Executive Leadership Team - Atlanta Community Food Bank

Executive Leadership

Kyle Waide

President & CEO

Kyle Waide

President & CEO

As President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Kyle Waide leads one of the largest hunger relief organizations in the U.S. Working with a network of 700 community-based nonprofit organizations across 29 Georgia counties, Kyle and his team facilitate the distribution of $280 million in food and resources each year to approximately 700,000 neighbors facing food insecurity. During his tenure, Kyle has led the Food Bank through a decade of dramatic growth and expansion, quadrupling its annual output while launching multiple innovative initiatives to expand food access and increase food security.

Prior to joining the Food Bank, Kyle held several management roles at The Home Depot Inc. in disaster relief, corporate responsibility, community affairs and store operations. He also previously served as a founding member of the team that created and launched Charity Navigator, the nation's premier charity evaluation service. Kyle is a graduate of Harvard University and an alumnus of Teach For America.

Kyle currently serves as the Chair of the National Council for Feeding America, the largest public charity in the U.S. He also serves on the boards of the Southeast Regional Cooperative, Feeding Georgia, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Goodwill of North Georgia. He is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2015, the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the Community Advisory Board for The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc., and the Committee for A Better Atlanta.

In 2020, Kyle was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the “Most Admired CEO” among nonprofit organizations. He is regularly recognized as one of the most influential leaders in metro Atlanta and north Georgia by publications including Atlanta Magazine, Georgia Trend, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Sharay Erskine

Chief Information Officer

Sharay Erskine

Chief Information Officer

Sharay is responsible for leading the strategic investment in new systems that will enable us to enhance the client service model, measure and report on our impact, and drive greater efficiency in all aspects of our operations. Sharay brings more than twenty years of experience in information technology, most recently as Vice President of IT at Bunzl Distribution, NA in Atlanta. She is a solutions-oriented professional with a history of working in logistics and supply chain industries while successfully building IT strategies for growth. Sharay is a motivated leader and change agent recognized for maintaining a positive attitude and her ability to drive results through cross functional teams. She holds degrees from the University of Phoenix and the DeVry Institute of Technology.

Sarah Fonder-Kristy

Chief Development Officer

Sarah Fonder-Kristy

Chief Development Officer

Sarah is the Chief Development Officer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Sarah has worked at the Food Bank since 2000 to fight hunger and serve nearly 700 partner nonprofit feeding organizations. In her current role, she oversees fundraising from corporations, foundations, individuals, government, civic and religious organizations. Sarah previously managed the Food Bank's volunteer program, utilizing more than 15,000 volunteers annually. She is a member of Georgia Planned Giving Council and has presented on fundraising at the Nonprofit Summit by Georgia Center for Nonprofits and at Feeding America national fundraising conferences. Sarah was in the founding class of L.E.A.D. Atlanta and is a past president of the Council of Volunteer Administrators (COVA). Prior to her career at the Food Bank, she worked with Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates. She received her Master of Public Administration at Georgia State University and her B.A. in Sociology from Emory University.

Sheri Foster

Vice President of Human Resources

Sheri Foster

Vice President of Human Resources

Sheri Foster was the Director of Enterprise HR Services for the Human Resources Administration (HRA) within the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS). The HRA supports Executive Branch state employers of various types across Georgia; which constitutes approximately 107 agencies with a workforce numbering just under 70,000. She is charged with leading the development and implementation of HR services and technology to support the state’s key talent management functions including talent acquisition, learning and development, and performance management. Sheri is a seasoned professional with more than 16 years of experience in the human resources (HR) field. Prior to joining DOAS, Sheri was the Vice President of Human Resources for Consumer Credit Counseling Service, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to help individuals and families in financial distress. In that role, she built the company's HR infrastructure, including processes, systems, structure, and policies from scratch, led a series of initiatives to enhance the organization’s culture, transform performance and learning, and supported the organization’s expansion from a local organization to having a national presence. Sheri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA and a Master's degree in HR Management from the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Kenny Hill

