A tireless advocate for the hungry for more than 40 years, Catherine D’Amato assumed the leadership of The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) in 1995. During her tenure, she has transformed GBFB into a $180 million charitable business and increased GBFB’s distribution from 7.5 million meals a year to more than 82 million healthy meals this past year. She has grown GBFB’s network to include nearly 600 partner food pantries, meal programs and direct distribution sites across the 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts.

Under D’Amato’s guidance, GBFB has risen to the unprecedented challenge of responding to the surge in hunger due to the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing nearly 100 million pounds in 2020 to GBFB partner agencies that report serving over double the number of people in need. In 2021, GBFB marked its 40th anniversary since its incorporation while also distributing its 1 billionth pound of food which was accelerated by D’Amato’s leadership through the COVID-19 crisis.

Gordon Reid serves as President of Stop & Shop, a great local brand of Ahold Delhaize USA. Founded in 1914, Stop & Shop now has more than 400 stores across the Northeast and employs nearly 60,000 associates.

Prior to joining Stop & Shop in 2019, Gordon Reid served as President of Giant Food and lead the brand to the number one market share position in each of its local markets. Under his leadership, the company made healthy eating easier and affordable, while also transforming the shopping experience with the customer top of mind and growing home delivery in collaboration with Peapod.

Committed to serving the community, Gordon sits on the boards of Partnership for a Healthier America and The Greater Boston Food Bank. He and his wife reside in Boston, Mass.

nhengen@gbfb.org

Nicolene Hengen joined the Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) as its first executive director in July 2021. Her career has been focused in domestic and international public health and higher education, including work at Beth Israel Lahey Health, MIT, Pathfinder International, and others.

Nicolene is an insightful systems thinker, determined problem solver, and generous coach skilled in envisioning, leading, and managing complex projects, partnerships, and communications for excellent strategic and stakeholder outcomes. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s in public health from Tulane University.