2023 Iowa
Hunger Summit

Ambassador Terry E. Branstad

President, World Food Prize

He has had an important connection to food and agriculture throughout his career, including leading the state of Iowa through much of the 1980s Farm Crisis and rebuilding a state economy where agriculture drives many employment sectors. Amb. Branstad has been a champion of the World Food Prize Foundation from its earliest days. He was serving as Governor of Iowa in 1990 when John Ruan, Sr., worked with Dr. Noman Borlaug to move the esteemed World Food Prize to Iowa and establish the foundation.

Amb. Branstad also was an instrumental member of a bipartisan collaboration of Iowa governors, alongside Robert Ray, Tom Vilsack, and Chet Culver, that resulted in the creation of the Iowa Hunger Summit, which gathers leaders and hunger fighters to confront food insecurity issues across the state.
Amb. Branstad holds the record as longest-serving governor in the history of the United States. He held the office of Governor of Iowa from 1983 until 1999, and then again from 2011 until 2017, when he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to China.

During his tenure as the U.S. Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2020, Amb. Branstad’s two greatest accomplishments included the signing of the historic Phase-One Trade Agreement in January 2020 and successfully lobbying the Chinese government to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States. He is a founding partner of the strategic consulting firm Branstad Churchill Group, LLC, and in 2022 was named “Ambassador-in-Residence” at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he received his Juris Doctorate. In addition to his role as president of Des Moines University Medical School, his public service includes election to the office of Lt. Governor and three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He currently is the national co-chair of the capital campaign to modernize the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa.

Born and raised in Leland, Iowa, Amb. Branstad graduated from Forest City High School and received a B.A. degree from the University of Iowa. He and his wife Chris have three adult children and eight grandchildren.

Giselle Bruskewitz

Program Director, Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development

Giselle Bruskewitz is passionate about working in community to shape and strengthen our local food
system in Iowa. As Program Director at Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, Giselle
works with partners across the state who lead value chain coordination, food access, Farm to School,
local farmer viability, advocacy and education. She facilitates Iowa’s Food Hub Manager’s Working
Group, serves as the Chair of the Johnson County Food Policy Council, the Iowa Food System Coalition Steering Committee and Iowa’s Farm to School and Early Care Coalition’s Procurement, and Racial Equity Strategy Teams.

Nate Clark

President, John Deere Foundation

Nate Clark is the Global Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Deere & Company and President of the John Deere Foundation. In his role with the Foundation, Nate serves as its principal operating officer with responsibility for directing $26 million in annual grantmaking to nonprofit organizations and programs that enable people to unlock economic, social, and environmental value in and throughout their lives.

Nate brings to his role over a decade of experience in designing and guiding some of John Deere and the Foundation’s most impactful community development projects around the world. Nate helped launch the Rayuwa project in Nigeria, for which John Deere was selected by Fast Company as the Winner in the Corporate Social Responsibility category of the 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. More recently,
John Deere was named a 2022 and 2023 honoree of The Civic 50, which recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year.

Di Daniels

Co-Director, SALUD-Multicultural Health Coalition

Co-Director of SALUD-Multicultural Health Coalition of Storm Lake.  We have partnered with the
local St. Mark Lutheran Church to create Friend With Food–a monthly grocery delivery to the
temporarily and permanently homebound.

Laura Eberlin

Global Corporate Social Responsibility Lead – Community Engagement & Enrichment, Deere & Company

In 2022, Laura Eberlin was appointed Global Corporate Social Responsibility Lead – Community Engagement & Enrichment for Deere & Company. In this role, Eberlin manages the John Deere Foundation’s global food bank strategy, which delivers nearly $3 million in grants annually to ensure equitable access to food for marginalized families and youth in John Deere home communities.

In her role, Eberlin also counsels John Deere leaders around the globe and manages another $3 million to create innovative community engagement strategies that enrich both its employees’ experiences as well as John Deere’s reputation. Laura brings to her role in John Deere’s Corporate Social Responsibility team over 20 years of diverse experiences within the company, including 5 years of experience in designing and implementing award-winning corporate social responsibility programs.