Chief Supply Chain Officer

Kenny Hill

Chief Supply Chain Officer

As Chief Supply Chain Officer, Kenny leads all aspects of our food sourcing, warehouse & inventory management, and delivery operations. Kenny is a natural leader who has a passion for helping people. During his thirty-year career with The Home Depot, he served in roles of increasing responsibility including general manager and district manager. As a multi-unit leader of a team with over 1000 associates and $250MM in sales, he received recognition for consistently developing people and improving processes. His leadership tenure spanned The Home Depot’s initial embrace and full expansion of online retail, coordinated freight flow, supply chain enhancement, and online delivery systems. In 2014 Kenny and his wife founded The Launch Pad Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing and life skills development to homeless single parents. His other volunteer commitments include serving on the board of the 100 Black Men of America’s South Metro Chapter and as an appointee to the City of Atlanta’s Zoning Review Board. Kenny received his B.A. in Economics from The University of California, San Diego.

Jon West

Vice President of Partner Relations

Jon West

Vice President of Partner Relations

In his role, Jon helps the Food Bank think and act strategically in ways that foster innovation and support communities, partner organizations and individuals to find creative solutions to increase food access. Previously, Jon was the Food Bank’s Community Building Manager where he helped launch place-based collaborative networks of service providers and citizens working together to build stronger, hunger resilient communities. His very first job at the food bank was painting food drive barrels blue. Before coming to the Food Bank, Jon worked with an agricultural relief and development organization, in the higher education sector and as a youth mentor in Botswana, Africa. He received his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a B.A. in English Literature from Mississippi College. Jon is married to Hannah and they live with their two children on the west side of Atlanta. He is very proud of his short commute.

Tamica Williams

Chief Financial Officer

Tamica Williams

Chief Financial Officer

Tamica Williams is Chief Financial Officer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she leads the development of robust processes and infrastructure to modernize internal financial operations and strategically position the organization for growth. With over 20 years of valuable experience, Tamica has earned a strong reputation for success, excellence, and stewardship. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) with a proven track record of building, strengthening, and growing finance teams while working cross-functionally to achieve strategic goals. Tamica’s volunteer commitments include service through Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Alpha Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter of Newnan, GA. Prior to joining the Food Bank, she held accounting and finance leadership roles in Banking, Private Wealth, and Private Equity. Tamica holds degrees from Columbia Southern University, Georgia Southern University, Valdosta State University, and the University of South Carolina.

Senior Leadership

Alison Ash

Director of Network Strategy & Innovation

Alison Ash

Director of Network Strategy & Innovation

Alison Ash is the Director of Network Strategy & Innovation, where she leads the development and implementation of short and long-term strategic priorities, building a new team to support cross-departmental efforts for growth and process improvement. Prior to joining Atlanta Community Food Bank in 2021, she was the Director of Digital and Growth at Focus Brands, where she led off-premise and delivery, customer loyalty, and digital growth for Schlotzsky’s. Alison also held roles of increasing responsibility in strategy, operations, partner management, and marketing at Uber and American Express. She was drawn to the Atlanta Community Food Bank for the opportunity to apply these skills to serve the community. Alison earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a Spanish double major from Emory University. She resides in Virginia Highlands with her husband, David, and dog, Ralph, and loves exploring Atlanta’s public golf courses.

Michelle Batts

Director, Marketing and Communications

Michelle Batts

Director, Marketing and Communications

Michelle Batts is the Director, Marketing and Communications at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, leading the team that is responsible for brand management, marketing campaigns, media & public relations, internal & external communications, social media, and website management, as well as the Education and Outreach team. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Michelle enjoyed over 20 years in the commercial real estate industry, developing and directing strategic marketing plans for regional and super-regional shopping centers. Her career in shopping center management began at Underground Atlanta with The Rouse Company and included such notable properties as Perimeter Mall in Atlanta and Towson Town Center in Maryland. She rounded out her time in this industry as Director of Marketing and Business Development at Simon Property Group’s Lenox Square. Michelle has been recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Sales as well as Marketing Manager of the Year. Additionally, she has spent time in the education and health sectors at Morehouse School of Medicine and as Marketing and Public Relations Consultant for the Clayton County Board of Health. Michelle is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Emory University.

