Create a Change Now

Tracy Atamiam is the owner of Tracy’s Watermark a unique gift and homes décor boutique in Summerlin. She has served on the Board of Baby’s Bounty and has been involved with other charities including Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Opportunity Village, Shade Tree, Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development, Breast Cancer Awareness and Three Square Food Bank’s Back-Pack Program. To assist the various organizations, Tracy has introduced “Good to Give” as well as “Baking for a Cause” where cupcakes, cookies and cakes are sold to raise funds.
Tracy is a successful business woman, wife and mother who stays true to herself and does what she loves most. “Without Tracy’s I would not be able to support the causes that are important to me, because my clients are very generous in giving back to the community. I hope that my story inspires other businesses to embrace the spirit of giving… because it’s always Good to Give.” Tracy and her husband Rodney are parents to a baby girl named Lily Rose.

As the Senior Worldwide Executive Vice President for 19 years at Petronic International Inc., a high tech manufacturing company headquartered in the Silicon Valley of California, Chuck was instrumental in the advancement of manufacturing products for various high tech industries, including credit card terminals. Thereafter, Chuck was recruited by Castlewood Systems, also located in the Silicon Valley of California as V.P. of Worldwide Operations and COO, as he managed one of the world’s largest removable hard-drive manufacturing companies.

Later relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada, Chuck founded Cornerstone Merchant Services, Inc ., an independently licensed merchant service provider focusing on offering full service business solutions. As President and CEO, Chuck’s hard work ethic, company philosophy for integrity and veracity to help and service business owners has served to separate Cornerstone aside from others in his industry. 98% of new business that Cornerstone receives, including schools and non-profit organizations throughout the country, comes from referrals.

Chuck is eager to contribute to the Create A Change Now organization by assisting in leadership and continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our future generations today and every day.

Dr. Brune is a published author and policy analyst at Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Brune has consulted for the Harvard School of Public Health and the World Bank where she worked on issues of public health, social capital, and public sector reform. She serves as an adjunct instructor at the College of Southern Nevada. Dr. Brune is an active member of the community. She is on the board of the Nevada Wilderness Project and Girls on the Run Las Vegas, and served on Clark County’s Citizen Review Board and the Committee on Community Priorities. Dr. Brune is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a bilingual mediator with the Neighborhood Justice Center and a member of the Red Cross Disaster Response Team.

Dr. Brune received her Ph.D. from Yale University, and Master of Public Policy and B.A. degrees from Harvard University. She was awarded research fellowships at Princeton University’s Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance and the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduate school, Dr. Brune was a community organizer in rural Nicaragua where she planted and harvested beans and vegetables and educated kids on issues of nutrition and public health. She credits her love of gardens, vegetables (even brussels sprouts) and healthy eating to the home gardens she and her parents grew on their 20 acres of land in Bastrop, Texas when she was young. She enjoys gardening with her three small children and recognizes that building healthy communities starts by empowering the youngest members of the family to take charge and make a difference.

Michele D. Tell-Woodrow, co-principal and founder of Preferred Public Relations which handles a
variety of practices, including business, retail, hospitality, gaming and service organizations for clients
in Las Vegas and out of market. Tell-Woodrow is active in the community and handles PR services for
numerous nonprofit organizations, including: AIPAC – American Israel Political Action Committee, Susan
G. Komen, Food and Beverage Directors Association and more. In addition, Tell-Woodrow serves on
several boards and committees, including: the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (Board of Trustee,
2009-2010 and co-chair, Minority and Women Owned Businesses Committee, 2010-2011), The Shade
Tree (Public Relations & Marketing Committee, 2010-2011), Jewish Community Center (marketing
committee, 2010-2011), Adelson Educational Campus Scholastic Book Fair 2010 (Volunteer, Co-Chair)
and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley’s Women’s Advisory Council (Volunteer). She is a wife and mother
and very excited to be involved in educating our children on healthier eating habits.

