mflood@lafoodbank.org | ext 148
Management Team
Meet the team that tirelessly pursues our purpose: Fighting Hunger. Giving Hope.
Michael Flood
President & CEO
“I am proud to lead an incredibly effective team of staff and volunteers that make such a big impact on the lives of many Los Angeles County residents every day. Since the Food Bank’s humble beginnings in 1973 when Tony Collier started picking up food donations in his pick-up truck, to today as we reach hundreds of thousands of people who need our help, the compassion and caring of this work continues to astound me. The Food Bank is the ‘hub of the wheel’ for so many local networks, and we pride ourselves in looking for ways to increase our impact with each year.”
Weldon Wu
Chief Information Officer
wwu@lafoodbank.org | ext 142
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because it enables me to use my skills to support the people in hunger. I am delighted to serve people in this capacity.”
Jeanna Kindle
Chief Product Acquisition Officer
jkindle@lafoodbank.org | ext 129
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because, We’re a team who believes in what we do. The commitment is evident, and our passion shines through.
Americans discard millions of pounds of food each year. Having that knowledge makes my job abundantly clear. Access to healthy and nutritious food should be available to all. For 18 years I’ve answered that call. Alleviating hunger is a human right. I embrace my part in that fight.”
Roger Castle
Chief Development Officer
rcastle@lafoodbank.org | ext 147
“Working at the Food Bank is rewarding because I see the enormous impact of our community’s support of the organization, feel like my efforts have a direct effect on improving the lives of others and enjoy working with a great team that really cares about our mission.”
Steven Meisberger
Chief Financial Officer
smeisberger@lafoodbank.org | ext 141
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because I feel what I do here every day has a more positive impact on the community than any other place I’ve worked.”
Hilda Ayala
Sr. Director of Programs & Policy
hayala@lafoodbank.org | ext 168
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because through our work, we are able to assist those who are food-insecure. Our programs are served with humility, dignity and respect, and it is a great honor to work for the Food Bank.”
Alicia Cardenas
Sr. Director of Human Resources & IDEA
acardenas@lafoodbank.org | ext 157
“The Food Bank genuinely cares about the dedicated staff who work hard to achieve great results in the fight against hunger. I know the Food Bank wants the best experience for our employees, our agencies, our donors, our volunteers and the people we serve, staying true to the Mission and Values. I am sincerely grateful to be part of this tremendous team.”
Elizabeth Cervantes
Sr. Director of Product Acquisitions & Agency Relations
ecervantes@lafoodbank.org | ext 132
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because collectively with our agency partners we are able to assist over one million food insecure persons annually in Los Angeles County. The healthy foods we distribute enable these persons to make nutritious meals for themselves and their families. I am blessed to work with hundreds of persons who make this happen on a daily basis in their community.”
Cindy Chyr
Sr. Director of Development and Campaigns
cchyr@lafoodbank.org | ext 189
“I’m proud to be working alongside talented leaders, staff and volunteers at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank! It’s gratifying to be a part of an incredible community that provides critical support to our neighbors facing food insecurity.”
Peter Felix
Sr. Director of Inventory Planning
pfelix@lafoodbank.org | ext 145
“The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provides me a venue to give back to L.A. and positively impact fellow Angelenos in their time of need.”
Ana Martinez
Sr. Director of Volunteer Services & Partnerships
amartinez@lafoodbank.org | ext 144
“I like working at the Food Bank because I can’t solve every problem in the world, but I can at least make sure that the work that I do helps people who are hungry get access to the food they need.”
Scott Newton
Sr. Director of Operations & Logistics
snewton@lafoodbank.org | ext 126
“Working at the LA Regional Food Bank allows me to be surrounded by like minded people whose common goal is to close the hunger gap.”
Ani Aratounians
Director of Nutrition Services
aaratounians@lafoodbank.org | x198
“Working at the Food Bank has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career. Everyone here works collaboratively, not only to end hunger but to provide wellness, nourishment and strength to our communities. The Nutrition Services team is committed to supporting the Food Bank’s efforts to give families and individuals nutritious foods and guide and empower them to make the best nutritional choices possible.”
