Alumni Team

Kate McLaughlin has over 10 years’ experience in the communications and marketing sectors, working for large scale companies in the UK and Canada. Her fascination with the workings of the human body and the idea that food has a direct correlation with how our bodies can function and thrive (or decline in some cases) brought her to CSNN where she graduated as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist in 2011. Kate has since become a mother to two small children and is passionate about pediatric and family nutrition.

Currently, Kate is the Communications Manager at the CSNN Vancouver branch. Some of her many roles include organizing the monthly networking events, writing the monthly newsletters and manning the social media accounts. Kate also owns her own handmade products business and volunteers with local organizations such as Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks.

In Kate’s spare moments you will find her playing games with her kids, on a long run with the dog, or at the local farmer’s market with her family.

Even with almost 20 years experience in the field of holistic nutrition, Lisa Tsakos has never had a dull career moment. Having had various roles within the industry, most of her work has focused on education, corporate nutrition and writing. Lisa has taught and written courses for CSNN, Centennial College, and the Transformational Arts College among others. Her business, Nu-Vitality Health & Wellness, has launched successful careers for many RHNs across Canada. She authored The Weight Battlefield and a cookbook, and co-authored Unjunk Your Junk Food: Healthy Alternatives to Conventional Snacks, along with a series of e-books.

Today, Lisa organizes and presents nutrition seminars at companies across Canada and writes web-based educational programs. Her most important role, however, is incorporating nutrition principles she has learned and taught over the years to raise her two toddlers.

Lisa is thrilled to represent the CSNNAA in the Maritimes. She looks forward to connecting, supporting and mentoring Alumni to build our reputation and to generate work opportunities throughout the East Coast.

Shonda Holt graduated in 1991 from Selkirk College with a diploma in nursing. She practiced as an RN in the United States for 12 years with experience in cardiac, emergency room, recovery room, wound care. She moved back Canada and continued her career, as a nursing instructor at Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and most recently was the Program Manager for Clinical Accreditation at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta.

She began her own healing journey approximately 4 years ago; using nutrition to lose weight, improve energy, decrease brain fog, balance blood sugars and balance hormones. It was so life changing that she decided to change the focus of her career. She graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2014 and is excited to open her private practice as a Holistic Nutritionist. She is passionate about lifelong learning and continues her studies through the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology. Her passion is to walk alongside her clients and provide support and education that will empower them to have an abundant life.

She was once told that her name means “helper of mankind” and she truly feels that is her purpose.

Melody Byblow’s former career was in marketing, communications, product development and strategic initiatives, working for advertising agencies and a finance company in Toronto for nearly 20 years. It was her own chronic pain issues becoming debilitating over 10+ years that led her to pursue education at CSNN (graduated 2010). The healing benefits and progress she found with her fibromyalgia were so remarkable, she decided to leave the corporate world and pursue entrepreneurial life as a holistic nutritionist.

In her private practice, Melody coaches individuals to detoxify their daily routines, environment and food to support improvements in autoimmune issues, adrenal fatigue and other health challenges. She also is a Certified Master Workplace Wellness Ambassador and a Stressmaster International Associate. Melody enjoys public speaking and looks for opportunities to educate and empower people to take control of their health.

She has recently relocated to Saskatoon to be closer to family and to launch her businesses there. Melody is very much looking forward to connecting with CSNN grads in Saskatchewan.

Melody also has a caregiver support role with her parents’ health challenges now. She has become a member of the Parkinson’s Support Group in Saskatoon, and has offered nutrition education opportunities for members. She will also continue to work with NHPPA (Natural Health Product Protection Association www.nhppa.org) and its mission to have the Charter of Health Freedom become Canadian law.

Stephanie is a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and expanded her studies to receive culinary certification from the Academy of Culinary Nutrition in 2015.  With a passion for community building, Stephanie became a course instructor at CSNN Edmonton in 2015 and co-founded a local networking group for Holistic Nutrition professionals that grew to over 200 members. Her practice maintains a balance between supporting one-on-one nutrition clients and supporting nutrition graduates in their businesses. As an outlet to foster community and growth for practitioners, she co-founded The Health Collective YEG which is a wellness-based workshop space in Edmonton.

A newcomer to Vancouver Island, Stephanie hopes to continue to grow her business supporting nutrition clients and nutritionists in her community. With a special focus on intuitive eating, mindset shifts, and success coaching for wellness entrepreneurs, she hopes to provide a holistic approach to all of her clients that encompasses mind, body and spirit.

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Leslie Dickie is a Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant™; earned her designation from CSNN Calgary in 2016. She brings a unique combination of academic knowledge to this industry with a B.A. in Leisure, Tourism & Society, as well as Marketing Management from the University of Calgary. In addition, Leslie has her Personal Fitness Trainer diploma from Mount Royal University, and has held additional certifications as a Fitness Professional with AFLCA and CAN-FIT-PRO. Leslie has worked in the hospitality and tourism industry in sales & marketing, event planning, customer service training and management.

On a personal level, she has managed Type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and various food sensitivities through most of her life. Leslie conducts ongoing research on food and supplement products, leading-edge technologies, and management protocols to uncover the best solutions for herself and others, while making connections with sources in the community, and accumulating a collection of reliable, science-based resources that she is passionate about sharing. Leslie is the proud mom of two accomplished young adults. Leslie enjoys traveling, outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, cycling, golf, dog walking), cooking, recipe makeovers, and reading.