Educators | Experts | Production | Creative | Business Strategy

Max Szadek
Founder, Executive Director, and Master of Ceremonies

“I'm on a mission to change attitudes in women affected by diabetes. I want to help women at risk, affected by and living with diabetes to stay healthy and upbeat about their care so they can continue to enjoy the glamorous life. To do this, I’ve put together a team of nationally recognized beauty/fashion experts, certified diabetes educators, motivators and peers just like you who are helping me to help you to makeover your diabetes. As the ‘Master of Ceremonies,' I make time during each and every Divabetic® "show" to recognize and reward positive efforts in women living with diabetes to stay healthy. Its just one of the things we do to bring out the diva in you!”

Max Szadek is the founder and executive director of Divabetic®. Max began Divabetic® in October, 2004 as a one-time t-shirt fundraising endeavor after his late boss, R&B legend Luther Vandross, suffered a stroke. Subsequently, the media attention that Mr. Vandross received as a stroke 'survivor' is what initially compelled Max to get involved in diabetes outreach. While attending a tribute concert to Luther Vandross, That Luther’s stroke could have been prevented has been the motivating force behind Max's efforts. To date, Max has collaborated with the Diabetes Center of New Jersey, the Muhlenberg Foundation, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes, the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Diabetes Association to develop and present outstanding diabetes outreach programming. Previous to working in diabetes outreach, Max’s work experience includes world tours with entertainers such as: Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, BETTY and Maxwell. Max’s extensive background in theater includes being an company member of the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco, CA. Media credits include: ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX affiliates in markets including New Orleans, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Washington DC, as well as major newspapers including Times Picayune, Philadelphia Inquirer and others.

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Jessica Issler RD, CDE
National Lead Educator

“I'm Divabetic®'s national lead educator. I’m a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and have a degree in exercise physiology and I work with the Team to help develop and refine our many educational outreach programs.”

Building on her experiences as a pediatric nutritionist, exercise specialist, diabetes educator and life-long performer, Jessica brings energy and love for engaging individuals in positive learning experiences to her work as a Divabetic® lead Certified Diabetes Educator. This past year, she had the opportunity to reach thousands of individuals affected by diabetes in their Makeover Your Diabetes^TM national tour, and helped to launch the newest Divabetic® program, Diva 4 Ever^TM. As a consultant in the diabetes community, Mrs. Issler authored a type 2 diabetes and obesity prevention curriculum to be utilized for research purposes in New York City public middle schools over the next three years. Recently, Jessica joined Animas Corporation as a Clinical Manager, working to help individuals living with diabetes realize the power of insulin pump therapy.

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Patricia Addie-Gentle, RN, BSN, CDE
Diabetes Educator

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Joy Pape, RN, BSN, CDE, WOCN, CFCN
Diabetes Educator

Joy Pape is Registered Nurse, Diabetes Educator and Certified Foot Care Nurse specializing in Weight Management, Diabetes and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in New York City. She is also President of her own company - EnJOY Life! Health Consulting, LLC. She is the author of the upcoming book, The W Factor: Seven W's That Can Change Your Life and Health Forever. Joy has over 20 years experience as a Registered Nurse in Hospital, Residential Care, Outpatient, Public Health, and Home Health Settings. Her areas of expertise include Diabetes Education (Certified Diabetes Educator-CDE), Insulin Pump Training (Certified Pump Trainer-CPT), Consulting, Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing, Board Certified Foot Care Nurse-Foot Care, Home Health, Marketing, Business Development, Presentations, and Student Mentoring. She has provided numerous articles, interviews and presentations for radio, TV, and online web-journals You can read more at her websites: www.joypape.com and www.laughitoff.net

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Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, BC-ADM
Diabetes Educator

Hope Warshaw is a nationally recognized and respected nutrition and diabetes expert who applies more than 25 years of expertise to communicate practical solutions for diabetes meal planning and healthier eating, whether for one person or millions. Author of Eat Out Eat Right (Surrey Books), Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy*, Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating*, Complete Guide to Carb Counting*, The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible* *published by American Diabetes Association
Website: www.hopewarshaw.com

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Pamela C. Butler, MS, CDE
Diabetes Educator

Pamela C. Butler lives and works as a certified diabetes educator (CDE) in New Orleans and serves as program manager of Touro Diabetes Center. A master's level exercise physiologist from the University of Illinois, her professional experience began in hospital-based health promotion and obesity treatment in the Chicago area and Kansas City, Missouri. After moving to New Orleans 15 years ago, she worked in managed care, specifically member services and quality improvement. She left managed care to create and conduct "Healthy Aging University" for Jefferson Council on Aging for three years. In 2002 she returned to her roots as a health care provider while she worked toward and achieved certification as a diabetes educator. She has been in leadership roles with the American Association of Diabetes Educators and its local affiliate, and is president of New Orleans Illini Club for alumni of the University of Illinois.

