FWDA Board of Directors
President-Elizabeth Neumann
President-Elect-Ashley Netting
Ashley Netting (RD, LD) received her B.S. in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She currently works as an inpatient dietitian at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital where she enjoys working on the oncology floor and the cardiovascular ICU. In addition to being an inpatient dietitian, Ashley has started her private practice on a part-time basis. She and her husband live in the TCU area of Fort Worth where they recently bought their first home. In her spare time, she enjoys working on D.I.Y. projects, designing and creating jewelry, learning how to cook, and camping. Ashley has been a member of the ADA for three years and a member of the FWDA for two years. She served as Membership Chair for the 2008-2009 year.
Secretary-Marlene Gatewood
As a graduate of South Dakota State University, Marlene Gatewood completed an internship in Utah and a year of work in Oklahoma City before making Texas home. She spent eight years with ARA Services Hospital Food Management. After a short break to spend time with two daughters, she entered long term care consulting. She is employed with Abshire Dietary Consultants. Her daughters are in college and her husband is busy managing a small business in Cleburne. After spending a year as Chair of Professional Issues, she agreed to hone her secretary and computer skills for FWDA. She is at home in Cleburne with husband Herman and two entertaining cats. She is an active member of Kiwanis Club of Cleburne and Crossroad Church of Cleburne.
Treasurer-Stephanie Adin
Stephanie completed her B.S. degree at La Tech University in Ruston, La. She then moved to Corpus Christi and completed her Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance at Corpus Christi State University. She began as a clinical dietitian at Garland Memorial Hospital. She has also worked in long term care, at Driscoll Foundation Children's Hospital, and for Corpus Christi I.S.D. Stephanie is currently employed for the Fort Worth I.S.D. as Coordinator of Child Nutrition Services.
Immediate Past President-Leslie Lopez
Leslie Lopez, MS, RD, LD grew up on a feeder cattle ranch in the Panhandle town of Stratford, TX, and is the youngest of 6, (4 brothers and 1 sister). Her whole family was active in all aspects of 4-H, but her projects focused on clothing, food and nutrition, horses, and livestock. She graduated from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) with a degree in Animal Science. After a few years of work, she realized she had a job but not a career. Going back to the roots of nutrition established in 4-H and her personal experience with growing up morbidly obese, she obtained her Masters degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. She laughs and says she “learned how to feed the animals and now I feed animals to people.”
She and her husband, James, have 3 children, Melynn (11), Hayden (9), and Jarrett (4). Her hobbies include sewing, cooking, anything Aggie, baseball (because of her boys), softball and diving (because of her daughter), and generally just trying to keep up with all the kids’ activities.
After a short sabbatical to raise her children, she currently works part-time for HealthSouth Fort Worth. Her goal is to design her own position within her kids’ school district to provide nutrition education to kids, with the goal of helping them avoid the heartache associated with carrying excess weight, and the long-term effects of poor nutrition habits.
Chair, Nominating/Awards Committee-Janet Hendrix Duncan
Janet Hendrix Duncan is the past President of FWDA for 2005-2006 and was President in 1975-76. She is a member of Dietitians in Business Communication, the Food and Culinary Professionals, and Consultant Dietitians in HealthCare Facilities practice groups for continuing learning and networking opportunities. She is employed with Ben E Keith Foods as Corporate Dietitian and Healthcare Specialist. Her work allows for travel in the Southwest, primarily all of Texas , and speaking engagements or working tradeshows, selling, and marketing. The role of a non-traditional dietitian has been rewarding during these 19 years of employment with Ben E Keith Foods. Janet has held leadership roles with the Texas Dietetic Association both on the Nominating Committee, and as Exhibitor Advisory Chairman working with the FNCE tradeshow. Janet has been a member of Fort Worth Dietetic Association since 1970 and has held several offices and voluntary committee/planning tasks for seminars.scholarship fundraising and career guidance. Janet is on the Advisory Board of the Texas Dietetic Association Foundation.
Chair, Council of Professional Issues (Spring Seminar)-Ruth Linhart
Ruth Linhart, MPH, RD, LD received her B.S. degree from Florida State University and her MPH degree from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
She worked for 12 years as an Outpatient Dietitian at DeWitt Army Health Care System, Ft Belvoir, VA before moving to Texas. Following her husband’s retirement from the Marine Corp, she became more involved in Northern Virginia Dietetic Association serving as Fundraiser, Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary. She currently is working part-time as a Nutrition Coach. She enjoys quilting, genealogy and golfing.
Chair, Website Committee-Christine Sawyer
Christine Sawyer, RD, LD received a BS in Clinical Nutrition from The University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, a coordinated program. Christine has a passion for pediatric nutrition. She immediately went to work for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) of North Central Texas to work with developmentally delayed children from birth to three years old. Christine has two small boys. She has coordinated the FWDA website since 2003.
