Albany, NY (October 17, 2016) – Feeding New York State, representing the eight Feeding America food banks located in New York State announces the newly elected board officers for 2017. Elected at Feeding NYS’s Annual Meeting in October 2016, the Officers are as follows:
President|Chair– Natasha Thompson, President & CEO Food Bank of the Southern Tier (Elmira, NY)
Vice Chair – Kathleen Stress, Executive Director of Food Bank of Central New York (Syracuse, NY)
Treasurer – Mark Quandt, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (Latham, NY)
Secretary – Julia Tedesco, Executive Director of Foodlink (Rochester, NY)
Ms. Natasha Thompson has led the Food Bank of the Southern Tier since 2008 and has been working in food banking since 1998. She has held the Secretary position for Feeding NYS and moved into the role of Chair in 2016. Ms. Thompson has been an instrumental voice on the NAC for Feeding America and recently led the FBANYS Strategic Planning sessions. Established in 1981 and headquartered in Elmira, NY, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier distributes food and other grocery products to people in need through a network of more than 160 partner agencies including food pantries, meal programs, shelters and other hunger relief organizations in Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties.
Ms. Kathleen Stress has worked in the not-for-profit field her entire career and has always been driven by a mission of an organization. Stress assumed the role of Executive Director of the Food Bank of Central New York in July 2013, after six years as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to her new role as Vice Chair, she was Feeding NYS’s Treasurer. Food Bank of Central New York is the primary food supplier to 346 programs in eleven county service area (Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties).
Mr. Mark Quandt has led the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York since 1984. He had previously served as Feeding NYS’s Treasurer for over 10 years and is one of the most senior food bank executive directors in the United States. The Regional Food Bank covers 23 upstate and Hudson Valley counties providing food and assistance to over 1,000 feeding programs stretching from the Canadian border to Rockland County.
Ms. Julia Tedesco serves as executive director of Foodlink and leads the organization’s transition to an innovative food hub focused on ending hunger, building community health, and fostering economic development. She’s been with Foodlink since 2009. She has been the secretary for Feeding NYS’s since 2015. Foodlink is a regional food hub and the Feeding America food bank serving Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties.
