2April's CVEg Speakers
Faces of compassion sharing stories and wisdom.
Gwyn Whittaker
CEO, Owner and Educator at Greenfare Organic Café , Herndon, VA (Food for Life Instructor)
After a long and successful career as an entrepreneur in high performance computing, Gwyn decided to dedicate the next chapter of her life to helping create a healthier world. Inspired by the documentary Forks Over Knives, Gwyn completed the Plant Based Nutrition Certificate Program from Cornell’s Center for Nutritional Studies, attended Dr. John McDougall’s Wellness Program, PCRM’s Food For LIfe certification, and worked with T Colin Campbell and his son, Nelson Campbell to successfully execute a 45 person 10 day JumpStart program that transformed the lives of so many of its participants in early 2015. It was from these experiences that the idea of GreenFare was born–a cafe where education and awareness is promoted around awesome whole plant food that is certified organic and oil free.
Frances Kerley, RD
Registered Dietitian, Richmond, VA (Food for Life Instructor)
Frances Kerley, RD, has been a Registered Dietitian for over a decade. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Dietetics from James Madison University and completed her dietetic internship at Virginia Tech. Frances discovered her passion for plant-based nutrition and the powerful role food can play in improving health and quality of life. She leads the Healthy Teaching Kitchen Program at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System, where she teaches nutrition and cooking classes that help participants build confidence in the kitchen, learning how to prepare simple, delicious meals using whole foods. She is especially passionate about helping people incorporate more plant-based foods, particularly fiber-rich favorites like beans, lentils, and whole grains, into everyday meals.
Also a participant in the 2024 Cville VegFest & RVa's VeggieFests, Frances loves sharing plant-forward cooking demonstrations and nutrition education with community.
Daphne Bascom, MD, PhD
Plant-Based Health Coach , Forest, VA (Food for Life Instructor)
Dr. Daphne is a plant-based Health Coach and Chief Operating Officer of The Vegan Gym, with a distinguished career spanning clinical medicine, population health, and health system leadership. Daphne has held several senior executive roles at organizations including St. Luke's Health System, the Chief Health Officer at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, Cerner Corporation, as well as Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Bascom completed advanced surgical training at Oregon Health Sciences University, earned her medical degree and residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and received her PhD in physiological sciences from the University of Oxford. She is widely recognized for her leadership in evidence-based health innovation and her contributions to advancing women in physiology and medicine. We are thrilled to have her at CVEg. Hear more from Daphne at https://www.youtube.com/@drdaphnebascom
Margaretha Backers, RN, BSN
Wellness Nurse, Falls Church, VA (Food for Life Instructor)
Margaretha is a board certified member of the National Society of Health Coaches. She holds degrees in Biology, Education and Nursing and has experience in both the ER and as a Wellness Nurse since 2004. Margaretha now works with employees of various businesses to manage their health through nutrition, exercise, prophylactic visits and stress management. She has been a plant-based vegan for well over 30 years and holds a Plant Based Nutrition Certification from Cornell; Certification as a Food For Life Instructor from the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine; as well as a Masters in Fitness Certification from Cooper Institute.
Margaretha presented at the Cville Veg Fest in 2024 at IX Park and has been going to the Vegan Summerfest in Philadelphia for decades. She is presenting at Summerfest again this year. And she is bringing that same message to you, right here in Cville! You are in for a treat.
John Reed, MD
Board-Certified Family Practice Physician, Crozet, VA
Dr. Reed is a board-certified Family Practice physician at the Augusta Health Primary Care office in Crozet, VA. He is also a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and has a thorough knowledge of plant-based nutrition and the lifestyle changes that can reverse chronic disease. John is a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician and seeks to help guide his patients to lose weight, reverse chronic diseases, and decrease the need for medications with massive lifestyle change; working to help you personalize a plan to get you on track to optimize your health.
John had also presented at the Cville VegFest in 2024, and has presented several times at the Plant Centered Thriving potluck group that Clint & Mary host. Email us to register for the PCT potluck , 6pm, the first Monday of every month at Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Honie Ann Peacock
Visionary Social Entrepreneur in the Health Food Movement
Since the 1960’s Honie Ann has been at the forefront of the organic food, health & fitness industries in NYC. She manufactured “Hon’s Buns”, her own organic vegan baked goods line; ran a catering and café business in Manhattan; and founded CHANGE 2000, a non-profit social enterprise that prepared public high school youth for the hospitality and culinary industries. Honie Ann has a Restaurant Management degree from the New School, and was a student at The Natural Gourmet Institute. At the Cville Veg Ed gathering Honie Ann will take a deeper dive into humans’ role in creating a healthier planet starting with the sun, soil, seeds, and water– the subjects of her recent sister projects – “Are We Really What We Eat” www.honshealthykitchen.com and Forest Forager Initiative” www.forestforagerinitiative.com. All participants will receive a discounted Kitchen Consult with Honie Ann. She has attended and presented at Cville's Plant Centered Thriving potluck gatherings.
