When the world went into lockdown in 2022, Laura quickly realized that her 16 year old daughter was battling an eating disorder.  As a former Registered Dietitian, Laura turned to “google” to find out how to help her daughter and found FEAST. The FEAST Facebook group became her lifeline during those first overwhelming months. Once her daughter was in a solid place in her journey, Laura decided to pay it forward and become a FEAST parent volunteer. Laura currently serves as a Lead Family Mentor with Equip. She has pivoted personally and professionally from being entrenched in diet culture to becoming an anti-diet practitioner and person. Laura earned her Bachelors of Science in Coordinated Dietetics from Syracuse University, her Masters of Science from New York University in Food and Nutrition and her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University.    

Dave’s daughter was diagnosed with anorexia in 2012, when she was 10 years old. He has been learning about eating disorders ever since and hasn’t found anything as helpful as learning from others with lived experience. Professionally, Dave is CEO of Webucator, Inc., which provides technical and business training to organizations throughout the US. Prior to joining Webucator he served as a CFO and COO for numerous small and medium-sized companies. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Montessori School of Syracuse since 2001. Dave received his Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College and his MBA from Syracuse University.

Ellen is the mother of a daughter who is recovered from Anorexia Nervosa. She credits her daughter’s recovery in no small part to the education and support she received from FEAST (and her awesome husband.) In her professional life, Ellen has been in the logistics industry for over 33 years, 23 of them at UPS. Her skills are in executive leadership, strategy development and execution as well as in innovative business processes deployed in conjunction with technology solutions. She is currently Vice President, eCommerce Technology Strategy at UPS, responsible for development and deployment of UPS’ global shipping and billing systems. She has served in a variety of marketing, strategy and engineering roles throughout her logistics career. Ellen holds a Master of Science degree in International Logistics from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and German from Middlebury College.

Jenni Gaines is the mother of three and an active FEAST volunteer. When her daughter was diagnosed with anorexia, Jenni turned to the voices of lived experience on FEAST’s ATDT forum for guidance. She considers FEAST’s combination of educational resources and meaningful support a literal lifeline for parents of those with eating disorders. Jenni began volunteering for FEAST as a member of the Parent Support Lines Team, responding to voice mails and emails from parents caring for a child with an eating disorder. Her most recent role is as FEAST’s “volunteer” Volunteer Coordinator, matching prospective volunteers with opportunities to serve FEAST. She also represents FEAST in collaboration with both Equip and ANAD, facilitating support groups for caregivers. Jenni has a B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law. Her relevant professional training and experience includes work as a mediator, community educator, cognitive behavioral coach, writer, and editor.

Judy Krasna has been involved in the eating disorders space as a parent advocate and an expert by experience for over 15 years. She was an active volunteer in the Academy for Eating Disorders and is a staunch advocate for incorporating lived experience into research and treatment. After serving on the F.E.A.S.T. Board of Directors and taking on multiple volunteer roles within the organization, Judy stepped into the position of F.E.A.S.T. Executive Director in early 2021. Judy is passionate about helping families of people with eating disorders, especially after her daughter Gavriella took her own life after a fierce and prolonged battle with anorexia. Contact Judy Krasna: Email: .

Margaret’s daughter was diagnosed with restrictive anorexia nervosa in the fall of 2019 when she was 15. Her daughter’s recovery has taken many paths, and Margaret has learned the importance of being an educated caregiver and advocate for her daughter through the recovery process. Since this time, Margaret has found F.E.A.S.T. to be an invaluable source of education, advice, and most importantly, support, while she and her family have battled this disorder. Her passion is to “pay it forward” and ensure that the services and support she relies on are there for others. After 10 years of working in the paper industry, Margaret became a self-professed, “corporate vagabond” with her husband, and lived in three countries over twelve years. During this time, she worked for multiple charities and non-profit organizations in Russia and China that focused mainly on supporting women and children in under-resourced areas. Upon her return to the United States, Margaret worked in sales and event management before taking on the role of Development Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations for Girls Inc. of Memphis. Margaret currently focuses her time on helping other families who are in recovery from eating disorders and serves as the Chair of F.E.A.S.T.’s Fundraising Committee.

Rachel Polonsky is a writer, university teacher, mother and grandmother, based in Cambridge UK. She has been a supporter of FEAST and its principles since its foundation. She believes that FEAST’s work saves lives and families.

An active FEAST volunteer, Elizabeth Woodcock is a mother of three. After a fitful start to her young-adult daughter’s treatment for anorexia, Elizabeth discovered FEAST – and the wonderful community of caregivers the organization represents. Through education, insight, and support, FEAST offered Elizabeth the opportunity – and confidence – to become a member of her daughter’s care team. FEAST gave her the voice she needed to support her daughter’s recovery. She co-leads the FEAST/ANAD caregiver support groups each week, and has authored an “empowered-mama” article on FEAST.  In addition to a BA from Duke University, she completed a MBA degree in healthcare management from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. In her professional life, she founded and serves as the executive director of a national coalition of US-based health systems striving to improve patient access.