Meet Kelly Estes – Chief Operating Officer at Dietitian Approved

A new chapter for Dietitian Approved.

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news! Kelly Estes has joined Dietitian Approved as our Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Kelly isn’t new to our community. He’s a Triathlon Nutrition Academy alumnus and passionate advocate for triathlon nutrition education. Now, he’s stepping into this key leadership role to help us scale with intention and continue delivering world-class nutrition education for endurance athletes across the globe.

About Kelly

Hailing from Idaho, USA, Kelly recently returned to triathlon after a successful career in the nuclear industry, where he held senior leadership positions at the Idaho National Laboratory. His previous roles include Director, Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), Business Affairs Division; Deputy Director, ATR Life Extension Program; Manager, ATR Production Control; and various leadership and project management positions.

Kelly brings decades of experience in operations, project management, and strategic planning — skills that will help strengthen the systems supporting our athletes and refine how we deliver our programs.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Idaho State University, an MBA from Boise State University, and is a Project Management Professional certified by the Project Management Institute.

A triathlete at heart

As a triathlete himself, Kelly understands firsthand the demands of endurance sport and how the right nutrition can be game-changing.

“From the very beginning, I was drawn to the company’s mission, empowering triathletes with expert nutrition guidance that’s both practical and transformative,” Kelly says. “Joining a team so deeply committed to performance, education and long-term athlete health is an honour, and I’m thrilled to contribute to this next phase of growth.”

His unique blend of leadership experience, operational expertise and love for triathlon make him the perfect fit to help us grow sustainably, while keeping athletes at the heart of every decision.

What Kelly will focus on

As COO, Kelly will:

• Strengthen the systems that support our athletes and programs

• Streamline operations for a smoother athlete journey

• Align our team around high-impact initiatives

• Oversee the development of new tech-enabled offers

• Help us continue growing without losing the heart of who we are

Kelly believes operations should enable people, not restrict them. His focus is on clarity, collaboration and building efficient systems that allow our team to do their best work, while ensuring every triathlete’s experience with Dietitian Approved remains seamless and impactful.

A message from Taryn

Taryn Richardson, Advanced Sports Dietitian and Founder of Dietitian Approved, shared:

“Kelly has been part of our community for years, and I couldn’t think of a better person to help lead Dietitian Approved into its next phase. His leadership, integrity and passion for triathlon are an incredible asset to our mission — to educate and empower triathletes to eat for performance and long-term health.”

Welcome, Kelly!

Please join us in giving Kelly the warmest welcome to Dietitian Approved. We’re excited about what’s ahead as we continue to expand our reach, strengthen our systems and deliver the best possible experience for triathletes worldwide.

Learn more about our team and how we work with triathletes at dietitianapproved.com/about.