Jim Festante (Executive Director) founded Health-e-Habits to promote thoughtful technology and gaming use, emphasizing informed decision-making and community building. A lifelong gamer and tech enthusiast, Jim believes balance is achievable for kids – caregivers have the power to guide them toward safe, responsible engagement with technology.

Jim’s digital journey began in 1996, designing websites when the internet was still in its infancy. His work spanned industries, with clients like Ford, Merrill Lynch, and Conde Nast. He soon transitioned into online entertainment, producing content for MTV, NBC, and Comedy Central before moving into journalism at Slate Magazine/The Washington Post, where he covered gaming and technology while helping launch their video division and official YouTube channel.

Since 2008, Jim has shaped the marketing landscape for video games, leading creative campaigns in television, online, and social media for major publishers including Xbox, Sony, and Nintendo, as well as global sensations like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft.

Jim has always been deeply invested in supporting young people. Before becoming a parent, he taught acting and improv in NYC and Hollywood. Now, he mentors through programs like Crisis Text Line and Big Brothers Big Sisters while coaching youth soccer and baseball. He is currently pursuing certification in Addiction Studies Counseling, furthering his commitment to guiding the next generation.

Jim’s experience in gaming, journalism, and digital marketing has given him a 360-degree view of technology’s influence; founding Health-e-Habits was the natural next step in helping families make sense of it.

Shelly Stover (Mental Health Consultant) is a therapist based in Los Angeles and works with clients in person and virtually in California. She specializes in working with couples and parents. Prior to becoming a therapist, Shelly worked as a doula and childbirth educator. She has a deep understanding of how becoming a parent can impact your identity and your relationships. What she likes most about working with parents is knowing that it is also having a ripple effect on the parent's relationship with their children. Her therapy work focuses on how the therapeutic connection is an opportunity for developing greater understanding, acceptance, and growth in your life. Shelly is passionate about helping clients find agency, balance, conflict resolution and connection in their relationships. 

Shelly earned a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. She's a registered associate marriage and family therapist (#143988) and a registered associate professional clinical counselor (#15473) working in private practice under the supervision of Aurisha Smolarski, LMFT (#90391). She is a certified perinatal mental health professional (PMH-C). She has given many presentations in the past decade, most of them revolving around maternal reproductive health (and all of them driven by passion).

Nikole Zivalich (Video Game/Social Media Consultant) is a ~20-year veteran of the video game industry. She has worked on every facet of games: from pitching, to post, to writing hundreds of videos about Tetris. Nikole has worked in game development as Producer for mobile, PC, and console games.

As a teen Nikole began writing for GamePro and @Gamer Magazine. In her early 20s, Nikole worked at multiple early live and interactive web channels including Revision3/Discovery Networks, producing live content about games for gamers. From there, she began working at video game TV network G4. For several years Nikole wrote about daily video game news, reviewed games, and produced award-winning podcasts for the network (including Feedback). Nikole also acted as G4's first Social Media Manager and Strategist before focusing full time on games coverage. 

Post-G4, Nikole moved into game development with studio The Odd Gentlemen as a Producer and Community Manager, working on games like King’s Quest and Wayward Manor. She also was a Producer on the interactive TV show Talking Dead on AMC, as the voice of the audience on air and the voice of the brand on social media. She moved on to work with animation house Stoopid Buddy on interactive and social media elements and was a consultant for video game stalwart IGN.

Currently Nikole writes on Roblox experiences, manages Roblox communities, and works with PBS SoCal on an educational show for kids, families, and gamers, called Won’t You Be My Gamer. She hosts and produces the video game themed show which airs each Friday.