Meet the Board
SThe Board Members for 2020-2021!
Melissa Carroll, RD- President
Melissa completed her dual degrees in dietetics and consumer foods at University of Georgia and her dietetic internship in Augusta Georgia. She began her career in sales with the largest food distribution company in the US and has never left that field of expertise. Her Husband is in the Navy which has provided the opportunity to work in food sales in a variety of diverse regions. Melissa is currently open to new career opportunities. She lives in Norfolk with her Husband and 2 girls. They enjoy eating out, being active, and learning to love Virginia.
Rachel Sheldon, MS, RD - President Elect
Rachel has been a Dietitian for 5 years, starting out at a DME company. She moved to the Tidewater area about a year and a half ago where she now works at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center as a Clinical Dietitian. She did her undergrad at UNC-Greensboro and her masters at East Carolina University. She grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina it was always a dream of hers to live near the beach. In her free time you can find Rachel browsing though cookbooks and trying out new recipes. When she is not cooking you can often find her playing with her cat Poppy or planning her next trip.
Amanda Massabki, RD - Treasurer
I am a Virginia Beach native. I graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and completed my dietetic internship with The Virginia and Maryland Departments of Health while working at WIC. Currently, I enjoy being a Clinical Dietitian at Maryview Medical Center where I am based out on the neurological, general medicine, and acute rehab units, as well as covering the other units as needed. Along with working at WIC and Maryview, I was a Nutrition Coach at the YMCA several years ago after graduating from JMU and did some volunteering/working alongside with a Dietitian in an outpatient clinic. I've also provided nutrition education, multiple times, in a group setting. While I do eat healthy, I am not opposed to indulging every once in a while; I pretty much love all foods. I like working with other people and meeting new people, and I look forward to being more active within the TAND group.
Brenda Klein, RD - Secretary
Former Positions include Clinical Inpatient/Outpatient Dietitian, Nutrition Community Outreach, Foodservice Management
Kirsten Romero, MS, RD - Membership
Kirsten Romero is a Virginia Beach based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who believes in helping her clients achieve their health goals through a livable diet that includes great tasting, healthy foods in moderation. She currently works as a consultant dietitian with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia where she provides nutrition education and one-on-one counseling to seniors throughout the Southside and western Tidewater area. Kirsten has worked in varied clinical settings, including pediatrics, intensive care, outpatient settings, and public health. She graduated from Virginia Tech with both her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Nutrition. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center.
Katie Abbott, MS, RD, INHC - Webmaster
Katie grew up in the mountains of Abingdon, VA, but is currently loving living by the beach in Virginia Beach. She graduated from James Madison University (undergrad), Case Western Reserve University (grad), and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (health coach certification). She completed her Dietetic Internship all over the country from Napa Valley, Raleigh, Cleveland, and New York City. Katie has worked in various clinical settings such as a wellness institute, surgical and non-surgical weight loss, Canyon Ranch, Ornish Lifestyle Medicine, and taught nutrition for the Virginia Community College System. She was past president of TAND during 2017-2018. She currently works as a Digital Health Coach for Omada Health as well as her Integrative Nutrition private practice.
Heather Wooden - District Legislative Representative
Formula Technician at CHKD
Véronique Pettitt, RD - Nominating Committee
Véro graduated from Laval University in Québec City (Canada) and is starting an online Master in Nutrition at Arizona State University. She is a Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition, and she works at 2 Fresenius Dialysis clinics in Virginia Beach. She loves helping her patients by trying to find ways with them to improve their health while still enjoying food! In her free time, she likes spending time with her 3 kids, staying active (either running, swimming, kickball, workout, skiing or yoga), cooking, shopping and working on home projects.
Melissa Carroll, RD- President
Melissa completed her dual degrees in dietetics and consumer foods at University of Georgia and her dietetic internship in Augusta Georgia. She began her career in sales with the largest food distribution company in the US and has never left that field of expertise. Her Husband is in the Navy which has provided the opportunity to work in food sales in a variety of diverse regions. Melissa is currently open to new career opportunities. She lives in Norfolk with her Husband and 2 girls. They enjoy eating out, being active, and learning to love Virginia.
Rachel Sheldon, MS, RD - President Elect
Rachel has been a Dietitian for 5 years, starting out at a DME company. She moved to the Tidewater area about a year and a half ago where she now works at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center as a Clinical Dietitian. She did her undergrad at UNC-Greensboro and her masters at East Carolina University. She grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina it was always a dream of hers to live near the beach. In her free time you can find Rachel browsing though cookbooks and trying out new recipes. When she is not cooking you can often find her playing with her cat Poppy or planning her next trip.
Amanda Massabki, RD - Treasurer
I am a Virginia Beach native. I graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and completed my dietetic internship with The Virginia and Maryland Departments of Health while working at WIC. Currently, I enjoy being a Clinical Dietitian at Maryview Medical Center where I am based out on the neurological, general medicine, and acute rehab units, as well as covering the other units as needed. Along with working at WIC and Maryview, I was a Nutrition Coach at the YMCA several years ago after graduating from JMU and did some volunteering/working alongside with a Dietitian in an outpatient clinic. I've also provided nutrition education, multiple times, in a group setting. While I do eat healthy, I am not opposed to indulging every once in a while; I pretty much love all foods. I like working with other people and meeting new people, and I look forward to being more active within the TAND group.
Brenda Klein, RD - Secretary
Former Positions include Clinical Inpatient/Outpatient Dietitian, Nutrition Community Outreach, Foodservice Management
Kirsten Romero, MS, RD - Membership
Kirsten Romero is a Virginia Beach based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who believes in helping her clients achieve their health goals through a livable diet that includes great tasting, healthy foods in moderation. She currently works as a consultant dietitian with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia where she provides nutrition education and one-on-one counseling to seniors throughout the Southside and western Tidewater area. Kirsten has worked in varied clinical settings, including pediatrics, intensive care, outpatient settings, and public health. She graduated from Virginia Tech with both her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Nutrition. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center.
Katie Abbott, MS, RD, INHC - Webmaster
Katie grew up in the mountains of Abingdon, VA, but is currently loving living by the beach in Virginia Beach. She graduated from James Madison University (undergrad), Case Western Reserve University (grad), and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (health coach certification). She completed her Dietetic Internship all over the country from Napa Valley, Raleigh, Cleveland, and New York City. Katie has worked in various clinical settings such as a wellness institute, surgical and non-surgical weight loss, Canyon Ranch, Ornish Lifestyle Medicine, and taught nutrition for the Virginia Community College System. She was past president of TAND during 2017-2018. She currently works as a Digital Health Coach for Omada Health as well as her Integrative Nutrition private practice.
Heather Wooden - District Legislative Representative
Formula Technician at CHKD
Véronique Pettitt, RD - Nominating Committee
Véro graduated from Laval University in Québec City (Canada) and is starting an online Master in Nutrition at Arizona State University. She is a Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition, and she works at 2 Fresenius Dialysis clinics in Virginia Beach. She loves helping her patients by trying to find ways with them to improve their health while still enjoying food! In her free time, she likes spending time with her 3 kids, staying active (either running, swimming, kickball, workout, skiing or yoga), cooking, shopping and working on home projects.