Class Description:

This panel will share how seemingly disparate brands, beef and produce, have come together and partnered with influencers to change the perceptions of healthy, sustainable diets. Attendees will hear from Neva Cochran, MS, RDN, LD, along with Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak with Produce for Better Health, and Shalene McNeill, executive director of human nutrition research at National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, about how brands can find common ground and the role influencers can play in supporting those brand partnerships to advance a new food narrative.

Presented by Neva Cochran, Shalene McNeill, & Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak

Neva Cochran, owner of “Eating Beyond the Headlines,” is a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Dallas, Texas. She serves as a nutrition communications consultant to a variety of food and nutrition organizations and is a frequent speaker at local and state Academy conferences. She is passionate about promoting fact-based food and nutrition information to help people eat beyond the headlines and enjoy a variety of nutrient-rich foods. She currently serves as a consultant for Bayer U.S. Crop Science, the Calorie Control Council, Bigelow Tea, Kemin Human Nutrition and Health and the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement. In addition she is a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Beef Expert Speakers’ Bureau, a Fruit and Vegetable Ambassador in Action for the Produce for Better Health Foundation and a volunteer expert for the Council on Biotechnology’s GMO Answers initiative.

A familiar face in the media, Neva has participated in over a 1000 newspaper, magazine, radio and television interviews about nutrition across the country. Since 2012 she has contributed a monthly nutrition article for Southern Dallas County Business and Living Magazine and for 20 years was an ongoing columnist, researcher and writer for Woman’s World magazine. She was also a freelance nutrition writer for Maximum Fitness and The Female Patient magazines for five years each.

An active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, she has served as President of both the Dallas and Texas Academies, a national Academy media spokesperson, a member of the House of Delegates, Chair of the Academy Foundation and member of the Board of Directors. She was a 2012 recipient of the Academy’s Medallion Award and the 2016 Texas Academy’s Outstanding Preceptor Award. She earned a BS in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s in nutrition from the Texas Woman’s University. She completed a dietetic internship at Texas Health Resources Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Shalene McNeill is a registered and licensed dietitian and nutrition scientist with nearly 20 years of experience in food, nutrition and agriculture research and public nutrition education. Dr. McNeill serves as the executive director of Human Nutrition Research for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and is the senior nutrition scientist and registered dietitian on staff. In this role, she guides farmers and ranchers in identifying high-quality research to better understand beef’s role in health and then fosters scientific dialogue about beef’s role as a nourishing food. She also leads farmer and rancher supported nutrition programs aimed at helping the public build healthier, enjoyable diets with beef.

Dr. McNeill has authored, co-authored or guest-edited more than 16 manuscripts, on a variety of human nutrition and animal agriculture topics and has presented her research and perspectives to thousands of health professionals around the world. As a recognized meat nutrition expert, she is also frequently quoted and interviewed by national media outlets about nutrition and how to incorporate beef in a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. McNeill is a member of and has held volunteer positions within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), American Society for Nutrition and Institute of Food Technologists. She is a past president of the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND, formerly the Texas Dietetic Association).

Dr. McNeill holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and a doctorate in human nutrition, both from Texas A&M University. She has been a practicing registered and licensed dietitian since 1996. Her favorite beef meal is a grilled strip loin steak paired with seasonal roasted vegetables enjoyed at her family dining table with her husband and two teen aged daughters.

Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, is the President and CEO of the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Foundation. At PBH, she guides the Foundation’s efforts to work with more than 500 industry and government partners to advance the overall effort of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption through all produce forms – fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100% juice.

Prior to joining PBH, Wendy was the Global Lead for Food, Nutrition and Health Partnerships at the Monsanto Company. While at Monsanto, her efforts focused on bridging the food, nutrition, culinary and agriculture communities for greater collaboration.

Prior to Monsanto, Wendy served as Senior Director of Health and Wellness at the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and IFIC Foundation in Washington, DC. While at IFIC, she directed communication strategies, including consumer research, opinion leader and media outreach, as well as publications and partnerships, for multiple food safety and nutrition-related issues.

Wendy earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nutrition and Exercise Science from the University of Missouri, Columbia and James Madison University, respectively. She completed her dietetic internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital – an affiliate of the Yale University School of Medicine.

Wendy resides in St. Louis, MO with her husband Dan and three children, Drew, Evan and Ava.