Real Talk.
Real Leadership.
Real Community.

An experience built exclusively for sports RDs who are ready to grow, connect, and accelerate their careers.

Be the first to know

Duration

13 Weeks

Start Date

January 4, 2027

Experience Required

Sports RD at any level

WHY THE ELEVATE PROGRAM?

Because no one builds a career alone.

The Elevate Program is unique by design — combining individual meetings with a veteran sports RD, carefully crafted small-group discussions with peers facing the same challenges, and accountability on real-world application of the content. You get personalized guidance and the community at the same time.

01

Built for sports RDs, by sports RDs.

02

Small teams. No recordings. Ever.

03

Led by experts in the field.

Whether you're navigating your first year in sports nutrition or looking to develop leadership skills, The Elevate Program connects you with experienced veteran sports RDs who can help you move forward with confidence.

This isn’t just professional development. It’s where you get reps on the skills that strengthen your future in sports nutrition.

ASPDA has been hard at work elevating sports and performance dietitians for over 15 years. The Elevate Program is an evolution of ASPDA's commitment to developing leaders and strengthening the sports nutrition community. The more you elevate the profession, the better off we all are.

PROGRAM GOALS

By the end of this program, Elevate RDs will…

  1. 01

    Increase their confidence in their ability to navigate any situation at work

  2. 02

    Have go-to frameworks that they can refer to when leading themselves, and others

  3. 03

    Produce an impactful signature project that makes a real difference in their work and life

  4. 04

    Be connected with sports RDs that they can call upon in the future

  5. 05

    Deepen their connection to ASPDA

HOW IT WORKS

13 Weeks. One Session a Week. Actually Manageable.

The Elevate Program runs for 13 weeks with a rhythm that alternates between team learning and individual development—giving you structure to absorb ideas one week and apply them to your real situation the next. The program includes weekly challenges and a signature project that participants focus on over the duration of the program.

  1. Module 1

    Who are you as an RD? (And Why it Matters)

  2. Module 2

    Setting the stage - What are they actually expecting from you?

  3. Module 3

    Building your house - Policies, Budgets & Getting Organized

  4. Module 4

    The tricky conversations

  5. Module 5

    Boundaries, Brand and the Long Game

  6. Module 6

    What you're taking with you (Signature Project)

Time commitment: Alternating weeks of a 1-hour weekly team call and 30 minute 1:1 call. Participants should anticipate some additional time spent on reflection and implementation.

THE SIGNATURE PROJECT

Something Real You Can Use on Monday

An important part of the Elevate Program is to help you get one big thing done. Or at least something that feels big to you. No busywork. You'll leave with something worth keeping.

This is the time to finally finish that project you have been putting off, feel stuck on, or want to enhance, and be supported throughout by your Team Lead's personalized guidance. Every signature project is encouraged to be grounded in established standards. You choose the format that fits your situation best.

Elevate RDs will decide their direction and proactively work with their Team Lead through the remaining weeks to get their project to the finish line, before sharing what they've built at the final session.

By the end of the program, you'll have built something significant to you—a tool, a plan, or a framework that's immediately relevant to your actual work.

IS THE ELEVATE PROGRAM RIGHT FOR YOU?

This program is for you if...

  • You're great at the nutrition part, but quietly overwhelmed by everything else

  • You've said yes to something at work and immediately thought “I have no idea how to do that”

  • You love your job and wish you had a group of people and an expert in your corner to keep you accountable and cheer you on

  • You're done trying to figure it out alone

MEET THE TEAM LEADS

Katie Knappenberger, MS, RD, CSSD, ATC

Katie is the co-creator and facilitator of the Elevate Program, where she brings over a decade of hands-on leadership experience to helping others grow into stronger, more confident leaders. She is the Past-President of ASPDA and has spent the last 12 years building and growing Northwestern Performance Nutrition from the ground up. A mom navigating the real, messy, and rewarding work of work-life integration, Katie leads with authenticity—showing that you don't have to choose between a thriving career and a full home life. She brings that same practical, grounded approach to every session of Elevate, helping leaders build skills that actually work in the real world.

Amber Yudell, MS, RD, CSSD

Amber brings 15 years of sports RD experience—and plenty of stories and lessons learned from it all. Today, her favorite part of her work is seeing others succeed and grow into roles they may not have imagined for themselves. Amber has been an active leader within ASPDA throughout her career, including six years on the Board of Directors. Her passion for developing people and strengthening the sports nutrition profession led her to co-create and facilitate the Elevate Program, where she shares the wins, the “what’s next?” moments, and everything in between—challenging others to keep growing and never stop having fun along the way.

FAQS

What makes the Elevate Program's approach unique?

Strong coaching, mentorship, and leadership programs develop great working alliances that support your personal and professional development. ASPDA believes sports RDs benefit from a variety of these connections over their career. Elevate is unique by design — combining individual meetings with a veteran Sports RD, carefully crafted small-group discussions with peers facing the same challenges, and accountability on real-world application of the content. You get personalized guidance and the community, at the same time.

Built for Sports RDs, by Sports RDs. Every module, resource, and conversation is grounded in real sports and performance nutrition practice — anchored in combined decades of ASPDA expertise, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic's SOP/SOPP standards, and the Interassociation Consensus Statement on Sports Nutrition Models.

Small teams. No recordings. Ever. Sessions stay intimate and off the record so you can actually talk about the real stuff.

Led by experts in the field.

Should I join the Elevate Program if I've already done other ASPDA things like the toolkit, APW, etc.?

Yes. Elevate gives you a community and a structured space to actually work through how all of it applies to your specific situation, your specific role, and your specific goals. Grow your network, while growing your skills.

Is the Elevate Program right for me?

Elevate is open to Sports RD or Allied Health members who are RDs working in a role as sports and performance dietitians. Whether you are newer to your career, or a long time in.

REGISTRATION

8

Spots

$600

Per Person

Nov 16

Registration Opens

Open to ASPDA Sports RD and Allied Healthcare members only. All registrants will be vetted upon registration to ensure the program is the right fit for their current situation.

Ready to Elevate?

Invest in your future. Build meaningful connections. Join a community committed to helping you grow.

ALERT ME WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS!

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