From Farm to Purpose  

Growing up on a family farm where generations of farming shaped not just a love for the land but how we cared for one another, I learned early that food connects everything people, place, and purpose.
 

Farming wasn’t just a livelihood; it was a language of seasons, soil, and shared meals. Around our table, stories were told, ideas were exchanged, and community was built, a reminder that food has always been about more than nourishment.

​

That understanding has guided me into a career in nonprofit food access, where I focus on building systems that make nourishing food accessible to all. I believe that food access is about more than distribution, it’s about dignity, equity, and community resilience. In this work, I draw on the same lessons I learned growing up: listen to your community, care for your neighbors, and never lose sight of the bigger system you’re part of.

​

At its heart, my work is about connection, between people and place, between food and access, and between what we share at the table and how we care for one another.

As Executive Director of Community Health at YMCA of WNC, I lead mobile food market and pantry programs, build logistics systems that move hundreds of thousands of pounds of produce, and expand access to fresh, nutrient-dense food across WNC with a focus on accessibility, dignity, and operational efficiency. Our programs distribute more than 1.8 million pounds of food to over 600,000 people annually.