: Anna Anderson, anna.anderson@MSLgroup.com

Keri Lynn Ford
Creator
IgniteGirls
"As someone who has transformed my own body, I believe that change starts in the kitchen, and is complemented by a workout regimen. By consistently making healthy choices meal after meal, you make it your lifestyle. And when you over-indulge, get back on track the very next time you eat to break the guilt/binge cycle. It will help you feel more balanced, and sane."
Ford is a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), ACE-certified lifestyle and weight-management coach, as well as a Mad Dogg Athletics certified spin instructor. She launched her fitness training career in Hollywood, Calif., at a private gym, where she helped organize and teach boot camp classes sponsored by the Jillian Michaels’ online program. She has previously trained celebrity Alison Sweeney while she was preparing for her appearance on “The Biggest Loser” finale post-pregnancy. Ford has also instructed spin classes featuring clients such as Gerard Butler, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jamie Kennedy, Alison Sweeney, Cristian de la Fuente, Jonny Lee Miller, Kaley Cuoco and Natasha Lyonne. She believes in a whole-foods diet that focuses on balance, commitment and persistence. Ford is the creator of IgniteGirls, an online fitness community of women that offers customized meal plans for any lifestyle, printable workouts, as well as accountability and unlimited access to Ford. She is available for interviews on women's weight loss, fat loss and lifestyle nutrition coaching.
Website: http://www.kerilynnford.com.
Expert Contact: keri@kerilynnford.com

Kathryn Bolles
Senior Director, Emergency Health and Nutrition
Save the Children
From helping mothers in the wake of Haiti’s earthquake breastfeed, to pioneering new standards for caring for newborns in emergencies -- such as those affected by conflict in Syria -- Bolles is a top global expert in emergency nutrition. She knows the high costs of severe acute malnutrition when drought, food shortages, and conflict strike. And she knows the nutritional solutions that are key to saving the lives and protecting the futures of mothers, babies and young children caught up in these crises.
Media Contact: Tanya Weinberg, tweinberg@savechildren.org

Elizabeth Elliott, MPH, RD, LD
Registered Dietitian - Senior Nutrition
Mom’s Meals
Elliott is corporate dietitian with the technical services department at Mom’s Meals, a company that develops and ships fresh-made, healthy meals directly to seniors, those recuperating at home, and others no longer able to shop or prepare meals for themselves. In addition to being both a registered and licensed dietitian, Elliott has a certificate of adult weight management from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. An expert on senior nutrition, she can speak to the specific nutritional needs of our aging population, including those living with diabetes, kidney disease, heart issues, and other chronic conditions.
Website: www.momsmeals.com
Media Contact: Debbie Albert, debbie@albertcommunications.com

Connie Diekman
Director of University Nutrition
Washington University in St. Louis
A past president of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Diekman served on the ADA House of Delegates Leadership Team from 2004-06 and was a member of the ADA’s board of directors from 2004-09. Previously, she served as a delegate from the state of Missouri to the House of Delegates (governing body). She is a former chair of the American Heart Association - Missouri affiliate. A former media spokesperson for the academy, she has been quoted in thousands of magazines, newspapers and on the Internet. She has appeared in countless radio and television interviews locally and nationally, ranging from the “Today” show to “Oprah.” Here is an example of her commenting on nutrition issues: news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/20999.aspx
Diekman serves on several advisory panels, providing her expertise in communications, especially related to nutrition and consumer behavior change. Areas of expertise: diet, eating, exercise, fitness, health, nutrition, wellness. She is available for live or taped broadcast-quality interviews using WUSTL's free VYVX and ISDN lines in the University News Services’ studio.
Media Contact: Susan Killenberg McGinn, smcginn@wustl.edu

Elizabeth Fassberg, MPH, RD, CDN
Principal and Owner
Eat Food
Fassberg is the founder and owner of Eat Food, a food and nutrition services company in New York City providing custom wellness, nutrition and education programs. She is also the principal recipe developer and wellness expert for Kretschmer Wheat Germ. From her years as a food editor, to pursuing a master‘s degree in public health at New York University, to teaching underprivileged children how to cook, Fassberg brings her lifelong love of food together with a mission to teach communities how to eat better and healthier. She says: “I consider myself a foodie dietitian because my background is all about food and how to prepare and eat really wholesome, homemade and delicious food. How food tastes and where it comes from is really important to me.”
Bio: eatfood.biz/pages/about01.html
Media Contact: Kelsey Revens, krevens@360pr.com