Kim Belcher Morris
Director of Major Gifts
kmorris@lafoodbank.org | ext 146
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because providing access to nutritious food is central to individual wellness and the collective health and well-being of our community and society. It’s a place with a big heart and provides a chance for every person irrespective of age, socioeconomic status or belief to make a difference in shaping the future quality of life in Southern California, that’s amazing and personally and professionally satisfying.
John Chung
Director of Compliance & Administration
jchung@lafoodbank.org | ext 247
“What motivates me every day is knowing that our collective efforts have a direct and tangible impact on addressing food insecurity and providing assistance to those in need in our community.”
Molly Cotten
Director of Major Gifts
mcotten@lafoodbank.org | ext 175
“Ending food insecurity has been a mission for me since volunteering for a local food pantry in high school. I appreciate the opportunity to help my fellow Angelinos and make a positive difference in their lives.”
Mara Gonzalez
Controller
mgonzalez@lafoodbank.org | ext 138
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Food Bank mission that provides a positive impact in our community. I am also honored to be working with dedicated and hard-working people. I think the heart of Los Angeles is found in the Food Bank.”
Amy Hasquet
Director of Annual Giving
ahasquet@lafoodbank.org | ext 140
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because I like giving back to my community. I am an LA native and I am proud to serve our neighbors in need with the work that I do. It brings me joy knowing that we are able to feed millions of Angelenos each year.”
David May
Director of Marketing and Communications
dmay@lafoodbank.org | ext 134
“I am proud to be fighting hunger alongside so many experienced, dedicated and talented individuals at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. My service here has led me to meet people of all ages whose lives would be tougher without the Food Bank, and I’ve seen the hope that fighting hunger gives. It is hard for me to imagine a more important place to be.”
CHRISTINA QUEZADA
Director of Corporate Relations
cquezada@lafoodbank.org | ext 163
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because I feel like I’m making a difference in my community. I’m proud to be a part of a team that helps feed thousands of individuals every month.”
LaRonda Simes
Agency Relations Director
lsimes@lafoodbank.org | ext 208
“I love working at the Food Bank because we are making a difference by providing resources to our community neighbors.”
ELI BELTRAN
Manager of Volunteer & Partner Resources
ebeltran@lafoodbank.org | ext 156
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because I believe that some of our nation’s most pressing issues can be solved at the community level. Every day, I’m surrounded and inspired by colleagues, volunteers, and community partners who dedicate their time and efforts to ensuring our neighbors don’t go hungry.”
Victor Bui
Talent & Culture Development Manager
vbui@lafoodbank.org | ext 186
“The Food Bank is proud to support the many passionate and dedicated team members in their collective mission to provide hunger relief. It brings me great joy knowing the impact of my work starts in the warehouse and extends to the communities of Los Angeles.”
Dorcas Caesar
Product Acquisitions Manager
dcaesar@lafoodbank.org | ext 154
“I love working for the Food Bank because it brings me joy to feed and help people in need. Many people with food insecurities depend on us, and that makes us a pillar of the community. “
Olivia Cervantes
Marketing Content Manager
ocervantes@lafoodbank.org | ext 209
“I love working at the Food Bank because I know that the work that everyone does daily truly impacts the lives of those we serve. Seeing the positive impact that our work has on individuals and families in need is incredibly rewarding and motivating.”
Alexis Cook
Agency Relations Manager
acook@lafoodbank.org | ext 158
“I love working at the Food Bank because of the people that I work with. It is fantastic to work with others who genuinely care about our community and the people we serve. Having a vision of meeting the basic needs of hunger is a unifying force in our line of work.”
Jessel Cruz
Volunteer Services Manager
jcruz@lafoodbank.org | ext 190
“I love working at the Food Bank because we collectively work towards our mission of fighting hunger in Los Angeles County, and I get to meet AMAZING individuals and connect them to various volunteer events so they can make an impact in our community.”
