Healthy Kids Challenge Staff

Vickie L. James, RD, LD
Healthy Kids Challenge Director
vickie@healthykidschallenge.com

Claudia Hohnbaum, MA, RD, LD
Healthy Kids Challenge Assistant Director
claudia@healthykidschallenge.com

Diana M. Floyd, RD, LD
School Coordinator
diana@healthykidschallenge.com

Tammy Simons, MS, RD, LD, NSCA-CPT
Project Coordinator
tammy@healthykidschallenge.com

Sarah Wamsley, MS, RD, LD
HKC Web Site Coordinator
WOWS Newsletter Editor
sarah@healthykidschallenge.com

Audrey Landwehr, BFA
HKC Layout and Design Coordinator
mlandwehr1@cox.net

Tiffany Wegerer
Healthy Kids Challenge Distribution
tiffany@healthykidschallenge.com

The Team:(left to right)Vickie James, Audrey Landwehr, Diana Floyd, Claudia Hohnbaum Ginell Wetter, Sarah Wamsley, Tammy Simons

Vickie L. James, RD, LD, Director
Vickie L. James is the Director of our nationally award winning Healthy Kids Challenge. Her passion and expertise......a vision to create a path, yet not paved, that can lead the way for schools, families, and communities to get healthier. Known for her interactive and educational workshop messages, Vickie spends a great deal of her time addressing regional and national audiences with inspiring messages to encourage others to lead the charge for healthy changes for kids. Mentoring university students to become tomorrow's healthcare professionals, working with schools and community programs leadership to bring wellness to the forefront of their daily practice, and providing creative solutions to the food and fitness industry sponsors who partner with HKC are all part of the reason why Vickie was named the 2003-04 American Dietetics Association Award of Excellence in Community Dietetics. With a Bachelors degree in Dietetics and Institutional Management from Kansas State University, and registered, licensed dietitian credentials, Ms. James has taken a small nonprofit organization and created a very large scale capacity to provide viable solutions for childhood obesity, and making healthy living a habit.

Favorite HKC Materials: I love MANY activities in the HKC activity books but my all time favorite HAS to be “Plate Dancing” (Setting Up for Success, page 58). I have tested this activity with young and old alike and my conclusion is movement, laughter, and letting go even for a few minutes is fun and healthy! "I Just Can't Wait to be King", from Lion King is my favorite song to plate dance to because it speaks to self-esteem and wanting to be our best, something I aspire to help all kids achieve. Happy dancing!

Vickie and Claudia using HEAR, SEE and DO at a teacher workshop.

Quote: "My work is a gift, a wonderful opportunity to help others and feel like I can do something to make a difference today for tomorrow."

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Morning time for reflection on my front porch, walking, cooking tasty dishes that are also healthy, and time with friends and family!"

Claudia Hohnbaum, MA, RD, LD, Assistant Director
Claudia Hohnbaum, a registered and licensed dietitian, is the Healthy Kids Challenge Assistant Director. Since the early 1990’s she has been giving workshops, developing educational resources, and helping to guide schools and community programs to assess and change their environments and practices. Primary HKC roles include distance assistance, grant writing, project evaluation, and Web and resource development. Recent projects include the development of Kansas Kids C.A.N., a 3 year study to impact healthy eating and activity habits within Rural Kansas Kids’ Programs, the HKC-CIGNA Health Care Professional Tool Kit, and the HKC-CIGNA Showcase School Program. She was previously a consultant for the Kansas LEAN School Health Project and was editor and contributor for the Kansas LEAN Manual Step Up and Step Out...for Children. Ms. Hohnbaum received her B.S. degree in Food and Nutrition and Related Sciences from Iowa State University, and her M.A. in Instructional Design and Technology, Health Sciences from the University of Iowa.

Favorite HKC Materials: "Kids Create Their Own Snack Bar" (A la Cart Snack Fun, page 33) is an AWE-some learning experience. It allows kids to have fun with creative snack ideas, and gives them practice reading labels for sugar, fat, and serving sizes. When kids cost ingredients or single servings of the snacks they create, they practice math skills, too. Try this activity and open the door to a myriad of learning possibilities!

Quote: "Each day we take a minute to find one simple and enjoyable healthy change we can make, we open the door for fit and healthy kids.”

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Walking, hiking, running, biking, golf, and tasty fresh fruits of every season!"

Diana’s kids, Curtis, Ryan and LeAnn share family time.

Diana Floyd, RD,LD
Diana Floyd has worked on various projects for Healthy Kids Challenge over the past years. She currently is the CIGNA Showcase and Making Strides School programs coordinator working with schools across the nation to implement healthy changes. "I love the challenge of helping them problem solve in their individually diverse situations to accomplish their common goals." Diana also travels to various sites to present the Walk Through the Pyramid™ and other special projects for HKC when needed. She’s a registered and licensed dietitian, and has worked in Health Care in the past as a consultant to acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, wellness, daycare and Head Start programs. As a member of the local school board, she brings a panoramic prospective to school wellness issues. Diana received her dietetics degree from the College of Human Ecology in Dietetics and Institutional Management, Kansas State University. She also works as the executive director for the Kansas Dietetic Association.

