Panelists answer questions at a summit breakout session

Speakers for the 2026 Make Hunger History Summit

Speakers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Nicole Beane she/her

Nicole Beane (Tibikigiizisookwe) is a White Earth Nation descendant and currently serves as the American Indian Community Coordinator at Ramsey County. She has over 10 years experience working in city municipalities, and public schools, with a background in American Indian studies and human resources. Passionate about policy and systems change, she works to strengthen relationships between Native communities and local government.

Liam Boris

Liam is a passionate nonprofit professional with over 6 years of leadership experience in volunteer program development, human resources, and nonprofit administration. His work centers on supporting volunteers, interns, and students in meaningful service and professional growth. He is fully bilingual in Spanish having grown up in immersion education. Liam earned his A.A. in Communication Studies and Economics from Normandale Community College through the PSEO dual-enrollment program completed in high school, and received his B.A. in Human Resources and Business Management from Concordia University–St. Paul. Proud of his Carpatho-Rusyn heritage, he advocates for the Eastern Christian community and diaspora. Previous experience before PRISM include Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Antiochian Village Camp, The Oasis Project, and Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Liam volunteers with FOCUS Minnesota, Minnesota 4-H, and Minnetonka VANTAGE—and he’s excited to learn and share with all of you.

Katie Bull she/her

Katie Bull is the director of programs at Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN), where she leads statewide programming and service development to strengthen Minnesota’s food shelf network. With deep experience in hunger relief, Katie has conducted hundreds of food sourcing consultations, equipping food shelf leaders with tools and strategies to meet evolving community needs. At FFEN, she oversees the deployment of skilled, pro-bono volunteers who provide no-cost consultation to increase food shelf efficiency and impact. Her work advances FFEN’s mission to build a hunger relief sector that ensures equitable access to healthy food through welcoming, dignified experiences. Prior to FFEN, Katie held key roles at Second Harvest Heartland and Northern Lakes Food Bank, focusing on food rescue and capacity building. She also served five years at MAVA, coordinating statewide training and conferences for volunteer administrators. Katie’s blend of operational insight and strategic leadership makes her a trusted partner across the hunger relief sector.

Shannon Chronister she/her

Shannon Chronister is the assistant director of civic engagement at Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College. In her role, Shannon directs the Student Food and Resource Centers at both Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College.

Heather Da Cunha she/her

Heather Da Cunha is an Inver Hills Community College student and food pantry assistant. Heather began her journey at Inver Hills Community College nearly two years ago, and has been working at the food pantry for over a year. She is genuinely passionate about helping others and finds nothing more fulfilling than easing the burden food pantry clients carry. For Heather, this role goes beyond employment – it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life and is something she is proud to be part of.

Andrea Gressman she/her

Andrea Gressman is a consultant with the Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN), where she supports food shelves across Minnesota in strengthening operations, improving food sourcing strategies, and enhancing access to nutritious food for communities in need. With a background in community engagement, strategic planning, and volunteer management, Andrea brings a balance of compassion and analytical insight to her work.

She partners closely with food shelf leaders to translate data into actionable goals, helping them make informed decisions that create lasting impact. Andrea is passionate about building sustainable systems, fostering collaboration, and equipping organizations to serve their communities with excellence and dignity. Her mission is to help food shelves operate more effectively so that every person who seeks support feels valued, respected, and nourished—both physically and emotionally.

Theresa Halvorson-Lee she/her

Theresa Halvorson-Lee was appointed to the position of director of the Department of Indian Work (DIW) in November 2024. Previously she served as emergency services manager after joining Interfaith Action full time in May 2020. As director of DIW, Theresa oversees four programs dedicated to supporting the Indigenous community. She loves her work because it allows her to make a real difference in people’s lives. She finds it incredibly fulfilling to support her community and see the positive outcomes of the work. Prior to joining Interfaith Action, Theresa gained over 20 years of service, training, and management experience working with companies like Fraser, Bremer Bank, MTM and USPS. Theresa is a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux tribe of South Dakota and was born and raised on the East Side of Saint Paul.

Jennifer L. Harrison, MA, CFRE she/her

Jennifer L. Harrison, MA, CFRE, is a nonprofit leader and fundraising strategist dedicated to building stronger, more equitable communities. As Vice President of Advancement at VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People), she oversees all fundraising, communications, and community engagement efforts, guiding the organization’s philanthropic vision during a time of unprecedented need.

With more than 20 years of experience in development, Jennifer specializes in donor-centered fundraising, strategic planning, and building sustainable revenue models for mission-driven organizations.

A passionate advocate for community-centered philanthropy, Jennifer brings a blend of strategy, creativity, and heart to every partnership, always with a focus on integrity, impact, and strengthening the fabric of the communities she serves.