Michael Wald, M.D.
Director, Nutritional Services
Integrated Medicine
Wald has appeared on “ABC World News Tonight” with Diane Sawyer, Fox Five News and in other media. He is the author of two health newspaper columns and has written over a dozen books. Dr. Wald can provide detailed discussion on these and more topics: diets; exercise; nutritional supplements and herbs; natural hormones; intravenous nutrition; detoxification; advanced medical tests, blood tests (dangers and benefits); and disease prevention and treatment with traditional and dietary/vitamin and lifestyle.
Bio: www.intmedny.com/michael-wald.html
Expert Contact: drwald@intmedny.com

Noreen Luszcz, RD, MBA, CNSC
Clinical Nutrition Program Manager
Walgreens Infusion Services
Luszcz is a registered dietitian with more than 30 years of experience providing for patients’ clinical nutrition needs. She recently presented a poster at the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N)’s Clinical Nutrition Week. The study describes how proactive interventions by home nutrition support teams saved clinical nutrition patients from spending unnecessary days in the hospital to the tune of 429 hospital days saved over a three-month period (poster and press release available upon request).
Media Contact: Bonnie Culbertson, bculbertson@pcipr.com

Jessica Shapiro, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
Wellness Dietitian
Montefiore Medical Center
In her role as wellness dietitian at Montefiore, Shapiro provides individual counseling and group presentations focused on general nutrition and weight management, covering topics including dietary fats, weight loss and sodium intake. She also collaborates with clinical departments at Montefiore to present community and associate education programs on stroke, diabetes, heart health and other subjects. Shapiro can provide guidance on basic nutrition guidelines for balanced, healthy eating, as well as comment on trends such as “clean eating,” "mindful” or “intuitive” eating, and Web-based and mobile tools and apps that can help individuals adhere to healthier eating habits.
Media Contact: Rachael McCallen, rmccall@montefiore.org

Jennifer Dimitriou, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
Bariatric Surgery Dietitian, Department of Surgery
Montefiore Medical Center
Dimitriou is a dietitian who works with the Bariatric Surgery Program at Montefiore Medical Center in NYC. She is certified in adult weight management and offers her clients advice on diet, lifestyle and exercise to maximize their health. Topics Dimitriou can advise on include wheat belly/gluten-free diets; social media and smartphone apps for nutrition advice/diet help; juicing/cleanses for weight loss; simple, natural meals with few ingredients; and foods with high-quality calories. At Montefiore, she provides nutritional support to teens and adults, helping them to maintain their energy through the day while sticking to a healthy eating regimen.
Media Contact: Rachael McCallen, rmccall@montefiore.org

Lauren Graf, M.S., R.D.
Clinical Dietitian
Montefiore Medical Center
Graf is the nutritionist for the Montefiore-Einstein Cardiac Wellness Program, providing both individual and group counseling to patients. She has created nutrition education materials and recipes on the power of plant-based nutrition to prevent and reverse cardiovascular disease. Graf also provides nutrition counseling to children and adolescents with various chronic diseases, including obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and chronic and end-stage kidney disease, as well as kidney transplant recipients. Her expertise allows her to comment on juicing and detox, alkaline diet/products, nutrition and inflammation, the health benefits of dark chocolate, probiotics and prebiotics for immune function.
Media Contact: Rachael McCallen, rmccall@montefiore.org

Anika DeCoster
Program Manager, Life Time Weight Loss
Life Time Fitness
DeCoster helps support the weight-loss coaches who work at Life Time Fitness centers. She is experienced working with athletes of all levels to uncover metabolic issues they may be facing, along with helping those who are seeking weight-management support. DeCoster graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Stout where she earned her registered dietitian license. She also has an adult weight management certification through ADA, a certified sports nutritionist certification through the International Society of Sports Nutrition, and is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Website: www.lifetimefitness.com
Media Contact: Lauren Flinn, LFlinn@lifetimefitness.com

