Charlene Holcomb MS, RD, CNSC
Charlene Holcomb MS, RD, CNSC is a seasoned healthcare and medical nutrition professional with over 30 years of experience, currently serving as Senior Manager, National Account Sales at Nestlé Health Science. She began her career with a strong clinical foundation, holding a Bachelor of Science in Medical Dietetics, a Master of Science in Food and Nutrition, and a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition, graduating magna cum laude. As a Registered Dietitian, she spent six years providing nutritional care in Level 1 trauma settings, feeding patients on life support and gaining invaluable clinical experience that shaped her understanding of patient-centered care.
Transitioning into sales and account management, Charlene has spent 22 years at Nestlé, progressively advancing through roles including Specialty Sales Executive, Distributor Manager, National Account Manager, and Strategic Account Manager. In her current role, she manages national account relationships and large group purchasing organizations (GPOs), co-manages government contracts, negotiates complex agreements, and supports field sales teams across the country. Her unique combination of clinical expertise and commercial acumen allows her to integrate medical nutrition insights into strategic sales initiatives, bridging the gap between science and business.
Throughout her career, Charlene has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the industry, receiving Nestlé’s Global Recognition Award and being nominated as one of three finalists out of 2,500 suppliers for National Account Manager of the Year. She is passionate about mentoring and coaching her teams, building relationships based on trust and reliability, and helping others succeed in their careers. Outside of work, Charlene dedicates her time to animal rescue, supporting both small animal and equine initiatives, reflecting her commitment to compassion and community.
• Registered Dietitian (RD)
• Certified Nutrition Support Clinician®
• Utah State University – Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
• Utah State University – Master of Science (M.S.), Nutrition and Food Science
• Nestle Global Recognition Award
• Multiple Sales Awards
• Nominated as Top 3 Finalist for National Account Manager of the Year (out of 2,500 suppliers)
• Influential Women 2026
• American Dietetics Association
• Animal Rescue - Small Animal and Equine Rescue
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my work ethic, determination, and accountability. Especially for those of us that work remote, you have to have that level of work ethic and accountability to really be successful working full-time from home. Beyond that, I think what's made a real difference is that I love to coach and be there for our field team - to be that resource for them that they know they can count on to call if they have questions or concerns, even outside of their direct manager. Building those relationships and being someone people can rely on has been key to my success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to have a plan and stay proactive. I’ve learned that success doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intentional direction, adaptability, and the willingness to take initiative at every stage of my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be intentional about your career path and take ownership of your growth. Charlene encourages young women to build a strong personal brand, seek out opportunities for visibility, and understand the value of third-party validation in today’s professional landscape. She also stresses the importance of resilience and staying focused in a constantly evolving industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is that we're going through a major market shift in medical nutritionals. It used to be that clinicians drove scripts and orders, whereas now the consumer is a lot more actively involved in making those choices. Social media is huge - people learn a lot online, they learn from AI - and we've had to make that transition in healthcare. It's been tough, but we've done it because we've had to do it. What worries me a little bit is where AI is going to take us from a professional clinician perspective. As a dietitian, we were always leaned on as the experts in clinical nutrition, but AI can do some of that now. So what happens in the marketplace over the next few years with AI is going to be very important to keep your finger on the pulse of, especially around misinformation or disinformation and how that applies to clinical practice. On the opportunities side, there are always so many new and evolving products and companies that come to light. There's a shift in the market towards organic, real food, and trying to get away from pasteurized, fast food, making better choices. We're actually starting to look at food as medicine, which as a clinical dietitian I always have, but it's becoming a trend even with consumers. More information is always better, so overall I see this shift as positive.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life, it's my family, of course - whether it's my family or my fur baby family. Family, by far, is the most important, along with a very close circle of friends, but family is of utmost importance. In my work, appreciation is a big one - that level of appreciation really matters to me. I also value being able to coach and be there for our field team, to be that resource for them that they know they can count on to call if they have questions or concerns, even outside of their direct manager. There are a number of values from work that mean a lot to me, but appreciation and being a reliable resource are probably the most important.