Meet the New Faces Driving Midwest Food Bank's Mission
FLORIDA
Neil Cowan Joins MFB Florida Board of Directors
Midwest Food Bank (MFB) Florida Division is grateful to welcome Neil Cowan to its Board of Directors. Neil is the Head of Marketing and Design for e2 and has been a dedicated volunteer with the Florida division for the past two years.
"Neil's extensive knowledge and experience will be invaluable in enhancing Midwest Food Bank's brand presence in Florida," says Scot Buss, Marketing and Development Manager. "I'm excited to see his impact on our mission."
Neil brings over 20 years of marketing leadership experience, having held prominent roles at Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, General Mills, and the Kellogg Company. Among his career highlights is leading the Pringles global brand re-stage, a pivotal initiative that contributed to sustained share growth in the global snacks category.
In addition to his professional expertise, Neil is known for fostering team-centric environments defined by shared success and a growth mindset. He resides in Southwest Florida with his wife Holly and their three children.
Welcome, Neil, to the MFB Florida Board of Directors!
BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL
Welcome Kevin Copass: Midwest Food Bank's New Operations Manager in Normal
Midwest Food Bank is thrilled to announce Kevin Copass as the new Operations Manager for the Normal Division. Kevin officially joined us on November 18, stepping into the role following the retirement of Duane Whitlow in September.
With decades of management experience in the Bloomington-Normal area, Kevin brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to our team. His 17-year career with a regional cleaning company and eight years at Scholastic Books, where he held roles as Warehouse Manager and Branch Manager, make him exceptionally well-equipped for this role. Kevin's commitment to serving under God's guidance aligns seamlessly with Midwest Food Bank's mission.
Kevin and his wife, Jodi, have been married for 38 years and share a deep connection to the Central Illinois community. They've called Bloomington-Normal home for 14 years, raising four children and serving as foster parents before adopting. Jodi works as a Special Education teacher in Unit 5, and the couple enjoys vegetable and herb gardening and cycling in their free time.
We are confident Kevin's leadership will contribute to the continued success of our mission to alleviate hunger and provide hope. Please join us in warmly welcoming Kevin to the Midwest Food Bank family!
INDIANA
Callie Marvel Joins Midwest Food Bank as Volunteer Coordinator
Midwest Food Bank Indiana recently welcomed Callie Marvel as its new Volunteer Coordinator. Callie officially entered the role on October 28, bringing years of volunteer experience to her new position.
Callie's Volunteer Experience
Callie's connection to Midwest Food Bank began during a birthday service project while she was still in school (See her Volunteer Spotlight here). Over time, she expanded her involvement, taking on roles such as pick team lead, project and group lead, warehouse volunteer, and forklift operator. Her hands-on experience and proficiency in volunteer management systems like Primarius and Golden have prepared her to oversee and recruit volunteers effectively.
"I am excited to go from volunteer to Volunteer Coordinator," says Callie. "It is great to be behind the scenes and more involved."
Join us in welcoming Callie to our staff. Interested in volunteering? Explore how you can get involved today.
PEORIA
Ben Schick Joins Midwest Food Bank Peoria as Agency Coordinator
Midwest Food Bank is pleased to welcome Ben Schick as the new Agency Coordinator at our Peoria location. Ben began his role on Monday, November 11, 2024, Just in time for our distribution week, stepping in seamlessly to support our mission of serving agency partners and the communities they reach.
Ben's professional background includes experience as a Trade Partner Coordinator at Allied Outdoor Solutions and work as a Spanish Interpreter. These roles have equipped him with strong relational and organizational skills, both of which are critical for his work at Midwest Food Bank.
"I am beyond excited to join the Midwest Food Bank team as Agency Coordinator," says Ben. "I look forward to building relationships and serving alongside such a dedicated team."
In addition to his professional work, Ben and his wife Annabelle, who were married in October 2024, are active in their local community. The couple serves as staff affiliates with CRU, a college ministry, and are involved in their church home, Bethany. In his free time, Ben enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, cooking, hosting friends, and collecting records.
Ben shared that his favorite scripture, 1 Peter 1:3-9, has been a guiding light in his life: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..."
"I've seen this verse play out in my life, says Ben. "I've been born again by the cleansing of Jesus' blood for my sins and am continually being sanctified into the likeness of Christ. This hope shapes how I live and serves as the source of strength for all I do."
"Ben's coordination skills and ability to connect with others are exactly what we need in this role," says Christa Staley, Executive Director of Midwest Food Bank Peoria. "We're excited to have him as part of our team and look forward to the impact he'll have."
Please join us in welcoming Ben to the Midwest Food Bank family!
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