BOARD
Lisa Bertero Palmer
Board Member
Lisa has more than 25 years of experience as a practitioner in communications strategy development, research, community outreach, public hearings, media relations, and crisis communications, managing numerous complex and long-term public affairs efforts for projects navigating the public permitting process, primarily in California.
After spending most of her career working for a national public affairs firm, she launched her own strategic communications consulting practice in 2016, assisting private, non-profit and public agency clients with communications strategy, message development and stakeholder engagement.
She also serves as a board member of the Los Olivos Community Services District and Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation.
Lisa holds a degree in Political Science from UC San Diego. She lives in Los Olivos, CA with her husband Steve where they raised their three now-young adult sons. In her free time she enjoys running, hiking, family adventures and travel.
David Coryat
Board Member
David Coryat has dedicated his life to serving under-represented populations, focusing on innovative programs that address critical community needs. His work has included collaboration with organizations such as New Beginnings, SB ACT, and City Net, where he has fostered partnerships and supported initiatives to assist vulnerable populations.
David previously served as a board member for Good Samaritan Shelters, where he contributed to the organization’s mission by supporting programs that provide housing and services to individuals experiencing homelessness. His leadership and strategic input were instrumental in advancing key initiatives, including sustainable community food solutions.
Through his efforts, David continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to equity, collaboration, and impactful service for vulnerable populations.
Chuy Vidales
Board Member
With 20 years in the service industry, Chuy Vidales is no stranger to hospitality and events. A level II Certified Sommelier, Chuy started his journey in the hotel business hanging his hat at world class resorts, including The Balboa Bay Club & Resort - Newport Beach California, Turtle Bay Resort - Oahu Hawaii, Queen Kapiolani Hotel - Waikiki, Montage - Kapalua Bay Maui Hawaii and Montage - Laguna Beach California. From General Manager of Restaurants to Director of Food & Beverage, Chuy has had first hand experience creating memorable experiences for guests at the most luxurious locations on the planet. In conjunction to owning and operating Santa Barbara Wine Events, Chuy is also the owner of their subsidiary company Santa Barbara Vacation Stay.
Harold Litwiler
Board Member
Harold is an accomplished administrator who promotes a positive community through leadership and education. After growing up in Baywood Park and Morro Bay, he moved from Monterey, CA back to the Central Coast. Harold studied Organizational Leadership at Simpson University and received a degree in 2007. After graduation, he returned to the child nutrition profession to provide leadership in building and strengthening these programs to excel and offer innovative and unique experiences to children.
In his free time, Harold loves to take photographs and his work has been featured around the world in print and digital media. He also enjoys hiking and traveling with his wife Tania.
He is the current co-chair of the Santa Barbara Wellness Summit and has held several elected positions in the California School Nutrition Association and is currently on the Santa Maria Bonita DARE fundraising committee and Wellness Council.
Greg Kniss
Board Member
Greg recently retired as Chairperson of KROST CPA’s, KBKG tax consulting, and KROST Wealth. He has 40+ years of experience in the financial services industry as a CPA, consulting with individuals and businesses regarding tax and strategic planning.
He spent his entire career with KROST and its related entities. Joining the 10-person firm as a staff out of school in 1982, he moved up through the ranks and became a partner in 1989. In 2001 Greg founded KBKG, a tax consulting startup, introducing specialty tax strategies to the firms clients as well as the general market. In 2009 he became the managing shareholder / CEO of the companies and retained that position until he became Chairperson in 2022. At the time of his retirement, the companies had 350+ employees and office locations around the country, doing work both nationally and internationally.
Over the years Greg has served on several boards, including the Ronald McDonald House, the California Restaurant Association (CRA); Prime Global, the 3rd largest Association of CPA’s in the world; College of the Canyons, a community college in Santa Clarita, CA; KROST CPA’s; KBKG; KROST Wealth, Oak Trail Estates - Water Company; and Oak Trail Estates - HOA.
Greg received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from California Lutheran University, while playing basketball and football at the University. He lives in Santa Ynez with his wife Jennifer and has 2 adult sons, Eric and Michael. Now retired, Greg enjoys maintaining his gentleman’s ranch and vineyard, as well as traveling, golfing, playing pickleball, bocce ball, and wine tasting, among other things with family and friends.
Lonnie Smith, Jr.
Board Member
Lonnie has been involved in work focused on addressing food insecurity and homelessness in the Central Coast region for the past 2 years. As a project engineer for the Balay Ko Foundation, he has collaborated with organizations such as the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County and SLO FLonnie has been involved in work focused on providing assistance to those in need for the past 3 years. As a Rare Disease Specialist at Direct Relief, his work helps provide medical aid to patients internationally who otherwise would not have access to the medication they need. In his previous role as a project engineer for the Balay Ko Foundation, he collaborated with organizations such as the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County and SLO Food Bank on projects working to eliminate food waste, deliver meals to vulnerable populations, and develop mobile food storage solutions that run on renewable energy.
In his free time, Lonnie enjoys camping, hiking, traveling, and learning about climate solutions to help heal the planet.ood Bank on projects working to eliminate food waste, deliver meals to vulnerable populations, and develop mobile food storage solutions that run on renewable energy. Additionally, Lonnie enjoys learning about climate technology and building climate resilience to find solutions to help heal the planet.
