Meet Our Health Coaches
Our team of Health Coaches are dietitians, nutritionists, and lifestyle coaches offering professional guidance for creating healthy habits.
Whether you are interested in increased energy, planning delicious and balanced meals, or fitting more activity into your busy days, our coaches provide the daily support you need to make and maintain positive changes.
Chatting with our Health Coaches is a simple way to get guidance and support when you need it most – no appointments, in-person visits, or phone calls necessary.
Meet some of our Health Coaches
We asked our Health Coaches to introduce themselves. Check them out:
Lindsay Allen
After playing sports most of her life and into college, food was always an important tool. Lindsay decided to pursue dietetics at Virginia Tech and later complete her internship with the University of Delaware to better help people meet their health potential. Lindsay provided nutrition counseling and support to members of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, and for over a decade supported local governments with community education including nutrition, tobacco cessation, physical activity, and cancer prevention.
Lindsay has worked with Brook since 2016 and enjoys supporting members on a personal level. “It is amazing to see where someone begins and how far they can go with the right tools.” She is a firm believer that each person can succeed by setting attainable goals, being open to trying new things and reaching out for support.
Outside of work, Lindsay is staying active with her family and can be found biking, swimming, or spending time on the beach.
Bridget Bigelow, RDN, CDCES
Bridget studied nutrition at Rochester Institute of Technology and got her initial job training as a dietetic intern at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She became interested in diabetes and weight management early in her career, becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. For over 15 years she counseled patients and provided diabetes education and weight management support in a busy Endocrine office in Rochester, NY.
She believes that realistic, gradual, and positive health changes can produce amazing results over time. All foods can fit in a healthy meal plan and there is no one perfect diet. She also believes that living a balanced life is key to being a healthy person, and understanding the reasons why we eat (or overeat) are crucial to developing lifelong healthy habits.
Bridget has been with Brook since August of 2021. Outside of work, she loves to travel with her husband and adult daughter when she can, and likes painting, crafting and reading in her spare time.
Ann Marie Smokowski, RDN, CDCES
Ann Marie is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist with over 35 years of clinical experience. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition at SUNY Buffalo State University, she worked in a variety of settings including a hospital, outpatient clinics, primary care, and home health care. She taught an ADA-recognized diabetes education program for 18 years and helped develop Heart Smart, a grant-funded wellness program for seniors.
Her varied work experiences have been instrumental in teaching her the importance of active and non-judgmental listening and empathy to enhance patient rapport and support their journey to health and wellness.
In her own personal life, she has had to navigate her family’s diverse dietary needs and has seen firsthand how nutrition can help transform an individual. Outside of work, Ann Marie enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 adult children, cooking new gluten-free recipes, watching movies of the golden age, tap dancing, camping, and doing Zumba.
Karen Taylor, NBC-HWC
Karen is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Before joining Brook+, she worked on employer wellness programs for about 10 years. During that time, she was helping launch a pre-diabetes program when she was surprised to learn that she had pre-diabetes. She needed to make some lifestyle changes, and a coach helped her discover the changes that were right for her. The coach inspired her to help others, so Karen is now a coach focusing on motivation and lifestyle change.
Karen enjoys staying active with both tap and ballroom dance, organic vegetable gardening, healthful cooking, and walks with her husband and dog.
Madison Paykel, NBC-HWC
Madison is a certified health and wellness coach dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their lifestyle habits and goals.
With a background in public health and sports nutrition, she specializes in holistic approaches that focus on nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being.
Passionate about helping patients create sustainable lifestyle changes, Madison employs personalized strategies tailored to each individual’s unique health and lifestyle needs.
In her free time, Madison enjoys training for marathons and diving into a good book, which enriches her coaching philosophy. She believes that true wellness encompasses body, mind, and intention.
Jaclyn Zubiena
Jaclyn always knew she wanted to help people. After getting her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology she went on to get trained as a life coach. When she was pregnant, she was diagnosed as having gestational diabetes. After she had her son it went away, but she was left with the knowledge that she was at a higher risk for developing type 2. With this knowledge, she made a commitment to continue to live a healthier lifestyle, and she knew she wanted to help others do the same!
She became a Certified Health and Well-being Coach and completed the Lifestyle Coach training for the NDPP (National Diabetes Prevention Program). She believes creating a healthier lifestyle is all about finding what works well for you and she loves that she gets to help others do this through Brook+.
When she’s not coaching, she enjoys doing yoga, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Kathleen Montero, NBC-HWC
Kathleen is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach who takes a holistic, compassionate approach to helping individuals improve their health through small, sustainable steps. With a background in corporate wellness and personal experience navigating stress, burnout, and hormone imbalances, Kathleen understands how daily habits can either deplete or restore our energy. Her own healing journey led her to this work, and she now empowers others with tools to become more in tune with their body's signals and support lasting change from within.
She specializes in stress management, mindful nutrition, and creating balanced routines that enhance both physical and emotional well-being. Kathleen’s coaching style is rooted in empathy, encouragement, and realistic goal setting. Whether supporting better sleep, reducing sugar cravings, or increasing daily energy, she meets each person where they are and offers steady, compassionate guidance.
Outside of coaching, Kathleen enjoys traveling, staying active, and exploring new places with her dog, Pluto.
Erin Plachko
Erin grew up in a sports-oriented family and was a competitive gymnast while growing up. Throughout these years, she developed a love for health and fitness and learning how to best care for her body and mind. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College in MN and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and health Fitness. She later went on to graduate school to earn a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Denver. She worked in the mental health field as a therapist for both families and adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
After becoming a mom in 2013, she switched gears to study to become a Health Coach, which was the perfect combination of her interests and educational background. Erin is passionate about consistent healthy living, enjoys helping her clients set realistic and attainable goals and supporting them on their own unique journey.
Outside of work, you can find Erin cheering on her 3 kids at their various sporting events (including gymnastics!), doing peloton (spin) workouts, yoga, biking, traveling, and spending time at the lake in the summers.
Credential Key
CDCES = Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
NBC-HWC = National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach
RDN – Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist
