Food Summit Speakers 2026
AJ Cote
AJ Cote serves as Chief Advancement Officer for The Food Pantries for the Capital District, where he helps advance fundraising, community engagement, and strategic partnerships in support of regional food access. He brings development experience across a range of nonprofit fields, including food security, mental health, youth development, community services, and public policy.
Born and raised within driving distance of Albany, Dwight has always been drawn to the region’s mountains, communities, and the many ways people come together to create local impact. He is passionate about learning, helping others, and strengthening the relationships and resources that allow nonprofit organizations to better serve their communities.
Alexina Cather
Alexina Cather is a leader in food policy and public health, currently serving as Director of Policy and Special Projects at Wellness in the Schools, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping public school students build healthy habits. She is also Chief Policy Advisor and Deputy Chair of the Board of Advisors at the Center for Food as Medicine, where she advances equitable access to nutrition-based healthcare solutions. In addition, she collaborates on policy advocacy with The Roundtable, a coalition of emergency food providers in New York City working to improve resource allocation for frontline organizations.
Previously, Alexina was Director of Policy Advocacy and Sustainability at the James Beard Foundation, leading initiatives focused on transforming the food system. She also spent six years as Deputy Director at the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, where she developed evidence-based strategies to combat diet-related diseases and strengthen food security.
Throughout her career, Alexina has partnered with policymakers, community groups, and advocates to expand access to nutritious food and promote sustainable environments. She holds a degree in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley and a Master of Public Health from the University of San Francisco.
Alyssa Harrynanan
Alyssa (she/her) is an advocacy professional and organizer, committed to fighting for justice and systems change, serving the Advocacy Manager at Feeding New York State, leading statewide anti-hunger efforts including the fight for adequate funding for Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), Nourish NY, and SNAP.
Putting her values to practice, Alyssa bridges statewide anti-hunger policy with local action – connecting the state capitol to communities like Schenectady, her hometown. In her role as a member (and resident advocacy expert) on the Schenectady County Food Council's Advocacy and Empowerment Working Group, she leads key issues and acts as the liaison for statewide anti-hunger efforts. She is also a graduate of the Schenectady Community Advocates program and a member of Unite the Poor, organizing alongside the Poor People's Campaign, National Union of the Homeless, and the Nonviolent Medicaid Army for the human rights to food, housing, and healthcare.
Her commitment to systems change is evident with her background in environmental policy, grounding her advocacy in a deep understanding of the way that systems of poverty compound one another.
Outside of her work, Alyssa is a proud aunt to her two-year-old nephew and newborn niece, and loves spending time with her family.
Amy Ellis
Community outreach and nonprofit professional with 20+ years of experience building meaningful partnerships, expanding food access, and creating inclusive community-centered programs. Passionate about connecting people with resources and opportunities, with a strong track record of fostering engagement, supporting diverse communities, and strengthening relationships among organizations, stakeholders, and residents throughout the Capital Region. Amy started her career with New York State government in January of 2025 during the launch of the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program in New York State, helping advance food accessibility initiatives for underserved communities. Known for collaborative leadership, mission-driven outreach, and a deep commitment to equity, wellness, and community impact.
Ariel White
Ariel White is a food access advocate, committed to building healthier, more equitable food systems. Her dedication to this work was shaped during service with the United States Peace Corps, where she witnessed firsthand the importance of community-driven solutions to food sovereignty. Today, based in Schenectady, NY, Ariel continues to champion initiatives that support vibrant and resilient communities through her work managing the Schenectady Greenmarket and as Schenectady County Food Council Coordinator for the Schenectady Foundation.
Ashmita Das
Ashmita Das is a postdoctoral Science Policy Fellow with the SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government, a public policy think tank that conducts non-partisan research and policy analysis. Placed with the Food Systems and Resiliency team at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, she currently co-coordinates the NYS Council on Hunger and Food Policy, a group of diverse food systems stakeholders that provides guidance to state policymakers on how to improve access to healthy, locally-grown food for all New York State residents. Her role involves gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing information on food insecurity's context-specific causes, consequences, and costs, as well as supporting initiatives to assess the short- and long-term impacts of various state-level solutions. As an interdisciplinary, mixed methods researcher with expertise in sustainable agriculture, environmental communication, and science & technology studies, Ashmita is deeply committed to making complex food systems data more actionable in these ways while being attentive to broader issues of data privacy, transparency and equity.
Ashmita holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry as well as a B.S. in Environmental Science from SUNY Binghamton.
Beth Richardson
Brandon Barton
Brandon joined Healthy Alliance because he’s passionate about advancing behavioral health and implementing ways to address disparities. He believes all individuals deserve quality care, especially underserved populations without basic access to services. Brandon has a background focused on mental health counseling and psychology with vast experience in crisis in-patient behavioral health, having worked at several crisis stabilization units for adults and children in New York and Florida. He has participated in several research studies, including a quantitative study about the experiences of minority Jewish women immigrants in Canada, and presented the results of that study at McGill University Education Graduate Student Society. Brandon has also presented other study results at the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychological Society (NEEPS). Brandon was also involved in a study that looked at adult experiences of gender-based violence, and he continues to pursue this research. Brandon's passion stems from a deep connection to people and wanting others to succeed. In his free time, Brandon enjoys spending time with his dog Jack, and a good Netflix binge.
