Board of Directors
Shawn Burns
Board Chair
Shawn believes all people in the Lexington community should have access to nutritious, delicious food, employment opportunities. Most importantly we need to gather as a ‘Community’ over this bounty of wonderful Central KY food. He brings his skills in large volume food purchasing and operations to the FoodChain board. His work on the board includes generating capital on the Fundraising Committee and providing cash flow and profitability insights to the Financial Committee.
Ouita Michel
Board Member
Since 2001, when Ouita Michel and her husband, Chris, opened the Holly Hill Inn in Midway, Ky., she has made locally grown ingredients a priority in her world-class cuisine. Her restaurants (Holly Hill Inn, Wallace Station, Windy Corner, Smithtown Seafood, and Midway Bakery) have purchased more than $2 million of Kentucky-grown meats, dairy products, fruits and vegetables over the last 16 years. Ouita is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. She is a member of Slow Food USA; Les Dames d’Escoffier; deacon and free community supper programs coordinator for Midway Christian Church. She, Chris and their daughter, Willa, live in Midway. She has been a Board Member since FoodChain was founded in 2011.
Scott Winkler
Board Member
Scott is a Lexington native. He has been married to his wife, Susan, for over 34 years. He is the pastor of Old Union Christian Church in Lexington where he has served for 32 years. He has 2 children, Michael and Anna, and one amazing grandson, Hendrix. Scott truly believes in the work and mission of FoodChain, and has been volunteering here since 2015.
Ryan Foster
Treasurer
Ryan D. Foster is a Vice President/Commercial Lending with Traditional Bank, Inc and a local real estate investor. A graduate of Tates Creek High School and The University of Kentucky, Ryan has spent his entire life in Lexington. Ryan’s passions include U.K sports, camping, kayaking, travel and drafting his first book, Always Pick up a Penny. He joined FoodChain’s board in Fall of 2015.
Shawn Blades
Board Member
Shawn is a Pikeville, KY native that began a banking career in 1996. Shawn has been with BB&T since 2005 and is currently serving as a Market Leader and Small Business Development Officer. Shawn lives in Lexington with her husband – Henry, her son – John, and their four dogs.
Agnes Marrero
Board Member
Agnes Teresa Marrero Rosa was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Growing up in kitchens meant she washed dishes on a stool at the age of five, and graduated to cooking red beans and rice at age seven. She is the Executive Chef at Smithtown Seafood. When asked why she cooks she says simply “Because I am Puerto Rican” and her love of the art shines as big as her smile. “Farm to table, sustainability and ending hunger go hand in hand” she says, and it shows in the work she does. As a FoodChain board member Agnes advocates for food justice as well as volunteers her time towards our efforts.
Bo Milburn
Board Member
Becca Self
Secretary
Becca founded FoodChain in 2011 after a decade working in education, both as a classroom teacher and in the nonprofit sector. She is passionate about food and is committed to ensuring that everyone find access and joy through shared consumption. She served as the Executive Director of FoodChain for 10 years and is excited to work to inspire new ways for sustainable fresh food to be available to everyone in our community. She is a native Lexingtonian, and lives with her husband and two children, who all enjoy cooking and eating together.
Sharon Stone
Board Member
Sharon is a retired FCPS elementary teacher. She was born in Danville but calls Lexington home along with her husband, Terry and two sons, Elijah and Myles.
She serves as the farmer liaison for The Woodhill International Market as well as being one of the many farmers that provide produce to the market.
She acknowledges that food justice work is important and believes that everyone should have the right to access fresh local foods near their homes.
Ka'Sondra L. Brown
Board Member
Ka‘Sondra L. Brown is a native of Stanford KY. She graduated from Lincoln County High School and attended Kentucky State University where she earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Child Development and Family Relations. Ka‘Sondra is very proud of the fact that she is the eighth woman in her family to both attend and graduate from KSU.
Ka‘Sondra is a Certified Target Case Manager throughout the state of Kentucky and a Credential Early Childhood Education Tainer. She is currently working for two Therapeutic Practices in Lexington where she is a Target Case Manager. She is the Governor-elected Commissioner for Serve Kentucky. Besides tending to her commissioner duties, Ka‘Sondra is a parent representative for the Site-Based Decision-Making Council at Julius Marks Elementary School, as well as an active member of the advisory council at The Lexington Traditional Magnet School.