Bios
Freestore Foodbank Bios
Kurt Reiber
President/CEO
Freestore Foodbank, Inc.
Education: BS Finance & Economics, Baldwin-Wallace College, M Business Administration, University of Toledo
With FSFB since 2011
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
I believe that we, the staff, the donors and the volunteers of the Freestore Foodbank, are the “connection” that enables our clients to secure “food” which provides them with “hope”. By helping our clients make this “connection” we help them achieve “self-reliance” during these times in their lives when their need is greatest.
Rick GerweCOO
Education: BA Thomas Moore College, University of Cincinnati Executive Program
Job Duties: Distribution, Agency Relations, Social Services, Cincinnati Cooks, Safety
With FSFB since 2009
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
“It is the essence of our brand. It tells our community what we do and what is important to us. It broadens our message and is a concise way to tell our story.”
Tim WeidnerCFO
Education: MBA
Job Duties: Oversees Finance and Budgets
With FSFB Since: 2001
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
“It means our goal is much more than just putting food in people’s stomach. It is about changing lives.”
Jennifer EbelharVice President of Development
BA, MBA Xavier University
Job Duties: Head of Development Department, fundraising for FSFB, through direct mail, newsletters, e-fundraising, grant writing and special events
With FSFB Since: December 2002
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
“For as long as I have been at FSFB, we have struggled with how to explain and convey the depth and breadth of what we do to help people in need. This motto helps us do that.”
Brian MacConnellVice President of Communications and Strategic Planning
Education: BA Journalism/Political Science
Job Duties: Responsible for building the FSFB brand through marketing communications and strategic planning
With FSFB Since: 2007, after a 25 year career in the advertising agency business
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
“It describes our mission of providing emergency food to customers while working with other issues in their lives to help them stabilize.”
Bernice CooperVice President of Customer Connections
Education: MA
Job Duties: Oversee Customer Connection Center at 112 E. Liberty St. and its programs
With FSFB Since: October 2008
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
“It means that the FSFB distributes food to individuals and organizations to help build relationships with each one respectively. As you build relationships with the individuals or agency, you work with them to help with whatever the reason they needed food for in the first place. We won’t be able to give them hope for the future unless we can help change what their current situation is.”
Brian Weichert
Vice President of Foodbank
BA Purdue, MA Valparaiso, MBA Northwestern Kellogg
Job Duties: Distribution Operations, Agency Services, Programs, Liberty St. Food Room
With FSFB Since: September 2010
What does the Freestore motto, Food-Connection-Hope mean to you?
“Food insecurity is a symptom of the social and economic inequities that exist in our community. Our mission is to help those in need and seeking food assistance out of crisis and into a stable environment.”
