Our Team
At Nourishing Hope, we believe access to food is just the beginning.
We’re a passionate community of staff, volunteers, board members and young leaders united by one purpose: to nourish hope through food, mental health and social services - so that every Chicagoan can thrive.
Together, we provide not only groceries and meals, but also connection, dignity and support for our neighbors facing hardship.
Senior Leadership
Mitzi D. Baum
CEO
Chris Gillette
Chief Operating Officer
Karla Flannery
Director of Marketing and Communications
Lisa Mayse-Lillig
Chief Program Officer
Drew Moran
Chief Development Officer
Gwen Ramírez
Chief Human Resources & Administration Officer
Leadership Team
Natia Barnett
Director of Programs & Partnership Expansion
Jennifer Betzen
Development Operations Manager
Kayla Carter
Director of Institutional Partnerships
Angela Cimarusti-Clifford
Senior Manager of Pantry Programs
Al Gross
Manager of Home Delivery
Eric Jenkins
Warehouse Operations Manager
Csilla Megyeri, LCSW
Director of Mental Wellness and Social Services
Leo Pizano Guzman
Transportation Supervisor
Aliya Prescott
Director of Individual Giving
Naja Roberts
Warehouse Operations Manager
Hilary Waldron
Manager of Social Services
Allison Webb
Manager of Individual Giving
Our Staff
Lance Aguilar
Warehouse Operations & Processing Lead
T Algholeh
Facilities Manager
Nikita Ambegaonkar
Institutional Partnerships Associate
Yurii Barnas
Lead Driver
Consuelo Barrera
Hybrid Driver
JaJuan Bateast
HR Coordinator
Alscee Bonner
Warehouse Operations Coordinator
Cathy Camacho
Online Market Coordinator
Jackie Chavez
Online Market & Partnership Expansion Coordinator
Jovanny
De Paz
Van Driver
Mia Di Santo
Home Delivery Coordinator
Abby Eigenberger
Part-time Program Coordinator
Sean Elliott, LCSW
Clinical Therapist
Eleanor Ellis
Program Coordinator
Moe Elmatari
CRM & Data Administrator
Alex Figueroa, LPC
Therapist
James Flores
Van Driver
Jocquil Garner
Warehouse Operations Coordinator
Vanessa Garcia, LCSW
Bilingual Clinical Therapist
Keyanna James
Warehouse Operations Coordinator
Lauren Kilbane
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Francisco Lebrón
Bilingual Case Manager
Manel Maatoug
Case Manager
Bagul Mammedova
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Ty Matthews
Online Market Operations Coordinator
Maurine McAdams
Development Assistant
Ella McCabe
Individual Giving Associate
Carrie McCormack
Senior Coordinator, Client Experience
Jack Murphy
Hybrid Driver
Carter Napoli Tager
Pantry Coordinator
Greg Nergaard
Procurement Specialist
Allie O'Gorman
Case Manager
Grace Radzik
Senior Manager of Institutional Partnerships & Events
Tasmim Rahman
Bookkeeper
Zach Riddle
Pantry Coordinator
Astry Rodriguez
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Corinne Rodriguez
Pantry Coordinator
Omar Román-Cristiano
Senior Bilingual Pantry Coordinator
Betsy Ross
Senior Individual Giving Associate
Patches Ryan
Warehouse Operations & Inventory Lead
Muhammad Siddiqui
Warehouse Operations Coordinator
Marina Silva, LCSW
Bilingual Clinical Therapist
David Soto
Van Driver
Anna Vorhaben
Bilingual Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Lauren Weimer
Pantry Coordinator
Board Of Directors
Marc Brenner
Director
Vice Chairman, President – Real Estate, Kovitz
Liz Buchanan
Director
President, North America, NielsenIQ
Dale Cabreira
Director
Corporate Strategy and M&A Senior Director, Axxum Consulting
Daniel Chavez
Director
Partner, PwC
Kirstin Chernawsky
Director
Executive Director, Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation
Niki Cordell
Vice Chair
Founder & CEO of Junior Chefs Kitchen
Lindsey DeVar
Development/Marketing Chair
Managing Director, Treasury & Payment Solutions, BMO
Shelley Fulla
Director
Director, State and Local Government, Guidehouse
Christa Hamilton
Director
CEO & President, UCAN
Danielle Harris
Director
Director, Employment Law, Discover Financial Services
Dr. Jada Johnson
Director
Psychiatrist, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Phillip Kinnison
Director
Senior Principal, Accenture
Rob Kleczynski
Director
Senior Vice President of Tax, Exelon
Scott Lerner
Director
Deputy General Counsel, Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
Debbie Merovitz
Director
Managing Director, Deloitte
Rich Neal
Director
Broker, @properties
Dan O'Leary
Chair
Chief Executive Officer, V&V Supremo Foods Inc
Bill Peluchiwski
Director
Senior Managing Director
Robert Rizzo
