STAFF
Peter Mierwinski, CPA, Executive Director
Instagram: @peterthechicagovegan
Peter Mierwinski, a Certified Public Accountant, spent the past 25 years serving local and global financial services companies in various management roles that included audit, human resources and corporate accounting. Peter left the corporate world and the days of “counting beans” under high pressure to “cooking beans” in a pressure cooker!
He is excited to pursue his passion of helping others see how easy and economical it is to prepare healthy, delicious plant-based meals and promote healthy living! He considers himself a starchivore and follows the guiding principles of Dr. John McDougall. Peter was able to reverse his own chronic medical conditions following a starch-based diet.
As a result of his personal experience, Peter is eager to spread the message of “better health through better eating” to help us, the planet and all future generations.
Peter lives in Chicago, IL & speaks Polish.
Board of Directors
Lucian Bogdan, President
@namasteluci
With over 20 years of experience in the culinary and hospitality industries, Lucian realized that out society needs healthy cooking education on many levels.
He is eager to share his knowledge and leadership experience to help improve the health of future generations.
Lucian dedicated the last 9 years to build his knowledge of plant based cooking and nutrition through the following programs:
Harvard School of Public Health Department of Nutrition (optimal diet science based certificate)
T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies (certificate program in plant based nutrition )
Rouxbe Online Cooking School (Forks Over Knives plant based certificate)
Dr. McDougall’ s Starch Solution Certificate
Certificate on how to read and understand diet and health research.
He strongly believes that we can bring change to the way cooking and nutrition work hand in hand to set an foundation for wellness in our communities .
Lucian lives in Las Vegas, NV & speaks Romanian.
Edith Pelcastre, Vice President
Community Volunteer
Edith says she loves to cook and experiment with different and exotic foods and as a stay-at-home mom.
Edith has personally helped several family members manage their diabetes by teaching them the importance of eating a healthy, plant based diet.
She received both an Associate Degree, with High Honors, in Digital Forensics and an AAS in Fine Arts, and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Edith is passionate about sharing & teaching the importance of adopting healthy eating habits to improve overall health within the Spanish speaking communities.
Edith lives in Elgin, IL and speaks Spanish.
Rose Baldridge, RN, Secretary & Treasurer
Born in Philadelphia, P.A. and raised in New Jersey, Rose fostered a drive to help others. After obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Concordia University Chicago, she spent over two decades in the healthcare industry as a professional nurse.
A deep connection with nature kindled Rose's fire for veganism. Combined with a curious mind and experience teaching others about healthy lifestyles, she was inspired to obtain a certification as a Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE).
Rose merges her nursing and veganism passions to continue incredible work in the healthcare industry while promoting healthy living. Additionally, she enjoys volunteering for programs like PCRM's like Kickstart Your Health Chicago (2019), practicing yoga, and exploring meditation.
Rose believes in making decisions for a kinder future.
Honorary Directors and Senior Advisors
Dr. Ashwani Garg, M.D., Member PCRM
Ashwani Garg, M.D., was recently certified by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM). He was among 204 physicians and 43 PhD/Masters-level health clinicians who have become the first medical professionals globally to be certified as Diplomates of the ABLM/American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle Medicine, defined by the ACLM, is the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, tobacco cessation, and other non-drug modalities, to prevent, treat, and, oftentimes, reverse chronic disease. He encourages his patients to actively participate in their medical care. He takes a holistic approach to health, taking in to account the mind-body, social factors, and biological factors. He is a member of the Physician’s Committee on Responsible Medicine and a highly sought after speaker. More