Annual Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference 2025

Eat Well, Move Well, Live Well

Thursday, June 5, 2025

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Delaware State University

The Division of Public Health, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention (PANO) program presentd the Advancing Healthy Lifestyles (AHL) Conference 2025: Eat Well, Move Well, Live Well, on June 5, 2025, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Delaware State University Martin Luther King Jr. Conference Center.

The conference provided a platform for cross sectional sharing on national, regional, and local best practices, challenges, opportunities, and success stories. With a focus on improving health equity, the ultimate goal of the conference is to strengthen efforts to reduce obesity and other chronic diseases amongst Delawareans. This invitational event included government legislative and administrative policy makers in public health, nonprofit advocates of health and wellness, educators, medical care givers and policy experts, and academic and medical researchers who are interested or engaged in health disparities, nutrition, chronic illness and obesity prevention. It further served as an opportunity to close gaps in health inequities, assess progress, and further strengthen the work of community stakeholders.

2025 Conference Presentations

Place Matters: Moving Towards a Healthy “New Normal” in the Built Environment

David L. Edgell, AICP, Director, Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination

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The Power of Partnership: Transforming Physical and Mental Health Outcomes for Delaware Youth

Delaware Youth Sports Coalition

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Physical Activity for Older Adults

Hannah Ciolek, MPH, Executive Director, Mid-County Center

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Introduction to Inclusive Health & Fitness

Special Olympics Delaware

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Food is Medicine in Action: Strengthening Health Through Healthcare & Community Partnership

Michelle Axe, Manager Food is Medicine, ChristianaCare
Rob Gurnee, Executive Director, Lutheran Community Services

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Health Workforce Expansion: Bridging the Gap to Wellness while Promoting Economic Mobility

Peggy Geisler, Delaware Community Healthworkers

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Advancing Healthy Lifestyles

Rose Simon, Love and Hope Rescue Mission

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Living Well on Delaware College Campuses

Tracey Phillips, MPA, BA, ASN, Health Promotion Specialist, Delaware State University
Alvin Tamba, Administrative Assistant, College of Engineering, University of Delaware

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Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club Mini Farm, Seaford, Delaware

Tony Windsor, Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware
Christine Justice, Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

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2024 Conference Highlights Video

Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Obi Obadike

Founder & CEO

Ethical, Inc.

Obi Obadike, M.S., is a three-time Telly Award-winning TV host and the co-author of The Cut: Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 10 Days and Sculpt Your Best Body. The book made him and his co-author, A-Lister Actor Morris Chestnut, best-selling authors. The book was a #1 best seller in the diet and exercise genre and a #12 best seller in all books in all genres on Amazon.

Obadike has trained Chestnut and other celebrity clients such as Steve Harvey, Stephen A. Smith, and Charlie Ebersol, to name a few. He is known by major celebrities as the “go-to guy” in the fitness industry to get in great shape for a movie or big entertainment event.

Obadike holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Phoenix (Phoenix, Arizona), as well as nutrition specialist and fitness trainer certifications from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). He was a top Division I collegiate track athlete at Cal State Fullerton, where he was the school record-holder in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter relays. Additionally, he held Big West Conference honors in the 100- and 200- meters two years in a row and received co-athlete of the year honors at Cal State Fullerton.

In 2014, he was recognized as the sixth most influential fitness expert on the web on Dr. Oz’s Sharecare.com. In 2019, he was also recognized as one of the most influential fitness and health experts by IndustryWired magazine. He had one of the most popular fitness/health columns in the history of Bodybuilding.com, the largest fitness internet site in the world, off and on for 10 years. Obi was named 2012 Bodybuilding.com Writer of the Year.

In 2016, he was recognized as the #1 influencer on fitness and health on X (formally known as Twitter) by Onalytica data metrics. Along with being a celebrity trainer and best-selling author, Obadike’s media pursuits have been far-reaching. He has co-hosted a nationally syndicated health TV show, “Lifestyle Magazine,” for seven seasons (2014-2021). He was also a co-host and co-judge on the fitness reality competition show, “Sweat Inc.,” which premiered on Spike TV in 2015, alongside The Biggest Loser’s Jillian Michaels and the founder of TRX, Randy Hetrick. He also had a permanent fitness expert role on NBC’S The Today Show in 2017 for a Summer Shape Up Series for 2 months.

Obadike was a regular health and wellness correspondent on the Steve Harvey national syndicated morning radio show in 2017. He has authored hundreds of health and wellness articles for print and web globally, graced more than 50 fitness magazine covers, and appeared on most of the major national daytime talk shows. He is considered one of the most published health and wellness experts over the last 15 years.

