On October 16 – 17, leading food recovery organization Food Rescue Hero will host its annual Food Rescue Hero Conference. What started as a networking and educational event exclusive to organizations using the Food Rescue Hero™ technology has become a global resource livestreamed for all food recovery stakeholders. Now in its fourth year, it remains the only conference focused solely on actionable and innovative food recovery solutions.
This year’s keynote will be delivered by Dan Abrams, former Gaza response director for World Central Kitchen. Other panelists and speakers include leaders in food recovery and hunger relief, public policy, research, and the circular economy, discussing the latest topics in the rapidly changing world of food access and food security — from building an expanded distribution network, to social trends, to legislation.
Press is invited to attend virtually via the livestream (please RSVP to Liz Fetchin, 724-612-9921 or liz@elmink.com to receive a press pass).
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 16
8:50 – 9:00 a.m.: Welcome with Food Rescue Hero CEO Alyssa Cholodofsky
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Starting Strong: Lessons from Food Rescue Founders on Launching Local Impact, with Chicago Food Rescue Executive Director Jake Tepperman, Leftover Love Executive Director Omar Tarabishi, and Food Rescue Dude Randy Rosen
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: What the Heck is Food as Medicine? Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Landscape, with Food Dignity Movement Founder Clancy Harrison, Access to Fresh Cofounder Nicole Dube, and moderator Victoria Della Rocca, Food Rescue Hero’s National Partnership Lead.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Strength in Collaboration: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Food Recovery, with Coalition to Protect Food Donation’s Jim Larson, Zero Food Waste Coalition’s Madeline Keating, National Food Recovery Association Treasurer Aubrey Alvarez and Kentucky Harvest’s Heather Stewart
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: KEYNOTE: Navigating Food Response Through Unexpected Crisis, with Dan Abrams, former Gaza Response Director for World Central Kitchen and Food Rescue Hero VP of External Affairs Jen England
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Scaling Impact: Collaboration and Innovation in Food Rescue, with Hunger Network CEO Julie Johnson, La Soupe Inspire & Innovation Director Katie Funk, Last Mile Food Rescue Director of Distribution Programs & Partnerships Crystal Cotrill, and moderator Casey Slive, Food Access Coordination Consultant for the Ohio Department of Health
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Evolving Together: Strengthening Food Recovery Through Specialized Partnerships, with Food Donation Connection VP of Business Development Steve Dietz, FoodRecovery.org Large Donation Program Coordinator Ellen Schoenberg, and Move for Hunger Manager of Food Recovery Programs Kramer Stuth with moderator Douglas Silver of Gotham Food Pantry
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: More than Fruit: Why We Glean and the Models That Make It Work, with Hidden Harvest Cofounder Katrina Siks, Food Forward Director of Community Programs Samantha Teslik, Making A Difference Foundation Founder/President/CEO Ahndrea Blue, Salvation Farms Gleaning Manager Hillary Bailey, and Association of Gleaning Organizations Executive Director Shawn Peterson
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Expanding Impact: Evaluating Add-On Programs in Food Recovery Operations, with Gather NH Culinary Director Tania Marino, Food Finders Executive Director Diana Lara, and Northern Virginia Food Rescue Executive Director Megan Franco
Friday, October 17
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Evolving with Purpose: How Equity & Innovation is Reshaping Volunteer Recruitment, with CMU PhD candidate Naveen Raman, Learn with JPP Consulting CEO Jessica Pang-Parks, and United Way Senior Director of Regional Engagement Wendy Koch, moderated by Food Rescue Hero Director of Data & Analytics Sean Hudson
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Nourishing Health, Honoring Service: Food Recovery in the VA System, with Clement J. Zablocki VAMC Associate Chief of Food Service Operations Kayleen Weister, Veterans Affairs National Nutrition Food Security Program Coordinator Megan Bowman, and moderator John Stoddard, Associate Director of Climate and Food Solutions at Health Care Without Harm & Practice Greenhealth
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Beyond the Delivery: Working Hand-in-Hand with our Community Partners, with Table to Table’s Julie Kinner and Heather Thompson and 412 Food Rescue’s Leland Scales, moderated by Food Rescue US’s Haley Schulman
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: KEYNOTE: AI for Good: A Practical Roadmap for Ethical Adoption in Food Rescue, with Deb Stuligross, AI Literacy Lead of Tech to the Rescue and Food Rescue Hero VP of Product Brad Fetchin
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Marketing is for Everyone: Building Accessible & Affordable Strategies, with University of Pittsburgh Instructional Technologist & Assistive Tech Specialist Laura Trybus, Bounteous’s SVP of Marketing Jon Meck, and World Food Program USA Deputy Director of Digital Advertising and Marketing Nick Eppinger, moderated by Food Rescue Hero VP of External Affairs Jen England
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Beyond Recovery: Monetizing Waste Through Innovative Partnerships, with Brightly’s Director of Partnerships Matt Jones, Founder and CEO of Insect Flux Jason Elate and Co-Founder and COO of Ecotonen Renewables Kyle Wyche
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Spoil Nothing: Rethinking Value in Food and Work, with 412 Food Rescue Director of Logistics & Operational Strategy Kristie Abercrombie, Executive Director of Potluck Food Rescue Chris Wyman, Executive Director of Change Today, Change Tomorrow Taylor Ryan, moderated by Food Recovery.org’s Allie Wilson
4:00 – 4:15 p.m.: Where Opportunity Lives: Mapping Public Data for Strategic Impact Closing with Food Rescue Hero VP of External Affairs Jennifer England and Director of Data & Analytics Sean Hudson
