LEADERSHIP TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
Get to know the people behind Tarrant Area Food Bank

Julie Butner
President & Chief Executive Officer
Prior to joining the Tarrant Area Food Bank in January 2020, Julie spent most of her career working in the healthcare and hospitality industries, specifically focused on food and nutrition, and has held a variety of leadership positions in operations and business development. Julie also served as a Captain in the United States Army during Operation Desert Storm.
Julie graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Coordinated Dietetics and holds a Master of Science in Food Systems Management with an emphasis in Health Promotion from the University of Oklahoma. Julie is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian.
Julie has served the Fort Worth community through leadership roles in many organizations including: Fort Worth Circle Theatre, Leadership Fort Worth, Delta Gamma Fraternity, Leukemia Society, The Cowtown Marathon, and Fort Worth Sister Cities.

Jeff Akers
Chief Operating OfficerOversees the activities of the “Field 2 Fork” team that is responsible for all aspects of food sourcing, inventory management, partner agencies relations and food distribution.

Charles Boswell
Executive Vice President, Advocacy AdvisorPreviously Board Chair in 2015, Boswell now is responsible for government relations with all levels of the public sector and oversees the Marketing and Communications team. Before joining TAFB, he had a 31-year career with the City of Fort worth and served as City Manager from 2004 to 2008. He attended public school in Fort Worth and earned two degrees at TCU.

Amie Hebdige
Executive Vice President, ProgramsOversees the program teams, which include Community Nutrition and Food for Kids. She has 20 years of strategic leadership experience in the financial, global defense and non-profit sectors. She joined Tarrant Area Food Bank in 2011 after serving two years as a Cooking Matters volunteer for the organization. Amie received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Christian University and is an alumna of Leadership Fort Worth.

Stephen Raeside
Chief Development OfficerA ten-year veteran of TAFB, he leads the agency’s fundraising team. Philanthropic support of TAFB comes from a wide variety of foundations, corporations, events, and generous individuals.

Glenn Stokes
Chief Financial OfficerOversees TAFB Accounting and Finance functions including financial reporting, budgeting, audit, tax and risk management. He joined TAFB in 2015.

Dr. Shagranda Traveler
Executive Vice President, Advocacy, Communications & CultureOversees all local and national advocacy, marketing and communications, and organizational people and culture initiatives for the food bank. She is an alumna of Leadership Mansfield, is recognized as a Community Champion of the Year by the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), and received her Doctor of Business Administration from Walden University. She joined TAFB in 2021.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee

Don Mills
Chair of the BoardTexas Christian University

Karen Duncan
Chair-electJohn Peter Smith Hospital

Ty Stimpson
SecretaryTarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office

Mark Jones
TreasurerMark M. Jones Associates

Andrew O. Fort
Past ChairTexas Christian University

Elizabeth Rainwater Baggs
Member-at-largeTexas Christian University

Mirgitt Crespo
Member-at-largeFort Worth ISD

David Speed
Member-at-largeCantey Hanger, LLP

Justin Armstrong
Frost Bank

Ashli Blumenfeld
Standard Meat

Mercedes Bolen
Hillwood

Rachael Capua
Tarrant To & Through Partnership

Rev. Ralph W. Emerson
Rising Star Baptist Church

Christina Kutej
Bank of America

Christy Lara
Albertsons

Monica Mendez-Grant
Texas Women’s University

Valerie Washington
City of Fort Worth

Jared Williams
Leadership ISD

Julie Williams
One World Everybody Eats

Patty Williams
Roger Williams Auto Mall