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Board of Directors
Our board is made up of leaders from various industries and backgrounds from across the Tri-Valley. Their vision helps to direct our mission and strategy.
Mike Haase Chair of the Board Joined the Board in 2017 Occupation: Retired Finance Executive -Executive Committee, Chairperson -Governance Committee, Member -Oversight Committee, Member Mike brings 30 years of finance and business experience to the Open Heart Kitchen. His career includes leading senior financial management responsibilities at Bay-area companies such as AMD, VMware, and Workday. He earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly Humboldt, and his MBA (with a finance concentration) from the University of Southern California. Mike and his family live in Pleasanton.
Janette Pace Vice Chair of the Board Joined the Board in 2018 Occupation: Client Services Manager at CityServe -Development Committee, Chairperson -Governance Committee, Member -Oversight Committee, Member Janette is a Pleasanton native who grew up with food insecurity challenges. She understands how food availability impacts adults and children, and how even in this established community, challenges remain. She is passionate about finding solutions to these challenges and helping our neighbors meet their most basic needs. Janette brings a background in Human Resources and non-profit work to the Board. Her Human Resources experience covers a wide range including management training, employee relations, recruiting and corporate relocation. She is currently the Client Relations Manager for CityServe of the Tri-Valley. Janette earned her Bachelors degree from Brigham Young University, where she majored in European Studies and Business. Janette and her husband Brandon live in Pleasanton with their 4 children.
Bethany Horton Board Secretary Joined the Board in 2018 Occupation: Senior Manager, Global Talent Brand & Marketing at Workday -Executive Committee, Member -Strategic Planning Committee, Chairperson -Development Committee, Member Bethany brings nearly 15 years of brand, marketing, and communications experience to the organization. As the Senior Manager of Global Talent Brand and Marketing at Workday, she leads a team focused on positioning the company as an employer of choice. Bethany earned her Bachelor’s degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she studied English and Women’s Studies. She later earned her MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, concentrating on leadership and strategy. Bethany moved to the Bay Area from Central New York in 2015 and currently lives with her husband, daughter, son, and 2 dogs in Livermore.
Nancy Allen Board Member since 2023 Nancy is an experienced business leader with over thirty years of marketing and business experience in highly technical and competitive environments. She also brings a welath of experience in both the Consumer and Small Business markets and in the financial services, telecommunications, and non-profit segments. Nancy has a strong academic background with continuing education in Marketing, Product Management, and Leadership. Oversight Committee, Member Development Committee, Member
Chuck Deckert Board Member since 2021 Occupation: Sales Executive -Audit Committee, Chair -Development Committee, Member -Governance Committee, Chair Chuck is a community leader having served on several other non-profit boards, committee’s and two City of Pleasanton commissions. Pleasanton community has rewarded him with several named volunteer awards. Chuck is passionate about bettering the lives of those in our community who are suffering. The last 15 years he has volunteered as a Vincentian with local St Vincent de Paul assisting those in crises in their homes or wherever they call home at that moment. Chuck has lived in Pleasanton for most of his life, and graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Marketing with an Advertising concentration.
Jeff Hank Board Member since 2024 Occupation: Retired Vice President Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, Intuit Chairman of the Board of Qualys, Inc Chairman of the Board of First Tech Federal Credit Union Jeff Hank joined the board of Open Heart Kitchen in 2024 and brings extensive financial experience in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors. -Governance Committee, Member -Oversight Committee, Member -Audit Committee, Member
Jewel Hunt Board Member since 2022 Occupation: Group Vice President Bakery, Deli Food Service & Branded Concepts at Albertson Companies -Development Committee, Member -Governance Committee, Member -Oversight Committee, Chair Jewel began her career at Safeway while attending college in 1981 as a part-time bakery clerk and cashier. Today, as Group Vice President of Bakery, Deli Food Service and Branded Concepts at Albertsons Companies, she is the merchant lead for several departments of the nation’s second largest traditional grocer. Jewel serves on the advisory committees with the board of the International Dairy, Deli and Bakery Association. She serves and volunteers for NorCal NEW as Partnership Pillar Lead. She is an active advisor in the company’s Women’s Inclusion and Inspiration Network and was one of several key leaders featured in an HR Magazine article, “Cultivating Female Leaders.” Jewel was named one of the most influential women in retailing by Mass Market Retailing in 2018. She was named a “Top Woman in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer five times before being inducted into the publication’s Hall of Fame for Top Women in Grocery in 2017. Jewel and her husband, Bruce, live in Pleasanton, Calif. and have three sons: Clark, Jon, and Darryl. They are the proud grandparents of several grandchildren.
