Brian Barks
Brian Barks
President & Chief Executive Officer, Food Bank for the Heartland
Brian Barks is President & CEO at Food Bank for the Heartland. In this role he is responsible for overall management and direction of Food Bank for the Heartland as well as overseeing the budgetary, strategic planning and community relations management functions.
Before becoming President & CEO in July 2018, Brian joined the Food Bank in April 2009 as the Director of Philanthropy & Communications. During his tenure donated revenue has grown from $2.4 million in 2009 to over $6 million in 2018. Prior to arriving at the Food Bank, Brian spent over 20 years in the broadcast industry. Brian’s first job was News Director/Anchor of KXNP Radio in North Platte, NE. One year later, Brian moved to his hometown of Omaha and worked 11 years at KKAR Radio where he served as News Director. Brian relocated to Phoenix, AZ when he worked nine years at KTAR Radio before moving back to Omaha to rejoin KKAR.
Brian graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. While born in Ottumwa, IA, Brian has always called Omaha home graduating from Omaha Burke High School.
Brian and his wife have two daughters. He enjoys golf and Husker athletics.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND
Food Bank for the Heartland provides emergency and supplemental food to people in need in Nebraska and western Iowa with a service area spanning 93 counties and 78,000 miles. Food Bank for the Heartland serves the greatest number of counties of any Feeding America food bank. Founded in 1981, Food Bank for the Heartland operated out of a 3,800-square-foot warehouse in Omaha distributing 38,800 pounds of food to 21 nonprofit agencies. In 2011, the Food Bank relocated its headquarters to its current location, a 76,000-square-foot facility, and distributed 27 million pounds of food, or more than 22.5 million meals in its last fiscal year. Of the 27 million pounds, almost six million was fresh produce.
In addition to working with approximately 600 network of agency partners, the Food Bank also operates programs that serve vulnerable populations directly: BackPack, Kids Cafe, Kids Cruisin’ Kitchen, Mobile Pantry and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Food Bank for the Heartland has an operating budget of $9 million and employs 55 staff members.