2020 Speaker | Alan Shannon

Mr. Alan Shannon
Director, Public Affairs, USDA FNS Midwest

Alan directs communications and partnerships in the Midwest for FNS' 15 nutrition assistance programs. He also works with Congressional members and staffs, local and state elected leaders, and not-for-profits and businesses. He founded and facilitates two networks, one focused on local food systems with over 1500 participants, and the other focused on hunger and nutrition and comprised of over 500 health care providers and related organizations and businesses. He’s had extensive involvement with FNS nutrition programs, including policy, program improvement and event and conference planning. He’s worked at USDA for 32 years. In addition to his work there, he’s written for a variety of publications, including Chicago Sun-Times publications, and several Chicago area, national, and international publications. He's also a board member for Seven Generations Ahead, a midwest non-profit that seeks to build and support sustainable communities.