ruth collins.
founder, president.
While talking to an elementary school teacher one day, I learned that there are children in Mesa who come to school on MOnday mornings hungry, having had little to no food to eat on the weekend. As I researched the problem I found it to be a huge problem across all of Arizona. I organized Arizona Brainfood with the mission of giving a bag of food to those children who would otherwise go without on the weekends. I have four children of my own, and a very large “Mother Bear” personality. If there is a child in need, I will do what I can to help. I am proud to be a native Mesa resident, and am happy to give back to the community that I love.
beth coons.
vice president.
Beth understands that children are our community’s most important asset. They need to be nurtured and educated so that Mesa can continue to be a great place to live. That is why she volunteers with AzBrainfood. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Mesa City Planning and Zoning Board; board member of Arizona Family Council and has served as the Immediate Past Chair of First Things First Regional Council. Other prior community involvement includes service as Board Chair of the Mesa United Way and President and Member of the Mesa School Board. A mother of eight and grandmother of twenty-three, Beth and husband Chad have made their home in Mesa the past 35 years.
rhonda frost.
secretary.
ingrid ahlstrom, cpa.
treasurer.
Ingrid was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Texas and New Mexico. As a daughter of educators, Ingrid has long understood the importance of hard work and a good education. Ingrid speaks fluent Spanish and received a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and a Masters Degree in Tax from Brigham Young University. She began her career with KPMG in Phoenix and earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Ingrid now enjoys being a stay-at-
home mom as she and her husband Marc raise their three young children. AzBrainfood opened her eyes to the growing needs of children in Arizona schools. Ingrid is excited to serve in this organization that helps children attain their educational goals by providing nutritious meals.
karen zaharis.
director of operations.
Karen is a mother of 6 children, all of whom have either graduated from or are currently enrolled in the Mesa Public School system. Her love of children and teaching led her to earn her degree from BYU in secondary education mathematics instruction. Teaching opened her eyes to the non-academic struggles many students battle daily. A product of the Mesa Public Schools system herself, Karen is passionate about helping each student maximize his/her educational opportunities.
melissa farnsworth.
volunteer coordinator.
kaci okland.
warehouse director.
holly beus.
school liaison.
Holly was born in raised in Phoenix and graduated from ASU in Elementary Education. She is a single mother of four and presently resides in Mesa. Holly has substituted in the Mesa School district for years and has seen first hand the heart breaking results of students being hungry. When she heard about this great organization she knew she wanted help in any way she could!
kristine kempton.
school liaison.
dr. michael cowan.
board member.
As the superintendent of Arizona’s largest school district, Mike Cowan understands the importance of proper nutrition for each of Mesa Public Schools’ 65,000 students. Healthy meals are foundational to the learning success of students. For that reason, he is honored to support the work of AzBrainfood. As a board member he represents the school system and provides assistance in the important work underway. He also serves the community as the chairman of the Mesa United Way, a board member of the Mesa Foundation for Educational Excellence and a member of the Boy Scouts of America advisory board along with service on several other local, state and national advisory boards. A father of four boys, Mike and his wife, Amy, are delighted to call Mesa home.
joe farnsworth.
board member.
Joe is the President and Board Member of Farnsworth Realty & Management Co. He serves as a Board of Director for Farnsworth Development, Farnsworth Companies and Iveda Solutions. He Served on the Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Board for the City of Mesa. He was appointed by Arizona Speaker of the House education Ad Hoc Committee.
Joe is a Graduate of Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Real Estate Finance. He served as a Full Time Missionary for two years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has actively volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America, Mesa Eastern Little League and La Mesita shelter for families with children.
rep rich crandall.
board member.
Representative Rich Crandall and his wife, Patrice, live in Mesa Arizona and have 7 children. Rep. Crandall grew up in Flagstaff and graduated high school in Safford, Arizona. He received his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Accounting at BYU and his MBA at the University of Notre Dame, graduating Summa Cum Laude and co-Valedictorian.
Representative Crandall currently serves as the President/CFO of Crandall Corporate Dietitians (CCD) and is the President/Founder of CN Resource. CCD is the nation’s largest consulting dietitian firm for nursing homes, assisted living communities and hospitals with over 350 dietitians working in 44 states. CN Resource oversees USDA child nutrition programs on behalf of State Government agencies and has recently contracted with 14 different State Departments of Education. Representative Crandall has been serving the Arizona State Legislature since 2007 and has been the House of Representatives Education Chairman for the last 2 years.
