|
Wellness Foundation Staff
Douglas D. Mercer
President
The founder of Wellness Foundation graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with Honors. In his professional life, Mr. Mercer worked in his family shipping business, States Marine Lines, for twenty-five years, and was CEO for the last ten. During his business years he was on the board of Moore McCormack Resources, Maremont Corporation and Paine Webber's Family of Funds. Daily exercise is a highlight of his life. As an avid outdoorsman he has a passion for saltwater flyfishing (catch & release) and competitive Laser sailing. A father of six, and grandfather of nine, Mr. Mercer resides in East Hampton, with his second wife Pat.
Jennifer L. Taylor
Executive Director
Jennifer brings to Wellness Foundation a wide range of wellness coaching/counseling and non-profit experience. She earned a BA in Social Work from Gannon University and holds a certification as a holistic health coach from the world-renowned Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. She is also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Jennifer has been a Wellness Coach for sixteen years and loves empowering people to lead healthy and happy lives. She is the co-creator of Healthy Food For Life and has a special interest in empowering children to become the Generation of Change.
Barbara Kinnier
Community Outreach Director
As Wellness Foundation's Community Outreach Director, Barbara coordinates efforts to educate the community about the Foundation's events and programs. She began working in the wellness field in 1998, when she founded Weight Watcher's first Sag Harbor group, which she led for five years. Soon after, Barbara earned her Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer certifications. With a passion for educating people about health and wellness, she has taught fitness for Sag Harbor and East Hampton adult education programs, and earned her certification as a Nutritional Consultant in 2006. Barbara is a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Peggy Kraus
Senior Associate
Peggy comes to Wellness Foundation with 13 years experience in cardiac rehab. As a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Peggy teaches people with heart disease how regular exercise and plant-strong nutrition can improve their health, decrease their need for medications, and even reverse their cardiac disease. Peggy holds a Master's degree from New York University in Professional Physical Education and the Joel Fuhrman, MD, nutrition certification – Nutritional Education Trainer. Peggy is registered by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Peggy is a freelance writer focusing on exercise and nutrition topics, she enjoys public speaking, and she teaches on diet and exercise topics for the continuing education program at Hampton Bays. Peggy is a member of the IDEA Health & Fitness Association and the Medical Fitness Association.
Gwen McGowan
Senior Associate
Gwen joined the Wellness Foundation team in 2008 with a wealth of business experience. Prior to that she worked for the Town of East Hampton for thirteen years. Gwen has been a dedicated and active volunteer throughout her life. She is a breast cancer survivor and currently volunteers for the Coalition for Women's Cancer and Lucia's Angels. Gwen was a member of our original Wellness Circle program and a graduate of the Wellness Challenge. She is proud to be a part of the Wellness Foundation team helping people in our community lead their best lives.
Ginny Reale
Senior Associate
Ginny comes to Wellness Foundation with 28 years of teaching experience. She taught for seventeen years in the East Hampton School District. Ginny co-founded the BONAC on Board to Wellness initiative in the East Hampton Middle School. It was this project that initially inspired Doug Mercer to create Wellness Foundation. Ginny is co-creator of the Healthy Food For Life program and is passionate about creating a Generation of Change. After years of teaching health to students, she realized that if children were not empowered and educated about optimal nutrition and exercise that the trajectory for their generation was very bleak. She travels to schools throughout our community teaching our six week Healthy Food For Life program to children and parents and each year graduates close to 1,000 new Food Detectives! Ginny is also a Wellness challenge graduate. She and her husband of 41 years, live in East Hampton and have four sons.
Marie Weller
Associate
Marie is a certified health coach who specializes in initiatives that encourage clients to make choices that promote longevity and support healthy aging. Her work is deeply influenced by the quote, "Let food be thy medicine" - Hippocrates. Prior to following her passion in the wellness industry, Marie had a career in fashion in New York City as the Women's North American Wholesale Manager for Jil Sander. She eventually followed her true calling and in 2012, Marie became a certified Holistic Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition of NYC and is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. As a graduate of the Wellness Challenge, Marie experienced first hand the life changing results and is excited to help others as the newest member of the Wellness Foundation team.