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Cherrel A. Christian, RN, CDE
Diabetes Educator

Cherrel A. Christian, a registered nurse, certified diabetes educator and director of the Diabetes Center at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland is the newest addition to the Novo Nordisk Presents: Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes program. A native Washingtonian, her special interest is in improving diabetes outcomes for African Americans.
Her advocacy efforts include testifying before the Washington, D.C. City Council and the United States Congress on behalf of legislation for people with diabetes . She has also appeared on television and radio shows to talk about diabetes. She is currently a member of the Diabetes Epidemic Action Council, which focuses on diabetes advocacy for the African American Community.
On a grass roots level, she speaks frequently about diabetes to professional and community groups and has coordinated diabetes self management education programs at both Georgetown University Hospital and the Washington Hospital Center.
Cherrel’s dedication as a member of the patient education committee for the Washington, D.C., chapter on the American Diabetes Association led her to the positions of chairperson and president of that chapter.  She is a has been a member of the advisory committee of the Diabetes Control Program of the District of Columbia.
Nationally, Cherrel has served as chairperson for the African American Program Project Team and the Inclusion Committee for the American Diabetes Association and is a former member of the national Board of Directors. She is also member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) and the professional section of the American Diabetes Association.
She began her hursing career in 1975 and obtained her professional nursing degree from the University of the District of Columbia in 1980 graduating magna cum laude. Her accolades include the American Diabetes Association’s Volunteer of the Year 1996 and the Addison B. Scoville Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2003.

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Judi Wilcox RD, CDE
Diabetes Educator

Judi Wilcox, RD CDE, a Certified Diabetes Educator, was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from University of New Mexico. After practicing as a nutritionist in private practice for ten years she worked in print and media as a food stylist. When she moved to Hollywood, FL she became a Certified Diabetes Educator. Her experience includes 10 years as a nutritionist and ten years as a Certified Diabetes Educator. She was nicknamed the Minister of Diabetes by her patients for her passion and motivation to provide Diabetes Education. As a member of the Florida Alliance for Diabetes Prevention and Care Task Force for Community partnerships she is active in developing diabetes education programs. She has worked on talk radio shows promoting healthy living and as a guest on the McNeil Lehrer Nightly New Report on Public Television to increase awareness about childhood obesity and diabetes. Sailing with Holland America Cruise Lines she has provided diabetes education to crew members and officers at sea. Currently she is working as a Diabetes Nutrition Specialist at the Diabetes and Nutrition Center of Memorial Regional Hospital, an accredited diabetes education program in Hollywood, Fl. She is the current President and leader for South Florida Association of Diabetes Educators. She has planned and organized many events in South Florida to promote diabetes Education.

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Neva White MSN, CRNP, CDE
Diabetes Educator

Neva White is an Adult Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Diabetes Educator. Her clinical experience includes medical/ surgical, psychiatric and community health nursing. She taught nursing at both the undergraduate and graduate level at Temple University and Widener University. Mrs. White previously served as coordinator of the Congregational Nursing Program of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, where she worked to build community partnerships between the hospital and faith communities. She is currently the Senior Health Educator at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Center for Urban Health. Her work at Jefferson includes several grant-funded initiatives to address health disparities in the Philadelphia area.

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Christine Campanelli
Live Chopping Block Station

"As a type-1 diabetic myself, it is my pleasure to be a part of Divabetic®, and to meet other women living with or affected by diabetes! Divabetic® enables me to empower all of the amazing women out there with diabetes to eat healthy, have fun, and feel fabulous! I love talking with women, sharing stories, trading tips --and (of course) trading recipes!"

