our team
Meet Our Leadership
We are proud of our committed and passionate staff, driven by our common mission to build community in the culinary industry.
Feed the Soul Team
Juana Collins, Executive Director
Karina Fernandez, Director
Board of Directors
Falayn Ferrell, Chair
Managing Partner, Black Restaurant Weeks, LLC
Maria Cruz-Garcia, Treasurer
President & CEO MCG Solutions
Derek Robinson, Secretary
Managing Partner, Black Restaurant Weeks, LLC
Warren Luckett, Board Member
Founder, Black Restaurant Weeks, LLC
Karinn Chavarria, Board Member
Co-Founder Latin Restaurant Week
Julian Boyd, Board Member
President, Boyd Franchising LLC
Justin Nicks, Board Member
Sr. Commercial Director, Anheuser-Busch
Darren “Chip”Joyner, Board Member
Joyner Ventures
Chef Dayanny De La Cruz, Board Member
Vice President of Culinary, Levy Restaurants
Sarah Freddie, Board Member
Administration & Finance Manager, Houston Airport System IAH-HOU
Our Core Values
What we believe in
Community
Serving as a liaison for the culinary industry, through financial assistance and business training and development, we feed those who feed the community.
Collaboration
Through the identification of industry experts and the support of major corporations, Feed the Soul humbly understands we can not level the playing within the industry without a collaborative mindset.
Compassion
With an understanding of the challenges small business owners face in the competitive climate of the culinary industry.
Fresh Off the Press | For Press Inquiries, please contact Kelly Taylor, Alaket PR [email protected]
Press Releases
Feed the Soul Foundation Hosts Second Global Culinary Conference in Houston, TX
Renowned Chefs & Culinary Experts Host Sessions during Four-Day Event to Educate Culinary Entrepreneurs on Successful Business Operations & Strategies
Feed the Soul Foundation Provides $850K of Support to Culinary Businesses through Restaurant Business Development Grant Program
Feed the Soul Foundation provides funding in its fourth year with financial backing from the Grubhub Community Fund to support nationwide minority culinary enterprises with $10,000 stipends and six-month business consultation alongside key industry experts
Feed the Soul Foundation Hosts First-Ever Global Culinary Conference on Business Development
Renowned Chefs & Culinary Experts Host Sessions during Two-Day ‘Boost Camp’ Platform to Educate Culinary Entrepreneurs on Successful Business Operations & Strategies