Jan
Mike
Leslie
Maria
Sheri
Laura
Karen
Jean
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Click on the bags to learn a little more about our staff.
President & COO
Leslie has dedicated her career to improving food access and building stronger, more connected communities. Her previous work includes leadership in both local and global health initiatives, including working with the World Food Programme, Miraclefeet, to eradicate clubfoot as a global disability, and years of service on boards and committees focused on health, equity, and nonprofit strategy.
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Director of Development & High Point Outreach
Karen joins A Simple Gesture with a background in educational publishing. That experience is a good fit with her role. “Kids who come to school hungry can’t learn,” Karen says. “Being able to meet the basic need of making sure children have sufficient food is the very first step in helping them succeed in life. Being a part of A Simple Gesture gives me the opportunity to directly impact—and improve—the future of children in Guilford County. There’s so much need—and so many ways to help.”
Director of Food Recovery
Laura has always been passionate about collaboration, the community and thinking creatively. She has rediscovered this in food recovery after several years as a Speech-Language Pathologist. With our ASG Food Recovery Program, Laura is skilled at connecting donors of wholesome food and resources to vetted recipients in order to nourish the community rather than filling landfills. The core phrase of “feeding not wasting” is exactly what Laura strives for every day.
Director of Green Bag Donor Program
Maria is a Greensboro native who loves bringing people together to help their community. As Director of the Green Bag Program, she works with generous donors and volunteers to make sure local families have the food they need. Her background includes work in media, tech, and education, along with leadership roles in the Guilford County Schools PTA. Connecting with people and making a difference is what drives her every day!
SHARE & Volunteer Coordinator
Jean is a retired elementary school teacher. She has volunteered for ASG since 2017 as a Green Bag Food Donor driver as well help prepare and organize the thousands of green bags we use monthly. Jean also volunteers at BackPack Beginnings and likes how the two nonprofits work together.
Food Recovery Logistics Manager
Mike is originally from South Carolina. His skill sets are a perfect match for his responsibilities at ASG. Mike enjoys working closely with new and current donor and receiver partners in our Food Recovery Program. He carefully and patiently works with each, teaching them the correct procedures to make the process safe and smooth.
Operations Manager
Jan joined A Simple Gesture in November 2021. She worked 11 years as a Financial Manager and Director of Local Outreach at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Jan has a heart for volunteering with nonprofits that focus on hunger needs such as Mobile Meals, Out of the Garden Project and BackPack Beginnings. She has been involved with A Simple Gesture since its inception in Greensboro in 2015.
Operations Coordinator
After many years of volunteering in different capacities with ASG, Sheri is pleased to have the opportunity to work with community partners, supporters and volunteers in various ways through the different ASG programs. You can find Sheri working in media, marketing, food recovery and more. She'll even help communities with questions about starting their own ASG chapter.
Board of Directors
Dr. Vicki Foust, Board Chair
Stephen Fearing, Board Vice Chair
Edwin Bass, Board Treasurer
Tonia Vaughn, Board Secretary
Members at Large
Toby Hedgepeth
Casey Lloyd
Erin McKinney-Cook
Jill Painter
Chris Skidmore
Bob Biggerstaff, Board Emeritus