Thanks to our live classes, you can engage with instructors, ask questions, and receive unscripted answers. It’s great for the whole household.
Brenda is the founder and CEO of Launch and is on a mission to make a difference in how healthcare is delivered. She likes to work hard and is up for any challenge, which usually means pushing a boulder up a big hill.
Brenda has over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership and is a registered dietitian, and she believes food is the closest thing to a magic bullet when it comes to our health and wellbeing. She is sick and tired of “sick care” and works tirelessly to help people live happy, healthier lives because they deserve it. She loves being creative and has an endless list of ideas.
When not working at Launch, Brenda enjoys cooking, usually without a recipe, but has chef Jeremy on speed dial for when things go awry (perks that come with working with a chef). She loves being active and can likely be found at the gym way too early in the morning.
Amanda is a part of Launch’s founding team and is on a mission to bring the ‘food is medicine’ movement to the masses. She ensures our services are engaging and easy to use by focusing on each member’s journey. On any given day, you can find her working on i.t., marketing, accounting, or sales – variety is the spice of life!
Amanda has worked in health care for 10+ years, championing wellbeing and innovation. She has her B.A. in Political Science from St. Olaf College and M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas. Amanda also serves on the Minnesota Angel Foundation’s board of directors and the Saint Paul Area Chamber’s foundation board.
When not working to optimize Launch’s newest feature, Amanda can be found singing oldies with her toddler, planning her next trip abroad, or cooking one of Chef Jeremy’s latest recipes.
Chef Jeremy takes a “back to basics” approach to cooking whole fresh foods. He passionately believes whatever you eat should taste delicious, and that preparing food should be fun and relaxing. He wants to take your culinary skills to the next level and improve your health while doing it. As a classically trained chef, Jeremy knows the art of cooking but likes to keep things simple and loves to teach and celebrate his students’ successes.
Chef Jeremy has a broad food background, from Chef Instructor at Le Cordon Bleu to Restaurant Manager to Culinary Education Manager for the largest healthcare provider in Minnesota. In his early days, he worked at Tim McKee’s Solera in Minneapolis and Robert Mondavi and Julia Child’s “COPIA” in Napa Valley.
Chef Jeremy’s students love his sense of humor and engaging teaching style, and he definitely has a fan club. If you take a cooking class, you will be sure to find out what his kitchen pet peeves are.
When not in the kitchen, Jeremy loves being by the water. His favorite spot is at his cabin in Wisconsin or taking his boat out on the local lakes. And, of course, he loves checking out the cuisine at any restaurant.
Megan is our nutrition aficionado and reads nutrition books for fun (for real). Professionally, she is a registered dietitian and has additional training through the Institute for Functional Medicine. With over a decade of experience as a dietitian, Megan is passionate about helping clients discover the power of food to enhance their wellbeing and prevent or manage chronic disease.
Whether assisting clients with learning how to eat mindfully, improve their gut or metabolic health, manage an autoimmune disease, lose weight, or something else, she always brings a positive approach to food.
Megan loves to learn and has fun challenging herself to try new recipes—even when it doesn’t turn out! More recently, Megan is enjoying learning how to downhill ski and golf.
Maddie is our dedicated point person for client partnerships, communication, and engagement. With a passion for fostering growth and connection, she’s committed to building strong, collaborative relationships and a thriving, supportive community for our Launch clients. Maddie’s day-to-day includes coordinating communication strategies, creating impactful content, connecting with Launch partners and curating our Launch newsletter to keep our clients informed and inspired.
With extensive experience in the health and wellness industry, Maddie has honed her skills in developing digital strategies that drive engagement and support brand growth. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the College of St. Benedict and has a keen interest in culinary arts, often sharing her expertise on nutritious food choices.
Outside of work, Maddie enjoys traveling and immersing herself in new places and cultures. She’s a lover of good food and coffee and cherishes quality time with friends and family.
Marshall O’Brien is on a mission to help 10 million families live happier, healthier lives by improving their cooking skills and confidence in the kitchen. With over 20 years of experience as a trained chef, originally in the catering industry, Marshall discovered his passion for teaching people in the kitchen and empowering them to make life easier. He excels in creating delicious and nutritious dishes that prioritize balanced flavors and wholesome ingredients, extending his expertise to recipe development to support optimal health and wellness.
