About Pat Katepoo, RD, The Salary Coach for RDs

Hi, I'm Pat Katepoo, RD, the salary coach for dietitians. I completed training as a career management coach with Career Coach Academy.

As a dietitian since 1980 (go ahead, guess my age), I'm familiar with both the opportunities and frustrations of the profession, particularly as it relates to pay.

For most of my career, I've been learning and applying negotiating techniques. Like anyone else, I've had my hits and misses. Yet I've done far better than I would have otherwise because I developed a business mindset in my work and I was willing to negotiate for what I wanted.

You can get an idea of my reputation for negotiating expertise by visiting my WorkOptions.com Web site. Online since 1997, it's all about successfully negotiating a flexible work arrangement. Read the media kudos or check out the long list of books which recommend WorkOptions.com as a resource.

Here's my Mission for Career Coach RD: To equip and empower dietitians to use negotiation skills to advance their pay.

Everything you access here—the free and low-cost resources, the coaching services, and especially the Ready-for-a-Raise Workbook for Dietitians—support that mission.

As a profession, we're not trained to think in business terms; as women, we're not socialized to market ourselves or to negotiate. My career choices have countered this prevalent pattern, and I offer my experience and resources to other dietitians so they can boost their income.

Being a salary coach and advisor blends my professional experience with my business bent and career advising experience—for your benefit. 

If You're Curious...

Education
Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Dietetic Internship, Rush Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Several trainings in marketing, media, customer service, counseling, and more
Certified Career Management Coach, Career Coach Academy
And, of course, countless units of CDR-approved continuing education since 1980

Recognitions
Hawaii Young Dietitian of the Year - 1989
Hawaii Dietetic Association - Education Award
ADA Foundation - Selected to present role-model project for the second “Building Partnerships with the Food Marketing System: An Expanded Role for Dietitians”

Community and Professional Involvement (Past and Present)
Hawaii Foundation for Dietetics, President, June 2006-May 2007
Hawaii Dietetic Association - member, conference speaker, conference planner
International Hospitality Center - host, short-term homestays
Read Aloud Program - literacy volunteer
Hawaii Heart Association - committee member, camp volunteer
Hawaii Diabetes Association - conference speaker, camp volunteer

Some Professional Roles Over the Years

I'm now fully self-employed again with Career Coach RD, WorkOptions.com and Time Off Tactics, but from 1989 through mid-2005, I usually combined a part-time employed position with my entrepreneurial work to round out my professional passions.

Employee
Director of Nutrition Services, The Honolulu Medical Group
Physician Services Rep (Business Development), The Honolulu Medical Group
Public Health Nutritionist, Hawaii State Department of Health
College Lecturer, Science in Human Nutrition, Honolulu Community College
Marketing Director, Damon Key, A Law Firm (Yes, I left dietetics for about five years. Working at this business law firm was a fascinating and fun experience. And you can you imagine how regularly dealing with attorneys honed my negotiating skills!) 

Entrepreneur
Owner, Time Off Tactics for Baby Boomers - 2008 to present (non-nutrition)
Career Coach RD - 2005 to present 
Owner, WorkOptions.com - 1997 to present (non-nutrition)
Flexible Work Advisor  - 1993 to present (non-nutrition)
Owner, Island Food & Nutrition Associates (late 1980s, early 1990s)
Private Practice Nutritionist, The Honolulu Medical Group (early-to-mid 1980s)

Again, you're welcome to read my negotiation hits and misses here.