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Rise Against Hunger

Executive Leadership

"Taking action to end global hunger begins in our own hearts and neighborhoods."

- Rick Kearney,

Chief Executive Officer

Rick Kearney

Chief Executive Officer

Rick joined Rise Against Hunger in 2007 and has continued to step into new leadership and expanded role opportunities since then, applying his diverse skills and experiences in banking, teaching, ministry and missions. Beginning as a Community Engagement Manager in Eastern North Carolina, Rick launched Rise Against Hunger’s second meal packaging location and subsequently worked in logistics, distribution, operations and community engagement, as well as serving on our Executive Team.

Rick now leads our mission as CEO, and strongly believes that while passion and purpose may first draw a person to Rise Against Hunger, purpose and fulfillment will sustain them. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UNC Chapel Hill.

"Helping those in need is a big job. It requires contribution from everyone, even accountants."

- Travis Huckaba,

Chief Financial Officer

Travis Huckaba

Chief Financial Officer

Travis joined Rise Against Hunger in 2013 and is a committed ally in the fight against food insecurity. He has worked to maximize the organization’s resources and build a financial foundation for operational success. Travis brings people, financial processes and resources together to achieve the organization’s mission.

Travis holds culinary and management degrees from Johnson and Wales University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He’s a longtime member of the Raleigh chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, and is credentialed as a Certified Management Accountant and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. To go far, let’s go together."

- Edna Ogwangi,

Chief Programs Officer

Edna Ogwangi

Chief Programs Officer

Edna leads Rise Against Hunger’s development around strategic efforts in advancing food security, humanitarian relief response and resilience pathways. She spearheads initiatives for measuring effectiveness, impact and sustainability of all Rise Against Hunger programs globally.

A native of Kenya, Edna has worked in international development for 25+ years in the areas of economic development, food and nutrition security and non-profit management. Edna has contributed to U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Bill and Melinda Gates programs in more than 100 countries. Edna holds a Bachelors in Agricultural Economics and a Masters in International Development and Administration from Andrews University.

“Together, we will strengthen relationships with our supporters and drive lasting change for communities in need."

- Jennifer Sorenson,

Chief Donor Engagement Officer

Jennifer Sorenson, PhD

Chief Donor Engagement Officer

Jennifer leads Rise Against Hunger’s fundraising strategy and implementation, driving progress toward increased impact on global food insecurity through strategic growth in meal donations and fundraising. A seasoned leader with over 15 years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector, Jennifer has a proven track record for leading fundraising teams, cultivating donor relationships and developing regional and national fundraising strategies.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis and a PhD in Nonprofit Organization Management from Capella University.

"Together, we can grow the movement to end hunger."

- Mickey Horner,

Chief Operating Officer

Mickey Horner

Chief Operating Officer

Mickey Horner joined Rise Against Hunger in 2008 to lead community engagement growth in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has since served in many significant business development roles during his tenure. His extensive experience includes global supply chain and operations models, new volunteer and donor programs, pipeline management and forecasting, and revenue growth strategies. He has over 30 years of management experience — including 20 years in nonprofit, and a desire to leverage his expertise to impact global hunger.

Mickey earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; MBA from Wake Forest University; and holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

Rise Against Hunger

Board of Directors

Ralph Jerome

Chair

Venture Partner, The March Group

Mariquita Blumberg

Vice Chair

Blumberg Leadership Consulting, Leadership Consultant

Ratna Mukherjea, Ph.D., Past Chair

Past Chair

Global Leader, R&D, Food Specialties, ICL

Jay Patel, CPA, CHA

Treasurer

Consultant, Abacus Resources

Bryan Stillwagon

Secretary
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Unifi Aviation

Reena Joshi

Board Director
Global Influence Society, Chair, Corporate Council, NY Community Engagement Board

Co-Owner & CEO, MarketSpace Solutions

Ashley LeMaire

Board Member
Sr. Director Global Access Strategy and Pricing, Pfizer Inc.