Director
Senior Director, Community Investment, Conagra Brands
Corey Rochkin
Director
Principal, Oliver Wyman
Kanchana Suresh
Finance Chair
Senior Vice President and Regional Senior Investment Officer, Northern Trust
Eric White
Director
Partner, King & Spalding LLP
Young Leaders Board
Cashel Coughlin
VP of Membership Engagement
Luke Jossa
VP of Membership Engagement
Michael Kendall
Co-President
Ashley Kircher
Co-President
Vicky Zhang
VP of Marketing
Melissa Zhou
VP of Fundraising
Young Leaders Board Members
Alex Figueroa, LPC (she/her/hers)
Therapist
Alex is a mental health therapist who graduated from Adler University with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her clinical experience is rooted in community mental health work and trauma-informed care, supporting those impacted by personal and systemic-related hardships. Since joining Nourishing Hope in March 2024, Alex has found her therapeutic approach to be grounded in exploring the inner world of clients alongside them, listening to the stories and meanings that different parts of them may hold. She views therapy as an opportunity for clients to engage in self-discovery and healing by way of a trusting relationship with their counselor and themselves.
Alex was born and raised in Chicago, and finds it exciting that there is always a restaurant or pocket of the city that she has yet to explore. In her free time she enjoys watching reality TV with her dogs, film photography, and being on the lakefront (during our short but sweet summer).
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 227
Allison Webb (she/her/hers)
Manager of Individual Giving
Allison joined Nourishing Hope in 2023 and serves on the Development team as the Senior Individual Giving Associate. The best part of her role is getting know Nourishing Hope’s amazing donors and helping them stay connected to the mission.
She holds a Master of Music from DePaul University and previously worked for two years as the Development Coordinator for Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. In her free time, Allison enjoys running by the lake, snuggling with her cat, Bonnie, and hosting friends for dinner at her apartment in Old Town.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 992
Aliya Prescott (she/her/hers)
Director of Individual Giving
Aliya Prescott joined Nourishing Hope in 2019 and serves as the director of individual giving, managing all aspects of Nourishing Hope’s annual fund. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Prior to working at Nourishing Hope, Aliya worked for the National Psoriasis Foundation and oversaw all endure events in the Midwest. Aliya has worked in volunteer engagement, fundraising and event management – originally joining Nourishing Hope to manage the volunteer department.
Fun fact: she has three dogs and can be found exploring the city with them!
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 219
Angela Cimarusti-Clifford (she/her/hers)
Senior Manager of Pantry Programs
Angela joined Nourishing Hope in August 2019 and serves as senior manager of pantry programs, where she helps manage distribution at Sheridan Market and El Mercadito, where she loves helping both volunteers and neighbors.
Angela graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in Gender Studies. In Angela’s free time, she loves to go to the movies, cross stitch, see lots of live music, and relaxing with her husband and two cats, Beef and Opal.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 234
Leve'll Cole (he/him/his)
Executive Assistant to the CEO
Leve’ll has over ten years experience in administration. Studying Business Administration at the University of Tennessee and also serving in The United States Navy aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis. While working aboard the ship he sharped his skills working directly under the Executive Officer, a position he secured by graduating Naval School at the top of his class. He credits his military service with cultivating in him a sense of service to his community, extensive attention to detail, and acquiring ways to become more efficient. He has supported top executives such as the CEO of an aerospace corporation, as well as the COO and Manager Partner of a media firm in New York City. During his free time Leve’ll volunteers with New York Cares, plays football, and enjoys traveling (he has been to every continent except Antarctica and Australia).
