Rodolfo Reyes
Chef
Rodolfo is originally from Guatemala and enjoyed watching others cook at a very young age. Observing others inspired him to begin helping out in the kitchen, where his passion grew as he learned to experiment with new recipes on his own. Rodolfo’s extensive background in managing operations in major food service environments has created a solid foundation for his culinary success. Rodolfo attended the Culinary Institute of America in San Francisco, and has spent 15 years in the catering and banquet industries, specializing in leading high end social events, government fundraisers and diplomatic functions. He also spent two years as a Lead Cook for Dream Works Studios, five years leading the kitchen for Bon Appétit, and four years as an Executive Chef for Master’s College in Valencia, California. Rodolfo’s gift of balancing culinary creativity with organization and structure inspires our guests to recreate a healthy eating practice at home.
Rodolfo enjoys cooking at home, where he also cultivates his own herb garden for cooking and garnishing. He also loves to take long, scenic drives through the mountains to visit the lake and enjoy the outdoors in his spare time. His commitment to quality, creativity and accountability make him an ideal fit for the Resort.
Krista L. Haynes
Registered Dietitian
Krista Haynes has been a Registered Dietitian since 2008 and has a background rich in research and preventative nutrition. Krista earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas at Austin, and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications, which prepared her for working in public and media relations. She is also registered with American Dietetic Association (ADA) and certified for Adult Weight Management through the Commission of Dietetic Registration. Krista assisted with outreach to spread public awareness of plant-based nutrition in cancer prevention and survival while working with The Cancer Project (TCP), also serving as the media spokesperson and assisting with the cooking and nutrition education curriculum. Krista also led a four-month worksite wellness weight loss program while with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and TCP. Her background includes extensive research on red and processed meat in association with certain cancers. She also assisted with the promotion of increased fruit and vegetable consumption for chronic disease prevention in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s campaign.
Krista has contributed to various print and Internet publications including Livestrong.com. Her goal at the Resort is to help our guest identify their personal needs, discuss dietary concerns and create a personalized plan to implement at home. When not at the Resort, Krista loves being physical and experiencing the outdoors through running and biking along the beach. She also enjoys yoga. She completed her first half marathon in October, 2010. Her leisure time is usually spent reading, cooking and traveling. This true Texan at heart has finally found her second home in the beautiful sunny climate of the West Coast.
Jessica Hummel
Nutrition Counselor
Jessica’s focus on cultivating a healthy lifestyle is evident in every aspect of her life. As a Nutrition Counselor since 2007, Jessica has helped to educate clients about weight loss, health, diabetes, sports nutrition and a variety of other topics. Her dedication to healthy lifestyles motivated her to help in the startup of a children’s nutrition program, as well as assisting nutrition classes for people with autism, working in food service for a children’s center, and volunteering for Brothers Helper Food for the Homeless. She is also an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and has created her own blog, “A Healthy Medium,” which focuses on nutrition. Jessica was placed on the Dean’s Honor List and received her Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Psychology from California Polytechnic State University. Jessica’s goal is to help people learn how to strike a fitness and nutritional balance that will complement their personal lifestyles.
Jessica’s personal experience has helped her to understand how to incorporate healthy practices despite tendencies toward unhealthy nutritional choices. Jessica loves spending time with family and friends, being active and bringing an element of fun to fitness. She gravitates toward kickboxing, volleyball, Pilates, the elliptical and laughing through crazy dance moves like the Macarena. Jessica’s commitment to a quality life makes her the perfect fit for the Nutrition Counselor for our Resort.
Essara Stoeckl
Counselor and Life Coach
Essara has a passion for helping our guests find the clarity needed to map their lives and proactively create changes that bring them a better balance. Essara received her interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2006, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Following her undergraduate studies, she went on to earn her Master’s degree in Psychology from Stanford University, graduating with honors (and a 4.0 GPA!) in 2008. Essara is also a certified ICF Life Coach, water safety instructor, lifeguard and is certified in wilderness safety and rock climbing. Essara’s experience with helping people is vast, having served as a trauma center counselor, professional counselor at Isabella Bird Expeditions (a division of Outward Bound, life coach, swim instructor, lifeguard, rock climbing instructor, and wall attendant. Essara now serves as the Resort’s Counselor and Life Coach.
Essara values an active lifestyle, spending her time rock climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, mountaineering and traveling. She loves listening to classical and jazz music, reading nonfiction and science fiction, and volunteering. Essara can be found enjoying these and many other activities with her best friend and fiancé, Stephen. She holds a high standard for herself and takes active steps toward taking care of the environment and leaving a small eco-footprint. The Resort and its guests are very fortunate to have the opportunity to connect with Essara.