Niila Hebert she/her

Pronounced {Ny-la} {A-Bear}

Niila is the executive director of the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement and an established leader in community engagement, fundraising, program development, and volunteerism. As a long-time servant leader, Niila is a board member and volunteer who is passionate about the impact volunteers and the professionals who work with them can have on their communities.

Highly skilled in creating partnerships, Niila catalyzes transformative change through collaborative engagement. She is a DEI trainer and inclusion champion, bringing her core values of equity, access, and justice to her advocacy for Black and LGBTQ+ communities. In addition, she is a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) and a Certified Professional Project Manager (CCPM).

Niila received a bachelor's degree from California State University Long Beach majoring in communications with a minor in black studies. Niila currently serves on the boards of Nexus Community Partners, Until We Are All Free, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, and the MN Freedom Fund.

Isabella Hembre Conditt she/her

Isabella Hembre Conditt is the Program Coordinator at Open Arms of Minnesota. She has been with the organization since 2021, holding a couple different client-facing roles before transitioning into her current role in 2024. She has really enjoyed the pivot to program- and partnership-building. In the current Prepared Meals Program, Isabella serves as the liaison between referral organizations and Open Arms, managing and tracking the day-to-day functioning of the program, completing formal and informal check-ins with clients, and contributing to ongoing program evaluation.

Maren Gelle Henderson she/her

Maren Gelle Henderson, evaluation and survey scientist within HealthPartners Institute’s Center for Evaluation and Survey Research (CESR), has worked as an evaluator in multiple complex systems designed to serve youth and their families. Her evaluation practice emphasizes partnership and shared learning, working together with content experts and stakeholders to understand diverse perspectives, measure impact, and identify opportunities to improve. She’s committed to using the power of research and evaluation to amplify community expertise.

Katie Herrick

Katie Herrick is a Community Health Evaluation and Reporting Specialist at Fairview Health Services. She integrates data, storytelling, and community insights to illuminate and strengthen the impact of community health initiatives, including Fairview’s Food is Medicine programs.

Katie’s commitment to food justice began during her AmeriCorps service with the Sanneh Foundation, where she helped launch a new nutritional services program at the height of the pandemic. She later joined Fairview’s Food is Medicine team, contributing to the growth of initiatives such as the Fresh Food Prescription program, MarketRx, and the East Side Table Community Cooks Meal Boxes.

Before returning to Fairview in her current role, Katie worked on an agroforestry farm in Ecuador and later supported the collective purchasing power of independent grocers through the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association. This cross-disciplinary experience continues to shape her approach to food systems and community health.

Rachel Holmes she/her

Rachel Holmes is the Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement at The Food Group. With over a decade of experience in anti-hunger work, she has dedicated her career to advancing food justice in Minnesota. She previously served as Associate Director at Hunger Solutions Minnesota before continuing her work at The Food Group following the organizations’ 2024 merger. Rachel began her career as a SNAP Outreach Associate, connecting Minnesotans with vital nutrition programs and listening to the stories of those seeking help through the Minnesota Food Helpline. These experiences shaped her belief that food is a fundamental human right and fuel her passion for building meaningful partnerships that drive policy change and a more just food system.

Jenna Hoover she/her

Jenna brings her own lived experience accessing food pantries and programs to her work, grounded in a commitment to center the voices of neighbors experiencing hunger who are too often excluded from decision-making. She has listened to and learned from over 1,500 food shelves across the country, helping them interpret their data, reflect on their reach, and adopt neighbor-centered practices. She has also facilitated conversations with more than 2,000 neighbors facing food insecurity, ensuring their wisdom shapes strategy and systems. Jenna holds a master's degree in data analytics and visualization and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional.

Stuart Iseminger he/him

Stuart Iseminger’s career has focused on anti-poverty and food security programs. After receiving a graduate degree in social work, he managed several departments at nonprofits and prioritized creating a respectful client experience. Stuart has participated on two capital committees responsible for building award-winning facilities in under-served communities. He has worked in Chicago and most recently in North Minneapolis at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center. In 2023, he joined the Office of Economic Opportunity at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families as a grant manager and manages the Prepared Meals and Food Shelf Facilities Capital grants. Stuart enjoys visiting partners to see the crucial work they do building and strengthening communities across Minnesota.

Roxanne Johnson

Roxanne Johnson is a Registered Dietitian specializing in diabetes care, maternal child nutrition, and culinary nutrition with over 20 years of experience. A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, she brings a passion for ancestral foodways. She also has training as an Indigenous lactation counselor and doula. She has held several leadership positions as a program director for tribal and federal nutrition programs. She currently oversees the nutrition programming at Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming an Anishinaabe organization in Bemidji, Minnesota committed to providing holistic, community-centered care that blends traditional Anishinaabe teachings with modern healthcare to support women, children, and families on their wellness journey.