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 234
Betsy Ross (she/her/ella)
Senior Individual Giving Associate
Betsy joined Nourishing Hope as a volunteer in 2021 and is currently proud to be part of our Development Team. This is an exciting transition for her after a rewarding career as an elementary Spanish teacher and a few years off to raise her son, Leo. She previously worked for Purple Asparagus providing nutrition education to bilingual students in underserved CPS schools, and has always been passionate about food access.
She grew up in the northern suburbs, went to school in Colorado, and has lived in Ecuador, Mexico, and Spain. Betsy’s Chicago roots run deep and she loves calling Andersonville home. She’s always up for a yoga class or a hike.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 266
Carolyn Kriss
Chief Operating Officer
Carolyn is thrilled to join Nourishing Hope as chief operating officer. She brings about 20 years of experience, including 10 years in the public sector and another 10 in the private sector where she primarily worked at food and tech companies.
Carolyn began her career in food at Starbucks where led the $550 million hot tea business and led strategy for the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, which pays for employees to go to college. She scaled growth stage tech startups as a general manager at DoorDash (food delivery) and Capsule (prescription delivery). Most recently, she served as VP of Strategy at meal delivery subscription startup, Tovala, where she led the data and customer insights functions and created fundraising materials resulting in a $30 million equity investment.
Before working in business, Carolyn was one of the first 200 staff to join President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and served in the Administration as a Special Assistant to the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, a $50 billion agency that runs Head Start, Childcare, Child Support, TANF, refugee resettlement, and more.
A Chicagoland native, Carolyn holds a MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA from Yale. Carolyn’s mom is a social worker, and she was raised with the conviction that supporting families requires a holistic approach, both helping with urgent, practical needs and building a long term foundation of wellbeing. Carolyn lives in Chicago with her husband and 17-month old-daughter.
Contact Info:
Carrie McCormack
Senior Coordinator, Client Experience
Carrie began working at Nourishing Hope in 2002 and serves as Senior Coordinator, Client Experience. She loves that her duties involve working with clients, volunteers, community members and the other staff.
Carrie is also the current president of the Northside Anti-Hunger Network, an association of non-profit providers in Chicago. When she’s not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 210
Cathy Camacho (she/her/hers)
Online Market Coordinator
Cathy joined Nourishing Hope in May 2021 and serves as the Online Market Coordinator. She first joined the organization as a volunteer in December 2020.
When not working, you can find her exploring the city, playing board games at a local board game shop, or by the lake.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 250
Chris Gillette (he/him/his)
Chief Operating Officer
Chris Gillette brings more than 15 years of food banking experience, with leadership roles spanning both urban and rural communities across the country. His work has focused on building efficient, people-centered operations while ensuring strong food safety, food defense, compliance, and regulatory standards are upheld. Throughout his career, Chris has been deeply committed to advancing sustainable and equitable access to food and strengthening systems that serve communities with dignity and care.
Chris believes access to nutritious food is a basic human right and a shared responsibility. In his words: "I am truly grateful to be part of the Nourishing Hope team and inspired by the organization’s mission-driven, collaborative culture."
Chris was born in Los Angeles but has lived in Chicago long enough to call himself a native, and he met his wife here. Outside of work, Chris enjoys volunteering at Skinner Park, gardening, fishing, walking the city, traveling, taking his dog hiking and cheering on Chicago sports teams.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 246
Csilla Megyeri, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Director of Mental Wellness and Social Services
Csilla joined Nourishing Hope as the Director of Social Services in June of 2021. In her role, she leads the mental wellness and social services team, helping individuals reach their goals through counseling and case management services. She is looking forward to supporting the team through the great work that they already do. Csilla has years of experience working in community mental health. In her previous experiences, she has had the opportunity to work in both clinical and leadership roles.
She received her undergraduate degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and her master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. In her free time, Csilla likes camping and hiking. One of her favorite pastimes is exploring the national parks in the US. When she isn’t camping, she is enjoying spending time with her family and friends, and exploring the city.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 216
Drew Moran (he/him/his)
Chief Development Officer
Drew serves as Chief Development Officer at Nourishing Hope, where he leads efforts to cultivate transformational partnerships with philanthropic institutions in support of the organization’s strategic priorities and long-term growth.
