Meet The Team
Sonia Vieregge Kennedy, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Hospitality Management from East Carolina University and a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Sonia has over 25 years of experience in many areas of health care. Her experience includes working as a clinical dietitian in hospitals, teaching at universities, and serving as a health educator for a medically based fitness center. Sonia also has vast experience working to promote work-site wellness.
Since starting Nutrition in Motion in 2010, Sonia has found her true calling. In an out-patient setting, she gets to follow along with her clients and takes pride in knowing people are benefiting from the counseling she provides.
When Sonia is not at work, you can find her paddle boarding, boating, kayaking, at boot camp classes or out for a jog. She also enjoys spending time with her family, including her 3 dogs: Skyler, Austin and Ringo.
Grace Kararo, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian who completed her bachelors degree in Applied Nutrition from Ohio University and her masters degree in Science from Eastern Illinois University. Her dream of becoming a dietitian started with her love of playing soccer. Being a collegiate athlete, she knew that nutrition played a key role in her performance on the pitch. Once finishing school, she started her career as a dietitian in the hospital setting with over 3 years experience in cardiac rehab, general medical, neurology, trauma, ICU patients, and small bowel feeding tube placements. Grace also taught nutrition classes to community college students as a dietitian. Grace is passionate about educating individuals on how to make smart, healthy, life-changing choices regarding food. You can find Grace hanging out with her husband and cat named Biscuit.
Julia Smith, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Arts from East Carolina University and a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition from The University of Alabama. Julia has lived in Wilmington for over 10 years and started her career as a dietitian in the clinical inpatient setting. Her experience as a clinical dietitian gave her skills in medical nutrition therapy, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and diet education. Julia’s passion for diet education remains and transitioned her to the outpatient setting where she loves to build relationships with patients and share their journey to a healthier lifestyle with them. She believes you do not have to make big changes at once to meet your goals, and wants to help conquer small goals that can make lifestyle changes sustainable. Julia has experience working with many diagnoses including diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity. She also has experience working with gastrointestinal conditions and is trained on the use of the low FODMAP diet for IBS by Monash University. Outside of work, Julia is outside with her dogs, cooking a new recipe in the kitchen, or enjoying time spent with her husband, friends,
and family.
Kailey McNamara, M.Ed, RD, LDN, is a Registered Dietitian originally from Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Nutrition Education from Framingham State University. She began her career as a Clinical Dietitian in long-term care and rehabilitation, where she supported patients with conditions including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and heart failure. She later transitioned into a functional and integrative practice specializing in gastrointestinal and hormonal disorders, where she further developed her interest in addressing the root causes of symptoms. Kailey has a special interest in women’s health, including PCOS and prenatal nutrition. She is passionate about working collaboratively with patients to create realistic, sustainable nutrition strategies that support long-term health and help individuals feel their best.
Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new coffee shops, spending time on the beach, paddle boarding, and trying new recipes to share with family and friends.
Rachel Copelan, MS, RDN, LDN obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition–Dietetics and minors in Psychology and Sports Coaching from Auburn University, as well as a Master of Science in Nutrition from East Carolina University. Rachel was born and raised in Southern California and moved to North Carolina in 2018. Growing up, Rachel spent years swimming and playing water polo, which sparked her interest in the connection between nutrition, performance, and overall well-being. Through these experiences, she developed a passion for helping others understand how food can support health, energy, and confidence at every stage of life. Rachel believes nutrition should feel approachable and realistic without feeling overwhelming. She is passionate about meeting individuals where they are in their health journey and helping them build sustainable habits. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys making sourdough, spending time at the beach, watching college football, listening to live music, and exploring local coffee shops.
Jack Varnon MDN, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian with a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in nutritional science and a Master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition from The Ohio State University. His passion for nutrition started as an avid figure skater for all of his life, seeing how proper nutrition helps to optimize performance and overall health. As a born and raised Southern boy from Tennessee, he moved to North Carolina to pursue his career as a dietitian in the South. He has had experience working as a renal dietitian in outpatient dialysis as well as other diverse experiences in nutrition: working in food service, diabetes education, other clinical nutrition settings, food insecurity research, and workplace nutrition education for the city of Fayetteville employees. Jack is passionate about helping people to achieve normal nutrition habits for whatever their body requires and loves helping people to optimize their diet especially when managing chronic health conditions. Outside of being a dietitian, he also works as an ice skating coach and you can find him on the ice practicing his own skating tricks whenever he gets the chance! His favorite pastime is spending time with his wife and their baby girl.
