At the heart of the James Beard Foundation is a commitment to exceptional leadership, dedicated employees, and visionary board members. These key individuals shape our success, drive innovation, and ensure we stay true to our mission.
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Photo: Clay Williams
Our People
The core of our organization’s success is the strength of our leadership, employees, and board members. Each plays a pivotal role in driving our mission forward and creating an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.
Our leadership team provides the strategic vision that guides us, ensuring we stay agile in a changing world while remaining focused on our long-term goals. Their ability to inspire and motivate not only directs our organization’s path but also cultivates a culture where every team member can grow and succeed.
Our employees are the foundation of everything we do. Their dedication, talent, and passion make a difference every day. We believe that each employee brings a unique set of skills and perspectives, contributing to a dynamic workplace where ideas flourish. By fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, we empower our employees to reach their full potential, which in turn drives our organization’s progress and enables us to better serve our stakeholders. Their hard work and commitment to excellence are what allow us to meet the challenges of today and anticipate the needs of tomorrow.
Finally, our board members provide invaluable oversight and guidance, ensuring our organization remains on a path of sustainable growth. With their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience, they offer strategic insights that help us navigate complex decisions and stay aligned with our core values. Their leadership fosters accountability, transparency, and innovation, reinforcing our commitment to making a positive impact. Together, our leadership, employees, and board members form a powerful team, driving our organization toward continued success and meaningful achievements.
Leadership
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Clare Reichenbach
Chief Executive Officer
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Jodi Posner
Chief Financial Officer
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Jaime-Faye Bean
Vice President of Development
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Christina D'Esposito
Vice President of Brand Partnerships
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Siobhan Flaherty Haber
Vice President of Events
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Mateusz Lilpop
Vice President of Operations and Property
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Anne E. McBride, PhD
Vice President of Programs
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Dawn Padmore
Vice President of Awards
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Tamar Simpson
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
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Marcia Tyler
Vice President of People and Culture
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Brandon Belgrave
Beard House Kitchen Manager
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Janelle Benjamin
Women's Leadership Programs Coordinator
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Anouska Biswas
Director of Finance
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Janae Butler
Development Operations Manager
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Christine Chung
Senior Manager of Digital Marketing
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Sarah D'Imperio
Executive Assistant
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Cat Feliciano
Special Events Manager
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Carolin Frias
Manager of Awards
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Jacob Friedfeld
Project Manager, Marketing and Communications
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Stephanie Gallardo
Event Manager, JBF Pier 57
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Katherine Gray
Director of Communications
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Willa Green
Senior Manager of Sponsorship
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Emily Hannon
Awards Manager
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Yasmin Hariri
Branded Content Manager
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Malandra Hastick
People and Culture Manager
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William Hill
Staff Accountant
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Aaron Hock
Senior Manager of Membership
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Sari Kamin
Manager of Public Programming and Events, JBF at Pier 57
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Shameeka Leacock
Associate Director of Community
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Tamar Lopez
Box Office Coordinator
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Anna Magnuson
Industry Support Manager
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Sandra Matias
Director of General Accounting
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John McAndrew
Senior Manager of Sponsor Relations
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Mirela Mijovic
Manager of Operations
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Shane Oseghale
Awards Coordinator
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Kimberly Bradley Osorio
Receivables Manager
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Nick Piccora
Development Manager
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Samantha Presnal
Director of Awards
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Dan Reiser
Awards Coordinator
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Sindy Reyes
Event Manager, JBF at Pier 57
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Brittany Robinson
Manager of Beard House Operations
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Clare Rock
Director of Major Gifts
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Victoria Jordan Rodriguez
Senior Director of Special Projects
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Maggie Schoenfarber
Senior Director of Marketing
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Ellie Sher
Senior Director of Special Events
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Emily Solomon
Coordinator, Advocacy and Sustainability
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Ali Spahr
Coordinator, Industry Support
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Megan Storms
Associate Director of Women's Leadership Programs
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Kim Strauss
Senior Director of Database Systems and Salesforce
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Kiri Tannenbaum
Director of Public Programming and Events, JBF at Pier 57
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Eleanor Williams
Special Events Coordinator
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Izabela Wojcik
Director of Special Fundraising Initiatives
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Angela Yang
Development Manager
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Monique Zhuma
Director of Marketing and Communications, JBF at Pier 57
Board of Trustees: Executive Committee
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Nancy Lukish
Board Chair, Retired Partner and Senior Vice President, Wellington Management Co., LLP
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Mary Sue Milliken
Vice Chair, Chef/Owner Border Grill Restaurants and Border Grill Truck
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Steve Koch
Secretary, Co-Executive Chairman, Motivate International, Inc.
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Trevor Guthrie
Co-Founder, Giant Spoon
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Cindy McLoughlin
CPA, Partner, CohnReznick, LLP
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Herb Scannell
CEO, Scannell Consulting
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Rodney Williams
Former President, Diageo Beer Company and President, Diageo Canada
More on: Rodney WilliamsBoard of Trustees
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Michiel Bakker
President, The Culinary Institute of America
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Jeff Cherry
Founder, CEO, and Executive Director, Conscious Venture Lab; Managing General Partner, Conscious Venture Partners, LLC; Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner, The Porter Group, LLC
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Tricia Clarke-Stone
Co-founder, WP Narrative
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Baldwin Cunningham
Director of Media and Partnerships at State Farm
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Elizabeth Falkner
Chef/Creative/Maker
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Michelle DiFebo Freeman
Owner and CEO of Carl M. Freeman Companies
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Jillian Griffiths
Partner and Chief Financial officer of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
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Melinda Hildebrand
Vice Chair of the Hildebrand Foundation
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Tanya Holland
Chef, Author
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Andrew Levine
Partner at Debevoise & Plimpton
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Chris Lyons
Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
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Jacob Monty
Founder, Monty & Ramirez LLP
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Anthony Myint
Executive Director, Zero Foodprint and Co-Founder of Mission Street Food, Mission Chinese Food, The Perennial
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Michael Phillips
Principal, Chairman and President of Jamestown, and Vice Chair Emeritus on the Board
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David W. Rivkin
Independent Arbitrator, Arbitration Chambers
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Allison Rose
Venture Capitalist
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Frederic M. Seegal
Chair Emeritus
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Marva Smalls
Executive Vice President, Global Head of Inclusion Strategy, Paramount Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff, Nickelodeon
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Ellen Teller
Chief Government Affairs Officer at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC).
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Kim Williams
Director of Xcel Energy
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