Over his 13-year tenure with Nourishing Hope, Drew has held eight distinct roles, including Director of Institutional Partnerships and Director of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives. As a member of the leadership team, he helped drive cross-organizational strategy and program development. He also launched several of the organization’s signature initiatives, including the La Casa Norte partnership, Nourishing Hope’s Online Market, and the organization’s large-scale food distribution efforts at Wrigley Field during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drew’s commitment to Nourishing Hope’s mission is both personal and professional. A former Licensed Professional Counselor, he earned his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University and was the first clinician to provide therapeutic services to Lakeview Pantry clients in 2017—integrating mental health support into the organization’s model of care.
Drew is guided by a belief that thriving organizations and communities are built on a foundation of play, shared meaning, and a foundational respect for human dignity.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 243
Gillian Fitzgerald (she/her/hers)
Bilingual Pantry Coordinator
Gillian Fitzgerald is a Bilingual Pantry Coordinator who joined Nourishing Hope in 2022. She loves that her work involves working directly with community members and volunteers at both El Mercadito and Sheridan Market. In her free time, Gillian loves exploring Chicago, reading, and traveling.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 245
Grace Radzik
Senior Manager of Institutional Partnerships
Grace began volunteering with Nourishing Hope in the fall of 2017 before moving into a full-time role in March 2018. Her favorite part of being the Manager of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships is getting to know all the wonderful community members and organizations that support Nourishing Hope.
Grace calls Michigan home and holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Eastern Michigan University. She enjoys reading and doing puzzles in her free time.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 223
Gwen Ramírez (she/her/hers)
Chief Human Resources & Administration Officer
Gwen joined Nourishing Hope in March 2022 as Director of Human Resources & Administration, leading the organization’s people operations and administrative functions. Before Nourishing Hope, she served as Director of Administration & Employee Relations at the American Egg Board and previously worked at the Midwest headquarters of Coca-Cola Refreshments.
Gwen holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Northeastern Illinois University and is a military veteran, having served six years in the Illinois Air National Guard with deployments following 9/11 as part of Operation Northern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Born and raised in Chicago, Gwen grew up in Logan Square and now lives in Portage Park on the northwest side of the city. She is the proud mom of two sons, Jason and Jonathan, and a senior black pug named Cash. Outside of work, Gwen enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and raising awareness for Autism and Epilepsy - both causes that are close to her heart.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 249
Hilary Waldron (she/her/hers)
Manager of Social Services
Hilary joined Nourishing Hope in December 2025 as the Manager of Social Services, where she and the Social Services team focus on providing folks with resources, information and support to reach their goals. In her social work career, Hilary has worked with adults experiencing homelessness to help them find employment as well as providing programming and support for older adults. Hilary received her undergraduate degree from Trinity College in Hartford, CT and her Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.
In her free time, Hilary enjoys reading, traveling, and growing mini pumpkins in her garden while her two cats observe from the window.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 177
Jennifer Betzen (she/her/hers)
Development Operations Manager
Jennifer Betzen joined Nourishing Hope in 2025 as Operations Manager on the Development team. In her role, she helps keep things running smoothly by guiding the processes, people, and tools that allow the team to focus on connecting donors with the mission of Nourishing Hope. She supports everything from helping managing Salesforce and donor acknowledgements to overseeing payment platforms and partnering with the finance team to keep records aligned.
Outside of work, Jennifer is deeply involved in her community. She serves on the board of a nonprofit supporting a CPS selective enrollment high school, where she has led both the gala and the school’s annual appeal. She also volunteers as a fundraiser for a nonprofit dance studio on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
In her free time, Jennifer enjoys quilting and spending time with her family and pets—including two backyard chickens.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 233
Kayla Carter (she/her/hers)
Director of Institutional Partnerships
Kayla Carter joined Nourishing Hope in September 2024 and serves as the Director of Institutional Partnerships, where she leads strategic initiatives to strengthen organizational impact and cultivate meaningful philanthropic relationships. Before joining Nourishing Hope, Kayla was the Director of Development for the American Diabetes Association Greater Chicago Area, and she has diverse experience in direct sales, community engagement, and partnership development.
A native Ohioan, Kayla has lived in the Chicago area for over 15 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health and Wellness (2016) and a Master’s degree in Community Leadership (2018) from Northeastern Illinois University. In her free time, Kayla enjoys strength training, spending time with family, and going to the movies.