Kelly Garcia

Director, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Praised for transformative leadership, Kelly Kennedy Garcia serves as the Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Garcia to oversee the state’s social services agency in November 2019. She was unanimously confirmed by the Iowa Senate on February 26, 2020. Later that year, Garcia was asked to serve as interim public
health Director. As a dual director, Garcia led the agency’s pandemic response, while sheparding consolidation to a single health and human services structure. Two years later, Kelly leads Iowa’s largest agency, with a commitment to transparency and accountability. The key to this success is building strong teams, transforming the agency’s business processes and driving home on a human centered strategic vision.

Before moving to the Hawkeye state, Garcia led improvements in organizational structure, program management, and policy development in the great state of Texas, including serving in several executive positions at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Garcia has more than 20 years of experience in program evaluation and budget, planning and policy development. Garcia is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and received her MPA from The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. She was a member of the Governor’s Executive Development Program sponsored by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and has been acknowledged as a distinguished alumnus. She is married to attorney Dan Garcia, and they have two children.

Linda Gorkow

Executive Director, Iowa Food Bank Association

Linda Gorkow is the executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association (IFBA). As executive director of IFBA is coordinates efforts through food banks and their affiliates serving Iowa to alleviate hunger to ensure that sufficient food is accessible to all.

Linda previously served as executive director of the HACAP Food Reservoir in Hiawatha, Iowa and was a member of the Iowa Food Bank Association board of directors several years prior to serving as director of IFBA. Throughout her career Linda has held marketing, and community relations positions for integral non-profits in Eastern Iowa such Mercy Medical Center and Tanager Place (a social service non-profit serving children and families). In addition, Linda has integrated a commitment to help improve the lives of Iowans throughout her career.

Linda served on Governor Kim Reynolds Feeding Iowans Task Force and participates in various statewide partnerships including the Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council.

Kim Guardado

Director, Food Reservoir at Hawkeye Area Community Action Program

Kim Guardado is the Director for the Food Reservoir at Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP). HACAP is a large community action agency in East Central Iowa serving people in poverty to help them be successful and build strong communities. Kim is a registered nurse and has been serving those in poverty for most of her career. In her time with HACAP she served as a leader of health services and is now with the food bank to fight hunger as a condition of poverty. Most recently Kim has
led the development of nutrition services and mental health screening in the food bank and serves as the Chair of the Iowa Food Bank Association. Since Kim began her nursing career she has been focused on serving those in poverty and addressing the whole person. She is driven to connect people with the resources they need to be successful.

Ralph Kelly

Pantry Captain, Davenport Community Food Pantry

Rev Kelly is a longtime Davenport resident. He entered the ministry in 2005. He attended First Baptist Church from 2008-2018 serving in the Hilltop area making significant improvements to the area during that time. While President of P.U.N.C.H. (People Uniting Neighbors and Churches) he was instrumental in placing blessing boxes in three hilltop locations from 2016-2018. His ministry moved to the old Lincon school in 2019. As the Director of Vine Ministry at that location, the mission was to provide bread and sweets along with hygiene products to all of those in need. Also, during this time Community gardens were established in the Hilltop area to provide fresh produce.

Later in 2019, as the Director of Vine Ministry he began the current Community Food Pantry which serves the entire Scott County area. This pantry is located at the J B Young building. The current food pantry is thriving and serves approximately 150 families per week. Reverend Kelly is currently a member of Third Missionary Baptist Church.

Hon. Mike Naig

Secretary of Agriculture, State of Iowa

Mike Naig grew up on a family farm in the northwest corner of the state near Cylinder, Iowa and he continues to be involved in the operation today. Mike is agraduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with degrees in biology and political science. He and his wife Jaime have three boys. Mike was elected as the 15th Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in November 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.As Secretary, he is committed to lead efforts to expand economic opportunities for Iowans and is an advocate on behalf of the hard-working men and women who keep us fed and fueled.