Rodney Benn

Director of Logistics

Rodney Benn

Director of Logistics

As Director of Logistics, Rodney Benn focuses on the development, continuous improvement and delivery of our customer response, while improving the accessibility of Food Bank resources through Transportation and Warehouse Operations. Rodney has worked at the Food Bank for the past 25+ years in a variety of roles including Atlanta’s Table Driver, Atlanta’s Table Operations Manager and Senior Transportation Manager. For 13 years he served as the Hunger Action Center Manager (f.k.a. the Product Rescue Center), overseeing the Food Bank’s largest volunteer activity space. Prior to the Food Bank, Rodney served in the United States Navy after finishing high school. Rodney was born and raised in Atlanta.

Ron Burns Jr.

Director of Network Services & Programs

Ron Burns Jr.

Director of Network Services & Programs

In his role as Director of Network Services and Programs, Ron Burns Jr. works on servicing, growing, and expanding our relationships with our partner agencies and other community partners. Prior to this role, Ron started his career at Frito-Lay, where he became an Operations Manager. He also had operations lead roles at General Mills, Nabisco and Pepsi. He received his degree in business administration from Winston-Salem State University after leaving the frozen tundra of his hometown, Buffalo, New York.

Jacqueline "Jackie" Capers

Director, Operations

Jacqueline "Jackie" Capers

Director, Operations

Jackie Capers is the Director of Operations. In this role, she has responsibility for the oversight of our Community Food Center food pantries that are wholly owned by the Atlanta Community Food Bank and operated by Food Bank staff and volunteers. These Centers are located in communities with high food insecurity rates, where the need for food assistance exceeds the existing network’s capacity to serve. Jackie brings more than 20 years of acquisitions and contract management expertise to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. After several years with IBM, she volunteered at the Food Bank and realized this is where she would grow. She has been with the Food Bank for over 13 years. Jackie is a member of the Food Bank’s Equity Steering Committee, which recognizes the importance of our shared commitment to diversity and inclusion. Outside of the Food Bank, Jackie enjoys an active lifestyle. She enjoys traveling, golf, volunteering, and spending time with her family.

Michele Chivore

Director, Network Growth

Michele Chivore

Director, Network Growth

Michele Chivore serves as the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Director of Child Nutrition Programs where her role is to develop the strategy around and implementation of the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s programs aimed at reducing child hunger. This includes outreach programs to increase capacity and participation in federally funded child nutrition programs while strategically exploring new opportunities to reduce the prevalence of childhood hunger across the Food Bank’s service area. Prior to joining the Atlanta Community Food Bank, she served as Campaign Director for Childhood Hunger Programs at the Georgia Food Bank Association (GFBA) where she worked in conjunction with GFBA member food banks, local nonprofit and national partners to implement a state childhood hunger advocacy, communications, and marketing plan aimed at increasing participation in federal nutrition programs among eligible families with children. She has also worked as the Atlanta Program Manager for Seedco where she was responsible for program management services and technical assistance for initiatives that provided facilitated access to public benefit programs. She has also worked for CIBA Vision Corporation as a Logistics Planner and Communities In Schools of Georgia, Inc. to manage and implement several federal programs. Michele has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and a Masters in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Esteban Gonzalez

Director, Benefits Outreach

Esteban Gonzalez

Director, Benefits Outreach

As the Director of Benefits Outreach, Esteban leads the team that screens for public assistance programs and provides application assistance to those who are eligible. Esteban also leads the Georgia Food Stamp Workgroup. He launched the Benefits Enrollment Center at the Food Bank in partnership with the National Council on Aging, was part of Feeding America's SNAP Partnership Capacity Institute, served as a SNAP Capacity Advisor for Feeding America, and is a past participant in the Leadership Institute with the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO).

Michele Grear

Supply Director

Michele Grear

Supply Director

Michele leads the Supply and Inventory Management teams. Her team is responsible for sourcing the food through donations, government allocations and purchases as well as managing the accuracy and integrity of the warehouse inventory. Michele is originally from the Windy City, Chicago and is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago with a BA in Political Science and Sociology. She loves people, different cultures and travel. She built a successful 30 year career in fashion holding many positions from Store Manager to Merchandiser to Head of Production and Sourcing for such brands as The Gap, Anthropologie, Eddie Bauer, Tommy Hilfiger and Edun.