Kayla is a proud wife to her husband, Gerardo Teliz, and their new baby Mila, a role she cherishes, alongside being a proud aunt to five nieces and one nephew. Her personal and professional life is deeply grounded in community, connection, and service.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 241
Katie Adams (she/her & they/them)
Senior Warehouse Operations Manager
Katie joined the Nourishing Hope staff in 2018. She previously held the titles of Pantry Coordinator and Manager of Food Operations, and now serves as the Senior Warehouse Operations Manager. Katie had been a volunteer with the organization for several years prior to joining the staff. She has been in the non-profit world for her whole career, previously working for Habitat for Humanity and in professional theatre. She is glad to have a position that allows her to spend time on her feet interacting with our fantastic corps of volunteers.
A Seattle native, Katie came to the Midwest to attend college and has been a Chicagoan ever since. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, dance, board games and cats.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 122
Karla Flannery (she/her/hers)
Director of Marketing and Communications
Karla Flannery is a seasoned marketing leader with decades of experience shaping brands and leading creative strategies. She spent more than 20 years at Leo Burnett, where she rose to Executive Vice President, before moving into global brand leadership at Mondelez International, working on iconic names like Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, and Halls. Later, she served as Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, overseeing marketing and communications for the state’s $78B tourism industry.
Karla is passionate about inclusion, collaboration, and authentic storytelling, believing that strong relationships and shared values are at the heart of meaningful progress. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has led multicultural teams and campaigns that connect with audiences around the world.
Outside of work, Karla is a golf enthusiast, has been dedicated to CrossFit for more than 10 years, and adores life with her Chihuahua, Pancho. She is “absolutely in love” with her two daughters: Emma (22), a recent graduate of the School of Journalism at Mizzou, and Anasophia (20), a junior at the University of Illinois. Rooted in her passion for the city of Chicago, Karla treasures time with loved ones and the community she calls home.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 278
Kyle Friedler (he/him/his)
Manager of Institutional Partnerships
Kyle Friedler joined Nourishing Hope in May 2023 after receiving his Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois Chicago. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University.
Developing Nourishing Hope's portfolio of corporate and foundation partners, Kyle oversees the majority of Nourishing Hope's peer-to-peer fundraising, including our Bank of America Chicago Marathon Team. During his tenure, he has helped increase virtual food drive and marathon fundraising revenue by more than 35%.
Kyle was a 2024-2025 Development Leadership Consortium Annual Fellow. Prior to Nourishing Hope, he built social media strategy for the Habitat for Humanity Chicago North Side ReStore. From 2017-2021, he managed social media for the Emily Shane Foundation in Malibu, California. Kyle also competed on the Division I Cross Country and Track & Field Teams at both Loyola Marymount and UIC.
Outside of the office, you'll find Kyle training for his next marathon, playing board games, or in the kitchen preparing a meal for friends.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 257
Lauren Weimer (she/her/hers)
Pantry Coordinator
Lauren is a Pantry Coordinator at Sheridan who joined Nourishing Hope in July 2024.
As an advocate for decreasing food waste, she helped re-start a composting program at Sheridan market! While she is not at work, she enjoys making art, exploring Chicago, trying new restaurants, and thrifting.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 217
Lisa Mayse-Lillig (she/her/hers)
Chief Program Officer
Lisa Mayse-Lillig, MSW has twenty years of experience working with large-scale and high-impact programming related to addressing barriers related to food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness.
Prior to joining Nourishing Hope, she was with Feeding America for ten years, leading various initiatives including public benefits access, healthcare partnerships, economic mobility, child and family, ending hunger, and other portfolios. In her free time, Lisa enjoys time as an art, museum, and gaming enthusiast.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 214
Marina Silva, LCSW (she/ella)
Bilingual Clinical Therapist
Marina holds a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in mental health from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and French from Coe College. Prior to joining Nourishing Hope in June 2021, Marina provided individual therapy for adults as a masters level counseling intern at the Chicago Women’s Health Center. Her clinical interests include exploring life changes, working with queer, trans and gender non-conforming individuals and prioritizing mental health for communities of color.
Marina is a Chicago native, having grown up in Edgewater. She loves to eat out at local restaurants, cook new food, thrift shop, and take her pug Harrison on short walks.
