Contributing Gurus

Ronni Arno Blaisdell, Health Advocate (aka: Groovy Go-Go Gal)

Ronni has been working in the communications field for 20 years. She has worked on public relations and marketing campaigns for clients in the entertainment industry, financial institutions, large corporations, and several non-profit organizations. In 2005, Ronni decided to focus her career on women with cancer, and founded Team Survivor Tri-State, a local Chapter of the National Association of Team Survivor, a non-profit organization that provides free exercise programs, health education, and support to women with cancer.

Ronni is currently the Director of Communications & Public Outreach with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), where she creates and implements national media campaigns, public service announcements, and national and local marketing strategies.

Ronni is also a contributing writer to magazines and blogs (such as her own Improve Your Groove), a certified holistic health counselor, a spin instructor, a mom, a vegan, and some day hopes to sit down with her feet up.

Jack Norris, Registered Dietitian (aka: Jack-of-all-Trades)

Jack Norris, RD earned a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Life University (Marietta, GA) in 2000 and finished his dietetic internship at Georgia State University in 2001.

Along with Ginny Messina, MS RD, Jack has written the upcoming book Vegan For Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet. Jack writes a nutrition blog at JackNorrisRD.com. He is the author of Vitamin B12: Are You Getting It? and maintains VeganHealth.org.

Jack is the President and co-founder of Vegan Outreach. Vegan Outreach produces Why Vegan and other booklets. Vegan Outreach’s Adopt a College program directly hands booklets to over 500,000 students every semester. In 2005, Jack was elected to the Animal Rights Hall of Fame. Most recently, he created the nutrient analysis tool: peacounter.com.

Marcus Todd, Executive Chef (aka: Super Sly)

Marcus Todd, Executive Chef and owner of Red Fox Culinary, has over 10 years of experience in fine dining, and a degree in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu Academy in Orlando.

Since I started cooking, I always wanted to truly feed and nourish people. When I was in the restaurant business I never really got to do that. I gave people what they ordered, but not necessarily what they needed. That did not fulfill me. So I started helping people meet their personal goals by shopping and cooking for them.

Smooth move Super Sly. Located in Southern California, Red Fox Culinary offers plant-based whole-food personal chef services with private or group lessons and shopping tours as well as in-home meal preparation. They specialize in catering to the client’s personal taste and dietary needs while providing the highest quality whole, plant-based foods.

Lisa Kerschner, Organic Farm Owner (aka: Starlite Lisa)

Lisa and Ike Kerschner founded North Star Orchard in 1992 on a 4-acre piece of leased property. Today they offer lovely orchard fruit, vegetables and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to the local community. North Star goes to great measures to grow their produce as organically as possible on the East coast.

Lisa enjoys working on the farm, although she’s more occupied with keeping the farm business glowing through farmers’ market participation and managing the CSA. Meanwhile, she oversees the farm’s website, email, newsletters, and book-keeping.

Lisa’s life’s focus, in addition to the business, is that of homeschooling their son Jay. Reading, writing, and working on art projects are small pleasures that let her inner light shimmer.

April Mast, Blogging Mother

April created Kid Tested Firefighter Approved in an effort to cook her way to sanity, one meal at a time. Preparing plant-strong meals provides a much-needed break from the day-to-day stresses of being a mother with two little ones. Meanwhile, she’s studying to become a Registered Dietitian while gaining experience through her blog.

Raised a vegetarian, April is constantly on a quest for healthy plant-based recipes to fuel her picky toddler and firefighting husband while keeping time in the kitchen to a minimum. Together, they enjoy her delicious meals fit for a family and a hero.