Cornel Nolte

Board Member
PwC – Managing Partner, Global Advisory – US Technology & Transformation Leader

David Welch, PhD

Board Member

Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, Synthesis Capital

Jennifer Yourkavitch MPH, PhD

Board Member

Epidemiologist, lactation consultant, and global nutrition program leader and researcher

Morgan P. Richardson

Board Member

Chief Executive Officer, Savannah Friedkin Jewelry

David Kinzleman

Board Member
Vice President Domestic and International Line Stations 
United Airlines

Ann Evans

Board Member
Family Foundation

Rise Against Hunger

International Leadership

Brian Nell

Chief Executive Officer

Rise Against Hunger Africa

Dola Mohapatra

Executive Director

Rise Against Hunger India

 

Alberto Albieri

President & CEO

Rise Against Hunger Italia

Jomar Fleras

Executive Director

Rise Against Hunger Philippines

Tiki Keh

President

Rise Against Hunger Malaysia
Rise Against Hunger Singapore

Strength, Stability And Hope

The gift that filled Nelly’s table.

“We were yielding very little, and the crops could not sustain us the whole year,” Nelly remembers. As a mother of seven and a farmer with two decades of experience, the stress of inconsistent yields was all-consuming. A poor harvest not only strained her family financially, but also limited their own meals to just two a day. Their story reflects that of many in their fishing and farming village near a lake in the Karonga district of northern Malawi. Here, heavy rainfall makes conventional farming methods nearly impossible. The entire village is, quite literally, saturated in food insecurity — a reality that leaves families struggling to survive season after season without a dependable source of nourishment.

In 2019, Nelly began participating in Harvesting Prosperity and Resilience, a sustainable agriculture project implemented by Rise Against Hunger in partnership with the Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS). The project works with 3,100 smallholder farmers in Malawi’s Karonga and Mzimba districts to strengthen food and nutrition security by improving production methods, nutrition practices and household income.

Just one year later, Nelly was ready to expand the variety of crops on her farm. What land once only produced maize began to flourish with sesame, cowpeas, rice and groundnuts during the rainy season (summer), as well as maize and vegetables during the dry season (winter). Through climate-smart agriculture training, she learned new techniques like manure making, pit planting and mulching, crop rotation and intercropping. Equipped with these tools, Nelly’s farm began to thrive.

After the 2023–2024 growing season, she sold enough produce to purchase an ox cart. Her harvests in 2024-2025 season yielded over 500 pounds of crops, including 22 bags of groundnuts, seven bags of maize, 12 tins of sesame and three bags of rice. With this surplus, she was able to invest in a motorbike, which she now uses to transport African doughnuts (mandasi) that she cooks and sells — creating yet another source of income for her family.

The transformation reaches far beyond her finances. Nelly now has the stability to provide for her husband and children. “I am able to eat different food types, pay school fees for my children and fulfill the visions that I have made with my family,” she beams. “I am now sleeping peacefully without any fears of food or paying school fees for the children.”

Her leadership has also grown. Today, Nelly serves as a leader in the Harvesting Prosperity and Resilience project, teaching other farmers in her district to adopt climate-resilient, labor-saving practices. By sharing her knowledge, she is multiplying her impact — empowering her neighbors to experience the same transformation she has achieved.

Across Nelly’s community, food and economic security are on the rise. Lombani, a government extension officer for the region, explains, “I can see the community is being transformed in the sense that in the area, there is food, income and nutrition security. Development is also happening at the household level.”

Nelly reflects on what it means to invest in holistic programs that address the root causes of hunger: “We are now healthy people. Children are going to school after eating their breakfast, having high yields and different types of crops due to conservation agriculture practices. With the support from the project, we have food, and we can access other food items from the market after selling our produce.”

This is the gift that fills: a future full of stability, strength and hope. It fills tables with food, families with security and communities with the resources to thrive. It’s an investment in futures rooted in resilience and hope.