Meet our new team members!
Our Fair Food Network team is growing! We asked our newest staff members about a topic near and dear to our hearts (fruits and veggies) and picked their brains on what they’ve been reading, listening to, and watching. Dig in to their answers below.
P.S. Interested in joining the team? See open opportunities.
Erica Christensen Raml
As Director of Technical Assistance & Innovation at the Nutrition Incentive Hub, Erica co-leads the development and delivery of training and technical assistance services for nutrition incentive practitioners across the country. Learn more about Erica.
Favorite fruit or vegetable: Broccoli
Recent great read/listen/watch: The Dave Chang Podcast
Jaye Lopez Van Soest
As Senior Director of Development, Jaye leads a team charged with engaging and inspiring foundations and donors to help advance Fair Food Network’s mission of growing community health and wealth through food.
Favorite fruit or vegetable: Avocados (especially avocados from California or Mexico)
Recent great read/listen/watch: I am not a read one-book-at-a-time kind of girl. I am currently reading Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by Bishop Michael Curry, The Crying Book by Heather Christle, Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser and the sun and her flowers by rupi kaur. I’ve been listening to a lot of Michael Halsall, Sarah Tandy, Michael Wollny. I think I’ve seen about five versions of Tosca online during the pandemic – spoiler alert, it never ends well for her! My favorite version was with Kristine Opolais and Evgeny Nikitin at Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany at Easter in 2017.
Katie Jones
As Executive Assistant, Katie supports Fair Food Network’s Founder & CEO Oran Hesterman and Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer Kate Krauss. She brings over fifteen years of events, marketing and communications, and project management experience to her role.
Favorite fruit or vegetable: Cherries
Recent great read/listen/watch: A few years ago I had gotten into the Crime Junkie podcast and have just recently picked it up again. It’s a bit dark, but I am thoroughly enjoying it!
Kyama Kitavi
As Investment Manager on the impact investment team, Kyama leads lending and investing work for Fair Food Network in Michigan. He works closely with the impact investing team and Michigan Good Food Fund partners to provide financing to Michigan’s good food businesses. Learn more about Kyama.
Favorite fruit or vegetable: Mangos
Recent great read/listen/watch: Conn Iggulden’s Conqueror series about the rise of the Mongol Empire.
Xana Williams
As Business Assistance Manager on the impact investing team, Xana supports good food businesses by managing incoming inquiries, coordinating technical assistance for enterprises pre- and post-investment, managing ongoing relationships with entrepreneur cohorts, and maintaining Fair Food Network’s data platform for reporting.
Favorite fruit or vegetable: Pineapple
Recent great read/listen/watch: The United States vs. Billie Holiday