Michele has had the privilege to visit many countries and factories and was always drawn to the factory workers and surrounding communities. Her passion was for the human condition which pushed her to improve the conditions of the workers in the factories she encountered. Thus her life transition to the Atlanta Community Food Bank is very natural.

Glenda Harper

Director of Finance/Controller

Glenda Harper

Director of Finance/Controller

Glenda is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Finance Department for the Food Bank. Prior to joining the Food Bank, she has accumulated over 20 years of nonprofit experience as Accounting Manager at Arthritis Foundation in Atlanta, Director of Accounting at Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, and a Controller at an Elementary School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition to her nonprofit experience, she also has over six years of for-profit experience as an Auditor. She graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor’s in Accounting.

Caleb Kirby

Director of Enterprise Project Management Office

Caleb Kirby

Director of Enterprise Project Management Office

Caleb Kirby is the Director of the Enterprise Project Management Office at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where he leads the development and implementation of project management processes and governance, ensures consistency, alignment, and efficiency in project delivery, and provides strategic direction for major initiatives and cross-functional projects to support the Food Bank's mission of addressing food insecurity in the community. With over 10 years of experience in program and project management, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. Caleb holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. He also proudly serves as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserves. He is passionate about community development, technology infrastructure and access, and volunteering within his community.

Megan Middleton

Director of Government Affairs

Megan Middleton

Director of Government Affairs

Megan is the Director of Government Affairs, leading the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s legislative strategy to advance state and federal policies that reduce food insecurity. She is responsible for activating our grassroots volunteers, partner agencies, and board members on various policy activities. Megan previously served as the Intergovernmental Affairs Manager for the City of Atlanta, answering to three mayors during her 13-year tenure. There she focused on state and federal policies that affected the City and learned about many issues from local infrastructure, taxes, public safety, community services, and aviation to name a few. Her involvement with issues impacting the City developed her interest in working to make her community better. Megan also worked at a law firm representing corporate clients at the Gold Dome while attending law school in the evenings. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Florida and her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law.

Greg Sims

Director of Institutional Giving

Greg Sims

Director of Institutional Giving

Greg Sims is the Director of Institutional Giving at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where he oversees foundation and corporate relations, special events, and volunteerism. He previously led the Food Bank’s fundraising efforts among individual donors, spanning direct response and digital marketing to principal and planned gifts. Prior to joining the Food Bank in 2012, Greg’s diverse nonprofit experience included roles in refugee resettlement, volunteer management, faith-based grassroots advocacy, and community development in Guatemala. Greg is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb, the Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofit Organizations at UGA, and serves on the board of the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In his spare time, you can find him avidly consuming podcasts and enthusiastically - if not skillfully - playing acoustic guitar. Greg received his Master's of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary and his B.A. in Religious Studies from Rhodes College. He currently resides in Decatur, GA with his wife, Gina, their two children and one rambunctious cat.

Elizabeth Spears

Director, Individual Giving

Elizabeth Spears

Director, Individual Giving

Elizabeth Spears is the Director of Individual Giving at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she leads the Food Bank’s fundraising efforts focused on individual donors, including direct response, digital fundraising, principal, and planned gifts. With eighteen years of development experience spanning higher education, public media, civil rights, and childhood education, Elizabeth is passionate about building relationships and enhancing the donor experience. Born in Charlotte, NC, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Elizabeth holds bachelor’s degrees in history and religion from Baylor University and a Master of Public Administration focusing on nonprofit management from Georgia State University. She is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and proudly served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English as a Second Language in Odesa, Ukraine. In her spare time, you can find Elizabeth playing tennis or catching a movie with her husband, Gray.

Grisell Valencia

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)/Organizational Development

Grisell Valencia

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)/Organizational Development

Grisell Valencia serves as the Director of Organizational Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), leading the creation and implementation of the organization's long-term Engagement and Culture Building strategies. Focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (prioritizing active listening by amplifying the Food Banker Voice and our community members in our decisions) as well as developing learning initiatives. With over 15 years of human-centric HR leadership experience, spanning various entities such as the U.S. Department of Labor Census Bureau, PepsiCo - Frito Lay, Latin American Association and JD Sports, she brings a wealth of expertise in human capital management. Grisell is committed to championing diversity and fostering inclusive workplaces, bringing a unique global perspective to organizational culture and strategy. She believes in creating spaces where every voice is not only heard but valued. Her dedication to the underserved led her to join the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she utilizes her skills to uplift and support those in need. As a first-generation Afro-Latina fluent in both English and Spanish, Grisell excels in effectively communicating across different cultures and organizational levels. She proudly earned her BA with a double major in Business Administration and Communications from Pine Manor College, hailing from none other than Boston, MA or as we affectionately call it Beantown. Outside of work, she enjoys listening to podcasts, attending music concerts, and exploring international cuisines through travel.