Paul Kriegler
Corporate Dietitian/Weight Loss Specialist
Life Time Fitness
Kriegler supports the Minnesota and Texas regions as the resource dietitian overseeing regional nutrition and weight-management education and lab profile reviews. He is a 2006 graduate of the Nutrition & Dietetics Program at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He gained clinical experience as an inpatient hospital dietitian before seeking out a role in the fitness industry with Life Time in 2008. With Life Time, Kriegler has gained experience as a personal trainer and become a certified sports nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition. He is a nine-time marathon finisher and finished his first Ironman at Coeur d’Alene in 2011.
Website: www.lifetimefitness.com
Media Contact: Lauren Flinn, LFlinn@lifetimefitness.com

Katie Cavuto Boyle MS, RD
Registered Dietitian and Personal Chef
Cavuto’s quest for culinary knowledge led her to Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I., where she graduated with an AS in culinary arts and a BS in culinary nutrition. While in school, she worked at several local restaurants to improve her culinary skills. Upon graduation, she was accepted to Tufts University in Boston, where she successfully completed a master’s degree in clinical nutrition and became a registered dietitian. She holds a certification in adult weight management through the American Dietetic Association and Center for Dietetic Registration. She teaches nutrition at West Chester University. She is a regular contributor on ABC, FOX, NBC and CBS in Philadelphia as an expert in her field. She writes weekly for Healthy Eats, a national nutrition blog on FoodNetwork.com, and for Philadelphia Magazine's Be Well Philly website.
Website: http://www.KINDsnacks.com
Media Contact: Bridget Barnes, bbarnes@KINDsnacks.com

Rebecca Bitzer, MS, RD, LD
Registered Dietitian
Bitzer is an award-winning registered dietitian who is both a seasoned nutrition counselor and successful business owner. As a nutrition coach, Bitzer has been counseling clients with all kinds of eating issues for over 20 years. She enjoys finding creative solutions to keep her clients motivated to make positive lifestyle changes and meet their nutrition goals. She strives to continually fine-tune her nutrition counseling skills, sharpen her knowledge of dietetics, and develop new programs to encourage the success of her clients. She has written numerous newspaper articles, co-authored a textbook chapter in a medical nutrition therapy book, and has been featured in both nutrition and business textbooks. She is on the board of directors of Nutrition Entrepreneurs, a Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and has taught classes at the University of Maryland, Columbia Union College, and Montgomery College. She earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Maryland in food and nutrition, and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va.
Website: http://www.KINDsnacks.com
Media Contact: Bridget Barnes, bbarnes@KINDsnacks.com

Elizabeth Ward, MS, RD
Nutrition Consultant
Ward, a freelance writer and nutrition consultant, created and conducted corporate nutrition education programs for five years at Medical Care Affiliates in Boston, where she also counseled patients. She has worked at the Joslin Diabetes Center and the American Heart Association, and for seven years counseled children and adults about healthy eating and disease prevention at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston. Ward completed her undergraduate degree in human nutrition at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a one-year dietetic internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; and a master's degree in mass communication at Boston University. She is the recipient of the 125 Alumni to Watch Award from the University of Massachusetts and the 2011 Media Excellence Award from the American Dietetic Association, and she was named Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Massachusetts Dietetic Association.
Website: http://www.KINDsnacks.com
Media Contact: Bridget Barnes, bbarnes@KINDsnacks.com

Kelly A. O’Connor, RD, LD, CDE
Mercy Medical Center
O’Connor is a registered and licensed dietitian and certified diabetes educator providing nutrition counseling for patients. She has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of nutrition care, including assessment, education, documentation and management of clinical nutrition services in a hospital setting. Kelly sees patients in The Endocrinology Center at Mercy and the hospital’s Outpatient Oncology department, including chemotherapy and radiation oncology. Her background includes clinical, pediatric and senior dietary services, as well as insulin pump therapy. She earned her B.S. in nutrition from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Prior to joining Mercy, she worked as assistant director of nutrition services for Aramark at Bayview Medical Center and at Sheppard Pratt Hospital.
Media Contact: Dan Collins, dcollins@mdmercy.com

Alison Massey, MS, RD, LDN
Mercy Medical Center
Massey is a dietitian providing nutrition counseling for patients in The Endocrinology Center at Mercy. She joined Mercy after working as Sodexo outpatient dietitian for St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md. Her background includes assessing the nutritional needs of various patient populations, including both adult and pediatric patients. Her clinical nutrition experience includes covering intensive care units, medical-surgical units, and patients in rehabilitation. She is certified in adult, childhood and adolescent weight management. She received her master’s of science in health promotion from the University of Delaware and completed the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Dietetic Internship program. She earned her B.S. in nutritional science from Pennsylvania State University in 2004.
Media Contact: Dan Collins, dcollins@mdmercy.com

