DAVE THOMAS (& BILLY!)
CEO/OWNER
The man that started it ALL! “The passion that got me into this is that I wanted to share the transformation I had in my own health, and to see other people do the same,” Dave said.
“To help them be the all-natural versions of themselves.” Dave was responsible for Lynchburg’s original nutrition store (before it was the “cool” and marketable thing to do). He is also the mind behind Millie’s, the first ever plant-based café in Southwestern Virginia!
Millie’s Living Café was named in dedication to his mother, who was the catalyst for Dave’s lifestyle revolution.
MEGHAN FOWLKES
INVENTORY/GROCERY MANAGER
Meet Meghan — that is if you haven’t already. Meghan is the quirky, hard-working, baking guru (we all know about her delicious demos!), Japanimation-living encyclopedia of Health Nut. She can answer pretty much any question about any ingredient in any category. We love Meghan, & we know you do too!
While there are many interpretations of “organic,” Meghan’s Interpretation is: “I feel that when "organic" is being used as an adjective or as a state of being, the word is meant to signify a strong connection with nature, and to appeal to nearly everyone's innate desire to retreat into their own inner Walden. To this extent, I feel that “living organically" means to live in a way that is closer to (& more synergistic with) nature — both by abstaining from the use of synthetic chemicals & preservatives, as well as by reducing personal waste & resource consumption.”
She is a woman who feels living organically & mental wellness are interconnected. It isn’t just about making sure the word organic is on an item; it is about understanding how much waste comes with genetically-modified, chemically-tainted foods.
Living organically has made her aware of her everyday actions & how they affect the world around her. She does her best to maintain a lifestyle of self care, positivity, & waste reduction.
We are so thankful for you Meghan! Thank you for, stumbling into Health Nut “in much the same way that most kids stumble into their first job — at their parents' behest!”
You are a staple here!
ALEXIS JOHNSTON
MEDIA & MARKETING MANAGER
The face behind the camera!
Originally from the desert of Southern California, Alexis joined the team in spring of 2018 working in the Cafe & then moved her way over to the Health Nut side. With 6 years of experience in juicing & working in the health food industry, she’s gained a lot of Wholefood Knowledge that she’s been able to continue growing in & share!
Health Nut Nutrition has given her an avenue to hone her love for wholistic healing even more, & a platform to be able to serve other people in helping with their natural health journey! With experience in Essential Oils & herbs, her Love For The Earth has bloomed into a passion for learning everything it has to offer! She has taken many classes in Environmental Biology to deepen her knowledge of bio-diversity, botany, our various Eco-Systems, & symbiosis!
On the side, she enjoys cooking, being outside, & a good Marvel movie. She also loves doing competitive CrossFit & being active!
ALVA PICK
AROMATHERAPIST
Beautiful, but more importantly intelligent, kind, & creative: Our Alva 💚. She has SO much information to share about Natural Wellness & the power of essential oils! As a student of Aromahead Institute, she is dedicated to ordering the best quality oils for our customers. She also selects the most amazing products from MegaFood, SilverBiotics, and many other staples here at HNN.
After several years of life’s many challenges, she found herself stressed out & veered away from the healthy lifestyle she had grown accustomed to. This lead to a rapid decline in her physical & mental health. When she decided to go back to her "roots" & implement all she had learned- her health & energy slowly returned.
Alva joined our team back in February 2015. To say the least, Alva is an Extraordinary woman.
Any day is a beautiful day when Alva is near.
Come and meet Our Alva, at HNN.
DONNA BREITZ
HERBALIST/Bulk Manager
Coming into Health Nut was always her stress relief! Donna finds so much joy in Herbalism & Homeopathic Healing! She desired to expand her knowledge by surrounding herself with inspiration for further education. And working at Health Nut has provided just that!
Donna started her own health journey with a few essential oils, and now she makes most of her herbal products & tinctures from scratch with products from Health Nut! She has really incorporated “Tea as Medicine” in her life in the last year and am passionate about making herbalism accessible & approachable to the average, busy person!
Some of her hobbies on the side include creating her own herbal remedies & Gardening! She also loves anything hockey related!
BLAIR DAWSON
HR MANAGER/CAFE MANAGER
Being the granddaughter of Millie, Blair has carried the torch of the Cafe with her passion for health & food! She has been here since the beginning! She leads well & has become a prominent part of giving natural superfood options to the Lynchburg community!
Blair attended Liberty University & studied Graphic Design there. She loves local art & uses her degree for advertising & signage at the Cafe.
When not at work, she enjoys being with her family, walking her dogs, or binge watching a good show!
Her order of choice is the Riptide bowl & our Loaded Avocado Toast!
ALLAN FONGEALLAZ
WHOLE BODY SPECIALIST
As a Lynchburg native, Allan grew up going to local health food stores with his family. He loves living a wholesome lifestyle. Being healthy is more than just making a single, healthy choice; It’s a culmination of good decisions stemming from Stewardship of the bodies & health we are blessed with!
Allan enjoys connecting with the customers here at Health Nut. If you get the chance to meet him, ask him about his desire for Filmmaking! He loves to tell stories as a writer/director that foster conversations and point people toward a loving God, who cares deeply for them.