Brittany Taylor
Brittany joined Healthy Alliance because she believes everyone deserves quality, person-centered health care and she’s passionate about making that a reality. With 15 years of experience in health care administration and public health, Brittany brings a wide-ranging background that includes commercial insurance, care management, and community impact work. She’s driven by a deep commitment to improving systems and making care readily available for all. Outside of work, Brittany enjoys learning new things, spending time with family, experimenting in the kitchen (she’s a great cook and an aspiring baker), and finding joy in the little things.
Brooke McConnell
Brooke McConnell, JD
Executive Director, Pitney Meadows Community Farm
Brooke McConnell is the Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm in Saratoga Springs, where she leads a community-building agricultural model grounded in cooperation, collaboration, and grassroots resilience. She has been part of the Pitney Meadows community since its founding in 2016 — first as a supporter, volunteer, and Board member — before stepping into the executive role in September 2023.
Brooke brings nearly 20 years of experience working at the intersection of public health, social care, and community impact. Her career spans leadership roles in reproductive health equity, NYS Medicaid redesign, and health-focused technology, and agriculture, all oriented toward dismantling the institutional barriers that prevent people from meeting their basic needs.
At Pitney Meadows, Brooke leads the Farm's Food as Medicine partnership with Saratoga Hospital. She holds a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School and is an alumna of Georgetown University's New Strategies Executive Education Program for nonprofit leaders.
Christopher Costello
Christopher Costello, RN, MSN, COHN-S: With more than 30 years of healthcare experience, Chris has made significant contributions in healthcare in various roles, including as a Registered Nurse, in a Nursing Director role overseeing multiple units and service lines, and most recently in Nursing Administration covering Medical-Surgical Units, Hemodialysis, and Centralized Telemetry.
Chris had dedicated the last decade to the Occupational Health department, where he led his organization’s staff through the COVID-19 pandemic and the lead a Vaccine Clinic which vaccinated more than 33,000 community members. Chris serves on the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team helping staff debrief after incidents in the hospital. In addition to his mental health work, Chris serves as a valued mentor for the Interdisciplinary Community & Patient Experience Committee as Nurse Leader Advisor, championing key initiatives focused on wellness, food insecurity, and social determinants of health throughout the organization.
Along with a wealth of clinical expertise and strong leadership skills, Chris has earned significant achievements such as Garnet Health Medical Center Employee of the Year (2021) and 1199 Nurse Leader of Distinction (2011). He holds a Master’s degree in Nursing and is a Certified Occupational Nurse Specialist through the American Board of Occupational Health Services.
Cynthia Bott
Cynthia Bott is a licensed clinical social worker who has 30 years of social work teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate level. She is a clinical social worker who has expertise in the areas of crisis, psychiatric emergencies, mood and characterlogical issues. Cynthia is a member of the LGBTQ communityand a past Board President of the Pride Center. Her research interests at this time focuses on assisting local non-profits who need assistance with acquiring and analyzing the data needed to meet their program objectives; she views this as service in the name of equity. Currently, this involves working United Tenants of Albany and The Food Pantries for the Capital District.
Delancey Nelson
Delancey Nelson is the Urban Farms and Community Garden Program Manager with the Food Systems & Resiliency Team for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. She has worked across the food system and community building space for over 15 years. Her experiences ranging from agricultural work on diversified farms to leading sales for an upcycled food company to coordinating communities to help them care for their local parks through stewardship and events. She cares deeply about the cross section of nutrition, agriculture, climate, and education, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Nutrition at Tufts Friedman.
Dickran (DJ) Jebejian
Dickran Jebejian (D.J.) is the Director of Policy at Met Council. He is responsible for the research, analysis, and advocacy that supports Met Council's social services, housing, and kosher and halal emergency food programs. Through his work, D.J. has secured significant funding for Met Council programs while helping push for legislation, budgets, and policy changes that have benefited emergency food and social service organizations throughout New York City and State.
Prior to this role, D.J. spent two years as the Manager of Food Policy at Met Council. Before joining Met Council, he worked for the Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles and conducted academic research with housing and healthcare researchers at UCSC and UCLA. D.J. also spent eight months on a temporary assignment with USDA's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, working to implement equity strategies for Americans with religious-informed dietary requirements.
D.J. holds a B.A. in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master's in Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was also a line cook while in undergrad and still loves to cook for his wife and one-year-old daughter.
Elizabeth (Liz) Hradil
Liz Hradil (she/her) works for the New York State Office for New Americans as the Central New York Immigrant Community Liaison. In her role, she connects government, nonprofit, and local communities together to welcome immigrants and help them in achieving their American Dream. She has previously worked with food pantry networks in Syracuse, and served as Constituent Services and Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator under Mayor Walsh. She is a passionate volunteer in her community, and serves on boards that center around improving the neighborhood, city, and county she lives in. A proud SUNY Cortland Philosophy graduate, she is a public service-minded problem solver who thrives on fostering communities through sustainable, fair, engaging, and inclusive ways. She believes that government should be easily accessible, easily understood, and effective in ways that support and serve everyone in New York State.
Eric Rochman
A healthcare strategy and operations leader, Eric brings over 15 years of experience to God’s Love, working across the healthcare continuum. Throughout his work as a Public Health practitioner, he has worked with direct service providers, acute care and post-acute care facilities, managed care insurance companies, and healthcare technology companies.
