Our Consultants

Food allergies impact nearly every component of life. We are here to help you implement life solutions for all aspects of food allergies.

Our consultants have years of experience as educated parents and families of food allergic children. Our founder, Dr. Liz Koman, is a published researcher who is currently conducting numerous quality of life studies with food allergic individuals and families. Additionally, her family has been involved with and a recipient of the ongoing peanut de-sensitization research. Through the years she has applied her education, training, and experience in the food allergic community and worked with school systems, restaurants, families, day care centers, pre-schools, churches and other venues to educate and train food handlers, child care providers, parents, family members and others on the development of plans for food allergy safety.

Liz Koman, Ph.D.

Food Allergies are a part of my family and a part of my life. I didn't choose food allergies, food allergies choose my family. We are not only living with food allergies, we are thriving despite having food allergies. I am here to help others find life solutions so they can thrive too.

I am the mother of two children with food allergies; a wife of a food allergic man; and a woman who has food allergies. My children have different food allergies and different severities of their food allergies. I am very actively involved with the FA community; I am the president of our local support group, I co-organized and supported every FAAN Walk, and I have worked with and help train our local school system. I have educated and worked with families, churches, pre-schools, and restaurants about food allergy safety. But most importantly, I have been living with and successfully managing my families' food allergies.

Life threatening food allergies have an impact on life and alterations need to occur in order to keep food allergic individuals safe. But I am here as proof that life truly does go on after a food allergy diagnosis. With knowledge and planning, individuals with food allergies can be included in nearly every event and activity.

Nicole Newsome

I have been actively engaged with the food allergy community since 2004. My 8 year old son has a life threatening peanut allergy that I have managed and advocated for. My firm, Huddle up Management- an event promotion and fundraising company, actively supports the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the Tidewater FAAN Walks, and local support groups. With more than 20 years of marketing, sales, and advancement experience, I have applied my marketing talents to bringing support and awareness to our cause.

I am the founder of the Food Allergy Association of Virginia Beach (FAAVB), a non-profit support group targeted towards raising funds for and bringing awareness to food allergies. We are responsible for sponsoring and organizing local support group meetings, event fundraisers, and also utilizing awarded grant funds to host education events such as the Food Services symposium, where we provided free education and information regarding food allergy safety to food service personnel.

Maintaining my children's safety is my highest priority, but second to that is advocating for food allergy awareness, safety, and quality of life matters.

Jennifer Elizondo

Jennifer Elizondo has spent the past four and a half years submerged in the world of food allergies and special diets. Her youngest son was diagnosed with multiple, severe food allergies at age 18 months and her oldest son diagnosed with Celiac disease last year. After experiencing the challenges of living life with food allergies, Jennifer engaged in the food allergy community to help others struggling with the same issues.

As the founder of Navan Foods, The Allergy Free Food Shop, Jennifer has been providing support on a daily basis to the food allergy community for the past three years. By speaking to many people with varied food allergies and special diets, she has gained a well rounded perspective that has helped her advise others and assist them in overcoming the difficulty of living with food allergies.