Loaves & Fishes Community Services is pleased to announce the appointment of four new board members: Michael Mitchem, Alex Pope, Dr. Amy Stoeffler, and Karen Wells.
Michael Mitchem has been in the food industry all of his career and serves as the general manager of Cargill North America’s Protein Distribution Facility in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, where he oversees a high-performing team. He is a graduate of Kansas State University.
Alex Pope serves as the chief development officer and vice president of Philanthropy & Community Engagement at Rush Copley Medical Center. His nonprofit service and career spans more than 30 years, all in institutional advancement. His career has been spent with regional and national hub-and-spoke organizations, including RUSH, Advocate Health Care, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He leads the planning, process, and implementation of the community health needs assessment and community health improvement plan.
Dr. Amy Stoeffler, an esteemed OB/GYN with more than 30 years of experience, has delivered approximately 10,000 babies. For the past seven years, Dr. Stoeffler has been chairperson the Charitable Fund for Duly, working closely with nonprofits such as Loaves and Fishes. She earned her degree in oceanography from the University of Michigan before joining the Peace Corps. She spent four years in the Philippines working in fisheries and as a volunteer leader, followed by three years in the Peace Corps Chicago office. She pursued a medical career, practicing in both Chicago and Naperville.
Karen S. Wells has successfully held key leadership roles in a Fortune 500 company, multiple C-suite roles in nonprofits, and as an entrepreneur and small business owner. She is the chief operations officer and inclusion officer for Make-A-Wish America. Prior to joining Make-A-Wish America, she served as the CEO of Bridge Communities. She has held various multi-disciplined VP positions at the McDonald’s Corporation, spanning a 20-year career. Based on her passion for philanthropy and inspirational storytelling, and guided by her thought leadership in diversity, equity & inclusion, she founded her consulting boutique, The AIW Group.
“We are honored to welcome these extraordinary individuals to our board of directors,” said Mike Havala, president and CEO of Loaves & Fishes.
“As we continue to build a strong foundation and future for Loaves & Fishes, their diverse professional experiences and perspectives will be invaluable in driving our mission forward.”
—Loaves and Fishes Community Services