Dana Simpler, M.D.
Primary Care Practitioner
Mercy Medical Center
Simpler is board-certified in internal medicine. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1984, she earned her master's in physiology from Georgetown University and her bachelor of science in microbiology from the University of Maryland. During medical school, she completed the Combined Accelerated Program in Psychiatry (CAPP) with additional training in methods of psychotherapy and inpatient psychiatry. She also underwent training in the Child Psychosomatic Unit at Stanford University. She also has a special interest in diet and fitness issues. She conducts a private practice in Baltimore City, and has appeared in various print and broadcast media, locally, regionally and nationally.
Media Contact: Dan Collins, dcollins@mdmercy.com

Monica Aggarwal, M.D.
Noninvasive Cardiologist
The Heart Center at Mercy
Mercy Medical Center
A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Aggarwal specializes in clinical cardiology, nuclear cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography and women’s health care issues. She received her medical degree in 2000 from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, and did her residency in Internal Medicine at the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. She completed her Cardiology Fellowship in 2006 at the University of Maryland. She is board-certified in nuclear cardiology, cardiovascular disease and internal medicine, and has numerous clinical presentations, research and honors to her credit. She recently lead a cooking demonstration, “Cooking a la Heart,” providing insights on how simple changes in cooking can improve your health without giving up flavor.
Media Contact: Dan Collins, dcollins@mdmercy.com

See the full roundup with more experts on PR Newswire for Journalists.

We regularly update our ProfNet Connect calendar to include upcoming events we think will be of interest to PR and media professionals. Following is a summary of the events taking place over the next week or so:

Event: “Powerful Writing, With Grammar Girl”
Host: Ragan
Date: March 5
Location: Online
Summary: Grammar can confuse even the most seasoned writer. Don’t let grammar rules trip you up. Mignon Fogarty has you covered. The New York Times bestselling author of “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” brings her humor and memory aids to teach you what you didn’t learn in English classes.
Complete event info here.

Event: “Transformation: The Idea Effect”
Host: 4A
Date: March 10-13
Location: New Orleans
Summary: For the fourth year in a row, this annual thought-leadership conference will provide top-to-top conversations and idea exchange across the entire advertising community and its transformation, including new technology trends and shifts in the media workplace.
Complete event info here.

Event: “TECHmunch Austin Food Blogger Conference”
Host: BakeSpace.com
Date: March 10
Location: Austin, Texas
Summary: The traveling TECHmunch conference returns to Austin during SXSW for the fourth consecutive year to connect PR and marketing pros with top food bloggers, traditional food media and major food-related brands.
Complete event info here.

Event: “Smarter Social Media”
Host: Columbia Journalism School
Date: March 14, April 4, April 18, May 2
Location: New York
Summary: In this course, Prof. Sree Sreenivasan will teach participants how to use social media, including sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, FourSquare,  among others, to find new ideas, trends and sources; connect with audience(s) in new ways; bring attention and traffic to their work; and create, craft and enhance their personal and professional brands. There will also be opportunities to work with the instructor and his adjunct professors, as well as an exclusive online community for Q&A.
Complete event info here.

Event: “Perspectives from the C-Suite: Re-Branding and the Power of PR”
Host: PRSA-Georgia
Date: March 14
Location: Atlanta
Summary: This fireside chat will feature executives of three prominent brands -- YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Piedmont Healthcare, and Cbeyond -- who are currently overseeing or have recently completed rebranding efforts. They will speak candidly about the decisions to re-brand their organizations; the challenges and rewards; and the role public relations plays in the planning, execution and success of these projects.
Complete event info here.

Event: “PR Measurement Summit”
Host: Ragan
Date: March 19-20
Location: Washington, D.C.
Summary: The PR Measurement Summit will give you the tools and insights to define the right metrics for your PR communications. You'll hear from 16 PR pros who have gathered tips and best practices that will empower you to prove your worth when you return to the office.
Complete event info here.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, search the more than 60,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect, or get timely experts and story ideas by email -- all for free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com 

Have you been thinking about breaking into the world of corporate writing? Join us for our next Twitter chat on Tuesday, March 5, as Susan Weiner, a chartered financial analyst and freelance writer, discusses the ins and outs of finding corporate clients. She’ll discuss how you can find corporate work, how companies like to be queried, the do’s and don’ts of corporate writing, and more.

