Hakala, Dee 1958-

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HAKALA, Dee 1958-

PERSONAL:

Born February 13, 1958, in Sacramento, CA; daughter of Leland and Sharon (maiden name, Gardner; later surname, Swan) Dast; married Keith Hakala (an engine testing specialist), October 5, 1984; children: Zachary, Jeremy. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Attended college. Religion: United Methodist.

ADDRESSES:

Home—3024 Long Grove Ln., Aurora, IL 60504. Office—C.H.O.I.C.E.S. VVV with De, Inc., c/o C. Dupuis, 1215 South Post Oak Rd., Sulphur, LA 70663; fax: 630-375-9274. Agent—David Black, David Black Literary Agency, 156 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010-7002. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, Lake Charles, LA, developer, instructor, and program director of exercise programs, 1991-93; MWR Sports, Governors Island, NY, program director, fitness instructor, and personal trainer, 1993-94; Advanced Health and Fitness Club, Detroit, MI, program director, fitness instructor, and personal trainer, 1998-99; Young Women's Christian Association, Aurora, IL, program director, 2001—. C.H.O.I.C.E.S. VVV with De, Inc., president and chief executive officer; New Face of Fitness (exercise and well-ness program), founder; Rush Copley Healthplex, personal trainer and fitness instructor; public speaker on fitness and exercise topics. American Council on Exercise, certified fitness instructor, 1991—, certified personal trainer, 1993—; certified by Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, 1995—; American College of Sports Medicine, certified health and fitness trainer, 1996—; American Red Cross, certified lifeguard, 2001. Laubach Literacy Volunteer Service, tutor, 1989-93; Women's Commission of Southwest Louisiana, member, 1992-93; P.L.A.Y., creator, facilitator, and volunteer teacher of activities courses, 1994-97.

MEMBER:

International Association of Fitness Professionals (IDEA; master member), American College of Sports Medicine, Aquatic Exercise Association, Southwest Louisiana Coast Guard Wives Club (president, 1989-92).

AWARDS, HONORS:

Nike Fitness Innovation Award, 1994, for New Face of Fitness; award from Delaware Governor's Council on Lifestyle and Fitness, 1998; Healthy People 2000 Award (Lima, OH), 1999.

WRITINGS:

(With Micheal D'Orso) Thin Is Just a Four Letter Word: Living Fit for All Shapes and Sizes, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1997.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Hungry Heart (tentative title), a sequel to Thin Is Just a Four Letter Word.

SIDELIGHTS:

Dee Hakala told CA: "Writing has been a creative outlet for me since I was in elementary school. Poetry, plays, stories, and daily journal entries filled my school and college days. One of my dreams was to write a book. Thanks to assistance from Nike, Black, Inc., and Micheal D'Orso, that dream became reality.

"Writing is my form of therapy. I equal it to a musician who is inspired and makes music. My grandmother was a poet. My father wrote some pretty intense pieces, too.

"My first book is honest, and I know it has helped thousands—including me!"