As the Chief Operating Officer at God's Love, Eric Rochman oversees all core operations, including Culinary, Inventory, Fulfillment, and Delivery, as well as the Strategy & Innovation departments consisting of Strategic Operations, Research and Evaluation, Policy and Advocacy, and Information Technology.
Eric has a Master's in Public Health from NYU, with a concentration in Epidemiology, and received an advanced certificate in Public Health Disaster Science, Policy, and Practice. For his undergraduate degree, Eric attended the University at Buffalo, where he received a Bachelor's in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Medical Anthropology and Theater. Eric also served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay for almost 4 years, first as a Rural Health and Sanitation volunteer, and in an extension of service as the HIV/AIDS and Programming and Training Coordinator.
Erin Vickers
Erin Vickers Director of Development and Communications Unity House of Troy, Inc. Erin Vickers joined Unity House of Troy in October of 2025 and currently serves as the Director of Development and Communications. In this role, she is responsible for the agency’s comprehensive development program, including fundraising strategies, donor cultivation, marketing, communications, and events. Prior to joining Unity House, Erin spent 8 years at CDPHP in roles on the sales team and later community engagement and health equity. Erin holds an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Psychology from Roberts Wesleyan University and she completed a certificate program at Cornell University studying Diversity and Inclusion. Erin currently serves as a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association and is the NYS Ambassador to Congressman Tonko. Erin resides in Latham, NY, with her husband, daughter, and son. Originally from Boston, she is an avid New England sports fan. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, family dinners, and retail therapy.
Greg Silverman
Over the past 20 years, Chef Greg Silverman has led impactful work in the food security sector. As CEO and Executive Director at West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH), the organization has expanded its direct efforts from one site to over two dozen, from an organization that gave out 10% fresh produce to one that gives out 50% fresh produce, from serving less than 20,000 customers to more than 1100,000. Under Greg’s guidance in 2018, WSCAH co-founded the Roundtable: Allies for Food Access – a dedicated network of eight emergency food providers collaborating to bring more resources to communities through collective food purchasing.
Previously, Greg served as the Director of National Program Partnerships for Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry Campaign where he led the growth of the Cooking Matters nutrition education platform across all 50 states. Greg worked in London, England as a nutrition education specialist for the city government, as a food consultant for public sector organizations, and as a successful chef and owner of multiple restaurants in Ithaca, New York. He also spent time as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Mali.
Gwyneth Frederick
Gwyn (she/her) is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Community Nutrition at Cornell University. She has a background in farm work, a B.S. in public health nutrition from the Ohio State University, and a M.P.H. from the University at Albany. Prior to pursuing her doctoral degree, Gwyn worked as a SNAP-Ed program evaluator for the NYS Department of Health.
Her current research focuses on the implementation of emergency food procurement policies and programs, and the impact they have on the health and dignity of farmers, pantry workers, and consumers. She uses (1) qualitative methods to engage with small-scale farmers and the workers responsible for publicly funded emergency food distribution and (2) quantitative measures to examine how these programs change food availability for New Yorkers experiencing low-income.
Gwyn might be a student at Cornell, but she lives Albany, where you can find her taking long walks with her partner and their dog, gardening, and doing too many at-home craft nights.
She is currently searching for her next role in NYS food systems research (thankfully PhD programs don't last forever), so please reach out if you would like to collaborate or connect!
Hannah Lupien
Hannah Lupien, as the Managing Director of Food Programs, oversees the kosher and halal food bank, including the newly-renovated 22,000-square-foot warehouse that provides millions of pounds of culturally responsive food to hundreds of pantries in New York City and the surrounding counties. Before serving in this position, Hannah was Met Council's Managing Director of Social Services and the initial Director of Strategic Initiatives for Met Council Food Programs.
Hannah has spent her career serving vulnerable populations in New York City at a variety of social service and emergency feeding organizations, including Queens Community House, the NYC Food Assistance Collaborative, and the West Side Campaign Against Hunger. She has experience in program planning and implementation, logistics, strategy, government relations, and management.
Hannah earned her B.A. in History from Yale University and her Master of Public Health from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
Ismail Samad
Ismail Samad is a food systems architect and executive leader whose work centers on community rooted institutions, circular economies, and whole-systems design. His practice is shaped through kitchens, farms, and community enterprises. His work spans organizational leadership, systems design, and multi‑sector translation, connecting community priorities with institutional operations, policy environments, and philanthropic investment.
This grounding informed his roles as Culinary Director of Daily Table, the nonprofit grocery stores in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, co‑founder of Nubian Markets in Boston, a culturally anchored retail model developed in partnership with Boston Medical Center, and Director of Corbin Hill Food Project, a Harlem organization advancing community-rooted supply chains, equitable access, and regional economic bridges between upstate growers and urban communities. Across roles in New York, Boston, and East Cleveland, he has built and stewarded community owned enterprises, regional aggregation systems, and governance structures that support long‑term community benefit. His focus is on designing systems that communities can believe in, institutions can operationalize, and regional economies can sustain.
Ismail’s work is published in peer reviewed journals, featured across mainstream media, and highlighted by philanthropic organizations and he convenes national conversations to surface shared purpose, align incentives, and move collaborations from intention to implementation.
Janelle Shults
Janelle Shults is a passionate Human Services leader with over two decades of experience working at the intersection of health, social care, and community partnerships. She currently serves as the Regional Director for the Capital Region at Healthy Alliance’s Social Care Network (SCN), where she helps connect organizations and providers to deliver whole-person care that meets both medical and social needs.