To participate in the chat with Weiner, just join us on Twitter on March 5 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. EST, and follow the #ConnectChat hashtag to view all updates from @susanweiner, @ProfNet and the rest of the chat participants. We'll start off the chat with a few questions to get the conversation going, but feel free to jump in with your own questions at any point.

If you do not have a Twitter account or won’t be able to make it to the chat, you can find a recap on ProfNet Connect the following day. To view past #ConnectChat recaps, click here.

About Susan Weiner

Weiner helps financial professionals increase the impact of their writing. She writes and edits articles, white papers, investment commentary, Web pages, and other communications for leading investment and wealth management firms. Her Investment Writing blog is popular with advisors who want to deepen their connections with clients and prospects.

Weiner has spoken and written about finding corporate clients for the American Society of Journalists and Authors.  Before becoming a freelancer, she was director of investment communications at Columbia Management Group, a trustee at Batterymarch Financial Management, and a staff reporter for a weekly mutual fund publication.

Articles she has written, edited or ghostwritten have appeared in Advisor Perspectives, Boston Globe, Bottom Line/Personal, CFA Magazine, Financial Planning, Louis Rukeyser’s Mutual Funds, Wealth Manager, and other national publications.

She is also the author of “Simply Irresistible: Writing Financial Blog Posts People Will Read” (forthcoming, May 2013), which is based on her well-regarded class for financial advisors. You can sign up for her monthly newsletter, which has useful tips for financial writers and more.

Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely government and law issues. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive updates by email, drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It’s free! Just fill out the query form to get started.

If you have any questions or need assistance with any aspect of ProfNet, please drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com.

EXPERT ALERTS:

Sequester Will Hurt People With Disabilities
Jennifer Dexter
AVP Government Relations
Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs
"Once again, people with disabilities are at risk in the ongoing federal budget debate. The proposed across-the-board cuts or sequester that is coming this Friday, March 1, will further limit already strained programs for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Federal programs like early intervention, special education, vocational rehabilitation, housing, transportation and more are important to millions of Americans living with disabilities and their families. These programs don't just provide services to people with disabilities -- they provide a lifeline for millions of families. Across-the-board cuts are not the solution. Easter Seals knows every year more than a million young children go unidentified with disabilities and developmental delays. If Congress doesn't stop the cuts, tens of thousands of young children who rely on early intervention services will no longer be able to benefit from the effective program, putting even more children at risk. Ignoring the needs of our nation¹s children significantly limits their potential for success as adults. It will also have a lasting and negative impact on the economy. While we need to get our nation’s fiscal house in order, there is real danger if we don’t do it in a thoughtful, considered and balanced way. Across-the-board cuts are not the solution. We can't throw the good out with the bad.”
Media Contact: Kristen Barnfield, kbarnfield@easterseals.com

The Sequester’s Potential Impact on Child Health
Richard E. Rupp
Professor of Pediatrics
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
“In the state of Texas alone, an estimated  9,730 fewer children will receive preventative vaccines for disease if the government sequester goes into effect this Friday.  That could have tremendous public health implications and set back the state’s comprehensive vaccine efforts. Texas, a forward-thinking state in regard to vaccines, devotes valuable funding to ensure effective childhood immunizations are available largely free of cost. We anticipate any cuts to these initiatives, both in Texas and to similar programs across the nation, will greatly affect a family’s access to these vaccines. In a day and age where we have the tools to prevent numerous life-threatening illnesses, the long-term fallout of such action is unfathomable.”
Rupp is professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston  and director of clinical trials and clinical research at the institution’s Sealy Center for Vaccine Development.  Rupp has more than a decade of experience working with schools to provide immunizations to students and improve vaccination rates in children and teens. The Sealy Center for Vaccine Development at UTMB is one of the most comprehensive vaccine centers in the United States, with leading programs in vaccine research, development, policy, and education.
Bio: bit.ly/13WHY0S
Website: www.utmb.edu/scvd/default.asp
Media contact: Olivia Goodman, olivia.goodman@gabbe.com