Chair, Bylaws Committee-Belinda Boshell
Belinda has been active with the Fort Worth Dietetic Association since 2005, serving two years as Treasurer, one year as FWDA Scholarship Endowment Event Co-Chair and beginning her fourth year as Bylaws Chair . She brings years of leadership experience to FWDA from her participation with the East Texas Dietetic Association and the Texas Dietetic Association. Belinda served as East Texas Dietetic Association President-Elect, President, Immediate Past President. She has held many elected offices with the Texas Dietetic Association, including Immediate Past President, President, President-elect, Treasurer, Vice President, Vice President-Elect, and Nominating Committee Member. Additionally, Belinda served TDA in numerous appointed positions as TDA Awards Coordinator, Chair of the Community Nutrition Division of the Council on Practice and Chair of TDA Speakers Bureau Task Force. She currently serves on the 2008-2009 TDA Leadership Team as Chair of the Financial Development Committee and as a member of the TDA Website Task Force and Lobbyist Task Force. Belinda retired in 2004 after 28 years service to the State of Texas, which includes 25 years in marketing with the Texas Department of Agriculture and three years teaching at Stephen F. Austin State University. She holds BA, BS, and MS degrees from Texas Woman’s University in Denton and is the recipient of the 1999 TDA Distinguished Dietitian Award.
Chair, Membership Committee-Nicole Chase
Director-at-Large - Public Policy-Danny Davis
Director-at-Large - Communication-Lisa Hall
Lisa Hall RD,LD received her B.S. in Dietetics at Texas Woman's University while being a certified pharmacy technician for seven years. She completed her dietetic internship at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas (PHD). Post graduation she accepted a job at Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital (HMFW) in which she worked as the Oncology/Med Surg/CVICU dietitian for three years. While at HMFW she discovered her passion for the Oncology area. She recently made a new career move as an Oncology Dietitian at Texas Oncology through UT Southwestern Medical/Moncrief Cancer Resources and loves every minute of it! She also works PRN for Kindred Mansfield and is the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospice dietitian for Vitas Hospice. Her major future goal is to obtain her credential to specialize in oncology, CSO.
Other FWDA Leadership
Nominating/Awards Committee-Members-
David Goldmeyer
David Goldmeyer, a Houston native, has been working in the food and nutrition industry for 13 years. While an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, his experience in the field began as an employee of dining services at Cain Hall, the dormitory for student athletes. During this time, he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition Science. His interest in dietetics stems from swimming in high school, cycling and running: all endurance sports that require the discipline of good nutrition. David continued his education through a dietetic internship at Mississippi State University. Foregoing a Master's degree, David moved to Dallas in 2000 and began work as a clinical dietitian with Morrison Healthcare. During his 5 years at Doctors Hospital-White Rock, he pursued an MBA at Texas A&M University-Commerce. David then transitioned to management within Morrison Healthcare and moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. While enduring three winters in the upper Midwest, he was an Associate Director of Food and Nutrition at United Hospital in St. Paul. Expecting their first child, he and his wife, Melody, moved back to Texas in 2007, and began working for Novartis Medical Nutrition. Following the recent acquisition of Novartis by Nestlé, he now represents Nestlé HealthCare Nutrition in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas, and enjoys the many opportunities he has to work with fellow clinicians. David hopes his experience in multiple areas of the dietetics profession will benefit FWDA, and he looks forward to working closely with its members
Ann Salyer-Caldwell
Historian-Vicki Catlin
Chair, Public Relations-Lyn Dart
Lyn Dart, PhD, RD, LD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Christian University (TCU). In addition to teaching responsibilities, Dr Dart serves as the General Supervised Practice Coordinator and the Community and Culminating Coordinator for the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. As a faculty member in the College of Science and Engineering, Dr Dart is committed to increasing research opportunities for nutrition students. She is active in community-campus partnerships that provide collaborative research opportunities, effectively engage students in service-learning, and improve nutritional health outcomes in the community. Students' participation in community-based research include projects at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Senior Citizen Services of Tarrant County, Fort Worth Zoo, Cornerstone Community Center, Fort Worth Independent School District, Baylor All-Saints Medical Center, Birdville Independent School District, and Lockheed Martin Recreation Association. In 2007, Dr Dart partnered with TCU Harris School of Nursing, Tarrant County Master Gardener Association, and the Tarrant County Resource Connection to help meet the needs of the Fort Worth community. Community Gardening for Active Citizenship is a research initiative to explore community gardening as a service learning and community-building strategy that fosters public health practice skills among students, and engages community members in learning about sustainable food systems and the health benefits of gardening.
Chair, Scholarship Event-Danny Davis
Chair, Student Relations-OPEN
Student Liaison - TCU-OPEN
Student Liaison - TCC-SE-OPEN