Jeffrey Werner

Director of Business Intelligence

Jeffrey Werner

Director of Business Intelligence

Jeff is the Director of Business Intelligence at the Atlanta Community Food Bank where he leads the team that helps convert data into information, information into insights, and insights into actions in support of the mission. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Jeff had a seventeen-year career in the hospitality and gaming industry where he held various leadership roles in finance, data strategy, technology product management, and analytics. He received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech and his master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jeff made a career and lifestyle pivot in 2021 to independently study agriculture & farm-to-table food, a passion of his that would influence the next chapter of his career. Jeff joined the Atlanta Community Food Bank in early 2023 where he combines his passion for food, preference for mission-driven work, and experience in all things data and analytics. Outside of the Food Bank, Jeff loves the great Georgia outdoors and local music scene.

Board of Directors

Derin Dickerson, Chair

Alston & Bird

Althea Broughton, Vice Chair

Arnall Golden Gregory

Claire E. Sterk, Treasurer

Emory University

Kelly Bissell

Microsoft

Janine Anthony Bowen

Baker & Hostetler

Shawn Cole

Delta Air Lines

Brett Duke

Atlantic Pacific Companies

Jacqueline Flake

Community Volunteer & Philanthropist

Andrew Goldberg

Sean Hyslop

Single Barrel Hospitality

Tricia Kinney

BlueLinx Corporation

Camye Mackey

Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena

Jennifer McKeehan

Fanatics

Adam Noyes

Proof of the Pudding

Onome Okuma

Chick-fil-A

Ryan Oliver

Diana Ortiz

Kimberly-Clark Professional

Keith Parker

Goodwill of North Georgia

Stephanie Russell

Philanthropist

Ivan Shammas

Hispanic Plug

Stephanie Smith

Home Depot

Advisory Board

James Stevens, Chair

Troutman Pepper

Amir Ghoddousi, Vice Chair

ShipBob

Holly Beach

AMI Group

Marina Alden Bryant

Special Projects by Marina

Chris Burger

Transform

Christine Conner

Switch Consulting

Jennifer Dunaway

J. Dunaway Public Relations

Bart Edwards

PWC

Adam Emrich

Georgia Power

Lauren Fernandez

CEO, Founder at Full Course

Pat Ferrer

Orion Portfolio Solutions

Doug Foley

Center Cut Restaurant Group

Teddy Gillen

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

Shireen Herrington

Rocket Farm Restaurants

Danny Huffaker

NAPA Auto Parts

Arvind Krishnaswami

MedLytix, LLC

Jennifer Lamourt

St. Regis Atlanta

Chris Martin

Veritiv

Harrison Miller

Fidelity Charitable

Liana Moran

The Wilbert Group

Kristina Morris

ICBA

Sheryl Myers

Long Game Strategies

Michael Parsons

Bank of America

Neal Patton

ANDMORE

Jannquell Peters

King & Spalding

Tracy Plott

Akerman LLP

Jon Powell

Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors

Matthew Rao

RAO Design Studio, Inc.

Kevin Rathbun

Kevin Rathbun Steak

Joseph Rheaves

Truist

Ryan Rouille

LernerRouille

Jeff Schultz, CFP

Janney Montgomery

Jennifer Scott

Fifth Group Restaurants

Lisa Boren Sivy

Cox Communications

Brenda Smith

The Coca-Cola Company

David Smith

BlackRock

Ricky Steele

Talent 360 Solutions

Tim Swoger

Tokio Marine

Allison Tanju

Forvis Mazars US

Jason Wegmet

Cox Communications

Katherine Williams

Diaz Foods

Virginia Willis

Virginia Willis Culinary Enterprises, Inc