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Oldways Staff


Photo by Porter Gifford Photography |
K. Dun Gifford
Founder and President of Oldways Preservation Trust
K. Dun Gifford is President of Oldways, the nonprofit organization he founded in 1990 to promote healthy eating and drinking, programs that help consumers improve their food and drink choices, traditional sustainable food choices, and enjoyment of the pleasures of the table.
Oldways is well known globally for its leading role in developing the healthy traditional Mediterranean and Latin American dietary programs, and their descriptive dietary pyramids. Oldways also develops action programs that help consumers make wise choices , including the Whole Grains Council, Mediterranean Foods Alliance, and the Latino Nutrition Coalition.
Gifford graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, served in the U.S. Navy, was Legislative Assistant to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and a national campaign coordinator for Robert F. Kennedy. He served as national chair of the American Institute of Wine & Food, owned and managed a number of restaurants in Boston and Cambridge, and founded a food business (Kilvert & Forbes) with John F. Kerry, now a U.S. Senator. With his business partner at Oldways, Sara Baer-Sinnott, Gifford is co-author of The Oldways Table, described by one reviewer as a "comprehensible and extensive food reference packed with alluring recipes, helpful instructions, nutritional information and exceptionally amusing stories and essays about food and life."
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Photo by Porter Gifford Photography |
Sara Baer-Sinnott
Executive Vice President
Before joining Oldways in 1992, Sara served as Special Projects Editor for Inc. Magazine and directed a number of special events. As Special Projects Editor for seven years, she directed all special reports for the editorial department of the magazine and established the magazine's internship program. Sara has worked as a research consultant for private firms, and in state and federal government positions in the fields of environmental resources, business, and education. She graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a B.A. in Economics and holds a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. |
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Birthe Creutz
Director of Finance
Birthe came to Oldways in 1999 with a strong background in financial management of grants and contracts and budget administration. She previously served as the Associate Director for Research Administration at the Institute for Circadian Physiology in Cambridge for 10 years, after having worked 15 years as Executive Administrative Assistant in a leading cardiovascular-renal physiology laboratory at Harvard Medical School. With her keen interest in appetizing and healthful food choices, health care, organic gardening and agriculture, and environmental issues she welcomed the opportunity to work with Oldways. Birthe holds a Diploma from the Danish Medical Society Medical Secretarial School in Copenhagen, Denmark and a Certificate in Graphic Design from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.
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Cynthia Harriman
Director of Food and Nutrition Strategies
In her work at Oldways, Cynthia combines her diverse experience in nutrition, management, writing and intercultural exchange. An avid proponent of healthy eating, Cynthia developed and taught an interactive nutrition curriculum called Good Food Basics. She has worked as International Marketing Manager and later VP of New Product Development for a manufacturing company, and was founder and managing director of the Summer Computer Institute. Cynthia is the author of scores of magazine articles and four books, including the well-known Take Your Kids to Europe, a family travel guide now in its seventh edition. She received her degree in French Culture and Language from Brown University.
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Sara Talcott Special Project and Event Manager
Sara Talcott plans and coordinates Oldways events and conferences, manages the website, and is in charge of in-house graphic design. Prior to Oldways, she worked in research grants management at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Sara's interest in healthy eating, cooking, and gastronomical delights began while growing up in a "health nut" family where most meals were made from scratch, and where cooking was viewed a pleasure of life. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, she received her B.A. in English from Hastings College, Hastings, Nebraska, and moved to Boston in 2000 where she obtained her M.A. in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. She hopes to some day be able to master the intricacies of making homemade pasta. |
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Nicki Heverling, RD, MS
Program Manager, Med Mark
Nicki, a Florida native and diehard Florida Gator fan, moved to Boston two years ago to complete a Master's Degree in Nutrition Communication at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. As a dietitian, Nicki is a passionate believer in the benefits of healthful eating and strives to use her communication background to help consumers make smart, informed food choices. When she's not at Oldways, Nicki enjoys cooking and loves to create new recipes -- especially with foods from the Mediterranean diet!
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Kara Berrini
Program Manager, Whole Grains Council
Kara can trace her appreciation for new food experiences back to her childhood where her first memories of hot salsa, octopus sushi, and homemade chocolate mousse all occurred well before her eleventh birthday. This "try anything once" approach to eating can be seen in her career path. Before joining Oldways, she spent two years working for a guitar company and more than five years with an energy marketing and trading company, both located in Boston. She has also traveled extensively, having visited nearly all 50 U.S. states and six foreign countries to date. Most recently, she and her family spent a two-week trip eating their way across Northern and Central Italy, culminating in a visit to Torino for the 2006 Slow Food Festival. Kara received her BFA in Writing and Literature from Emerson College in Boston and is delighted to be a part of the Oldways Family.
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Erica Calegari
Program and Media Assistant
Erica, of Brasilian descent, strong Italian roots and a large family, came to Boston two years ago from Florida to finish her liberal arts degree. Her love of people and communicating is evidenced by her fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. Prior to joining the Oldways team, she lived in Florence, Italy studying the language and culture that highlighted her own passions- great food! Having worked at Delta Airlines and UBS Investment Bank made her transition to Oldways as Program and Media Assistant an ideal match for her ability to work with a wide variety of international clients.
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Carla Baer-Sinnott
The Oldways Dog
Oldways Carla is an 8 year old Rottweiler from New York. She spent the first 7 years of her life as a professional breeder until she was rescued in early 2007 by the North East Rottweiler Rescue & Referral, Inc. Carla was later adopted by Sara Baer-Sinnott, Oldways VP. Since coming to Oldways in the spring of 2007, Carla has lost 19 pounds by eating the leftovers of healthy Mediterranean, Latino, and whole grain meals. Her favorite foods are organic yogurt, whole grains, and rare roast beef. She exercises daily on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, MA. A gentle and friendly soul, Carla divides her time between Exeter, NH and Boston, MA.
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