The leadership of Food for the Hungry is a dynamic team of passionate individuals who have proven expertise and influence ranging from the academe and the arts to international relations and financial management.

Their exceptional ministry experiences and professional accomplishments are invaluable to effectively implement the organization’s goals, and they share a common passion to humbly serve God and His people.

MEET OUR PRESIDENT & CEO, BENJAMIN K. HOMAN

Benjamin K. Homan
President & Chief Executive Officer
Food for the Hungry, Phoenix, Arizona

In March 2001, Benjamin Homan began as president and chief executive officer of Food for the Hungry, a relief and development organization serving in more than 26 developing countries. In his leadership role, Homan has led assessment teams to Iraq, Afghanistan, tsunami-ravaged Indonesia, Sudan’s Darfur region, and other devastated zones of the world.

Homan is a well-respected advocate for the poor. In June 2006, Homan was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Helping to Enhance the Livelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission, an entity tasked to study U.S. foreign assistance and recommend ways to increase its effectiveness. From 2004-2007, Homan served as president of the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations (AERDO) and also served and chaired on the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA).

More recently, Homan was elected as the Chairman of the Alliance for Food Aid in 2007.

Prior to joining Food for the Hungry, Homan was vice president at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Homan is a graduate of Biola University with a degree in Communication Studies, and also an alumnus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Washington University and Shanghai Normal College where he studied Organizational Communication, International Affairs and the Mandarin language, respectively. In 2005, Homan was awarded an honorary doctorate by Belhaven College.

When not traveling and sharing in the joys and sorrows of some of the world’s poorest families, he enjoys camping with and spending time with his wife and three children.

MEET OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Matt Panos
Vice President, Ministry Partnerships & Resources

As Vice President of Ministry Partnerships & Resources, Matt carries broad responsibilities which include leading the major fund development, child sponsorship, gift-in-kind resources, marketing and general communication efforts for Food for the Hungry.

Before coming to Food for the Hungry, Matt primarily served in the healthcare industry, working for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Orange, CA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in New York, NY, and Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems in Phoenix, AZ.

Matt received his MBA from California Coast University. He attended North Carolina State University where he studied Business Communications and Wildlife/Conservation. Matt was a scholarship athlete on the golf team at North Carolina State in the mid - 70's.

David Evans
Vice President, Government Resources & Programs

David Evans is Vice President of Government and Gifts-In-Kind Resources, and he directs Food for the Hungry’s Washington D.C. office. He oversees Food for the Hungry’s portfolio of U.S. Government-funded programs,including food and agriculture, health and nutrition, HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, education, and emergency relief. He has more than 20 years of relief and development program and training experience in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. During that period, he worked 10 years in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Bolivia.

His educational background includes an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Pennsylvania State University and a B.A. in International Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is fluent in French and Spanish.

Gary St. John
Vice President, Ministry Support Services, CFO

As CFO of Food for the Hungry’s U.S. and international operations, Gary oversees the ministry’s support services, which includes finances, administrative services and facilities management.

Prior to joining Food for the Hungry, Gary worked for more than 20 years in financial management positions. He also taught on the college level, including a class on Government/Non-Profit Accounting.

Gary’s educational background includes a B.S. in Business Administration from Drake University, and an M.A. in Biblical Leadership from Phoenix Seminary.

 

Marc Kyle
Vice President, Mobilization

As Vice President of Mobilization of Food for the Hungry, Marc is overseeing new ministry opportunities in the U.S. and overseas. His recent challenges include Food for the Hungry’s accredited semester abroad Go ED. program, the U.S. (campus, internship, and Hispanic ministries) and China (Chengdu academic program).

Before joining Food for the Hungry in 2003, Marc and his wife Beth served seven years in the Philippines with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They also served 13 years on the leadership team of Mission to the World in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Alisa Schmitz
Senior Director, Advocates and Team Ministry

As Senior Director of Advocates and Team Minstry, Alisa builds relationships between U.S. churches and FH communities through short-term teams and C2C (U.S. community/church to field community) relationships, as well as develops a network of high impact volunteers (Advocates) across the U.S. that are trained to speak on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged.

After graduating from Cornell University, Alisa received her master's degree in International Relations concentrating on economics and Third World development. Other educational training includes a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and a Master’s of Divinity at Phoenix Seminary.

Alisa has traveled extensively. She lived in Germany for a year, and worked six months in Austria at the Federal Economic Chamber.

Bonnie Chavez
Chief Sponsorship Officer
Director, Child Sponsorship

As Chief Sponsorship Officer, Bonnie Chavez walks alongside people in the U.S. as they answer God’s call to develop relationships with families in developing countries by sponsoring a needy child. Food for the Hungry has child development programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Bonnie holds a bachelor’s degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. She brought considerable analytic skills to Food for the Hungry, which she developed while working for several years as an analyst in the airline industry. She has also expressed her passion for helping children as an advocate for children in the foster care system.

Bo White
Chief Messaging Officer
Director, Intern Program

Bo White has dedicated his career to walking alongside young people as they realize God’s plan for their lives. In his role as director of Food for the Hungry’s intern program, he helps students hear—and answer—God’s unique call for them to end physical and spiritual hungers worldwide.

As chief messaging officer, Bo leads the organizational efforts to align messages communicated to audiences, to maximize Food for the Hungry’s ongoing work in advocating for the poor and educating U.S. audiences on poverty issues.

Before joining Food for the Hungry in 2005, Bo served as Assistant Pastor and Director of Youth Ministry at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in suburban St. Louis, MO and Westminister Presbyterian Church in suburban Chicago, IL. He holds a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis).

Loren Kutsko
Director of Strategy and Information Management

As Director of Strategy and Information Management, Loren Kutsko walks alongside staff at all levels to steward the resources God has given Food for the Hungry. Loren facilitates development and execution of an organization wide long-range strategy, clear staff objectives and measures of success. He leads the Information Technology team to leverage technology for the most effective and efficient impact possible.

Before coming to Food for the Hungry in 2004, he and his wife moved from Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona to help establish a new local church where they continue to serve. Loren graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Informatics.

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marty Martin (Chair)
Englewood, CO
Senior Pastor

Shelle Ensio (Vice Chair)
Tucson, AZ
Engineer

John Rowell (Treasurer)
Atlanta, GA
Senior Pastor

Howard Berg (Secretary)
Phoenix, AZ
Consultant

Carolyn Wheeler
Nicholasville, KY
Realtor

Dr. Jeanne Dassow, M.D.
Lexington, KY
Physician