Home / About UsOur People

Ellen Wheeler

Executive Director

Ellen Wheeler leads SLDDC as Executive Director from the St. Louis office. With a background in nutrition and public health, she previously served as a Nutrition Educator and Program Coordinator before stepping into leadership.

As the Executive Director, Ellen directs dairy promotion efforts focused on:

• Health professionals
• Educators and schools
• Community leaders
• Consumers

Her background includes leadership roles with:

• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri
• WIC Programs in Kansas and Missouri
• American Cancer Society

Ellen holds:

• B.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics— Missouri State University
• Masters in Public Health – St. Louis University . 

Her passion: Working on behalf of local dairy farmers to empower consumers through nutrition education and keeping the dairy story alive for future generations.

Monica Nyman

Senior Nutrition Educator

Monica Nyman is a Nutrition Educator for the St. Louis District Dairy Council, managing 27 counties in Illinois. Monica works out of the Bloomington, IL office.

Monica earned:

• B.S. in Family & Consumer Sciences/Dietetics — Western Illinois University
• M.S. in Family & Consumer Sciences — Illinois State University

Her professional experience includes:

• Diabetes Education Program Management
• Weight Loss Counseling (Surgical & Non-Surgical)
• Community Wellness Leadership

Monica previously served as Wellness Center Supervisor and Diabetes Education Program Manager at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Her passion: Monica enjoys traveling and being active with family and friends.  Her favorite activities include listening to live music and doing anything outdoors including running, swimming, hiking and gardening.  The most rewarding part of my job is working on a daily basis with my territory contacts and being able to provide them with new resources or nutrition education materials.  I also enjoy working with dairy farmers and being out on the dairy farms!

Maggie Cimarolli

Nutrition Educator

Maggie Cimarolli is a Nutrition Educator for St. Louis District Dairy Council, managing 13 counties in Missouri and 3 counties in Illinois out of the St. Louis office.

Maggie earned:

• B.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics — Northern Illinois University
• M.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics — Saint Louis University
• Dietetic Internship — Saint Louis University (Public Health Emphasis)

Before joining SLDDC, Maggie served as:

• Food & Nutrition Manager — Missouri School for the Blind
• Trainer — Culinary Skills Institute (State of Missouri)
• Nutrition Consultant — Missouri Healthy Schools Initiative

Born and raised in the St. Louis metro area, Maggie loves connecting consumers to the fact that their daily glass of milk comes from local dairy farms.

Her passion: Maggie was born and raised in the St. Louis Metropolitan area and loves all things local! She feels the most rewarding part of her job is being able to educate consumers on not only delicious and nutritious dairy products, but also that their daily dose of milk is from a local dairy farm!

Jessica Kassel

Nutrition Educator

Jessica Kassel is a Nutrition Educator for the St. Louis District Dairy Council, managing 26 counties in Missouri.

Jessica holds:

• B.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics — Fontbonne University
• Dietetic Internship — Southeast Missouri State University
• B.A. in Journalism — University of Missouri-Columbia

   

With more than 20 years in health communications prior to becoming a registered dietitian, Jessica combines clinical nutrition knowledge with clear, effective communication.

She has experience in:

• Clinical and outpatient dietetics
• Diabetes education and family cooking classes
• Health journalism and editorial leadership
  

Her passion: Jessica was born and raised in Milton, Wisconsin, and appreciates how her role in the SLDDC allows her to circle back to her family’s agricultural roots. Dairy is truly her favorite food group, and she has never encountered a piece of cheese she has not loved. When she is not working, you will find Jessica spending time with her husband and two children, cooking up something new in the kitchen, or exploring local state parks.  

Louraine Tiongson

Program Administrator

Louraine coordinates activities that support program initiatives.  She is also the main contact for the thousands of teachers who participate in our Adopt-A-Calf program.  

She is native of New Orleans but St. Louis has been home for the last 5 years.  In her spare time, she tends to her household plants and loves to read. Her favorite dairy food is coffee-flavored ice cream.

Meagan Modrusic

Nutrition Educator

Meagan Modrusic is a Nutrition Educator for the St. Louis District Dairy Council, managing 42 counties in Illinois.

Meagan has a degree in Public Health from Coastal Caroline University and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree of Public Health from Southern Illinois University.

Before joining SLDDC, Meagan worked as a Community Outreach Worker for the University of Illinois Extension, providing nutrition education for community groups and schools, promoting healthy lifestyles.

Meagan is passionate about working with young people and helping them develop healthy eating early in life. She brings enthusiasm, a positive attitude and high energy to her position, helping her connect with audiences, keeping them engaged and excited about learning.

In her spare time, Meagan loves to travel. Her favorite dairy food is any kind of cheese!