Marina obtuvo su maestría en trabajo social con concentración en salud mental de la Universidad Loyola Chicago y una bachillerato en psicología y francés de Coe College. Antes de unirse a Nourishing Hope en junio de 2021, Marina proporcionó terapia individual como consejera de práctica en el Chicago Women’s Health Center. Sus intereses clínicos incluyen la exploración de los cambios de vida, y el trabajo con comunidades queer, trans y de género no conforme.
Marina es nativa de Chicago, habiendo crecido en Edgewater. Le encanta comer en restaurantes locales, cocinar nueva comida, comprar de segunda y llevar a su perrito Harrison a dar pequeños paseos.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 270
Maureen Davies, LSW (they/them)
Therapist
Maureen is a therapist who joined the Nourishing Hope team in November 2025. They graduated from Loyola University with their MSW with a focus on drug and alcohol counseling. Before Nourishing Hope, Maureen worked with food insecure individuals, and those struggling with substance use disorders. They also spent significant time in the Chicago arts community as a creator in both theatre and music. Their background in the arts influenced their commitment to curiosity and collaboration.
Maureen hopes to cultivate a safe and candid therapeutic space, rooted in respect and common humanity. Their clinical interests include harm reduction, identity exploration and grief work, and they embrace the duality of sincerity and hope in a world that floods us with cynicism and hopelessness.
Outside of work, Maureen loves finding new places to drink coffee, being outside as often as possible (winter included), and singing.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 258
Maurine McAdams
Development Assistant
Maurine has worked as the Development Assistant since October, 2024. Prior to that she volunteered in the Development Department for two years and with the Online Market for 4 years. Maurine makes sure our donors' gifts are properly recorded and acknowledged and tries to help her coworkers with whatever they need. Outside of the office, when she and her husband aren't traveling, Maurine tries to keep up with her three teenaged and young adult daughters.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 259
Mitzi D. Baum (she/her/hers)
Chief Executive Officer
Mitzi D. Baum was appointed Nourishing Hope’s CEO in August of 2025. Mitzi brings steady leadership and thoughtful guidance to the organization, providing solutions-oriented support to the team. Focusing on operational opportunities, she is leading Nourishing Hope’s mission forward by serving neighbors in need of food assistance, mental health services and additional resources.
As the former Chief Executive Officer, Mitzi focused on expanding the impact of Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP) by concentrating on STOP’s three strategic areas: families and individuals impacted by foodborne disease; company culture and practice; and federal food safety policy. She instituted a collaborative, consumer-centric operating model and engaged STOP stakeholders across the food system to develop and advance solutions to food safety.
Prior to her tenure at STOP, Mitzi cultivated a 23-year career at Feeding America rising to the senior level position of managing director of food safety. Ms. Baum earned a Master of Science in Food Safety and a certificate in International Food Law from Michigan State University; received her Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University; and, has obtained certificates in Non-Profit Management from the University of Chicago, Quality Management from DePaul University, and Food Safety Management from Cornell University.
Mitzi is the 2021 Joseph Leiter Lecturer of the Medical Library Association and National Library of Medicine, adjunct faculty member for Michigan State University’s Online Food Safety Program, a certified seafood HACCP instructor, a PCQI, has served as the consumer representative on Council I for the Conference for Food Protection, and is a member of the National Restaurant Association’s Food Safety Advisory Council.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 221
Naja Roberts (she/her/hers)
Warehouse Operations Manager
Naja Roberts joined Nourishing Hope in November 2025 and serves as a Warehouse Operations Manager. In her role, she helps support daily warehouse operations, facility organization, safety, and volunteer flow, with a focus on creating an efficient and welcoming environment for all.
Prior to Nourishing Hope, Naja worked as an Army Logistics Specialist and in various warehouse and operations roles, where she developed a strong appreciation for teamwork and thoughtful processes. Outside of work, Naja enjoys dancing with her DivaDance community, crafting, and bringing people together through creative events. She especially values spending time with her two boys and her fiancé, who mean the world to her.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 229
Natia Barnett (she/her/hers)
Senior Manager of Program Expansion
Natia joined Nourishing Hope in February 2022 as the organization’s first Program Expansion Manager. She joined from her own nonprofit, Village Minds, which she started in 2020 to support low-income families in the wake of the pandemic and civil unrest in communities that were already struggling.