Janelle’s career journey has spanned population health, behavioral health, and program development, always centered on one goal: improving the well-being of communities. Before joining Healthy Alliance, she was the Regional Director at Community Health Connections Health Homes, leading a network of 18 Care Management Agencies that supported the Capital Region and Central New York.
A committed advocate for equity, mentorship, and social care, Janelle brings extensive experience in managing state‑regulated programs, fostering cross‑sector partnerships, and leading high‑performing teams dedicated to strengthening community well‑being.
Jeffrey Yoskowitz
Jeffrey Yoskowitz is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Met Council Food Programs, where he drives innovation across the department and the whole organization. Leveraging a background in technology and hospitality, Jeffrey led the creation of Market by Met Council—a hybrid platform combining ERP, e-commerce, and CRM capabilities. This system powers the entire food program: managing inventory across two warehouses, coordinating deliveries to hundreds of food pantries, and enabling online ordering for select sites. Jeffrey also built and oversees the Customer Success team that supports 13 pantries and their satellite locations using Market for online ordering, ensuring a seamless experience for partners and clients. The ordering system was featured in the Harvard Business Review in 2024.
Beyond Market, Jeffrey drives forward-thinking initiatives shaping the next decade of Met Council. His most recent priority has been launching and then expanding Met Council's role in the 1115 Waiver Medicaid Redesign work, focused on enhanced service provision, as well as screening and then navigating eligible Medicaid members to those services.
Previously, Jeffrey co-founded Papaya, a wellness-focused restaurant delivery start-up, and The Gefilteria, a culinary venture reimagining Eastern European Jewish cuisine. Jeffrey earned his B.A. in History from Brown University.
Joanna Dorsey
Joanna is an urban farmer, entrepreneur, and public service leader with experience in business leadership, marketing, and project management. She studied Public Administration at CUNY Medgar Evers College, where she served as President of the college’s NAACP chapter, and now serves as co-advisor for the collegiate chapter. She holds a Master of Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College with a focus on nonprofit development.
Joanna currently serves as Executive Director of Policy & Social Impact for Black Farmers United–NYS, where she works to elevate the voices and stories of Black farmers and advocate for equitable, inclusive policies that strengthen food systems across New York State. She was also part of the planning team behind the inaugural Bridging Land, Agriculture & Communities Conference (BLACC), a statewide convening launched in April 2026 to connect farmers, food advocates, and agricultural leaders from across New York.
She is also the founder of Ramsey Family Marketplace, an e-commerce grocery store specializing in healthy and organic products created by people of color.
Joel Berg
Joel Berg is CEO of Hunger Free America, a nationwide advocacy and direct service organization.
According to The Nation magazine, under Joel’s direction, the group “grew in one of the leading direct service and advocacy organizations on hunger and poverty” in the country.
He has appeared on Morning Joe, All In with Chris Hayes, NBC Nightly News, The Beat with Ari Melber, NPR, CNN, Marketplace, Fox News, PBS Newshour, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Hardball, PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton, and the Kudlow Report. He; s also been quoted in NY Times, The Washington Post, NY Daily News, NY Post, Guardian, USA Today, an Wall Street Journaal
Joel authored two books: All You Can Eat: How Hungry Is America? , and America We Need to Talk: a Self Help Book for the Nation, which Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison called “important and entertaining.”
Joel previously served for eight years in the Clinton Administration's USDA in senior executive service positions, including Coordinator of Community Food Security. From 1989 to 1993, he served as a policy analyst for the Progressive Policy Institute and as a domestic policy staff member for then President-elect Bill Clinton’s transition team. He holds a BA from Columbia University
Josh Stephani
Josh serves as the Director of the Adirondack Food System Network. Having worked in agricultural and environmental non-profits for more than 12 years, Josh has been deeply involved in many aspects of the New York food system, including farm to school, food hubs and distribution, farming, produce prescription, and many others. Additionally, he works on food policy on the state, regional, and national levels with roles on the National Food Policy Networks and NYS Community Food Collaborative. As an adjunct professor and Ph.D candidate, he explores topics related to agriculture, policy, and food justice in New York and the United States.
Julianna Morse
Julianna Morse, RDN, is the Director of Food is Medicine at United Way of New York City, where she leads the design and implementation of Connect2Food, a community-based initiative that integrates nutrition support with health screening to improve outcomes for New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity and chronic disease. A Registered Dietitian with a background in exercise physiology, she brings expertise in program design, cross-sector collaboration, and data-driven strategy. Her work focuses on advancing scalable, equity-centered Food as Medicine models through partnerships across healthcare, community-based organizations, philanthropy, and the private sector.
Kanchana Suggu
Kanchana Suggu serves as Chief Impact Officer at United Way of New York City, where she leads the development and execution of the organization’s community impact programs and strategy. With over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of equity, social impact, and systems change, Kanchana has advanced health equity and community well-being through
innovative and collaborative approaches.
Prior to joining UWNYC, she led strategic initiatives at Elevance Health, designing and implementing programs to address health-related social needs and improve chronic disease and maternal health outcomes for Medicaid members in New Jersey. Before that, as Executive Director of COVID Vaccine Equity at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, she spearheaded citywide strategies to increase vaccine access and combat hesitancy in communities historically underserved by the healthcare system.
Kanchana’s commitment to global health equity is rooted in over a decade of work with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, where she managed multi-country grants and partnerships across sub-Saharan Africa that delivered significant improvements in health outcomes for children living with HIV/AIDS.
