Meet the MommaStrong Team

Jennifer Swanner

Jennifer Swanner joined MommaStrong in July of 2018 as the MommaStrong Store Manager. Jennifer manages all the equipment and merchandise for MommaStrong as well as assisting with events. She brings 12 years of experience with intimates and wardrobe consulting. Jennifer has over a decade of experience in buying domestically and internationally, in addition to retail management. She specializes in personal styling with a special interest in the power of well-fitting intimates. She uses her knowledge and experience to make people feel their best.

Monique Cortes, LCSW-S

Monique Cortes, LCSW-S

Monique Cortes, LCSW-S is a therapist and clinical social worker in Houston, TX. Her practice is focused in community mental health, where she can be a voice for her community’s most marginalized individuals, specifically, those with severe and persistent mental illness. She is passionate about promoting mental wellness and reducing the stigma of seeking support for mental health issues. She is an advocate for social and racial justice issues. She is the mother of a sassy 4 year old daughter and will be welcoming another into the world any day now!

Annie Keilman, LCSW

Annie Keilman, LCSW

Annie Keilman, LCSW is a therapist and clinical social worker based in Oakland, California. Social justice, client self-determination, hope and humor are fundamental to her practice, which focuses on new and expectant parents, individuals working in caring professions, and those impacted by a family member or loved one with mental illness. She credits MommaStrong and Fuel for the glutes and energy needed to wrangle her two small children.

Nicole Taylor Irwin, PhD

Nicole Taylor Irwin, PhD

Nicole Taylor Irwin, PhD (she/her) is a licensed psychologist who has worked with families in the NICU, women hospitalized with complications during their pregnancies, and families dealing with infertility, loss, and reproductive difficulties. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Her research and clinical interests have been in feminist psychology, women’s health, psychosocial oncology, perinatal mental health and infusing social justice in supervision and training.

Courtney Wyckoff, CPT, CES

Founder
Courtney Wyckoff is a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, with 20 years experience in the field of fitness and injury prevention/treatment. She has been working exclusively with pre- and postnatal women for the last 10 years, which has allowed her the opportunity to see how seldom people get the sort of support and information they need to truly re-integrate their core, nervous system, and biomechanical performance after childbirth. Her programs for core rehabilitation have been featured in Shape magazine, NPR, Parents magazine, and are vetted by leading physical therapists in this field.
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Jya Plavin, MPH, CPT, CPPC

Director of Impact & Community
Jya Plavin (she/they) joined MommaStrong in March 2020 as Director of Impact & Community, and is MommaStrong’s Lead Certified Trainer. Jya holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, and is a Certified Personal Trainer and Pre- and Postnatal coach. After a difficult birth and transition to parenthood led her to the transformative magic of MommaStrong, Jya became passionate about perinatal health justice and supporting people who give birth through accessible, evidence-based fitness and wellness guidance.

Stephanie Dillon, PT, DPT, WCS

Physical Therapist Advisor
Stephanie Dillon (she/her) joined the team in 2020. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2007, and holds a board certification in women’s/pelvic health physical therapy. Additionally, she has a strong background in orthopedics, having also held an orthopedic board certification for 10 years. She is a teaching assistant for the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and owns her own pelvic health and orthopedic PT practice. She is passionate about helping everyone, regardless of age or gender identity, learn how to improve their own pelvic floor issues.

Sarah Lowen

Content Manager
Sarah Lowen (she/her) has a master’s degree in Linguistics and has designed courses and training for international students in the United States. She is committed to education for all, and fitness education is a part of that. After having her daughter, MommaStrong was there to help her navigate new waters and she is grateful to be a part of a team providing such a necessary product and community for parents and caregivers everywhere.

Shawn Broussard

Member Services Expert
Shawn Broussard joined the MommaStrong team in 2018. Prior to that, she was a stay-at-home mom to her two kids. And before that, she was a project manager. Shawn is very passionate about making sure MommaStrong members are well cared for.

Zarina Shah

Graphic Designer
Zarina Shah (she/her) makes sure all things MommaStrong are on-brand and attractive. She is the mother of 2 boys and is is grateful to be part of the MommaStrong team and proud to support such an inspiring brand.

Theresa Moutafis, RD, IBCLC

Expert Contributor
Theresa Moutafis, RD, IBCLC and diabetes educator and has been a MommaStrong member for a year and a half, which has been a game-changer for her. Her journey with body kindness started in graduate school when she wanted to become a dietitian to help people lose weight. But after learning about intuitive eating and doing some self-exploration, a million and a half-light bulbs went off in her head. She changed the way she looked at food and dieting and diet culture, and she is still changing and exploring, and loves to help others do the same and explore what works for them.

Monique Cortes, LCSW-S

Expert Contributor
Monique Cortes, LCSW-S is a therapist and clinical social worker in Houston, TX. Her practice is focused in community mental health, where she can be a voice for her community’s most marginalized individuals, specifically, those with severe and persistent mental illness. She is passionate about promoting mental wellness and reducing the stigma of seeking support for mental health issues. She is an advocate for social and racial justice issues.

Safiyya Suleman, RD

Expert Contributor
Safiyya Suleman is a Registered Dietitian, mom, and foodie. She prides herself in being an anti-diet advocate because diet culture definitely has played some tricks on her. She is a third culture kid which has taught her to master the art of communication and relationship management. She looks forward to supporting FUEL members in their journey to body acceptance and food freedom.

Melissa Nieves, RD, LND, MPH

Expert Contributor
Melissa Nieves, RD, LND, MPH joins the FUEL team from Puerto Rico. She is a Registered Dietitian, mother of 2 dragons (yes, that was an intentional GOT reference!) and perpetual bookworm. Melissa is bilingual in Spanish and English, and especially loves Latin foods. She is very passionate about guiding folks out of diet culture and into a positive relationship with food in order to achieve food freedom.

Kirstie Bylenga, RD

Expert Contributor
Kirstie Bylenga (she/her) is a dietitian and advocate for anti-diet nutrition and weight-inclusive healthcare. She became a MommaStrong member in early 2020 while looking for prenatal-friendly exercise, and has been so grateful for the opportunity and encouragement to keep showing up! Outside of FUEL, you can also find Kirstie moderating the member-led MommaStrong book club. Kirstie is registered to practice dietetics in British Columbia where she lives with her spouse and daughter.

Nicole Taylor Irwin, PhD

Expert Contributor
Nicole Taylor Irwin, PhD (she/her) is a licensed psychologist who has worked with families in the NICU, women hospitalized with complications during their pregnancies, and families dealing with infertility, loss, and reproductive difficulties. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Her research and clinical interests have been in feminist psychology, women’s health, psychosocial oncology, perinatal mental health and infusing social justice in supervision and training.

Annie Keilman, LCSW

Expert Contributor
Annie Keilman, LCSW is a therapist and clinical social worker based in Oakland, California. Social justice, client self-determination, hope and humor are fundamental to her practice, which focuses on new and expectant parents, individuals working in caring professions, and those impacted by a family member or loved one with mental illness. She credits MommaStrong and Fuel for the glutes and energy needed to wrangle her two small children.
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