Claudia Gonzalez
Children’s Nutrition Program Manager
cgonzalez@lafoodbank.org | ext 203
“I love and enjoy working at the Food Bank because I know that all my hard work and dedication are making an impact on a child’s or family’s life. Through our children’s programs seeing the children’s happy faces and enjoying the healthy meals, we provide warms up my heart and makes me feel good about the work that I do every day.”
Victoria Lasavath
Marketing & Communications Manager
vlasavath@lafoodbank.org | ext 174
“I am proud to be helping fight hunger alongside such a talented and diverse group of professionals at the LA Regional Food Bank. Having the privilege to help nourish the many families and individuals in need fulfills me in more ways than I can express.”
Lucy Le
Corporate Volunteer Engagement Manager
lle@lafoodbank.org | (323) 979-8718
“When I was younger, my family received food assistance from the LA Regional Food Bank. My favorite thing about working here is knowing that I’m now helping families who are like mine as I was growing up.”
Angela Manescala
Annual Giving Manager
amanescala@lafoodbank.org | ext 192
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because I get to make a positive impact for those facing food insecurity in our community. I love working with a team, guided by dedication and compassion, who work tirelessly to provide nourishment and peace of mind to our neighbors.”
Jeff McIlvain
Manager of Business Processes & Data
jmcilvain@lafoodbank.org | ext 236
“I love working at the Food Bank because I know that every day I am helping fight hunger in LA County.”
Anna Merez
Sr. Financial Analyst
amerez@lafoodbank.org | ext 204
“I love working at the Food Bank because there is a cooperative and hard-working spirit to the environment. It is the case that helping your coworker helps everyone, and gets us closer to the mission statement to end hunger. I also love leveraging technology and data to gain an understanding of the past and make the best-informed decisions towards the future, which is always evolving.”
Derek Polka
Policy & Research Manager
dpolka@lafoodbank.org | ext 218
“I love working at the food bank because every day I know that my colleagues are working tirelessly to feed thousands of people in Los Angeles, and their work is inspiring.”
Jimmie Razo
Inventory Control Manager
jrazo@lafoodbank.org | ext 122
“The Food Bank is an amazing place to work at. We have a great staff here and together we understand the mission. The Food Bank impacts many lives and no one goes hungry. I’m proud to say I work for the LA Food Bank.”
Valerie Rodriguez
Operations Compliance Manager
vrodriguez@lafoodbank.org | ext 183
“I am proud to be a part of the Food Bank family. Such a great mission requires a heart for all humanity.
Every department has the same heartbeat – To Feed LA.
Living and providing a service in Los Angeles, keeps me thriving in my community.
Everyone deserves to not be hungry. A great team, serving a great City, achieving a great mission.”
Yesenia Ruiz
Accounting Manager
yruiz@lafoodbank.org | ext 166
“I enjoy working at the Food Bank because we have an excellent team that is committed to our core values of helping people in our community who are struggling with food insecurity.”
Jason Torres
Systems Manager
jtorres@lafoodbank.org | ext 181
“I’m honored to be part of the Food Bank knowing my IT expertise is helping us achieve our mission to alleviate hunger in the community. Technology and innovation help team members achieve our goals and make life-changing differences in the community, #WeFeedLA.”
Noemi Trejo
Manager of Community Programs & Volunteer Services
ntrejo@lafoodbank.org | ext 202
“I love working at the Food Bank because collaboratively with our partners, volunteers, and staff we are able to positively make a difference in our community. With teamwork we are able to tackle more than nutrition insecurity in Los Angeles County and support millions of individuals each year.”
Francis Villalpando
Nutrition Services Manager
fvillalpando@lafoodbank.org | ext 213
“I love contributing to the Food Bank’s efforts to address nutrition insecurity. Supporting our extraordinary agency partners has been a rewarding highlight.”
Lillian Orta
Nutrition Education Supervisor
lorta@lafoodbank.org | ext 216
“Working at the Food Bank has given me the opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking organization through my experience with nutrition education. I love working with the community and seeing their friendly faces at our nutrition classes. It warms my heart to hear from participants that because of our classes they now cook healthier foods for their families.”