Kerri Taylor, RD, LDN, CNSC is a Registered Dietitian who is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition. Kerri has over 25 years of clinical experience and is passionate about helping people optimize their health. She has specialized in the nutritional management of patients who are critically ill and those requiring enteral and parenteral support. Kerri has worked with patients experiencing a wide array of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, renal disease, and those needing organ transplantation. She also enjoyed working with the interdisciplinary teams to provide patients with the best overall medical care.
Kerri recently transitioned to the outpatient setting where she enjoys building relationships with clients and helping them meet their goals as they journey to better health. Outside of work, Kerri likes going to the beach, traveling, watching Penguin hockey games and spending time with her family and friends.
Addy Mathias MHSc, RDN, LDN is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics from Ashland University and a Master of Health Science Degree in Nutrition from Cedar Crest College. Addy grew up in Ohio and moved to North Carolina to continue her nutrition career as a dietitian. Addy has been a registered dietitian for 5 years and has worked in a variety of settings within the field of nutrition including in-patient, out-patient, community, and food service. As a long-distance runner, she decided on the career path to become a dietitian when she experienced how proper nutrition helped prevent injury, improve performance, and help with pain management. Addy enjoys helping people manage or reverse various chronic health conditions and improve the quality of life for patients through a combination of nutrition, habit, and behavior changes. Outside of work, Addy enjoys running, weight lifting, Pilates, watching Murder She Wrote, listening to jazz music on her record player, and walking her dog Mr. Monk.
Asia Isadore, MS, RDN, LDN, is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama and a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Wellness from Liberty University. Originally from Charleston, SC, Asia has spent the last 10 years visiting and training in different parts of the world as a Human Resources Officer with the United States Army. From her time spent in South Korea, Germany, and working with people of different cultures from across the world, her experience sparked a profound appreciation for food and its role in bringing people together. Asia’s passion lies in helping others navigate their nutrition journeys without sacrificing the joy of eating and teaching people that they can enjoy the foods they love while achieving their health and nutrition goals.
Asia spent the first year of her career working closely with U.S. Army Soldiers by improving their performance, maintaining optimal hydration, and training effectively under high stress, all through nutrition. Asia transitioned to outpatient care to broaden her experience in dietetics and engage with a diverse range of patients, helping individuals from all walks of life achieve their health goals and enhance their quality of life. In her spare time, you can find Asia teaching a fun cycling class at the Cyclebar.
Darah Matos, MS, RDN, LDN is a Registered Dietitian passionate about culturally inclusive nutrition that promotes lasting behavior and lifestyle changes. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Food & Nutrition and her Master of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama.
Originally from the Philippines and raised in the U.S. by a single mother, Darah understands how socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors shape nutrition and health. She has experience working with the veteran population through the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, where she developed a passion for outpatient care and building meaningful client relationships.
As a mother of two and a military spouse, Darah is no stranger to adaptability. She is committed to providing compassionate, practical care that meets individuals where they are—empowering them to make sustainable progress in their health. In her free time, Darah enjoys spending time with her family and two rescue dogs, staying active, and engaging in activities that reflect her Christian values. She also has a passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and hopes to return to the sport in the future.
Mikeisha Brannock, RDN, LDN
is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science from Central Washington University. She chose to become a Dietitian because she experienced firsthand how even small changes in diet can produce significant health benefits. Her goal is to empower others to take control of their health through diet. Mikeisha was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and relocated to the Carolinas in 2021 with her husband and two dogs. She spent 5 years working in both clinical and community nutrition throughout Washington state and North Carolina. She is experienced in enteral and parenteral nutrition but has a special interest in women’s health, including PCOS and Endometriosis. Mikeisha’s transition to the outpatient setting was motivated by her love for partnering with patients to develop individualized plans for long-term success. Outside of the office, you can find her with her family on the beach, in the library looking for new cookbooks, or any place where she can sing at the top of her lungs.