Throughout her career, she has led large cross-functional teams and collaborated with senior government leaders and community-based organizations to shape policy, transform care delivery, and champion equitable outcomes
Katy Fraser
Katherine Tomaino Fraser is the Director of Evaluation at the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute and a Registered Dietitian specializing in nutrition research, evaluation, and public health interventions with more than a decade of experience leading clinical, community-based, and population health initiatives. Her work spans domestic and international nutrition and food policy programs, with expertise in the design and implementation of mixed-methods evaluation strategies integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Her research has focused on food access, online grocery shopping among SNAP participants, digital food environments, food policy responses to crises, aging and food purchasing vulnerability, and nutrition equity in underserved communities. She has led and contributed to evaluations of large-scale nutrition and food access interventions in partnership with municipal agencies, community-based organizations, and public health institutions. Fraser also serves as Managing Editor of the Food and Nutrition Bulletin, a peer reviewed journal published quarterly, supporting the dissemination of global nutrition research and evidence-based policy and practice.
Kelley Gourley
Kelley Gourley is the Director of Operations at RISSE (Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus, Inc). With over ten years of experience in the sphere of refugee services, she also served as the Refugee Services Manager at USCRI (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants). She holds a M.A. in Anthropology in addition to a B.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Middle East and North Africa Studies, all from Boston University. Kelley is a trained Know Your Rights educator and volunteer with the Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition.
Krista Hesdorfer
Krista Hesdorfer serves as the Director of Public Affairs at Hunger Solutions New York. In this role, she oversees the organization’s federal and state advocacy to protect and strengthen SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other federal nutrition programs. Hunger Solutions New York also manages a statewide network of SNAP navigators and other outreach projects to connect eligible New Yorkers with federally-funded food assistance programs.
Kristi Milligan
Kristi Milligan (she/her) currently serves as the Vice President of Institutional Giving at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit management, Kristi has become a central figure in the fight against nutrition insecurity and systemic poverty in the Capital Region.
Her commitment to the fight against hunger is evident in the leadership roles she’s taken on. Kristi sits on the steering committee with the Schenectady County Food Council, where she has worked to build a network of Schenectadians who believe in food sovereignty.
Before joining the Regional Food Bank, Kristi spent seven years as the Director of Grants & Community Programs at The Schenectady Foundation. Her work there was defined by a unique ability to build bridges between local government, organizations, and residents.
In addition to her professional accolades, Kristi is a devoted mother of two and a lifelong advocate. Her commitment to Schenectady is both professional and deeply personal. In all of her work she is most well known for ensuring that community is the heart of work, as evidenced by her graduation from the Schenectady Community Advocates Program and continued work with Unite the Poor.
Kristie Chamberlain
Kristie Chamberlain is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Community Nutrition Partnership (CNP), a Food as Medicine nonprofit serving Western New York. Through its flagship program, FreshFlavorRx, CNP delivers targeted food support, nutrition coaching & skill building, barrier resolution and care coordination to individuals facing food insecurity and chronic health conditions, with a focus on locally sourced, flavorful food.
Kristie leads CNP’s participation in New York State’s 1115 Medicaid waiver, partnering with WNYICC and community-based organizations to address nutrition-related social needs and integrate food into care.
Prior to founding CNP, Kristie spent her career in brand and marketing leadership roles at organizations including Procter & Gamble, Revlon, and the U.S. Postal Service. In 2016, she transitioned from the corporate sector to focus on mission-driven work, bringing a strategic and consumer-focused lens to healthcare innovation.
Kristine Ellsworth
Kristine Ellsworth is a member of the Organics Reduction and Recycling team at NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and assists with implementing the NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law.
Laura Marx
Laura Marx joined Comfort Food Community as Executive Director in 2024, leading the organization’s mission to fight rural hunger through innovative programming that expands access to healthy food and builds strong community partnerships for lasting change. She also serves as Board President for Mediation Matters, an organization dedicated to helping individuals and communities navigate and resolve conflict.
A dynamic, versatile, and compassionate nonprofit leader, Laura brings more than 26 years of experience in strengthening organizations while staying deeply aligned with mission, passion, and purpose. Her background spans program development, organizational growth, strategic leadership, and community engagement, giving her a thoughtful and holistic approach to nonprofit management.
Laura holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is passionate about expanding equitable opportunities and improving access for under‑resourced communities.
She resides in East Greenbush, NY with her husband and their beloved dog, and she enjoys spending time with her three adult children.
Les Aylesworth
After having spent many years in pastoral ministry, I temporarily (or so I thought) went to work for the largest tire distributor in New State. However, my wife suffered a severe stroke which altered our family's plans. In 2019, the Broome County Council of Churches reached out to see if I would be interested in becoming the director of the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW). CHOW, located in Binghamton, NY, is a food bank that serves 125 emergency food programs with food at no cost. During the pandemic, I met Natasha Pernicka where we, along with Greg Silverman, founded CFAN (Community Food Assistance Network) which would become the Alliance for a Hunger Free NY. Since I've taken over as director of CHOW, our distribution has grown over 50% and the number of people served as grown exponentially. I am passionate about seeing people's lives improved and finding innovative solutions to end hunger!
