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.

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

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

Janelle Benjamin
Women's Leadership Programs Coordinator

Anouska Biswas
Director of Finance

Janae Butler
Development Operations Manager

Christine Chung
Senior Manager of Digital Marketing

Charles Clayton
Email Marketing Manager

Sarah D'Imperio
Executive Assistant

Cat Feliciano
Special Events Manager

Carolin Frias
Manager of Awards

Jacob Friedfeld
Project Manager, Marketing and Communications

Stephanie Gallardo
Event Manager, JBF Pier 57

Katherine Gray
Director of Communications

Willa Green
Senior Manager of Sponsorship

Emily Hannon
Awards Manager

Yasmin Hariri
Branded Content Manager

Malandra Hastick
People and Culture Manager

William Hill
Staff Accountant

Aaron Hock
Senior Manager of Membership

Sari Kamin
Manager of Public Programming and Events, JBF at Pier 57

Shameeka Leacock
Associate Director of Community

Tamar Lopez
Box Office Coordinator

Anna Magnuson
Industry Support Manager

Sandra Matias
Director of General Accounting

John McAndrew
Senior Manager of Sponsor Relations

Mirela Mijovic
Manager of Operations

Shane Oseghale
Awards Coordinator

Kimberly Bradley Osorio
Receivables Manager

Ethan Pan
Digital Marketing Coordinator

Nick Piccora
Development Manager

Samantha Presnal
Director of Awards

Dan Reiser
Awards Coordinator

Sindy Reyes
Event Manager, JBF at Pier 57

Brittany Robinson
Manager of Beard House Operations

Clare Rock
Director of Major Gifts

Victoria Jordan Rodriguez
Senior Director of Special Projects

Maggie Schoenfarber
Senior Director of Marketing

Ellie Sher
Senior Director of Special Events

Emily Solomon
Coordinator, Advocacy and Sustainability

Megan Storms
Associate Director of Women's Leadership Programs

Kim Strauss
Senior Director of Database Systems and Salesforce

Kiri Tannenbaum
Director of Public Programming and Events, JBF at Pier 57

Eleanor Williams
Special Events Coordinator

Izabela Wojcik
Director of Special Fundraising Initiatives

Angela Yang
Development Manager

Monique Zhuma
Director of Marketing and Communications, JBF at Pier 57
Board of Trustees: Executive Committee

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
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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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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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