Mark A. Nook

President, University of Northern Iowa

Mark A. Nook began serving as the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa on February 1, 2017. Prior to this appointment, he served as chancellor of Montana State University Billings (MSUB).

Originally from Holstein, Iowa, Nook has committed his Midwest education and values to higher education for many years and on many levels. He is dedicated to ensuring every member of the university community reaches their individual educational, professional and personal life goals.

Prior to serving as the chancellor at MSUB from 2014-2016, Nook was the senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin System from 2011-2014. He also served as provost (2007-09 and 2010-11) and interim chancellor (2009-10) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and in a variety of roles at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn

President Emeritus, World Food Prize

Amb. Quinn assumed the leadership of the World Food Prize Foundation on January 1, 2000, following his retirement from the State Department after a 32 year career in the Foreign Service. Amb. Quinn retired on January 3, 2020 from the Foundation. 

Inspired by the vision of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the founder of the World Food Prize, Ambassador Quinn has endeavored to build this annual $250,000 award into the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.”

Held each October in Des Moines on or around World Food Day (October 16), the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, “Borlaug Dialogue” International Symposium and Global Youth Institute have grown in size and stature under his direction. With the support of the John Ruan family, Ambassador Quinn led the campaign that successfully raised over $30 million to restore the historic Des Moines Public Library and transform it into the World Food Prize Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates.

Zach Schmidt

Deputy Director of Organizing and Faith Engagement, Bread for the World

Zach Schmidt is deputy director of organizing and faith engagement with Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. Based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Zach is responsible for identifying, training and equipping leaders, churches and campus groups in the Midwest to actively engage in advocacy. Zach studied Bible and theology at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) and Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA). He loves being a husband and father of seven children, and in (rare) quiet moments, he enjoys reading and spending time outdoors.

Hans Schnekloth

6th Generation Iowa Farmer

Hans Schnekloth is a 6th generation Iowa corn bean and soy farmer, President of Sunny View Farms, Vice President of Schnekloth Farms, Inc. and Board President of Tapestry Farms.

Sam Schwoeppe

Sr. Manager, Agri Food Engagement, Feeding America

Sam Schwoeppe, is a fourth-generation dairy farmer from southern Indiana and serves as Sr Manager, Agri Food Engagement at Feeding America. Agriculture and community service are part of her family’s history as well as its future. Following her sons’ graduations and return to the family farm, Sam earned her Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Global Pathways Sustainability from Western Kentucky University. With her education in sustainability, her work at Feeding America is a natural progression of her lifetime experience in the agriculture industry and fulfills her personal mission to make a difference in the lives of others by working to end hunger.

Emily Shearer

Food Acquisition Program Manager, Food Bank of Iowa

Emily Shearer has been the Food Acquisition Program Manager for Food Bank of Iowa for 6 years. Her work focuses on special events purchasing, USDA ordering, and food and product sourcing from manufacturers, producers, and wholesalers. She holds a BA in Fashion Merchandising from Iowa State University, but after an internship at Seventeen Magazine in New York, she realized she didn’t have an interest in that industry and now buys food instead of clothes. After graduation and a winding path of various jobs, she started volunteering and working at a local food pantry. It was that eye-opening experience that ignited her passion for helping others and being a part of Food Bank of Iowa’s mission of ending hunger in Iowa. When not at work, Emily enjoys reading, crafting, and hanging out with her 2-year-old buddy Mason.

Felicia Smith-Nalls

Community Relations Manager, Tyson Fresh Meats

Felicia Smith-Nalls is a native of Waterloo and graduate of Wartburg College and the University of Iowa College of Law.  She has in depth experience in HR and diversity and inclusion work providing training and development in leadership, cultural competence, environment assessment and implicit bias.  She serves on a number of community boards and organizations including Cedar Valley's Promise, One Cedar Valley, 24/7 BLAC and Experience Waterloo.  Mrs. Smith-Nalls is the Community Relations Manager for Tyson Fresh Meats, the Artistic Director for the North End Cultural Center. She loves spending time with her husband Kal and 2 children Jaymes and AJ. You can also catch Felicia singing with The Cedar Valley Big Band, HartSmith or the duo Matt and Felicia.

