Chief Executive Officer:

Eva Matthews, MPH (she/her)

Eva has dedicated her career to caring for and advancing community health. She brings over 25 years of public health, non-profit development, and research experience to Mama’s Kitchen. Prior to joining Mama’s Kitchen, Eva served as Director of Grants Management at one of the country’s largest federally qualified health centers (FQHC), Family Health Centers of San Diego. During this time, she also supported the establishment of an embedded research unit – the Laura Rodriguez Research Institute and served as its Executive Director. Eva draws upon her prior experience and training in public health and medical research within academic settings at Yale University and the University of Arizona, with a special focus on community support for positive health behavior change. Eva’s earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and her Master of Public Health at the University of Arizona. She also currently serves as a member of the San Diego State University School of Public Health Advisory Board. In Eva’s role as CEO, she builds and leverages key community, governmental, university, health plan, foundation, and donor partnerships to support the mission of Mama’s Kitchen, and drive our vision for the future.

Director of Client Services:

Noemi Huerta (she/her)

With over six years of program management experience, Noemi Huerta leads the logistics of Mama’s Kitchen’s Medically Tailored Meal Service. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Science-Communications from San Diego State University. Noemi is passionate about serving her community here in San Diego. She loves being able to help and be a part of an organization that provides nutritious meals and education as a way of showing support and love to individuals.

Director of Volunteer Engagement:

Marie Landeros (she/they)

With over a decade of administrative experience, Marie Landeros oversees Mama’s Kitchen’s volunteer network of over 1200 active volunteers, supporting the work of all departments as volunteers are central to our work. They joined Mama’s Kitchen as an Executive Assistant and immediately fell in love with the “food is medicine” mission. Marie is a native San Diegan and holds a B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Redlands.

Chief of Food Service Operations:

Jason Martini (he/him)

With over 20 years of experience as an executive chef spanning across non-profits, multi-outlet hotels, and a high-volume catering company, Jason oversees Mama’s Kitchen’s kitchen operations all the way from planning and ordering ingredients, to the very second a client receives their meals. He holds a BS in Human Nutrition and Public Health and has obtained a classical culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale. In a previous role as a corporate chef, he specialized in supply chain management and sourcing organic/sustainable ingredients for food service operations. Jason also previously operated his own personal chef business, focusing on fresh, local, healthful choices.

Chief Programs Officer:

Chris Nolan (she/her)

Chris Nolan has over nine years of experience implementing and coordinating programs for underserved communities in San Diego, USA, and throughout México. Chris holds a master’s degree in Peace and Justice from the University of San Diego as well as a Communications degree from Universidad Iberoamericana. Chris joined Mama’s Kitchen in 2020 and currently is the Chief Programs Officer.

Chief Development Officer:

Jenna Novotny (she/her)

jenna@mamaskitchen.org

With over 10 years of experience in nonprofit development and marketing, Jenna has previously led development for nonprofits including San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum and Challenged Athletes Foundation. Jenna oversees development initiatives including annual giving campaigns, institutional giving, the Bread & Butter Club, and fundraising events.

Chief Financial Officer:

Kelly Sherlock (she/her)

With over 25 years of experience, Kelly oversees the financial, human resource, and IT functions of the organization. She joined Mama’s Kitchen in 2005 as a volunteer and as a staff member in 2013. Kelly holds a Master of Arts in Non-Profit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego and has served on the board of Climate Action Campaign since 2020.

Director of Nutrition Services:

Lexi Striler (she/her)

As a Registered Dietitian, Lexi oversees the Nutrition Department to ensure clients are receiving medically appropriate meals following the most up-do-date nutrition guidelines. Prior to her work at Mama’s Kitchen, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Nutrition at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA and completed her Dietetic Internship at Simmons University in Boston, MA.

Staff Roster

Verena Aguilar (she/her), Bilingual Client Services Coordinator
Shane Algarin (he/him), Delivery Driver
Paul Barnard, Donor Database Administrator
Robert Bartolo (he/him), Delivery Driver
Stephanie Boyd (she/her), Senior Registered Dietitian
Vanessa Bravo (she/her), Delivery Driver
Efrain Cortes-Arce (he/him), Cook & Dishwasher
JD Damon (he/him), Operations and Facilities Coordinator
Pamela De Leon (she/her), Bilingual Community Outreach Coordinator
Tim Dominic (he/him), Client Services Coordinator
Silvia Dominguez (she/her), Marketing and Special Events Manager
Minerva Esparza (she/her), Bilingual Client Services Coordinator
Julia Fordham (she/her), Grants & Institutional Giving Manager
Daniel Gold (he/him), Delivery Driver
Joanna Gonzalez (she/her), Bilingual Client Services Coordinator
Paola Henao (she/her), Bilingual Client Services Coordinator
Noemi Huerta (she/her), Director of Client Services
Alejandro Ibarra (he/him), Delivery Driver
Bonnie Jablonski (she/her), Executive Assistant
Marie Landeros (she/they), Director of Volunteer Engagement
Maggie Lengyel (she/her), Donor Stewardship and Government Relations Manager
Faye Levy (she/her), Human Resources Manager
Jason Martini (he/him), Chief of Food Service Operations
Eva Matthews, MPH (she/her), Chief Executive Officer
Brady McCollom (he/him), Marketing & Events Coordinator
Taneia McZeal Crawford (she/her), Delivery Driver
Tanya Morales (she/her), Bilingual Registered Dietitian
Jonathan Moreno (he/him), Sous Chef
Chris Nolan (she/her), Chief Programs Officer
Jenna Novotny (she/her), Chief Development Officer
Jon Potter (he/him), Delivery Driver
Frank Pulido (he/him), Delivery Driver
Lorenzo Ricardo (he/him), Cook and Dishwasher
Michael Searfoss (he/him), Community Support Coordinator
Kelly Sherlock (she/her), Chief Financial Officer
DeAndre Simmons (he/him), Operations and Staging Specialist
Cheryl Sonstein (she/her), Delivery Driver
Lexi Striler (she/her), Director of Nutrition Services
Vincent Thai (he/him), Delivery Coordinator
Thalia Thomas (she/her), Delivery Driver
Rene Uribe (he/him), Cook and Dishwasher
Luke Vaughn (they/them), Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Ben Ward (he/him), Delivery Driver
Jimmy Whittenburge (he/him), Staff Accountant