Maria Lizardo
Maria Lizardo currently serves as the Executive Director of Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, where she began her tenure in 1998 as Director of Social Services. Under her leadership, NMIC strengthened its settlement house model, significantly expanding its services to reach approximately 14,000 individuals annually and over 32,000 across New York City. Her vision has been instrumental in positioning NMIC as a leading institution for community empowerment, advancing housing stability, education, economic mobility, and justice.
Maria holds several leadership roles across organizations, including serving as Board Chair of Human Services Action, board member of the Riverside Park Conservancy, United Neighborhood Houses, West Side Campaign Against Hunger and the New York Foundation (starting July 1, 2026). She is a co-founding member of New York Latinas Against Domestic Violence, which organizes the annual Brides’ March, and serves as co-chair of the Manhattan DA’s Special Victims Division Advisory Council.
In 2025, Maria was honored by the New York State Senate with the 2025 Women of Distinction Award for her advocacy and service to communities across New York.
Marla Guarino
Marla Guarino is a Registered Dietitian devoted to promoting healthy living in communities through access to healthy, affordable food.
She works as the Director of Programming and Policy for Buffalo Go Green, Inc, an agricultural non-profit focused on nutrition and food access. Buffalo Go Green provides food as medicine interventions, nutrition education, and culturally-relevant cooking classes as well as helping to advance food policy and health equity initiatives.
Marla worked at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC, Inc) on Farm to Institution procurement efforts and Food As Medicine policy and implementation. She is a founder of the BNMC Food As Medicine Symposium and Western New York Food as Medicine Coalition. Her career in community health started at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County as a SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator and Community Coordinator for the New York State Department of Health Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant. Previously, she had a twenty-year career in the food and beverage industry.
Marla has a BA in History and Political Science from Allegheny College and a BS from the Dietitian Education Program at SUNY Buffalo State College.
Mary Beth McGarrahan
Born and raised in the Albany area, Mary Beth’s roots continue to be firmly established in the Capital Region. As a graduate of Hartwick College, Mary Beth’s career in the nonprofit sector began in San Francisco with The Sierra Club Foundation as the Director of Administration and more recently as the Operations Manager with Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) in Saratoga Springs. During her 12-year long run at UPH, she had become versed in development and fundraising, event planning, finance and administration, and volunteer management and recruitment. In addition to her work at UPH and the Sierra Club, Mary Beth is also a 2019 graduate of the Leadership Saratoga Program and has served on the boards of the town of Northumberland Planning Board and the Saratoga Book Festival and is active with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, NY Hudson-Mohawk Chapter.
In 2021, Mary Beth stepped into the newly created role of Development & Communications Director at Franklin Community Center, where she now leads all advancement, fundraising, and engagement efforts for the organization. In this role, she guides a small but highly dedicated team responsible for donor stewardship, fundraising strategy, community-sponsored events including an annual gala, volunteer engagement, grant administration and reporting, and marketing and communications.
Mary Beth plays a central role in building and strengthening relationships with individuals, businesses, and community partners—helping to elevate Franklin’s mission and ensure the long-term sustainability of its five core programs. Her work directly supports the resources needed to serve more than 12,000 neighbors each year through food assistance, youth programming, housing support, and a wide range of essential services. She also actively collaborates across the nonprofit and community impact sector to help ensure our region has the support systems it needs to thrive.
Outside of work, Mary Beth is an avid outdoor enthusiast—you’ll often find her walking, running, cycling, or paddling whenever the weather allows. She shares her life with her husband Brian, their two nearly-grown sons, and a very spirited one-eyed rescue cat.
Melony Samuels
Dr. Melony Samuels is the CEO and Founder of The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH), a leading New York–based organization advancing food and economic security for underserved communities. A nationally respected advocate for food and health equity, she has dedicated her career to dismantling systemic barriers that perpetuate hunger while building sustainable, community-driven solutions.
Dr. Samuels pioneered New York City’s first farm-to-pantry model, connecting local agriculture to emergency food systems and expanding access to fresh, culturally relevant food. Under her leadership, TCAH has grown into a comprehensive food justice organization spanning food distribution, urban agriculture, workforce development, and policy advocacy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the creation of large-scale distribution centers serving over 2 million residents and founded the Urban Healthy Food Coalition, uniting more than 200 organizations to coordinate food access and address root causes of hunger.
A strategic leader with expertise in nonprofit management and large-scale operations, Dr. Samuels continues to drive innovative solutions, including Brooklyn’s first permanent community food hub. Her work has earned numerous awards, and her TED Talk on food equity continues to inspire systemic change.
Mikaela Perry
Mikaela Perry is the Advocacy Manager at Equity Advocates, where she works at the city and state level to co-lead the statewide SNAP4ALL Campaign and advocate on behalf of the NYC Food Policy Alliance. A fifth-generation farmer from Vermont, she brings over 12 years of experience in agriculture and food systems. She previously served as the NY Policy Manager at the American Farmland Trust, where she spearheaded legislative victories for the NY Grown Food for NY Kids Coalition and the Alliance for NY’s Farmland. Her efforts successfully codified the 30% Farm to School reimbursement program into law, expanded the state's small purchase threshold for K-12 schools, and secured increased funding for the Farmland for a New Generation program. In 2023, she was named one of NYC’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in Food Policy by the NYC Food Policy Center.
Mikaela is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, residing in Mambegu, Tanzania for over two years where she led food security and agriculture projects in KiSwahili. She has held nutrition and farm-based education roles in the Dominican Republic, West Virginia, Vermont, and NYC, and holds an MA in Food Studies from NYU and a BA in Political Science from Middlebury College.