Nicole MartinRogers she/her

Nicole MartinRogers joined Advance Consulting LLC in 2022 after a 20+ year career at Wilder Research, where she still works part-time as a Research Scientist. She has a PhD in sociology from the University of Minnesota and a master's in public policy from Humphrey School. As a descendant of White Earth Nation and a lifelong member of the Twin Cities American Indian community, Nicole has a particular passion for working with and supporting organizations that serve Indigenous children, families, and communities. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Montessori American Indian Childcare Center and is on the Advisory Committee for Interfaith Action’s Department of Indian Work. Nicole is the former president of the Minnesota Evaluation Association and also previously served on the boards of directors of Interfaith Action, Saint Paul Children’s Collaborative, and Tiwahe Foundation.

Metro Food Justice Network Leadership

MFJN is a collaboration of individuals and organizations in the Twin Cities Metro Area partnering to advance racial equity by transforming our food system. We center communities that are most affected by systemic racism in the food system through collective power and shared resources. The 20+ members of the Leadership Team represent frontline communities, groups and organizations. This BIPOC-led, intergenerational team represents decades of collective action towards a more just food system in MN.

Melissa Miller she/her

Melissa started in fundraising at The Open Door food pantry where she led a capital campaign in 2021 that doubled the capacity of the food shelf serving Dakota County. She now serves as a fundraiser on the development team at Second Harvest Heartland where she works one-on-one with individual donors who are passionate about hunger relief work. Melissa has a strong communications and storytelling background informed by her work in small-business coaching and her background in theater and education. Melissa is driven to help strengthen the hunger-relief network in Minnesota and understands the first way to achieve that is by strengthening the partners that are serving neighbors directly.

Rachel Smith she/her

Rachel Smith was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota and she is an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribe of Rosebud, South Dakota. She is a mother of four and works as a family coach with the Economic Mobility Hub at the Montessori American Indian Childcare Center. She works with parents and families to help them get out of the cycle of poverty and build intergenerational wealth. In previous years, she had worked as a chef at The Sioux Chef, Lucia's and Tipsy Chicken. Each place had a focus on either Indigenous foods or farm-to-table, sustainable, ethical and organic culinary practices. Before that, she worked in the American Indian community at Ain Dah Yung, American Indian Family and Children's Services and Women of Nations Eagle Nest shelter. Rachel enjoys helping and serving others and loves working with her community to promote wellness and health.

Jordan Vernoy he/him

Jordan spent 13 years in the Feeding America network, starting as an agency relations director at Northeast Iowa Food Bank, then becoming the founding state director of the Iowa Food Bank Association before working at the Feeding America National Organization. His tenure in the Feeding America network concentrated on challenging people to think differently about the work of ending hunger in America. Networks can realize their vision by focusing on the people facing the issue, understanding the value each member of the network holds, and maximizing those resources to have the biggest impact. He works with organizations to embrace practices for deepening engagement. Jordan holds a master’s in nonprofit management and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional.

Jason Viana he/him

Jason Viana is the Executive Director of The Open Door - a food pantry in Eagan which hosts a robust mobile distribution program. Jason earned a master’s in nonprofit management from Hamline University and worked for the Minnesota Red Cross in disaster preparedness and international services. He has led The Open Door since 2016 following almost 20 years of work in the nonprofit sector. He was honored with the Burnsville Community Builder Award in 2022 for his strategic work growing The Open Door's reach. Jason hails from the deep south and now lives in Burnsville with his wife and two young boys Eli and Noah.

Susie West she/her

Susie West, MPH, is an extension educator on the Health and Nutrition team in University of Minnesota Extension’s Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing. Her areas of focus are food insecurity and mental health, with a special emphasis on how service experiences in food access and healthcare settings influence wellbeing. Susie’s work centers on uplifting the voices of marginalized groups through participatory processes and integrating the wisdom of community-based practitioners to effectively elevate lived experience as expertise. Since coming to Minnesota in 2022, she has helped operationalize those in the hunger relief sector through her leadership of SuperShelf programming and her work on the Minnesota Food Shelf Survey team.

Peter Woitock he/him

Peter Woitock serves as Government Relations Manager at The Food Group, where he champions anti-hunger initiatives at the Capitol. He earned his Master’s degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota–Duluth in 2008. Since then, he has played an active role in political campaigns and nonprofit organizations, bringing a strong voice to issues of equity and access. Driven by a deep commitment to combating poverty and hunger across Minnesota, Peter works to ensure that communities have the resources they need to thrive.