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 18 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.
Emily Owen, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition. Emily is originally from outside of Atlanta and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. She then completed her graduate work at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Emily realized she truly had a heart for nutrition education as she completed her graduate work leading a month-long diet diversity project in Madagascar. After the completion of this project, Emily worked as a clinical dietitian, where she enjoyed working as a care team member but decided to transition out of the hospital into the outpatient setting. Since running her first marathon, Emily has also become passionate about sports nutrition and working with endurance athletes. The key to optimal athletic performance is simply fueling your body appropriately. She believes in the power of personal discovery to identify the healthiest versions of ourselves and our dietary habits. In her free time, you can find Emily running outdoors, practicing yoga in the hot room, or exploring new places to eat around town.
Elise Chamberlin, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise with a concentration in Dietetics from Virginia Tech. She also received her Masters of Science in Health and Wellness with a Plant-Based/Vegetarian Emphasis from Andrews University. Elise found her passion for nutrition as she was immersed in the world of dance. Being an athlete and dancing for over 16 years, is how she found her true calling for nutrition. Elise believes that food is so much more than what you eat. She strives to help break down the barriers and stigma around food and dieting; and hopes to help everyone develop healthy relationships with food. On her down time, you can find Elise walking her dog Hazel, dancing, finding the nearest local coffee shop, baking, or laying down to watch a movie.
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.
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.