Move over 'RR', we've got our own 'CC'! Christine Campanelli will be spicing and dicing it up at our Chopping Block station! Christine has a degree in Food Studies from New York University, and lives with type-1 diabetes. Stop by to see her food demonstrations, and get proof that just because it's healthy doesn't mean it can't look fierce and taste fabulous!!

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Jeff Jones
Makeup & Beauty

Jeff Jones is a LA based celebrity Make up Artist who has worked within the entertainment industry for many years. Jeff's work has appeared in every major Beauty & Fashion magazine including EBONY, HARPERS BAZAAR, VOGUE, ESSENCE, MARIE-CLARE & ELLE to name but a few. He also works with notable Beauty & Fashion photographers - Charles William Bush, Matthew Rolston and Greg Gorman. His client list includes such talented stars as Anita Baker, Nancy Wilson, Melody Thomas-Scott, Lisa Rhinna, Jennifer Beals, Janet Jackson, Dakota Fanning, Garcelle Beauvois, Luther Vandross, Ronald Isley and OPRAH.

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Winston Kerr
Photography & Archives

Winston Kerr is an L.A. based Fashion & Beauty photographer who has worked with celebrities Luther Vandross & Vanna White. He has worked on advertising campaigns for Alize Bleu, American International Industries and Jordana Cosmetic’s. Fashion is his Passion, Beauty is his Art.

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Rochelle Rice, MS
Fitness Specialist & Motivator

Rochelle Rice is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and instructor. She dedicates herself to empowering women of size by connecting the body, the mind, and the heart through focus, movement, and breath. She is the author of Real Fitness for Real Women (Warner, 2001) and has appeared on CBS The Early Show, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and Fox 5 Network News. Her program has been featured in the New York Times, the LA Times, Family Circle and Fit magazine. She joined the Divabetic team in January 2008.

Rochelle believes all women have a desire to move and she helps Divas 'get their groove back' by incorporating chair activities, movement with canes, dancing and singing for all levels. No matter what your style, she has the movement for you!

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Katherine Adamenko

Katherine Adamenko is an actress, writer, dancer, and strength and movement specialist based in New York City. As a lifelong performing artist and exerciser, Katherine is passionate about using art and fitness to transform and heal, enlighten and inspire, encourage and motivate. She brings her talents and expertise into all of her work, drawing from her experience in the worlds of ballet, modern, and Butoh dance; dramatic, musical and experimental theatre; bodybuilding, and arts-education.

With a passion for teaching, Katherine began her career as a creative movement teacher in a special needs recreation program with the NYC Board of Education while still in college. Most recently, Katherine taught creative movement and yoga at Bright Horizons, a corporate day care company.

As a personal trainer, Katherine has extensive experience working with seniors, special populations, and post rehab clients and has helped transform many novice seniors into happy, healthy and regular exercisers.

Katherine holds a BA in Modern Dance and Joint Political Science/History from Rutgers University and an MA in Contemporary Theatre Practice from the University of Essex in England.
Website: KatherineAdamenko.com
Website: Ladypants.com

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Catherine Schuller, AICI, CIP
Image & Style Advisor

Catherine Schuller of CurveStyle, has been an actress, model, spokesperson, author and now promoter and marketer. Her quest to find opportunities to change the world’s perception of full figured woman continues to forge new projects and endeavors. Her desire and ambition is constantly rekindled as she finds ways to create new venues to help solidify the full figured femme as the image of the new fashion and real life woman icon.

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Toni Gadsden
Care Concierge & Volunteer Coordinator

Toni Gadsden has been a part of Divabetic® since it's inception in 2003.  She has lent an willing and helping hand in various aspects contributing to Divabetic®'s growth, from t-shirt sales for it's fundraising efforts to writing, editing and proofreading it's web content.  She is presently responsible for coordinating the aid and efforts of Divabetic's "Care Concierge" level of volunteers who graciously give of their time at Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic®: Makeover Your Diabetes events, which are hosted by many cities all over the country.  Care Concierge Volunteers are the volunteers that Divabetic® utilizes as the 'first line of wellbeing" to participants, "the Divas," for whom the events are tailored for and designed to help. Toni coordinates the efforts of these volunteers who will ensure that 'the divas' understand the outline, design and meaning of the "makeover maze" - the key component to these fabulous events. Toni has 15+ years combined as an executive personal assistant and corporate special events liaison and gladly brings these skills to Divabetic. She owns her own virtual assistant company, SharpSkills, Inc., which provides virtual office assistance to individuals, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial small businesses. Toni's commitment to Divabetic® is emphasized by the fact that both her father and brother are Type 2 diabetics, allowing her a prominent role in helping them best manage their care.

