Our Board of Directors

Update 7/19/23

We are excited to announce that the board of directors of the WFC has finished its transition plan. In May, the organization announced that elections would be held in the odd numbered districts of the organization, opening seven board positions. Those elections have been completed and we are thrilled to share with you the results.  Our new Board member include:

District 1 Stephani Smith, Director - NEW Hunger Coalition 

District 3 Jose Garza, Director, Othello Pantry

District 5 Cecilia Chavez, Toppenish Community Chest

District 7 Erik Mora, Blue Mountain Action Center, Walla Walla

District 9 Kathleen Murphy, Ballard Food Bank, Seattle

District 11 Jay Kang, CEO, Thurston County Food Bank

District 13 Leon Brauner, Ocean Shores Food Bank

We also recently held elections for three of the six At-large positions on the board. The three individuals elected include:

Sara Osborne, Public & Government Affairs Director, Safeway

David Bobanick, Director, Harvest Against Hunger

josh martinez, Future Emergent Consulting

The Washington Food Coalition is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to managing their own emergency food programs, WFC Board members devote their time and energy to statewide efforts to alleviate hunger. Board members are responsible for determining WFC policy in human resources, planning, finance, community relations, and organizational operations.

The WFC Board of Directors is elected from the coalition membership. The Board is representative of the state through the creation of 14 districts and the addition of six at-large seats. As of January 26, 2023, the board of directors of the WFC adopted new by-laws that now state that each district will elect one representatives. Board members are elected to a two-year term in alternating years. The Board also elects six At-Large representatives from the coalition membership and public. The board then selects its officers from the elected representatives. Board of Directors meets quarterly

Click below to learn more about:

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81264722699
Meeting ID: 812 6472 2699
2023-24 WFC Board Members District Organization
josh martinez, Chair    
Andra Smith, Past Chair   Sequim Food Bank
Cecilia Chavez, Treasurer   Toppenish Community Chest 

 Ariel Medeiros, Secretary

   Whitman County Food Coalition
Stephani Smith District 1  NEW Hunger Coalition
Bob Mark District 2 Upper Valley MEND 
Jose Garza District 3  Othello Food Bank
Ariel Medeiros District 4 Whitman County Food Bank Coalition
VJ Meadows District 6 Tri-Cities Food Bank
 Erik Mora  District 7 Blue Mountain Action Council
 Scott Rossiter District 8 Volunteers of America, WW
Kathleen Murphy District 9 Ballard Food Bank
Michelle Douglas District 10 Emergency Food Network (EFN)
Jay Kang District 11 Thurston County Food Bank
Alan Hamilton District 12 Clark County Food Bank
Leon Brauner District 13

Ocean Shores Food Bank
Andra Smith  District 14 Sequim Food Bank
David Bobanick  At-Large Harvest Against Hunger
josh martinez At-Large  Future Emergent
Sara Osborne At-Large Safeway/ALbertson

 

 

Board Elections -  

Board elections take place every year for roughly half of the board. The timeline is as follows:

  • April 2nd week:  Nominations begin and Executive director sends out notification to each district’s general membership.
  • May 15:  Nominations are received by the Executive Director and ballots are drawn up for each district.
  • Mid May:  Ballots are sent to all district general members by the Executive Director
  • June 1:  All ballots received back by the Executive Director, who will compile the results.  

Nominees receiving the highest votes within their district shall be the primary director the nominee receiving the second highest votes shall be the alternate, upon confirmation at the next meeting of the directors.  The board shall elect the district nominees, and alternates, unless a clear and compelling reason not to is determined.

Standing Board Committees

  1. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is comprised of the four elected officers, the immediate past chair, and two additional elected members. The Executive Committee is responsible for reviewing and monitoring activities related to finance including budget preparation, financial statements and the annual audit. 
  2. Board Development & Membership Committee: The Board Development & Membership Committee is comprised of board members, alternates, and WFC members. The committee is responsible for orienting and mentoring new board members, identifying and recruiting potential board members, establishing slates of candidates for election or appointment to various positions on the WFC Board or for the state’s advisory board appointments. 
  3. Advocacy Committee: The Advocacy Committee is comprised of board members and WFC members. The committee is responsible for following state and federal anti-hunger related issues and providing a link to other local and statewide coalitions. 
  4. Fundraising, Marketing & Special Events Committee: The Fundraising, Marketing, and Special Events Committee is comprised of board members and WFC members, as well as representatives of organizations with whom we partner to provide opportunities. The Committee assists in identifying and soliciting funds from external sources of support while working with the Executive Director. 
  5. WSDA Food Assistance Advisory Committee: WSDA Food Assistance Advisory Committee is comprised of board members and WFC members, as well as Food Assistance (FA) providers including Tribal representatives and other interested community members. The Committee will also include representation from WSDA’s Food Assistance Programs. The purpose of the Food Assistance Advisory Committee is to provide broad stakeholder input and formal recommendations to the Washington Food Coalition Board and the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Food Assistance Programs.
     Click here to access more information on this committee, including recent meeting minutes

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