Crafting a niche in helping people learn how to easily cook nourishing and great-tasting foods, Marshall is committed to making a positive impact through teaching and effective communication. He is a dynamic speaker, having presented at various national conferences and served as a regular contributor on Twin Cities Fox9 television for over 10 years. When not working, Marshall enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, engaging in outdoor activities like walks and hikes, playing ping pong, gardening, and caring for his family’s pet chickens, parakeet, and cockatiel. A fun fact about Marshall; when he was 10 years old, he was magician at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival where he dazzled festival guests with cards and sleight of hand tricks. Passionate about personal growth, Marshall continuously strives to be a better human, man, husband, and dad, embracing curiosity and learning from the world around him every day.
Mary VanNortwick is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) with a bachelor of science in dietetics, masters of science in food service administration, and a doctorate in clinical nutrition. Additionally, she is an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP®). Mary is Certified in Adult Weight Management by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She achieved certification as a health and wellness coach through Wellcoaches® and board certification from the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching.
Across her seasoned and lengthy non-traditional career path, Mary has held numerous and varied staff and managerial positions in clinical dietetics, food manufacturing, and telehealth leadership. No matter the position or the setting, Mary’s guiding focus is on the individual and what they wish to achieve through all that makes them unique.
Mary lives in Virginia’s stunning Shenandoah Valley where the view is always beautiful, and nature is always beckoning. Long walks down country roads, long talks over meals with family and friends, and attempts to satisfy lifelong curiosity around human behavior, food and nutrients, and health and wellbeing fill Mary’s non-working hours with joy and balance.
Sindu Mattison is a new mom and full-time professional working for a major healthcare system who’s mastered the art of balancing work, family, and her love of cooking. Born and raised in India, Sindu moved to the US at age 20 for school and earned her Master of Science degree. She channels her roots, recreating beloved recipes from her grandma and great aunt, modified to fit her busy schedule. Sindu is all about easy, flavorful one-pot meals and loves leftovers.
Her culinary experiments often fuse Indian traditions with modern convenience, inspired by her multicultural family. Watching her toddler happily devour boldly flavored, spicy meals only fuels her passion for crafting healthy, homemade dishes. Her husband is her biggest fan, especially of her Indian vegetarian meals, even joking that he’d move to India if he ever had to become a vegetarian!
Sindu is thrilled to share her knowledge and recipes with friends, colleagues, and now, you. For her, demystifying Indian cuisine and bringing its vibrant flavors to your kitchen table is a true joy
Fernanda brings a global perspective to her nutrition practice, focusing on cultivating a sustainable, nourishing lifestyle tailored to the unique needs of her clients. Originally from Brazil, she discovered her passion for nutrition early on, inspired by her mother’s delicious meals and garden smoothies.
Having moved to the USA over 17 years ago, Fernanda navigated the challenges of adapting to a new culture, gaining a deep understanding of the impact of dietary changes on well-being. In her private practice, she walks alongside clients, helping them achieve nutrition goals with confidence.
Passionate about promoting physical well-being without constant dieting, Fernanda encourages curiosity in approaching nutrition. Fluent in both English and Portuguese, she enjoys connecting with people in two languages, building bridges and sharing diverse perspectives. Currently residing in Minnesota, Fernanda cherishes quality time with family and friends.
Jeremy is a serial entrepreneur with multiple startups in the eCommerce grocery industry. His most recent venture (GrocerKey), licensed enterprise eCommerce software to independent and regional grocery chains throughout the US & Canada. GrocerKey was acquired in August ’21 by a leading last mile provider serving Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and many other tier 1 retailers.
Jeremy is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at Market Wagon, a tech enabled marketplace that connects producers directly with consumers.
Jeremy graduated from UW-Madison in ’05 with a B.A. in History and currently resides in Minneapolis, MN with his wife and four children.
The Kayla Levitt is an outcomes-focused leader with extensive experience supporting digital health startups, provider organizations, and insurance companies. Her expertise lies in driving results, implementing large-scale improvements, and creating innovative programs and products. Kayla is known for her holistic approach to problem-solving and her passion for health, wellness, and care innovation. As a practicing healthcare consultant, Kayla also serves on the Board of Mankato State’s Consumer Experience Program. She holds a Health Care MBA from the University of St. Thomas and an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota.