Contrary to Coverage, Tax Legislation Makes Charitable Giving Advantageous
Harvey Wallace
Managing Member and Co-Founder
Brown Smith Wallace
“Contrary to what you might have heard, in certain situations for high-income taxpayers, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 actually increases the benefit for giving to charity. While the budget deal did not create a specific limitation on deducting charitable contributions, the general limitation on itemized deductions (the Pease limitation), was brought back and made permanent. Charitable giving remains a matter of personal choice; however, your decision should not be based on misguided tax advice or rumor.”
Wallace earned the designation Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the designation Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, and National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He is based in St. Louis, Mo.
Website: www.bswllc.com
Media Contact: Nina Kult, nkult@commongroundpr.com

McCutcheon is No Expansion of Citizens United
Chris Gober
Political Legal Consultant
Gober Hilgers PLLC in Dallas
“The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging a federal restriction on the total amount of money that individuals may contribute to federal candidates and political committees over a two-year period. Although McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission is being criticized as an effort to expand the 2010 Citizens United decision, striking down the biennial limit could actually serve to reduce the impact of Citizens United because there would be less need for super PACs and additional funding would be made available to political party committees. While contribution limits to candidates and political committees would remain intact, removing the biennial limit would allow individuals to contribute to a greater total number of candidates and committees of their choice. I suspect the Supreme Court will strike down the biennial limit because it does not address the same level of quid pro quo concerns that the Court has previously used to justify limits on direct contributions.”
Media Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com

FCPA Italiano: Bribery a Concern in Italy, Too
Tom Fox
FCPA and Compliance Ethics Lawyer, Blogger
Tom Fox Law in Houston
“When U.S. corporate executives worry about complying with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act rules, they usually think about bribes requested in some African or Latin American country. But Italy should be on the FCPA radar too. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, now running for re-election, recently gave a troubling television interview stating bribery is a necessary part of doing business under certain regimes. A compliance practitioner should watch for tolerance of corruption like this. An ex-prime minister saying such a thing puts all on notice that something may be amiss. The time is now to assess risks of doing business in Italy. We’ve been warned.”
Media Contact: Mary Flood, mary@androvett.com

Exploring the Nuclear Waste Nightmare
Dr. William Alley
Author, “Too Hot to Touch: The Problem of High-Level Nuclear Waste”
In response to the recent leak at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington: "The latest leaking tank at Hanford is yet another reminder that the United States has no long-term plan for what to do with the 70,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel and the high-level defense waste scattered across 121 sites in 39 states. The administration now proposes to start over, this time using a consent-based approach. [But] with the power to regulate lands, highways, water, etc., states can be formidable opponents. In spite of this, the new consent-based plan barely mentions the role of states."
As former chief of the Office of Groundwater for the U.S. Geological Survey, Alley led the USGS study of the Yucca Mountain site from 2002 until it was shut down by President Obama in 2010. He and his wife Rosemarie co-authors of the book, “Too Hot to Touch: The Problem of High-Level Nuclear Waste,” are the go-to experts on the issue of nuclear waste disposal and the surrounding controversies worldwide. They also have intricate knowledge of the history of the nuclear waste debate, the problems it is causing around the world, and the policy nightmare it poses to governments and thousands of affected communities. They are located in San Diego and are both available for interviews. You can read their recent article in New Scientist here: tinyurl.com/a5t6sgt
Media Contact: Rachel Ewen, rewen@cambridge.org

White House's Strategy to Mitigate the Theft of U.S. Trade Secrets
Robert Atkinson
President
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
“The recent revelation that a major cyberattack campaign on U.S. corporations may have been orchestrated by the Chinese military is just the latest example of the use of intellectual property theft to hurt American companies and the American economy. The development of a national strategy to reduce the theft of trade secrets by foreign nations or foreign companies will help U.S. businesses and the workers employed by them.” Atkinson is the co-author of the book “Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage” and the report “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of innovation Policy.” He is based in Washington, D.C.
ProfNet Profile: www.profnetconnect.com/robatkinson
Website: www.itif.org
Media Contact: William Dube, wdube@itif.org