Tammy Stotts

Marketing Specialist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Tammy Stotts is employed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, where she has worked for over 28 years. As a marketing specialist for the Agricultural Diversification and Market Development Bureau, she has witnessed many changes in Iowa agriculture. Her experience includes roles within the Soil and Water Conservation District, Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and IDALS Organic Certification Program. Tammy created the Local Produce and Protein Program in 2020 and currently serves as the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Administrator and the Farm to School Coordinator. Additional roles include overseeing the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and the Local Food for Schools Program and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program for the state of Iowa.

Mark Swanson

Regional Director, Growing Hope Globally

Mark Swanson is a Regional Director for Growing Hope Globally,Growing Hope Globally provides an opportunity for Christians to make a lasting impact on global hunger, linking the grassroots energy and commitment of rural communities in the U.S. with the capability and desire of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Previously he was a pastor serving churches in South Dakota and most recently Washington, where he led a Growing Project with Growing Hope Globally. Mark and his family live in Decorah, Iowa.

Barbara J. Wilson

President, University of Iowa

Dr. Barbara J. Wilson began her term as the 22nd president of the University of Iowa on July 15, 2021. Based on the university’s comprehensive excellence, creativity across the disciplines, and strong sense of community, her leadership priorities are focused on people. In her first two years, the university embarked on a new five-year strategic plan, launched transformative faculty recruitment and retention programs, initiated a new program to support first-generation undergraduate students, significantly expanded mental health and well-being programs and services for students and the entire university community, and developed a ten-year facilities master plan that will improve academic space at the core of campus and modernize the delivery of education and patient care. During her first two years at Iowa, President Wilson and her development team have raised nearly $700 million in gifts and commitments to support student, faculty, and health care initiatives.

President Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and her master’s degree and PhD in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She came to Iowa most recently having served as the executive vice president/vice president for academic affairs of the University of Illinois System. Prior to that, she served as head of the Department of Communication, vice provost for academic affairs, executive vice provost for faculty and academic affairs, Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and interim chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. President Wilson was a member of the Illinois faculty at Urbana-Champaign for 21 years. She was also a professor of communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Louisville.

President Wilson’s research focuses on the social and psychological effects of the media, particularly on youth. She is coauthor or coeditor of four books and over 80 research articles, book chapters, and technical reports. In 2008, she was elected as Fellow of the International Communication Association.

President Wilson is a native of Appleton, Wisconsin. Her spouse, John Lammers, is a retired professor of communication. They have three grown daughters.

Wendy Wintersteen

President, Iowa State University

Dr. Wendy Wintersteen became the 16th president of Iowa State University on Nov. 20, 2017, after a nationwide search, followed by a unanimous vote of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. The first woman to hold the university’s highest office, Dr. Wintersteen has served Iowa State for more than 40 years in several capacities.

Innovate at Iowa State captures Dr. Wintersteen’s vision of a university with boundless opportunities for students and faculty to move their innovative and entrepreneurial ideas forward. The centerpiece is the 146,000 square foot Student Innovation Center, the technology-rich campus hub for students, classes and clubs excited to create marketable solutions, hold pitch-off competitions and envision new businesses. The Start Something Network encompasses the growing portfolio of academic courses in innovation and entrepreneurship offered in every undergraduate college.

Under her leadership, Iowa State has established international prominence in innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education – named the 2023 Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas and ranked #11 out of 300 public and private universities by the prestigious Princeton Review three years in a row. Iowa State also received the 2022 Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, the highest honor presented by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers and the 2021 Model Program Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, noting “Iowa State’s program was expansive in its scale and boldly embraced the challenges of engendering innovation and entrepreneurship across its campus.”