Nancy joins the Board of Directors with over fifteen years’ experience in medical sales. She was recruited by the National Headquarters of Snelling and Snelling to become VP of their Health Care Division. After completing the task of establishing that division, she was promoted to area vice president for NYC and New Jersey and was responsible for overseeing and training thirty two independently owned franchisee operations. She ended her career after working for a group practice management/physician recruitment firm in NYC to become a full time mother. As the demands of motherhood diminished, Nancy began volunteering her time at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center in the Special Care and Neonatal Care Nursery. Nancy also volunteers for the Assistance League of Las Vegas as puppeteer for children. She has been involved in the National Charity League serving on the Board of Directors as well as a grade level advisor for her class. The National Charity League is a mother daughter philanthropic organization that has over 300 chapters throughout the United States. She continues to be a sustaining member. Having fought childhood obesity herself, Nancy is both excited and dedicated to helping children overcome this problem through the education that Create a Change can provide.

Melissa Blynn has been a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine(NASM) personal trainer for over 7 years. During this time she has learned that nutrition is the key to achieving optimal results physically, emotionally, and mentally. With hard work and dedication she is now certified by the Global College of Natural Medicine as a Holistic Nutrition Consultant. Educating others about the importance of choosing a healthy lifestyle and implementing balance between fitness, nutrition and stress relief has become her lifelong passion.

In February of 2012 Melissa was presented the honor to becoming the Executive Coordinator for Create a Change Now, a non-profit that is focused on empowering and educating children and their families to make healthier food choices that are nutritious and delicious! In the fall of 2010 Melissa donated a great deal of time to similar nonprofit called GrowingGreat into one local school and with great success the nutrition program was implemented into Culley Elementary for the next three years. Melissa wanted to be a part of something bigger in the Las Vegas community, so she reached out to CACN offering her knowledge, guidance and experience. With open arms CACN offered her the Executive Coordinator position. CACN combines Melissa’s passion for health and love for educating America’s children and feels that this is a gift to share with all in her home of Las Vegas.

Melissa’s approach to health and nutrition is to assist clients on their journey in finding optimal balance and healing from within. Helping you to understand that stress, attitude, toxins, and food all can contribute to the way your body feels and looks. Educating clients how a faulty digestive system maybe to blame for less than ideal results and making habit changes around food is the link to true results. Simply managing stress proactively and learning how to derive energy from the food you eat are the keys to maintaining internal balance. When working with Melissa, you will be guided through the necessary steps to uncover your potential health concerns, and assist you in reaching lifelong goals of health, happiness and optimal wellness through a balance of nutrition, exercise and stress management.

Jennifer Kakita is a Board Certified Health Counselor, NASM Certified Personal Trainer,  Founder/Owner of MamaFit, and Certified Sports Yoga Instructor. Passionate about healthy living, Jennifer helps her clients learn to make healthy choices regarding their nutrition and overall well-being.   She combines her knowledge of fitness and Yoga with her health counseling to provide simple actions people can adapt into their everyday lives.  To live a true balanced life,  one must combine fresh whole foods, a positive attitude, and regular exercise.

Jennifer started MamaFit in 2006 after her first child was born. She discovered that there was a need in Las Vegas for a mom’s exercise class that incorporated children. With MamaFit classes, moms are able to get a quality, total body workout, bond with their children, make new friends, and become a role model of health for their children. She received her Health Counseling Certification at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Currently, she supports her clients to improve their health, happiness, and to meet their nutritional and life goals.

Jennifer uses the discipline of Yoga to promote health, de-stress the body, and create mindfulness in each of her client’s lives. In her yoga sessions, Jennifer accommodates her clients’ needs by adjusting poses according to their strengths and abilities.  She continues her study of Yoga and fitness by attending classes and workshops to bring her clients interesting and new experiences that support the body, mind and spirit. Jennifer offers a variety of health seminars/workshops, and develops personalized fitness, nutrition, and/or yoga programs with private clients and small groups.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys the local parks, farmer’s markets, and growing fresh vegetables with her husband and 2 children.