Post-Divorce Travel with Kids Can Pose Problems
Jeff Anderson
Family Law Attorney
McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing L.L.P. in Dallas
“One of the most common questions divorcing parents want answered is whether they or their ex-spouses are allowed to take their child out of the state or country and, if so, under what circumstances. Divorcing spouses are able to travel with their kids unless there is an order from the court prohibiting it. The main prohibition against taking your children outside of the state is if you’re trying to change the child’s primary residence. And, of course, if the travel could put the child in danger, a parent should take quick legal action to prevent it. The standard is what is in the child’s best interest, and that is always the judge’s highest priority. However, regardless of what the judge has put in writing, common sense tells us to always notify the other parent when we take children out of the state and certainly out of the country.”
Media Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com

Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Mohan Ponnudurai
Industry Solutions Director
Sparta Systems
“Boeing is presenting to the FAA a short-term fix to get the 787 Dreamliner aircraft cleared to fly by April 1. However, the FAA is facing scrutiny for the original 'special conditions' under which B787 was certified. Therefore, I am quite skeptical that the FAA would clear the B787 to fly again with mere procedural changes as interim or short-term fixes.” Ponnudurai is a leading enterprise quality and aerospace expert. He worked as an aerospace and avionics engineer for more than 12 years, and was recently honored as a “2013 Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine. He has a bachelor of engineering in mechanical and aeronautical engineering and an MBA.
Website: www.spartasystems.com
Media Contact: Stephanie Beadell, stephanieb@seerinteractive.com

Last week, companies, bloggers and journalists around the world attended Social Media Week events held in various cities.

We were fortunate enough to attend some of the events, and we shared the highlights of what we learned in a series of recaps. In case you missed any of them, here’s a recap of the recaps:

• Digital Newsgathering Standards. Hosted by Associated Press and Muck Rack, this discussion centered on user-generated content, content verification, and reporting accuracy during a time when there is pressure to release news as quickly as possible. Speakers included representatives from Sawhorse Media, Associated Press, Edelman, Spundge and Poynter: bit.ly/157n6q3

• Social TV – The Next 12 Months. With the dawn of the social media era, a new way of watching television has arrived. People are no longer sitting back and watching the tube – audiences are grabbing their smartphones and using Twitter and Facebook to interact with each other both during and after their favorite programming airs. Panelists from Bravo Digital Media, Xbox, and Lost Remote discussed how marketers are taking advantage: bit.ly/XYXKEC

• Community Managers of the Future. Hosted by Social Media Club NYC, this panel discussion focused on the evolving role of community managers. The event featured speakers from Mashable, HuffPost Live, Digitas, and Thomson Reuters: bit.ly/XwywBz

• Life at the Intersection of Search and Social. Representatives from Twitter, The Vision Lab, and RepEquity came together to discuss how social media is changing search and what this means for one’s social presence: bit.ly/15ew6tn

• Longform in a Shortform World. These days, most people get their news through instant, up-to-the-minute feeds such as Twitter and Facebook, but longform writing -- which puts the focus on the quality of the writing, not the speed at which it is produced -- is seeing a resurgence. Editors from BuzzFeed, Longform, The Verge, and The Atavist came together to discuss longform writing in a shortform world: bit.ly/X8NtKj

• You’ve Built a Fan Base. Now What? Having a large fan base is great, but it is hardly an effective way of measuring social media success. Today, CMOs are looking for measurable proof that social marketing programs are effective. So, how do you engage your followers and amplify their voices to build truly meaningful interactions? That was the question posed as part of this session, which featured representatives from Nokia, The Stelter Company, and EngageSciences: bit.ly/13lkpCZ

Did you attend Social Media Week in your city? What was your favorite event, and what did you learn?

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, search the more than 60,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect, or get timely experts and story ideas by email -- all for free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com.

Having a large fan base is great, but it is hardly an effective way of measuring social media success. Today, CMOs are looking for measurable proof that social marketing programs are effective. So, how do you engage your followers and amplify their voices to build truly meaningful interactions?

That was the question posed as part of a Social Media Week New York session hosted by EngageSciences and featuring:

• Brad Spikes, head of social media and influencer marketing, Nokia;
• Mike Hutney, director of emerging media, The Stelter Company; and
• Richard Jones, CEO of EngageSciences.

The panelists discussed how social content and social data can drive performance across multiple marketing channels, as well as the strategies and tactics they are implementing.

Following are highlights from the session:

Brad Spikes, Nokia

Spikes offered the following tips:

Engage on every page. Engagement is a key piece of what Nokia is doing. Make sure every page actually engages your readers. It’s not enough to build a fan base – you have to build a quality fan base.

