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2023 Iowa Hunger Summit Speakers

Honorable Kim Reynolds

Governor, State of Iowa

Kim Reynolds became the first woman to serve as governor of Iowa on May 24, 2017, when she replaced Governor Terry Branstad after he stepped down to become U.S. ambassador to China. Previously, Reynolds had served as the lieutenant governor of Iowa from 2011-2017. On Nov. 6, 2018, she won... [ View ]

Ambassador Terry E. Branstad

President, World Food Prize

He has had an important connection to food and agriculture throughout his career, including leading the state of Iowa through much of the 1980s Farm Crisis and rebuilding a state economy where agriculture drives many employment sectors. Amb. Branstad has been a champion of the World Food Prize Foundation from its earliest days. He... [ View ]

Giselle Bruskewitz

Program Director, Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development

Giselle Bruskewitz is passionate about working in community to shape and strengthen our local food system in Iowa. As Program Director at Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, Giselle works with partners across the state who lead value chain coordination, food access, Farm to School, local farmer viability, advocacy and education. She facilitates... [ View ]

Nate Clark

President, John Deere Foundation

Nate Clark is the Global Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Deere & Company and President of the John Deere Foundation. In his role with the Foundation, Nate serves as its principal operating officer with responsibility for directing $26 million in annual grantmaking to nonprofit organizations and programs that enable people to unlock economic, social, and... [ View ]

Di Daniels

Co-Director, SALUD-Multicultural Health Coalition

Co-Director of SALUD-Multicultural Health Coalition of Storm Lake. We have partnered with the local St. Mark Lutheran Church to create Friend With Food--a monthly grocery delivery to the temporarily and permanently homebound. [ View ]

Laura Eberlin

Global Corporate Social Responsibility Lead - Community Engagement & Enrichment, Deere & Company

In 2022, Laura Eberlin was appointed Global Corporate Social Responsibility Lead - Community Engagement & Enrichment for Deere & Company. In this role, Eberlin manages the John Deere Foundation’s global food bank strategy, which delivers nearly $3 million in grants annually to ensure equitable access to food for marginalized families and youth in John Deere home... [ View ]

Kelly Garcia

Director, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Praised for transformative leadership, Kelly Kennedy Garcia serves as the Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Garcia to oversee the state’s social services agency in November 2019. She was unanimously confirmed by the Iowa Senate on February 26, 2020. Later that year, Garcia was asked... [ View ]

Linda Gorkow

Executive Director, Iowa Food Bank Association

Linda Gorkow is the executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association (IFBA). As executive director of IFBA is coordinates efforts through food banks and their affiliates serving Iowa to alleviate hunger to ensure that sufficient food is accessible to all. Linda previously served as executive director of the HACAP Food Reservoir in... [ View ]

Kim Guardado

Director, Food Reservoir at Hawkeye Area Community Action Program

Kim Guardado is the Director for the Food Reservoir at Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP). HACAP is a large community action agency in East Central Iowa serving people in poverty to help them be successful and build strong communities. Kim is a registered nurse and has been serving those in poverty for... [ View ]

Ralph Kelly

Pantry Captain, Davenport Community Food Pantry

Rev Kelly is a longtime Davenport resident. He entered the ministry in 2005. He attended First Baptist Church from 2008-2018 serving in the Hilltop area making significant improvements to the area during that time. While President of P.U.N.C.H. (People Uniting Neighbors and Churches) he was instrumental in placing blessing boxes in three hilltop locations from... [ View ]

Hon. Mike Naig

Secretary of Agriculture, State of Iowa

Mike Naig grew up on a family farm in the northwest corner of the state near Cylinder, Iowa and he continues to be involved in the operation today. Mike is a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with degrees in biology and political science. He and his wife Jaime have three... [ View ]

Mark A. Nook

President, University of Northern Iowa

Mark A. Nook began serving as the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa on February 1, 2017. Prior to this appointment, he served as chancellor of Montana State University Billings (MSUB). Originally from Holstein, Iowa, Nook has committed his Midwest education and values to higher education for many years... [ View ]

Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn

President Emeritus, World Food Prize

Amb. Quinn assumed the leadership of the World Food Prize Foundation on January 1, 2000, following his retirement from the State Department after a 32 year career in the Foreign Service. Amb. Quinn retired on January 3, 2020 from the Foundation. Inspired by the vision of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug,... [ View ]

Zach Schmidt

Deputy Director of Organizing and Faith Engagement, Bread for the World

Zach Schmidt is deputy director of organizing and faith engagement with Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. Based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Zach is responsible for identifying, training and equipping leaders, churches and... [ View ]

Hans Schnekloth

6th Generation Iowa Farmer

Hans Schnekloth is a 6th generation Iowa corn bean and soy farmer, President of Sunny View Farms, Vice President of Schnekloth Farms, Inc. and Board President of Tapestry Farms. [ View ]

Sam Schwoeppe

Sr. Manager, Agri Food Engagement, Feeding America

Sam Schwoeppe, is a fourth-generation dairy farmer from southern Indiana and serves as Sr Manager, Agri Food Engagement at Feeding America. Agriculture and community service are part of her family’s history as well as its future. Following her sons’ graduations and return to the family farm, Sam earned her Master’s... [ View ]

Emily Shearer

Food Acquisition Program Manager, Food Bank of Iowa

Emily Shearer has been the Food Acquisition Program Manager for Food Bank of Iowa for 6 years. Her work focuses on special events purchasing, USDA ordering, and food and product sourcing from manufacturers, producers, and wholesalers. She holds a BA in Fashion Merchandising from Iowa State University, but after an... [ View ]

Felicia Smith-Nalls

Community Relations Manager, Tyson Fresh Meats

Felicia Smith-Nalls is a native of Waterloo and graduate of Wartburg College and the University of Iowa College of Law. She has in depth experience in HR and diversity and inclusion work providing training and development in leadership, cultural competence, environment assessment and implicit bias. She serves on a number of community boards and... [ View ]

Tammy Stotts

Marketing Specialist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Tammy Stotts is employed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, where she has worked for over 28 years. As a marketing specialist for the Agricultural Diversification and Market Development Bureau, she has witnessed many changes in Iowa agriculture. Her experience includes roles within the Soil and Water Conservation District, Farmers Market... [ View ]

Mark Swanson

Regional Director, Growing Hope Globally

Mark Swanson is a Regional Director for Growing Hope Globally,Growing Hope Globally provides an opportunity for Christians to make a lasting impact on global hunger, linking the grassroots energy and commitment of rural communities in the U.S. with the capability and desire of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Previously he... [ View ]

Barbara J. Wilson

President, University of Iowa

Dr. Barbara J. Wilson began her term as the 22nd president of the University of Iowa on July 15, 2021. Based on the university’s comprehensive excellence, creativity across the disciplines, and strong sense of community, her leadership priorities are focused on people. In her first two years, the university embarked... [ View ]

Wendy Wintersteen

President, Iowa State University

Dr. Wendy Wintersteen became the 16th president of Iowa State University on Nov. 20, 2017, after a nationwide search, followed by a unanimous vote of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. The first woman to hold the university’s highest office, Dr. Wintersteen has served Iowa State for more than... [ View ]