Oregon Food Bank’s Board of Directors has appointed Susannah Morgan, executive director of Food Bank of Alaska, as CEO of Oregon Food Bank, effective Nov. 5, 2012.
The OFB Board selected Morgan after a thorough national search, following the retirement of Rachel Bristol, June 30.
“Susannah brings 13 years of extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and strong leadership in food-banking in the national arena,” said Arnie Gardner, chair, OFB Board of Directors. “She has the passion, vision and skills to build on OFB’s successes and to move OFB forward during a time of tremendous need and opportunity. We are thrilled to welcome her to Oregon Food Bank and look forward to introducing her to our community.”
“I am very excited to join the outstanding Oregon Food Bank team,” said Morgan. “Oregon Food Bank and the statewide OFB Network of regional food banks and partner agencies are respected nationally for their holistic approach to ending hunger. I am honored that I will have the opportunity to use my commitment to collaboration and my dedication to innovative solutions to pursue the fight against hunger in Oregon.”
“For more than a decade Susannah has led the fight against hunger in Alaska,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK). “Her commitment to making sure no individual, child or family goes hungry is unmatched. Having seen her passion and dedication first hand, I know this will be a true loss to Alaska but a huge gain to Oregon and the lower 48.”
Under Morgan’s leadership, Food Bank of Alaska and its network tripled food distribution, made a significant impact on child hunger by becoming the largest sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program in Alaska, established Alaska’s first mobile food pantry and built Alaska’s first anti-hunger advocacy program. Morgan is particularly known for her leadership in collaborative projects, such as the Alaska Food Coalition and the interfaith Thanksgiving Blessing project.
“I’ve known Susannah for many years and worked with her on the national level,” said Bristol. “She is sharp, energetic and committed to Oregon Food Bank’s dual mission. I believe she is the right person to continue OFB’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes.”
“Susannah has been a one woman force of nature in Alaska as well as a thought leader in Feeding America’s national anti-hunger movement,” said Melanie Nowacki, vice president of Feeding America’s Network Development. “Feeding America recruited Susannah to lead a national team that established a new food bank in Las Vegas, Three Square Food Bank, in 2007. We were impressed with her results and her laser focus on what is best for the clients we serve.”
Morgan represented Feeding America in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She served on Feeding America’s National Advisory Council, chaired Feeding America’s Western Region and continues to co-chair its Diversity Innovation Task Force.
Morgan’s career in food-banking began at the San Francisco Food Bank in the mid-90s. She went on to be second-in-command at Interseminarian Project Place, a homeless services agency and partner of the Boston Food Bank.
In 2005, the National Association of Social Workers Alaska Chapter named her Citizen of the Year.
Morgan received her bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Carleton College and her MBA in nonprofit management from Boston University. Morgan and her partner, Dr. Jocelyn Krebs, have two sons,
Rhys, 3, and Frey, 6 months.
About Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Food Bank is a nonprofit, charitable organization that works to help low-income families alleviate hunger and its root causes. OFB helps nearly one in five households fend off hunger by distributing food from a variety of sources through a statewide network that includes its four branches (in Beaverton, Ontario, Portland and Tillamook),16 independent regional food banks and 945 partner agencies. Oregon Food Bank also addresses the root causes of hunger through advocacy, education programs for low-income youth and adults and by bringing communities together to strengthen local and regional food systems.
Oregon Food Bank’s mission: to eliminate hunger and its root causes … because no one should be hungry.
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Note to reporters: Arnie Gardner will be available to respond to media calls after 2 p.m. today. Susannah Morgan will be available from 2:30 to 6 p.m. (PDT).
Contact:
Jean Kempe-Ware, OFB, public relations
503-419-4170 (o), 503-572-7588
jkempe-ware@oregonfoodbank.org