Obi was a featured guest on The Wendy Williams Show, The Dr. Oz Show, the Rachael Ray Show, and The Steve Harvey Show. He also was a featured fitness expert on NBC’s Today Show for two months in 2017 for a weight-loss series with their resident nutritionist, Joy Bauer.

Obadike was on the ISSA fitness certification board for several years. In 2019 he was awarded the ISSA/DEAC Famous Alumni Award for his contributions in the fitness industry.

Obadike is the majority owner of a health and wellness supplement company called Ethical Inc which he owns with Actor Morris Chestnut. In January of 2023 they inked a major national retail outlet deal with Best Buy, where their supplement products are currently being sold on their national online platforms.

In January of 2023, he was inducted into the Marquis “Who’s Who in America,” 2023 edition, which chronicles the lives of the most notable and accomplished Americans in the U.S. This edition will include a one-page bio and picture of Obadike and will be published in the Library of Congress and major libraries and universities across the country.

He works with the American Heart Association regularly on some of their health and wellness initiatives. He has over 600,000 social media followers on all of his social media platforms.

Poster Presenters

Agenda

8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Lauren Butscher, CHES, Program Administrator, Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, Division of Public Health (DPH), Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)

Steven Blessing, MA, Director, Division of Public Health, DHSS
9:10 a.m.
Remarks
The Honorable Kyle Evans Gay, Lieutenant Governor, State of Delaware
9:15 a.m.
Remarks
Tony Allen, PhD, President, Delaware State University
9:25 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Session Discussion Panels
Eat Well: Addressing Food Insecurity to Foster Healthy Eating Habits
This session focuses on strategies and methods used by organizations to provide access, education, and support to encourage different audiences to adopt healthier eating habits.

Moderator: Cherese Winstead, MS, PhD
Dean, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology
Delaware State University

Rob Gurnee, JD
Executive Director
Lutheran Community Services

Michelle L. Axe, MS, CHES
Manager, Food & Social Care Initiatives
ChristianaCare

Tony E. Windsor
Manager, Grants Development and Statewide Food Program Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

Christine Justice
Director, Mini Farm
Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

Rose Lande Simon
Executive Director
Love and Hope Rescue Mission

Move Well: Strategies to Promote Active Communities
This session focuses on evidence-based and innovative practices that organizations have implemented to provide greater opportunities for Delaware residents to increase their physical activity.

Moderator: Peter Campbell
Healthy Living Enrollment & Outreach Coordinator
YMCA of Delaware

Louise Doe
Director of Young Athletes and Healthy Communities
Special Olympics Delaware

Andrea Valentine
Founder
Delaware Youth Sports Coalition

Hannah Ciolek, MPH
Executive Director
Mid-County Center, Inc

Live Well: Approaches to Promoting and Improving Healthy Lifestyles
This session focuses on innovative best practices to motivate individuals and encourage changes in nutrition and physical activities to reduce obesity, as well as management or prevention of chronic disease.

Moderator: Nick Moriello, RHU
Past President
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

David Edgell, AICP
Director
Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination

Peggy Geisler
Chief Executive Officer
Sussex County Health Coalition

Alvin Tamba
Graduate Student
University of Delaware

Tracey C. Phillips
Health Promotion Specialist
Delaware State University
10:40 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Session Discussion Panels
Eat Well: Addressing Food Insecurity to Foster Healthy Eating Habits
This session focuses on strategies and methods used by organizations to provide access, education, and support to encourage different audiences to adopt healthier eating habits.

Moderator: Cherese Winstead, MS, PhD
Dean College of Agriculture, Science and Technology
Delaware State University

Rob Gurnee, JD
Executive Director
Lutheran Community Services

Michelle L. Axe, MS, CHES
Manager, Food & Social Care Initiatives
ChristianaCare

Tony E. Windsor
Manager, Grants Development and Statewide Food Program Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

Christine Justice
Director, Mini Farm
Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

Rose Lande Simon
Executive Director
Love and Hope Rescue Mission

Move Well: Strategies to Promote Active Communities
This session focuses on evidence-based and innovative practices that organizations have implemented to provide greater opportunities for Delaware residents to increase their physical activity.

Moderator: Peter Campbell
Healthy Living Enrollment & Outreach Coordinator
YMCA of Delaware

Louise Doe
Director of Young Athletes and Healthy Communities
Special Olympics

Andrea Valentine
Founder
Delaware Youth Sports Coalition

Hannah Ciolek, MPH
Executive Director
Mid-County Center, Inc

Live Well: Approaches to Promoting and Improving Healthy Lifestyles
This session focuses on innovative best practices to motivate individuals and encourage changes in nutrition and physical activities to reduce obesity, as well as management or prevention of chronic disease.