People trust real people. To get the right types of fans, be authentic, genuine, open and honest.

Be playful. Do things that “wow” the audience – e.g., share infographics with interesting tidbits. Those are the types of things they like to share with their circles.

Use your social pipeline effectively. Cross-post on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc. You don’t want too many campaigns going on at once.

Be helpful. Anticipate questions to quickly solve problems -- and make sure everyone in the company has the information.

Reward your best fans. Have prizes for your biggest fans and advocates, or spotlight them on the website.

Embrace your heritage. Post memes, stories that bring back memories and strong emotions.

Think offline. Hold meet-ups and in-person events, like Nokia did at CES.

Choose the right tools. Use social engagement platforms, like EngageSciences’.

Use word-of-mouth and friend referrals. Recommendations from people your users know mean so much more. Word-of-mouth is the most trusted form of advertising.

It all comes down to doing three things:

• Supporting: Be there for the people that use your products.
• Entertaining: Make it social, a fun space.
• Educating: Show your fans the power of your brand.

Mike Hutney, The Stelter Company

The Stelter Company is a marketing firm that helps nonprofits in the U.S. with fundraising, specifically with estate and leadership gifts. Because fundraising is a numbers game, their efforts are driven by research and analytics. “We pride ourselves on being nerds,” said Hutney.

The company uses the following metrics:

• Recency: when was the last time they donated;
• Frequency: how often do they donate;
• Volunteerism: how active are they;
• Monetary: how much do they donate.

This helps them identify off-the-radar donors that they can approach to be advocates on the nonprofit’s behalf.

Hutney also shared a case study with details of a campaign they did for the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS):

HSUS has 1.6 million likes on Facebook, and 180,000 followers on Twitter. With such a large following, it is difficult to sift through and find 50-100 advocates in order to really extend their message. So how did Hutney and his team do it?

First, they leveraged Facebook campaigns, like one on cruelty-free product testing. They posted a quiz, and saw who shared the campaign to their network, and then how much further the campaign was extended outside that network. The goal was to find out “who cares about us the most,” said Hutney.

Once possible advocates are identified, the communications department can then reach out to them.

Takeaways:

• Life online is an open book.
• An army of advocates is within your reach. You just have to identify them.
• Concentrate on finding your brand’s “soul mates” – that’s where you’ll really make a difference.

Richard Jones, EngageSciences

EngageSciences is a social marketing activation platform that focuses on the “now what?” They help clients turn their fan base into something that brings real value to the organization.

“Measurement is everything,” said Jones. “You can’t miss what you can’t measure.”

He shared the following tips:

Use the right tools. “Last click” is and post engagement is a basic metric, not the best way to measure social. It doesn’t matter where the conversation happens. What is of real value is who is engaging, and how often. The only way to measure that is to put a metric in place that tracks the interaction of each and every fan.

Insights need to be seen – and understood. Communicate results to the right stakeholders. Use infographic-style reports to make the information easy to consume.

Have an app strategy. Use apps in addition to driving content. Apps will help you stimulate direct friend-to-friend sharing and inviting through viral app campaigns. Apps also give you data – you’re learning from users’ behavior.

Learn from email marketing. The “deadbook” problem (having a lot of Facebook fans, but a limited number of engaged fans) is just bad management. Your total number of fans means nothing – it’s the number of engaged fans that matters. Manage your social database like an email database. You need to think beyond “How many likes did I get?” and look at how you are engaging your audience.

Relationships matter. Do you know who Jane is and what she means to your brand? It’s all about the data. Track their behavior over time to see how valuable they are to you.

Understand the value of advocates. On average, 4.7 percent of your fan base drives referrals. They have 176 times the reach of an average fan. You want to know who that 4.7 percent is – and, even better, turn that 4.7 percent to 5.7 percent. See who is commenting, foster advocates, reward top fans, build social loyalty.

Use gamification principles. Think about using gamification principles, like badging and points, to drive engagement and audience activation.

Amplify your fans. The voices of advocates increase conversations.

• Monitor social advocacy: Define keywords and filters to see what your fans are saying about you.
• Post social content. Social content is the future of websites. Publish the best of what your fans are saying.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, search the more than 60,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect, or get timely experts and story ideas by email -- all for free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com.