Alyssa DePhillips is the owner of DePhillips Health & Fitness and a health educator at American Lung Association, both in Urbandale. Alyssa began serving on the board in 2019. Alyssa supports the Urbandale Food Pantry because it lifts up and improves the entire local community when social services can assist those that need it. She also believes if one's basic needs aren't met they can't focus on improving other areas of their health and well-being. For example, we know that children learn better when they are well nourished. The best part of serving is reducing the shame and stigma of food insecurity since the volunteers and staff serve with such dignity and compassion. Alyssa is the board’s president in 2021.
Suzanne Behnke is the executive director and editor of IowaWatch - the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, a nonprofit news outlet dedicated to investigative journalism and teaching student journalists, and she serves an adjunct professor at Simpson and Wartburg colleges. She began serving on the board in 2019. Suzanne supports the Urbandale Food Pantry because she is passionate about meeting one of humans’ greatest needs -- nutrition. The best part of serving on the board is serving the community she lives in as well as having her family join her in volunteering at the pantry and its events. Suzanne is the board’s secretary in 2021.
Janet Cole is a regional marketing manager at Hy-Vee. Janet began serving on the board in 2019. Janet supports the food pantry because she believes that everyone should have access to food. She also hopes that by helping the food pantry flourish she can help support and impact the lives of those it serves. The best part of serving is the amazing staff, volunteers and board members involved with the Urbandale Food Pantry.
Bill Fugenshuch has been retired from QRG since October 2019. He began serving on the board in January 2020. Bill supports the food pantry because he believes in giving back to his community. The best part of serving is providing meaningful services to our friends and neighbors. Bill is the board’s vice president in 2021.
Aaron Friess is a senior attorney at BHE Renewables. Aaron began serving on the board in January 2021. Aaron supports the food pantry because no family should face food insecurity. The best part of serving is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of his neighbors.
Nathan Gast is the pastor of Urbandale Baptist Church. He began serving on the board in October 2017. Nathan supports the food pantry because as a community member of Urbandale, he believes that he has a responsibility to help others that live in the metro be successful, feel positive about having their needs met, and that it’s just simply the neighborly thing to do. As a pastor, he recognizes that we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. The best part of serving is getting to meet new people and serve others.
Mark Hood is a staff engineer at John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, where he specializes in product performance and reliability measurements development. He has a master of science degree in electrical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Additionally, Mark is a U.S. Army veteran who served his country with honor for nine years, and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. Mark began his service on the board in 2020. Serving on the board is an opportunity for him to support the needs of his community and to provide a hand to those who have fallen on hard times due to no fault of their own. Mark supports the food pantry because of its mission to provide food assistance with dignity and compassion.
Judy Kendzora is a tax director at Sammons Financial/Midland National Life Insurance Company. Judy began serving on the board in 2019. Judy supports the food pantry because people need a hand up now and then. The best part of serving is knowing we’re making a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need. Judy is the treasurer of the board in 2021.
Minda Kuckuck is a strategic communication supervisor at Two Rivers Marketing. She began serving on the board in 2019. Minda supports the food pantry because she believes no person should ever have to choose between feeding their family or paying their bills. The best part of serving is seeing the tangible impact the pantry has on the community.
Kelly Moore is a Des Moines-area marketer and president of PR Collective. Kelly began serving on the board in 2018. She quickly became a passionate advocate for raising awareness of food insecurity issues and compassionate service to the city's neighbors in need.
Aaron Pearce currently serves as vice president and general counsel for Berkley Agribusiness, Continental Western Group, and a number of other W. R. Berkley companies throughout the United States. He began service on the board in January 2020. Aaron supports the food pantry because of its ability to deliver needed food security support in an efficient and effective manner. The best part of serving on the UFP board has been the ability to make a direct impact in supporting the local community.
Jodi-Leigh Ward is a business analyst at John Deere. Jodi-Leigh began serving on the board in January 2021. Jodi-Leigh supports the food pantry as she firmly believes that everyone should take care of others as if you were in their position. The best part of serving is knowing that your small gestures may mean make a significant difference in someone else’s life.
Derek Zarn is the communications director for the City of Urbandale. He graduated from Iowa State University and has held various positions in public relations, marketing, design, and technology at the City of Urbandale, City of Ames, and Iowa State University. Derek began serving on the board in 2021. Derek supports the Urbandale Food Pantry through focusing on advocacy and education, public policy and local governmental measures, and fundraising events.
Evan Del Val is a Civil Engineer at ISG and began serving on the board in January 2021. Evan supports the food pantry because of the important and selfless work that the UFP does every day in combating food insecurity in the Des Moines metro. It is his goal to spend his time on the board continuing to move the priorities of the UFP forward and increase the efficiency of serving those in need. The best part of serving is stepping outside of our own lives and finding meaningful ways to connect and assist our neighbors. As a father of 3 young children, it is easy to get consumed by the day to day responsibilities, but serving allows us to see outside of ourselves.
Patty Sneddon-Kisting - Executive Director
Carrie Stephens - Operations Assistant
Linzi Winton - Pantry Assistant
Andrea Leonetti - Pantry Assistant
