DECEMBER MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Ashley Moyna

Employer and Job Title: Marketing & Operations Manager at Canomiks, Founder at Seedling LLC (self-employed)

 Give us a brief description of your job(s): I currently have two jobs. At Canomiks – a Rochester, Minnesota-based start-up – I lead the marketing and operation efforts which includes developing a marketing strategy and corresponding materials, lead generation and outreach, and setting up systems and processes to help us scale. At Seedling, I work with my clients on projects in three areas: recipe development, food photography, and social media marketing. So every day is quite different as you can imagine!

What do you love about what you do? Oof, it’s tough to answer this concisely, since I love what I do so much. I guess I’d say I love the variety of tasks I get to take on a day-to-day basis and the fact that I get to work directly with incredible company founders to help improve their businesses. I’m constantly learning and growing through the work I do and regularly inspired by those I work with, two things I highly value. The chance to solve some huge world issues using technology is pretty awesome too!

What are the challenges? With Seedling, it can be challenging (and sometimes lonely) to be your own boss. You’re the only person accountable for your business’s success (or failure), so it’s important to remember your “why” and take breaks to avoid burnout. Working in start-ups can be difficult (and equally exciting!) because you’re doing something no one has done before. There’s no playbook to follow, so there are times where it’s tough to know which path to take next. I’ve found that support from a solid team, the company’s leaders, and one’s personal cheerleaders (like family and friends) helps ease these challenges greatly.

How has your MAND membership benefited you?  As a Minnesota transplant, MAND was essential to helping me tap into the local RD community, gain connections, and make friendships along the way. I currently work in a non-traditional space, so I’ve also enjoyed using MAND’s resources and events to stay up-to-date on the latest nutrition happenings. Lastly, through my role as the Membership Development Director, I’ve gained leadership skills and been able to work with other incredible RDs in the area to help advance our profession. I’m so grateful for this community!

What do you think is the future of dietetics and nutrition? I see personalized nutrition and nutrigenomics as the way of the future. As technology advances, we’ll be able to better understand each individual’s nutrition needs and cater their diets to meet those needs. Dietitians will definitely have a role to play in this space, as we can easily understand the science behind the technology and share that knowledge with consumers and patients in an easy-to-understand way. It’s an exciting time to be in this field!