Outside of work, Kayla enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. She loves traveling, whether it’s to new cities, sandy beaches or snowy mountains, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and immersing herself in a good book.
In the role of Senior Vice President, Employer Sales, Sarah leads growth for MOBE’s large employer business. With over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, she is passionate about helping others achieve their best health and well-being, while helping organizations validate outcomes of their programs. Sarah previously served as SVP of Corporate Sales at Wellbeats, a LifeSpeak company, and as Vice President of Employer Solutions at RedBrick Health. In addition to her full time work, she enjoys teaching group fitness classes and inspiring others to better health and wellbeing.
Kirstie helps leaders and founders grow their business and influence through executive visibility and strategic communications.
As president and founder of Foster Modern PR, Kirstie has a passion for building reputations through the power of effective thought leadership. As a trusted C-suite advisor, she brings more than 25 years of experience leading communications for Fortune 500 companies and admired brands.
Before launching her own business, Kirstie held leadership and executive roles at General Mills and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. She has dedicated her career to helping companies and CEOs build trusted relationships, engage employees and build strong customer connections. In 2018, she was inducted into the Arthur W. Page Society, the world’s leading professional association for communications executives.
Outside the office, Kirstie is board chair of Angel Foundation and a community volunteer. She enjoys hiking, snowshoeing and traveling with her husband and two daughters. As a Minnesota native, Kirstie loves boating, bonfires, cabin trips “up north” and the Minnesota Vikings. She is the daughter of a U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran. Kirstie graduated with honors from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in journalism and speech communication.
Jen is a results-driven leader with a wealth of experience in marketing and sales in the health, wellness, and beauty industries. With over 20 years experience, she has a passion for building and developing teams, fostering growth, and delivering exceptional value to clients and stakeholders. With four successful exits, she loves to roll up her sleeves and scale organizations.
Jen is currently a Managing Partner at The Genesis Company, helping transform and scale brands to retail. Prior to that, she was the Chief Revenue Officer at Wellbeats, a digital fitness, mindfulness and nutrition company.
Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two daughters. The girls keep her very busy and they can be found spending their free time on a boat in the summer or in the snow in the winter.
Megan is a passionate advocate for connecting patients, physicians, and healthcare professionals with innovative solutions that improve health.
Megan launched her digital health consulting practice in 2015 to help founders and business leaders navigate the evolving regulatory landscape to develop and commercialize their ideas.
A proven leader in the digital health industry, Megan brings over 25 years of experience as a software engineer and quality/regulatory professional at Medtronic, Mayo Clinic, and multiple MedTech startups. Her expertise includes healthcare AI/ML, new product development, safety and risk management, and security, privacy, and compliance strategies.
Megan loves to learn and collaborate with others to advance innovation and deliver high impact outcomes. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, a guest lecturer/speaker, and published author. She holds degrees in mathematics and software engineering from the University of Minnesota, professional certifications from ASQ and ISO, and is an active member of RAPS, HIMSS, and AAMI.
Megan enjoys spending time with her husband, son, daughter, and pups. You may find her experimenting in the kitchen, visiting her family in Texas, traveling to new places, sailing across a big lake, or catching a baseball game or tennis match.
Dr. Tina Johnson is a board-certified physician and founder of Pinnacle Medicine, providing direct primary care in addition to being our medical director. She has a passion for preventive care and enjoys working with her patients to understand their health goals and to help them achieve those goals. Dr. Johnson believes in providing her patients the information and support they need to make the most beneficial decisions regarding their care.
Dr. Johnson has practiced internal medicine since 2007, earning her undergraduate and medical degrees from Creighton University. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Minnesota, including a year as a Chief Resident at the Minneapolis VA Hospital.
Minnesota Monthly named her one of the best internal medicine doctors for women in the metro area (2011) and Mpls.St. Paul Magazine named her a Top Doctor “rising star” (2016). The most meaningful honor she receives is when patients refer family or friends to her.
Outside of work, Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband stay busy with their three girls. They are all animal lovers with two dogs and three cats. Coming from Nebraska, Dr. Johnson (and her family by default) are Nebraska football fans. Saturdays in the fall are for chili in the crock pot and football on TV!