Mike Cangi
Mike Cangi is the Founder and CEO of FareRx, a Philadelphia-based food-as-medicine company delivering medically tailored groceries and clinical nutrition services to health plan members. FareRx's model is built on Member Hospitality - local teams, consistent relationships, and phone-first engagement that builds the trust needed to drive real behavior change. Combined with a teaching kitchen, credentialed dietitians, and physician-supervised clinical programming, FareRx goes beyond the box to create an integrated care experience at the intersection of food delivery and healthcare.
Across more than 100,000 deliveries, FareRx has achieved a 4.9/5 member satisfaction rating, 89% medication adherence maintenance, and 72% of members reporting they are more likely to stay with their health plan because of the program. Mike is a seasoned mission-driven entrepreneur, Philadelphia Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and Forbes Business Council contributor. He serves on Delaware's Food is Medicine committee and is founding the Philadelphia Food is Medicine Coalition.
Molly Eckerle
Molly is the Senior Policy Associate on Met Council's Policy Team, where she works across departments to advance the organization's key policy priorities. In this role, she also manages the New York State Kosher and Halal Food Policy Coalition, bringing together a diverse group of food assistance providers invested in advancing equity in New York's emergency feeding system.
Before joining Met Council, Molly led an established coalition of more than 50 healthcare-focused nonprofits, cementing her commitment to collaborative advocacy and community-centered policy work. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver, which grounds her approach in both systems thinking and the human impact behind every policy decision.
Natasha Pernicka
Natasha Pernicka has been leading The Food Pantries for the Capital District as Executive Director since 2011, The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York since 2023, and the New York State Food as Medicine Coalition since 2024. With more than 24 years in the nonprofit sector, Natasha has developed and implemented new programs, created growth in fund development efforts, and led strategic initiatives throughout her career. She has experience in hunger relief, food as/is medicine, homelessness/housing, mental health, older adults, and youth development.
Her work with The Food Pantries includes increasing revenue and in-kind support more than 250% over her tenure, increasing programmatic impact for 70 food pantries who provide more than 5 million meals for 104,000 people annually, and leading the Filling the Gap Food Pantry System and Community Needs Assessment and initiatives. Initiatives include: Launching the New York State Food as Medicine Coalition; New York State Food Connect Resource database and map; and the creation of the New York State Community Food Assistance Network, now known as The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. In addition, she is a graduate of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Tech Valley program.
Nikki Kmicinski
Nikki Kmicinski, MS, RD, CDN is the Chief Executive Officer for Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative (WNYICC) - a Community Care Hub which was designated one of 9 regional Social Care Networks in New York State’s unprecedented Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Project. WNYICC’s Network includes over 200 local social care agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare providers providing social care services such as food, housing, health education programs and transportation to our community. Nikki is a Registered Dietitian and sits on numerous national, state-wide and regional policy-informing forums.
Peyton Varma Yourch
Peyton Varma Yourch (They/She) is a food activist and community organizer, primarily working with Unite the Poor - a local chapter of the Nonviolent Medicaid Army, National Union of the Homeless, and Poor People’s Campaign.
Their professional journey began in the culinary world, working in various kitchens, and eventually as a private chef. Their love for food and community culminated in their most recent professional work at The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York. In this role, Peyton worked with frontline community food providers coordinating mutual support and advocacy resources. Most recently Peyton became a fellow with the Right to Food Learning and Action Fellowship, where they represent New York and work to organize a human rights framework.
In Schenectady, Peyton supports the growing network of the Schenectady Community Advocates program, which they graduated from in 2024. They also sit on the Schenectady County Food Councils’ Advocacy and Empowerment group and occasionally you’ll see them at the FUMC Church in Schenectady serving breakfast on Sundays.
Peyton enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with their husband, Sid and their two puppies, Hubble and Amicia. They encourage everyone to learn more about organizing with them on Instagram and TikTok @protestkitchen.
Rebecca Allmond
For the past 7 years Rebecca Allmond has worked at the intersection of farming, food and nutrition for the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Her role as the Farmers’ Market Team Supervisor helps to administer statewide nutrition programming that operate through farmers markets, and benefit the direct-retail producers. These programs seek to cultivate partnerships to support New York farmers, and include the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, FreshConnect Checks Program and Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program.
Prior to food system work, Rebecca obtained a B.A. in Natural Science from Saint Anselm College and pursued her interests in plants and insects through work at several garden centers, the National Park Service, the Audubon Society, Notre Dame University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
In her personal time, Rebecca enjoys skiing, kayaking, traveling and finding the best place for sushi.
Renee Fillette-Miccio
Renee Fillette-Miccio, PhD, is a nonprofit executive with 25+ years of leadership across human services, including child welfare, domestic violence, behavioral health, homelessness, food insecurity, and education. She founded the first new foster care agency licensed in New York in over 30 years and later led Grace Smith House. After earning her doctorate in Public Service, she served as COO of Astor Services for Children & Families.
Now Executive Director of Dutchess Outreach, Renee advances a food justice approach that moves beyond charity toward innovation, collaboration, and hyper-local solutions that support both farmers and community access to healthy, affordable food.
She also founded and chairs the Dutchess County Food Security Council and the Emergency Food Providers Coalition, and serves on the board of the Alliance for a Hunger-Free New York.
Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote
Dr. Rodriguez-Goodemote is the chair of the Department of Ambulatory Medicine at Saratoga Hospital and is an Associate Clinical Professor at Albany Medical College. She also serves as Medical Director of the Saratoga Community Health Center. She has spent her career serving and advocating for patients in a community medicine model. That service is centered on integrated care incorporating substance use care, behavioral health, dental and primary care both in the health center and out in the community. Advocacy work focuses on health equity through social innovation and systems change work including nutrition security, strengthening local food systems and nutrition as medicine via group medical visits.
Ryan Healy
Ryan is the Government Relations Manager with Hunger Solutions New York, a statewide nonprofit focused on alleviating hunger and food insecurity. Prior to joining Hunger Solutions, Ryan worked in various policy advocacy and organizing roles focused on eradicating poverty, most recently leading statewide advocacy efforts to increase funding for hunger relief programs. A native of Southern California, Ryan studied Politics and Economics at Brandeis University and earned All-New England honors as a member of the Brandeis baseball team.
Sara Adams
Sara Adams, MPH, CHES has served as the Health & Wellness Division Leader at Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region for 8 years. In this role, she oversees public health programming consisting of food security initiatives, community health work, and resource hubs providing tangible support and services to Albany neighbors.
Sarah Toledano
Sarah Toledano, LMSW is an educator, consultant, and community connector who helps people, organizations, and communities strive for their definition of success. Sarah is the Director of Field Experience at Siena University’s social work program. She is dedicated to student leadership, interdisciplinary work, and building the capacity of community nonprofits.
Savita Madhankumar
Savita Madhankumar is a third-year medical student at Albany Medical College with a passion for primary care and community health. She is particularly interested in the intersection of nutrition and medicine and has worked on initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity and supporting patients with chronic disease. She developed the Nutrition Rx Cookbook as part of a Food as Medicine program to help patients translate access to fresh produce into sustainable, healthy eating habits. She hopes to continue integrating lifestyle-based interventions into her future clinical practice.
Tamika Sultan
Tamika Sultan is a multifaceted entrepreneur, food and agriculture innovator, and community-centered leader dedicated to creating opportunities for purpose, ownership, and collective wealth building across food systems and small business ecosystems.
Tamika founded Divinely Delicious Food, a Hudson Valley-rooted culinary brand transforming food into experience and connection. At Divinely Delicious, every dish and gathering is crafted with intention — celebrating soulful, farm-forward flavors and turning meals into memorable, divine moments. Following the philosophy food is a love language, Tamika brings creativity, cultural depth, and hospitality-driven craftsmanship to every menu and event by using BIPOC farms to create farm to table experiences.
Tamika is the co-founder and Executive Director of Seasoned Gives, a 501(c)(3) that opens pathways for BIPOC and women entrepreneurs. Through Seasoned Gives, she leads programs that uplift financial literacy, business incubation, workforce skills training, and economic leadership — grounding entrepreneurship development in community empowerment and tangible outcomes.
Beyond building businesses, Tamika is a consultant and public speaker bridging agriculture, food justice, entrepreneurship development. Her work is rooted in resilience, innovation, and impact around food, opportunity, and purpose. Helping others see possibilities where others see barriers and turning everyday moments into intentional steps toward collective freedom and economic flourishing.
Theresa Krause
Theresa Krause has served as the Food Council Manager for the Broome County Food Council since August 2022 and, more recently, began managing the newly established Tioga County Food Alliance. She brings a diverse professional background that spans roles as a process engineer, experience in direct sales, ministry work, and service within a local school district.
Theresa recently relocated from West Corners in Endicott to Binghamton’s Southside with her husband, Mike. She is dedicated to strengthening community connections and advancing equitable food access across Broome and Tioga Counties.
Vic Russak
Vic’s career began on the frontlines of food systems work, first as a farmer in the Hudson Valley, and later supporting underserved and marginalized communities in healthcare and food insecurity initiatives. Through his boots-on-the-ground (and boots-in-the-soil) experience, he saw firsthand how deeply intertwined nutritious food access, chronic disease, and health inequities truly are.
That realization led him into the Food as Medicine space, where he now serves as Coordinator for The NYS Food as Medicine Coalition. In this role, he supports program design, implementation strategy, and cross-sector collaboration, helping strengthen and scale Food as Medicine efforts across New York State under the Medicaid 1115 Waiver and beyond.
Today, Vic’s focus is increasingly analytical. He applies data science techniques to model how Food is Medicine programs and local food environments influence measurable outcomes such as diet quality, chronic disease risk, and healthcare utilization. His work centers on health outcomes analysis, food system data pipelines, and translating complex datasets into actionable insights.
Vic envisions a food system that intentionally bridges agriculture, food access, and healthcare. He sees analytics as the bridge, using data to build a healthier and more nutritious food system for all, one byte at a time.
Will Kleffner
Will Kleffner is the Senior Director of Grants at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, where he focuses on securing and stewarding funding to strengthen food systems and expand access to nutritious food across a 23-county service area that includes both rural and urban communities.
Prior to this role, he served as Executive Director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry, working directly at the community level to address food insecurity in a rural setting. During that time, he developed and scaled an early “Food as Medicine” program in 2023 supporting cancer patients and their families facing food insecurity, growing it from a small pilot serving 4–6 patients to more than 200 annually and providing approximately 600 “go bags” of food and nutritional support.
His work has centered on practical, community-driven solutions and cross-sector partnerships to improve food access and health outcomes.