Favorite HKC Materials: "Recognizing Fat and Sugar in Snack Foods" (Setting Up For Success, page 24) is always a great activity to engage participants. I have used it for all ages from upper elementary to senior citizens and for any size group. After given a chance to arrange the items, I give others a chance to make changes in the previous arrangement to involve more people. To emphasize the "all foods fit" message, I point out that if you combine all the items it would make a healthy snack mix that balances the foods higher in fat and sugar!

Quote: “Progress is measured in small bites, small changes, small steps everyday everyway. Keeping at the task, and keeping on task will always make a big difference in the long run.”

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Early morning exercise, wide open spaces, and an exercise routine that changes with the seasons keeps me moving toward better health.”

Tammy’s girls, Anna and Addi.

Tammy Simons, MS, RD, LD, NSCA-CPT
Tammy Simons wears many hats for Healthy Kids Challenge, one is as a school coordinator for CIGNA Making Strides Schools working with schools across the nation to implement healthy changes. Most recently she was the Project Coordinator for the Kansas Kids C.A.N. (Connect Activity and Nutrition) grant in Southwest Kansas. This project was a joint effort of Healthy Kids Challenge and the Pioneer Health Network to add a nutrition and physical activity component to existing kids’ programs and schools. In addition to her present duties, Tammy assists with the business side of HKC as well. She is a registered, licensed dietitian and certified personal trainer with a variety of experiences in community wellness. Tammy received her B.A. in Exercise Science from Wichita State University. She received a B.S. degree from the Coordinated Program in Dietetics and her M.S. in Nutrition from Kansas State University.

Favorite HKC Materials: "Crazy Capital Jump" (Acting Up, page 36) is a perfect example of how simple it is to integrate physical activity into a common social studies lesson, making it more appealing and fun for kids. Kids engage both mind AND body in learning the state capitals when they jump onto a state in the grid. Easily enhance the fun by having them guess if a "fact" about their state is true or false.

Quote: “When kids are presented a choice, they go for what's SIMPLE and FUN; we can make a difference in their lives by offering them easy, appealing healthy choices every day.”

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Hiking and jogging, inventing my own recipes for fruit smoothies, and time for reflection with my family at the end of each day."

Backyard active play for Sarah’s boys, Lander and Colton.

Sarah Wamsley, MS, RD, LD
Sarah Wamsley is the Web Site Coordinator and manages the weekly WOWS, Challenge of the Month, and other E-newsletters for Healthy Kids Challenge. Her responsibilities include newsletter writing, distributing, and follow-up regarding subscriber questions and/or changes. Web site responsibilities include page development and updating the HKC Web site. She is a registered, licensed dietitian and has worked in various roles promoting hospital-based and community wellness. She received her B.S. in Dietetics from Kansas State University and a M.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Arizona.

Favorite HKC Materials: “It Depends on How Active You Are – Physical Movement Connection” (A La Cart Snack Fun, page 46). It’s so powerful when kids see the connection between food eaten and the activity needed to complete a healthy energy balance. Performing the specific activity gives a physical feeling and meaning to the foods eaten.

Quote: “Every effort to educate, demonstrate and model healthy behavior is valued and worthwhile.”

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Walking outdoors, trying new foods, playing with my kids, and counting my blessings daily!”

Audrey’s daughters, Emma and Corinne

Audrey Landwehr, BFA
Audrey Landwehr is the Layout and Design Coordinator for Healthy Kids Challenge. Her responsibilities include developing creative ideas and concepts for new material as well as updating existing ones. She also handles digital files that need special attention for any graphic use. Audrey is a free-lance graphic designer specializing in multi-page layout and logo design. She received her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Wichita State University. Audrey loves that she works for a great and inspirational cause. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, and working on projects around the house.

Favorite HKC Materials: I like the Ready, Set, Learn Activities (Setting Up for Success, page 32) because they are getting a healthy message out to lots of people quickly and in a fun, efficient way.

Quote: "I love the work I do for HKC- it inspires me to be a better person both mentally and physically. It's important to me to try and set a good example for my daughter, so she can learn healthy habits early in life."

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Going to the gym when I can and trying to eat lots of fruits and veggies!”

Tiffany’s kids enjoy wintertime activity!

Tiffany Wegerer
Tiffany Wegerer manages the distribution of materials for Healthy Kids Challenge. Her responsibilities include shipping and handling, invoicing, inventory, and providing monthly reports.

Favorite HKC Materials: I think the idea of the Family Challenge Toolkit is great; it is so important to start learning healthy living practices right at home from the start.

Quote: "Knowledge is power. Learning about healthy habits enables you to make the small changes that add up to healthy living for a lifetime."

A few healthy choices I enjoy: “Running, walking, weight-lifting, dancing with my little ones, making favorite recipes with healthier, low-fat ingredients; and evening downtime with my family.”