Natia’s relationship with Nourishing Hope began when her organization was introduced via a Pantry board member, which resulted in the Pantry supplying much-needed produce and dry goods that Natia and Village Minds volunteers delivered across the city every Saturday. Natia, a Nourishing Hope Feeding Hope Honoree in 2021, jumped at the opportunity to join the Nourishing Hope family as a full-time employee.
In her spare time, the proud mother of three enjoys crafting, spending time with loved ones and enjoying our beautiful city.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 248
Omar Román-Cristiano (he/him/él)
Senior Bilingual Pantry Coordinator
Omar joined Nourishing Hope in May of 2021 and serves as the senior bilingual pantry coordinator at El Mercadito and at Sheridan Market.
When not working with Nourishing Hope, you may see him on his bike or caring for his two cats, Onyx y Tigre. Fun fact: Omar used to be a professional theater dancer. He performed national and internationally with Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater.
Contact Info:
Peris Brown (he/him/his)
Transportation Manager
Peris joined Nourishing Hope in April 2025 and oversees the planning and execution of food distribution logistics to ensure timely, safe delivery to community partners and programs, while managing drivers, vehicles, and routes.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 242
Rachel Hoovler (she/her/hers)
Home Delivery Program Coordinator
Rachel began working at Nourishing Hope in 2025 and serves as a Home Delivery Coordinator. She loves working with volunteers, engaging with clients, and creating efficient structures for the program. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from Southwestern University. Prior to Nourishing Hope, she worked in professional theatre as an actress and music director.
In her free time, she loves teaching yoga, needlepointing, and reading.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 222
Sean Elliott, LCSW (he/him/his)
Clinical Therapist
Sean graduated with a masters in social work from UIC in 2015 and is a licensed clinical social worker. Before joining Nourishing Hope, he provided case management services at the EZRA Multi-Service Center in Uptown. Sean has worked with Archi-treasures, a participator community arts program.
Sean enjoys reading, writing and movies, as well as playing board games with friends and taking his three dogs on walks. Born and raised in the Chicago area, he also loves exploring and learning new things about the city.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 254
Sarah Cerkvenik (she/her/hers)
Home Delivery Program Coordinator
Sarah Cerkvenik (she/her/hers) joined Nourishing Hope in May 2022 as the Home Delivery Program Coordinator. Her favorite parts of this role include: giving out birthday bags to clients, joking with volunteers every week, and finding new groups to partner with as delivery drivers.
If not at Nourishing Hope, you can likely find her at Lickity Split trying their flavor of the month.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 272
Vanessa Garcia, LCSW (she/ella, they/elle)
Bilingual Clinical Therapist
Vanessa was born and raised in Chicago then spent most of their later life in Cicero with strong roots in their Mexican heritage. She currently holds a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in mental health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Before joining Nourishing Hope in December of 2022, Vanessa provided therapy and advocacy to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence across Chicago. She also has ongoing experience in community outreach, organizing, and education.
Their clinical interests include trauma-informed care, somatic techniques, intergenerational healing, and working with Chicago’s BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Staying connected to community-based, grassroots efforts is extremely important to her and consistently informs her practice. Outside of their dog parent adventures, Vanessa enjoys taking dance classes, nature exploration, playing their instruments, and supporting local creatives at various events throughout the city.
Vanessa nació en Chicago y luego pasó la mayor parte de su vida en Cicero con fuertes raíces en su herencia Mexicana. Elle tiene una maestría en trabajo social con especialización en salud mental de la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago. Antes de unirse a Nourishing Hope en Diciembre de 2022, Vanessa proporcionó terapia a sobrevivientes de violencia sexual en Chicago. También tiene experiencia continua en el alcance, organización y educación comunitaria.
Sus intereses clínicos incluyen la atención informada sobre el trauma, las técnicas somáticas, y la curación intergeneracional. Mantenerse conectada con los esfuerzos comunitarios es muy importante para ella y siempre informa su práctica. Fuera de sus aventuras como madre de perros, a Vanessa le gusta tomar clases de baile, explorar la naturaleza, tocar sus instrumentos y apoyar a los creativos locales en varios eventos en la ciudad.
Contact Info:
(773) 525-1777 ext. 276