Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) is excited to welcome new leadership as we enter fiscal year 2021, beginning on October 1. “With the arrival of our new President and CEO, Julie Butner, and with the prevalence the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been one the most pivotal years in the history of TAFB,” said Board Chair Andy Fort. “It is imperative to have a strong board of directors to guide us through new beginnings, and we are proud of the members that we are adding to the board.” TAFB would like to officially welcome the four new members of the Board of Directors:
|
Mercedes Bolen is the Vice President of External Affairs and Community Relations for Hillwood, developer of AllianceTexas and one of the top industrial, commercial and residential real estate developers in the country. She received both her Bachelor of Science in Communications and her Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University. Mercedes also serves on the board of directors for the Northwest ISD Education Foundation and Metroport Cities Partnership. Mercedes and her husband Jeff have two sons: Brady and Brennan. |
|
Ashli Blumenfeld is the Co-President and Owner of Standard Meat, a family owned protein portioning operation founded by her great-grandfather Ben H. Rosenthal, which is a staple of the Fort Worth food industry. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Cum Laude from Tulane University with a Business Minor. She also serves on the board of directors at Cook Children’s Medical Center, the Fort Worth Zoo, Frost Bank and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Ashli is married to her husband of 12 years, Todd, and they have two children: Elanor and Will. |
|
Christy Lara is the Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Albertsons Companies Southern Division, which includes Tom Thumb, Albertsons and Randalls stores in DFW, Houston, Austin and Louisiana. Her background in the grocery retail industry has spanned more than 26 years, and she holds her Bachelor of Science and Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Christy also serves on the Texas Retailers Association Food Council, and with her husband of 18 years, Ignacio, Christy has three daughters: Rebekah, Victoria and Alexandria. |
|
Julie Williams is the Board President of One World Everybody Eats, a national network of pay-what-you-can cafes designed to build community and increase food security. Her husband, Jeff, is the Founder of Taste Project, which operates Taste Community Restaurant, Fort Worth’s own nonprofit pay-what-you-can restaurant. Julie holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business from California State University, San Marcos. She also serves as the Board Secretary and Marketing Chair for Taste Project. Jeff, Julie, and their son Brian live in Fort Worth. |
These four new board members will join the existing members of the TAFB Board of Directors. Along with these additions, Chair elect Don Mills will succeed Andy Fort as Board Chair. Mills is a Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership at TCU and holds his Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of North Texas.