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James Szadek
Floor Manager & Volunteer Coordinator

James Szadek is a Horticulturist with a uniquely recognizable passion for plants. From his very first job as a teenager at a Clematis nursery in upstate New York, to working on an organic ranch in the high mountains of Colorado, James has always had his hands in the dirt, um? the soil! After graduating from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture, James went to work for one of the world's largest container plant producers, Monrovia Nursery Company. He then spent several years in Oregon, honing his horticultural skill. James left Oregon armed with valuable knowledge and incredible experience, to manage Cedros Gardens, an organic specialty nursery in Southern California. While there, he taught various horticultural classes on such topics as: Bonsai, Herb and Vegetable gardening, Container Gardening, Fruit Tree Production, Rose Care and Production and Organic Treatments for Plant Diseases. Presently, James is a freelance Horticulturist designing specialty landscapes and gardens throughout Southern California. He is the proud owner of the O.G. Diva Dog, Peanut... a Jack Russell Terrier with a heart as large as Mother Teresa, the athleticism of Mary Lou Retton and the wisdom and spiritual guidance only paralleled by the Dalai Lama, himself! James' introduction to Diabetes began five years ago when his oldest brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His role on the "Divabetic®" tour is to provide a healthy, fun, safe hobby for Divas living with or affected by Diabetes. His booth provides a plethora of fresh, living herbs, flowers, seeds and gardening supplies to help Divas learn or sharpen their gardening skills, in a hands-on and one-on-one approach. The goal is not only to teach a great new hobby but to help improve diet and overall wellness.

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Rose Marie Szadek
Stage Design & Decorations

Rose Marie, a wife, mother, grandmother, and former teacher‚ she is also Divabetic®'s reigning "retail display and decorating specialist." Retired with her husband Stan, she lives in Columbia, SC (by way of Rochester, NY!) and is a proud officer of the Women's Club of Pittsford for which she chaired the club's annual fundraising event: The House Tour, and was proclaimed Woman of the Year, 1991 for her exemplary service.
Rose Marie has been affected by diabetes as a daughter and as a mother . First when her own mother, Mary Zinni was diagnosis with diabetes in the early 1950s and again when her eldest adult son was diagnosed as Type 1, five years ago while in his late 30s. It was then that she began to learn more about diabetes care and management so that she could "learn more, and fear less." Her early participation in Divabetic®'s first outreach effort, the annual Diabetes University Conference in South Carolina developed by her daughter-in-law, Laura Szadek (where the first Divabetic® T-shirt was sold!). Rose Marie has volunteered her time to backstage efforts at dLife-TV tapings in New York City and has continued to support her sons by working at various Divabetic® events ever since.
She wears multiple hats at our "Makeover" events as a member of our CARE CONCIERGE, the reigning display and decoration specialist and top retail specialist in the Divabetic® booth. She is committed to raising awareness of diabetes and diabetes education in all communities. She'd like to urge families affected by diabetes, especially multi-generational families to work together as a team in order to avoid complications.

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Stanley S. Szadek, Jr.
Shipping & Handling

After a successful forty-year career as an insurance agent, Stanley has parlayed his formidable sales experience into the Divabetic® booth on our current Makeover tour by overseeing inventory shipment and display. Stanley coordinates shipping, set up, and load out of Divabetic® supplies and merchandise. Now retired and living in South Carolina, Stanley’s community service and outreach credentials are honed by his participation as an active member of the Knights of Columbus and by serving on the board of his residential community. The blending of his excellence in sales and a father's passion for diabetes outreach has proven to be an unbeatable combination for building awareness and community involvement in the various cities our program has been featured.
Recently, he added his own personal experience as a father of an adult son living with diabetes to the Divabetic® program. He hopes to encourage other family members to take a more pro-active stance in their loved one's daily diabetes care. By providing the initial capital investment in Divabetic® — the one-time t-shirt fundraising endeavor, he helped transformed it into Divabetic®— the full-fledged diabetes outreach organization that it has become today.
Stanley's hope is to inspire other men to join us at our events and to always give support to the 'divas' in their lives, helping them to stay healthy and infinitely upbeat about their care.