Erick Lovdahl Board Member since 2019 Occupation: Operations Director at the Alameda County Community Food Bank -Oversight Committee, Member -Strategic Planning Committee, Chairperson For the past 25 years Erick has worked for the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB), and volunteered for Livermore area food pantries and social service organizations. Erick became ACCFB's Director of Operations in 2011, overseeing the team responsible for acquiring, storing and distributing 34 million pounds of food annually to 267 partner agencies, such as OHK. He was instrumental in the creation of ACCFB’s mobile pantry and food recovery programs, and has overseen the expansion of ACCFB’s farm-fresh produce distribution from 1.2 million pounds to almost 18 million pounds annually! Erick was recognized as the 2017 Feeding America Western Region Operations Leader of the Year. Erick was a founding member of the Alameda County Volunteer Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD), and is the current Board President for the Livermore Valley Craft Beer Foundation. Erick received a degree in criminal justice from Sierra College. He lives in Livermore with his children, Sawyer and Madeline, and enjoys hiking and music.
Elizabeth McWhorter Board Member since 2024 Occupation: Program Coordinator, Chabot College Liz brings 15+ years of experience in educational leadership, social justice, and human services, as a community college professional in the Chabot Las Positas Community College District for the past 5.25 years, and as Commissioner with Livermore’s Human Services Commission (Jan. 2013-Present); and before that, as staff and as a contract employee with the University of California (Livermore Lab Foundation; UC Office of the President systemwide oversight office), junior board member of several educational access/support nonprofits in Chicago (Namaste Charter School & Illinois Education Foundation), and as grad assistant with Indiana University Bloomington and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Liz earned her BA (Political Science) and MA (Ed Leadership & Administration) at Cal Poly SLO, and her PhD at IU Bloomington (Higher Ed & Student Affairs Administration). She is passionate about supporting the college community and town/city community where she works and lives, including being an Alameda County 4-H adult volunteer and project leader; regular volunteer with Las Positas College’s The Market monthly pop-up food pantry in 2018-24; summer volunteer with InterFaith Sharing food pantry (2020-Present); and senior meal service & special event volunteer with Open Heart Kitchen (since June 2024). Liz has been recognized by various organizations for her work in education, human services and social justice, being named Oakland A’s Community Champion, Alameda County 4-H Golden Clover adult volunteer awardee, and American Educational Research Association Social Justice Dissertation awardee. Liz moved to the SF Bay Area in 2013 and currently lives in Livermore with her husband Scott and their 3 children.
Carla Moore Board Member since 2020 Occupation: Support Services Director at Microsoft -Development Committee, Member -Strategic Planning Committee, Member - Governance Committee, Member Carla not only offers 20+ Years of professional services from IT, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, and Healthcare, but also as ‘a loving & generous heart’. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical. She moved from the east coast (Atlanta, Georgia) to the west coast (Dublin, California) in 2016. She currently lives in Dublin with her dog, Luna.
Kristina Vannoni Board Member since 2024 Occupation: Associate Marketing Director, The Clorox Company Kristina Vannoni joined the board of Open Heart Kitchen in 2024 and brings both nonprofit as well as business experience to the organization. She is an Associate Marketing Director at The Clorox Company in Pleasanton, where she has worked in a variety of roles including brand management, innovation, partnerships, and business strategy. Prior to Clorox, Kristina’s nonprofit experience includes five years at the American Heart Association, where she served as the Executive Director for San Mateo County. Kristina attended Stanford University, both for her Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Communication and for her MBA. She lives in Pleasanton with her husband Brian and two children. Development Committee, Member Governance Committee, Member