Phil Korte
Board Member
I grew up in Southern Illinois near St Louis on a family dairy and poultry farm. In 1977 at the age of 19, I enrolled in DeVry Institute of Technology located in Kansas City. After completing a 2-year technology program, I moved to Santa Barbara in 1979. I took a position with Burroughs Corporation as a computer maintenance technician specializing in data communications and data networking.
About 5 years later, I went to work for ComDesign located in Goleta. It was a new start-up tech company manufacturing data communications equipment. We were acquired by Network Equipment Technology (NET). I transitioned into a sales manager position and relocated to Chicago.
In 1996, I took a position as a Data Products Manager for CIMCO communications located in the Chicago suburbs. The company grew from 20 employees to about 150 employees targeting mid-size companies integrating voice, data, and Internet services.
I always had a strong desire to run my own company and I was ready to move back to California from Chicago. In 2006, I purchased a wholesale commercial bakery, called Edna’s Bakery located in San Luis Obispo. At that time, it grossed $60,000 a month in sales with 2 delivery vans, 140 customer, and 12 employees. I sold the bakery in July of 2022. When I sold the bakery, it was grossing $600,000 a month, had 22 delivery vans, 750 customers and 95 employees.
I live in Arroyo Grande with my wife. I have 2 sons, one in Santa Barbara, and the other in Zurich Switzerland who is married and has 2 daughters. Currently manage my rental properties in Grover Beach and travel to Switzerland annually.
Janessa Van Vechten
Board Member
A Santa Barbara native, Janessa spent the last two years as a Program Manager for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. She ran nutrition education programs for children in local after school programs, food distribution programs for seniors, and resource fairs and food distributions for low income families. She has a background working for international nonprofits such as Kiva (microfinance) in San Francisco and the International Rescue Committee in Oakland. Growing up, Janessa spent many happy times on her grandparents' farm in Sonoma County and has since treasured local farms and the fresh food produced throughout California. Janessa has her BA from UC Berkeley and will start a remote MA program at UPenn in the Fall of 2019.
Santiago Brown
Board Member
Santiago has little experience working with non-profit companies, but does have 20 years of experience working in leadership roles with plant breeding and production companies (mainly ornamentals) in several countries around the world. His responsibilities have ranged from Research Assistant to Managing Director. For the past six years he has been leading the R&D department (Breeding and Product Development) at Ball FloraPlant (a Ball Horticulture Company).
Growing up in Ecuador with a strong community/Catholic background, Santiago has been exposed to many organizations that have centered their objectives in helping underserved communities such as Centro Muchacho Trabajador, Gota de Leche and Madre Teresa de Calcuta (Tumbaco, Ecuador).
Through his education and work Santiago has had the opportunity to travel through many developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This exposure has given him a broad perspective of how the world is functioning (or not functioning). He is committed to give back to the world and help communities in need.
Dreaming about being a physician Santiago studied Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (Boston University), which lead him into a different path to pursue a career in Plant Breeding (Wageningen University) and Business Administration (BU). Today Santiago lives in San Luis Obispo, CA with his wife Michelle and three kids Adrián, Mathias and Nina. You can find Santiago frequently rolling down the nearby hills of SLO on his mountain bike or taking pictures.
Terry Delaney
Founder
Founded Veggie Rescue in 2010. A life long sales & marketing veteran of the seafood industry. Resident of the Santa Ynez Valley for 29 wonderful years with his wife Holly co-founder of Veggie Rescue. Terry's grandparents were farmers in Nebraska and time spent in his grandmother’s garden in Costa Mesa, CA began his love and understanding of food & the soil at a young age.
STAFF
Judy Taggart
Executive Director
Judy grew up in Goleta and has deep affection for serving her community and helping animals. She has an extensive background in program development, project management, and community engagement.
She earned Master of Science degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and was proud to be a member and vice chair of Santa Barbara County Public Health Department: Health Care Centers Board for 9 years.
Through her consultancy Fit Development, she works with entrepreneurs to develop strategy, operations and marketing systems. Prior to this work, she served as chief operating officer at the Santa Barbara Foundation. Her other professional roles include educational administrator at Santa Barbara City College and community health director for the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization.
Eryn Shugart
Development Consultant
Eryn Shugart is a Santa Barbara native who holds a doctoral degree in social psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She has worked in senior administration with human services nonprofit organizations throughout the county for the past 20 years in roles including executive director, senior development director, program director, and director of operations. Eryn also worked for Santa Barbara City College, where she helped to establish a healthy aging associates degree and taught classes in healthy aging and psychology.
Eryn has a grown son and daughter and is happy to again live in the house she grew up in. In her spare time, she loves to spend time in the outdoors hiking and biking, and volunteering for other nonprofits.
Peter Litwiler
Operations Coordinator
Peter Litwiler grew up in Red Bluff, a small town in northern California. He moved south to go to college, and I fell in love with the area and ended up staying. Peter has lived and worked in Santa Barbara County for about 11 years working for a tow truck company, a few wine tasting rooms, and now Veggie Rescue.
During the pandemic, he volunteered at Veggie Rescue. Peter said, “Serving our community during a very difficult time and helping provide people with food has had a profound impact on how I feel about myself and the world around me. The work we do every day fills my heart with love and hopefulness. Working for Veggie Rescue has also opened my eyes to the large amount of food insecurities and food waste.“
In his free time Peter enjoys woodworking, gardening, playing with our small dog peaches and gaming on my computer. Peter is also participating in the Leading for Community Impact program through Leading From Within.
Kevin Kemp
Fleet Manager
Olga Leatherbury
Driver & Admin Support