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Thomas Smith
Production Manager

Thomas Smith brings several years of theatrical design experience to his work with Divabetic®. After several years of theatrical touring, he blends his own inspiration and creativity with practicality and function which help to bring the ideal stimulation and mood to Divabetic®—Makeover Your Diabetes. Thomas is a graduate of the college of Charleston and holds a BA in theater. His other credits include: The G8 Summit, 2004 Inaugural Balls, VARIOUS Financial Institutions, Pharmaceutical meetings, and Event Solutions Idea Factory General Sessions. He has also been involved in varied progressive church installations and countless high profile events, meetings and galas.

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Seveda Williams 
Original Divabetic® & Spokesmodel 
Seveda Williams is herself a type 2 Diva and has dealt first hand with the impact of diabetes on her family and community. She is the niece of the legendary 8-time Grammy winner, Luther Vandross, who also had type 2 diabetes. Though she has dealt with the loss of numerous family members due to diabetes and its complications, Seveda has turned a page in her own life and has become overtly active in raising awareness about the disease and prevention related to its complications. Her approach is through encouragement and positive thinking. Her focus is on how to improve your attitude and living a glamorous, fun and happy life and encouraging proper care while living with diabetes. She knows that when women come together as a community looking beautiful, they feel comfortable about asking questions and being honest about becoming proactive in changing habits or managing their diabetes care. Seveda believes that if she can help one of Luther’s fans feel better about their situation then she has helped an entire family. Seveda says “I am fabulous, gorgeous and apparently too sweet for my own good!” That amazing way of thinking is why she was and remains our ‘Original Divabetic®.'
 

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Susan McCaslin
Webmaster and Design Director

"Working with Max on Divabetic®'s web site and other marketing and event materials has been the most rewarding of all of my projects for the last 5 years. Not only has Max's love of the glamourous life enabled me to be free and joyful with my design, it has also allowed me to be more free and joyful in other areas of my life. Max and Divabetic® get "under your skin" and as a result, I am a better artist and person. Thanks Max!"

As one half of Design Monsters, a graphic design studio based in Stamford CT, Susan has had the pleasure and the amazing opportunity to work with Max on Divabetic® from its inception. "It's not often you get to work with a client and friend like Max. His vision and trust in Design Monsters has allowed us to push the limit. What a joy that is!"

At Design Monsters, Susan handles the web design and clients from the conference and event industries. Away from work, you will find her at the local printmaking center or in her studio, painting, drawing or tearing up books and magazines for collage.
www.designmonsters.com

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George Corsillo
Design Director

"As soon as Max approached us with the initial idea of Divabetic®, we were on board. It's amazing to think back to a time when we too were asking Diva what?"

The other half and founder of Design Monsters, George has worked with Max for many years. George designed the majority of Luther Vandross' CDs going back as far as 1985. He has known Max since 1991 and has many fond memories of Max and Luther together.

At Design Monsters, George's other clients include John Mellencamp, Garry Trudeau / Doonesbury, and others from the publishing and entertainment industries. His greatest love though is designing new fonts and one of a kind self-promotional tees.
www.designmonsters.com

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Edward Hillel
Photographer

As a community activist, photographer, filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist, Edward Hillel’s work examines the essence of humanity in all its many facets. He is represented in several important public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Museum of Photography (Belgium), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Montreal), the National Archives (France) among others. He has received the German Critics Visual Arts Prize (Berlin), The Golden Sheaf Film Award (Canada), the Prix Alain de Rothschild (France), and the Spiro Institute Arts Award (UK). In addition to several catalogues about his work, his photographs have appeared in international publications such as Le Monde, Esquire, Fortune, Interview, Newsweek and Paris Match. His clients include governments and universities, financial, media, pharmaceutical, retail and resource industries, among them American Express, Intercontinental Hotels, Mitsubishi, BBC, PBS, Novo Nordisk, Proctor & Gamble, the Royal Bank of Canada and Seagrams. Edward sees Divabetic® as catalyst in diabetes advocacy and prevention, and is committed to beating the disease over the next twenty years.

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Tom Brodie
Business Strategist

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