Moderator: Nick Moriello, RHU
Past President
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

Co-Moderator: Lyra R. Gibbs-Lloyd, MSN, MBA, RN, CCMP
Nurse Consultant - Cancer Prevention & Control Bureau
Division of Public Health, DHSS

David Edgell, AICP
Director
Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination

Peggy Geisler
Chief Executive Officer
Sussex County Health Coalition

Alvin Tamba
Graduate Student
University of Delaware

Tracey C. Phillips
Health Promotion Specialist
Delaware State University
12:00 p.m.
Luncheon
12:15 p.m.
Remarks
Helen Arthur, MHA, Chief, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Division of Public Health, DHSS
12:20 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
Obi Obadike
1:20 p.m.
Break
Visit Information Resource Tables and Poster Sessions
1:45 p.m.
What’s Next?
Conversations with National and Local Leaders
This panel discussion features national, regional, and local leaders who will discuss the evolving landscape of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. Panelists will share insights, highlight innovative strategies, and outline actionable next steps to inspire meaningful, lasting change.

Moderator: Lisa Gruss, MS, MBA
External Affairs and Development Officer
Medical Society of Delaware

Michelle Eichinger, MS, PhD
Owner
Planning4Health Solutions

Nikko Brady, MSCP
Deputy Chief of Staff 
Climate, Food Systems & Planning
Office of Governor Matthew Meyer

Mike Tholstrup, MPA, AICP, CSPI
Planning Manager
Delaware State Parks
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
2:45 p.m.
Door Prizes and Closing Remarks
Lauren Butscher, CHES, Program Administrator, Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, DPH, DHSS

Tanya Haley, MS, CHES, CHWC, Specialist, Health Promotions,
American Lung Association
2:55 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Devona E. G. Williams, MPA, PhD, President/CEO, Goeins-Williams Associates, Inc. (conference facilitator)
3:00 p.m.
Adjourn to Networking Reception and Poster Session
4:00 p.m.
Networking Reception Ends

Sponsors/Partners

Thank you to our sponsors! Sponsorship helps keep the conference free for attendees. Want to become a partner in our work? Sponsorship opportunities are available from $500 to $15,000 or more. Fill out an application below.

Online Sponsorship Application

Annual Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference 2025

Eat Well, Move Well, Live Well

2025 Conference Presentations

Place Matters: Moving Towards a Healthy “New Normal” in the Built Environment

The Power of Partnership: Transforming Physical and Mental Health Outcomes for Delaware Youth

Physical Activity for Older Adults

Introduction to Inclusive Health & Fitness

Food is Medicine in Action: Strengthening Health Through Healthcare & Community Partnership

Health Workforce Expansion: Bridging the Gap to Wellness while Promoting Economic Mobility

Advancing Healthy Lifestyles

Living Well on Delaware College Campuses

Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club Mini Farm, Seaford, Delaware

2024 Conference Highlights Video

Speakers

Obi Obadike

Tony Allen, PhD

Helen Arthur, MHA

Michelle L. Axe, MS, CHES

Tracey C. Phillips, MPA, BA, ASN*

Steven Blessing, MA

Nikko Brady, MSCP

Lauren Butscher, CHES

Peter Campbell

Hannah Ciolek, MPH

Louise Doe

David Edgell, AICP

Michelle Eichinger, MS, PhD

Peggy Geisler

Lyra R. Gibbs-Lloyd, MSN MBA RN CCMP

Lisa Gruss, MS, MBA

Rob Gurnee, JD

Tanya Haley, MS, CHES, CHWC, AE-C

Christine Justice

Nick Moriello, RHU

Rose Simon

Alvin Tamba

Michael Tholstrup, MPA, AICP, CPSI

Andrea Valentine

Devona E. G. Williams, MPA, PhD

Tony Windsor

Cherese Winstead, MS, PhD

Poster Presenters

David D. Chen, MD MPH

Leandra Casson Marshall

Kimi Moore, MS, RD, LD

Catalina Natalini, MA

Elizabeth Orsega-Smith, PhD, FSBM

Lydia Sarson

Bet Key Wong, MSN, RN, CNORe

Helen Downing Wiles

Zachary Kellerman

Chad Robinson, MPA

Agenda

8:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:10 a.m.

Remarks

9:15 a.m.

Remarks

9:25 a.m.

Concurrent Breakout Session Discussion Panels

10:40 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m.

Concurrent Breakout Session Discussion Panels

12:00 p.m.

Luncheon

12:15 p.m.

Remarks

12:20 p.m.

Keynote Speaker

1:20 p.m.

Break

Visit Information Resource Tables and Poster Sessions

1:45 p.m.

What’s Next?

Conversations with National and Local Leaders

2:45 p.m.