The 2025-2026 leadership team brings decades of experience in public service, business strategy and community impact to San Diego County’s largest hunger-relief organization.
San Diego, CA (Aug. 25, 2025) – Today, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, San Diego County’s largest independent hunger-relief organization, announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors and five new leaders to its Executive Committee.
Dr. Sonali Fonseca, Vice President of Emerging Business at Elutia, and Cherry Miyake, founder and CEO of CeRise Inc., have joined the Board of Directors, bringing deep expertise in business strategy, product development and operations.
New Executive Committee appointments include:
- Sandy Kerl, Board Chair – Former General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority
- Patrick Day, Vice Chair – Vice President & General Manager, Jordano’s Foodservice
- Kristin Howell, Treasurer – Vice President & Director of Business Development, Meissner Commercial Real Estate Services
- Tashonda Taylor, Secretary – Vice President of Gas Operations, San Diego Gas & Electric
- Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, Emeritus – President & CEO, San Diego Convention Center Corporation
The Food Bank Board of Directors comprises community and business leaders who provide strategic guidance and governance for the organization’s hunger-relief programs. The Food Bank serves an average of 400,000 people per month through a network of more than 450 nonprofit partners, distributing more than 52 million pounds of nutritious food annually.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new board members and executive committee members, whose leadership and passion will help drive our mission forward,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank. “Their diverse expertise and deep commitment to serving our community will strengthen our efforts as we continue to fight hunger throughout San Diego County. We are especially pleased to welcome Sandy Kerl as our new Board Chair. Her decades of public service and ongoing dedication to the Food Bank will help guide us into the future. We are also honored to name Rip Rippetoe Executive Committee member emeritus in recognition of his lasting contributions to our organization and community.”
New Board Members
Dr. Sonali Fonseca
Vice President, Emerging Businesses, Elutia
Dr. Sonali Fonseca is a transformational leader and a visionary growth strategist with proven profit and loss responsibility. She has extensive experience transforming organizations through a range of strategic levers, including merger and acquisition transactions, portfolio optimizations, and international growth initiatives. In her role, she led commercial manufacturing of the world’s first drug-eluting biomatrix, an implanted device designed to reduce patient complications and post-surgical infections. She also recently led the turnaround and subsequent divestiture of Elutia’s Orthobiologics business, bringing in cash proceeds of up to $35 million. Prior to this role, Sonali spearheaded the strategic transformation of Elsevier’s global $500 million Clinical Solutions division. She was instrumental in driving growth and played a crucial role in the acquisition and subsequent integration of an oncology platform business.
Cherry Miyake
Founder & CEO, CeRise Inc.
Cherry Miyake has over 30 years of experience in product development, engineering services, supply chain relocation, sourcing and outsourcing. She has partnered with major Fortune 500 technology companies as well as large municipalities such as Los Angeles and New York. Her expertise spans a diverse range of commodities, including lumber, gas, batteries, water treatment, PPE, cement, air conditioning, pipes, and customized industrial parts and electronic assemblies. Throughout her career, she has consistently provided solutions that meet the needs of both global corporations and local governments.
New Executive Committee Members
Sandy Kerl, Board Chair
Former General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority
Sandra Kerl has served over 40 years in public service, most recently retiring from the San Diego County Water Authority as General Manager. In that role, she led the organization responsible for ensuring water reliability for all of San Diego County and its 3.2 million residents. Prior to working for the Water Authority, she served as the City Manager for the City of La Mesa. In addition to her professional positions, she has served on several boards supporting municipal services locally, statewide and nationally. She has served on the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank since 2019.
Patrick Day, Vice Chair
Vice President and General Manager, Jordano’s Foodservice
Patrick Day began his role as Vice President and General Manager with Jordano’s Foodservice in September 2021, after working with Sysco for 19 years, most recently as a Regional Director of Contract Sales for Southern California. Prior to that, he spent over 25 years working as both a Chef and Executive Chef at multiple restaurants in San Diego, San Francisco and Arizona.
Kristin Howell, Treasurer
Vice President & Director of Business Development, Meissner Commercial Real Estate Services
Kristin Howell has worked in the real estate industry for more than 30 years, managing a wide range of asset types, including Class A office buildings, industrial parks, retail centers, commercial owners’ associations and residential properties. She has been with Meissner Commercial Real Estate Services for 25 years, beginning as a real estate manager, advancing to senior portfolio manager, and since January 2016, serving as Vice President and Director of Business Development. She is involved in several industry and community organizations, including serving on the Food Bank’s Golf Tournament Committee, the Burnham-Moores Center’s Real Estate Committee and BOMA San Diego’s Government Affairs Committee. Howell also serves as President of REstart San Diego, a nonprofit that helps individuals recovering from homelessness and other hardships gain a fresh start through education and career development in real estate.
Tashonda Taylor, Secretary
Vice President of Gas Operations, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
Tashonda Taylor oversees all gas distribution operations as well as execution and construction of capital programs to enhance the safety, reliability and integrity of the gas pipeline system at SDG&E. Taylor began her career at SDG&E more than 20 years ago as an electrical engineer in the engineering rotation program and has held several positions within the company. Taylor has served as Director of Design and Construction Management, Director of Safety, Wellness and Employee Care Services, as well as numerous other leadership roles in project management, construction, operations and engineering.
Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, Board Member Emeritus & Past Board Chair
President & CEO, San Diego Convention Center Corporation
Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe has enjoyed a long and successful career in venue management and operations, including experience in for-profit, nonprofit and governmental organizations. Before assuming his role in San Diego, he was president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board Venues. Throughout his career, Rippetoe has worked for organizations hosting and providing services to top national tradeshows, conventions and major sporting events, including the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 and for large-scale public assembly facilities such as the Las Vegas Convention Center and Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake. In addition, he brings several years of experience working in the performing arts sector. He serves on the boards of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. In support of arts and tourism, he is a steering committee member for the Comic-Con Museum and an advisor for the San Diego Hotel-Motel Association and San Diego Tourism Authority.
Full Board of Directors
In addition to the newly appointed members, the San Diego Food Bank Board of Directors includes:
- Matt Abernethy – Chief Financial Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences
- Bob Bolinger – Partner, CSB Impact Marketing & Media Management
- Courtney Carranza – Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Albertsons Companies
- Stephen P. Cushman – President, Cush Enterprises
- Anjie Frias – Staff Attorney, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
- Scott Heath – Vice President & General Manager, Fox 5 & KUSI
- Nancy Henroid – Business Strategy Leader, Kaiser Permanente
- Jill Irvin – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Bumble Bee Seafoods
- Kerri Verbeke Kapich – Chief Operating Officer, San Diego Tourism Authority
- Mark Kremers – President, Bank of America San Diego
- Cathy Lloyd – Senior Vice President of Sales, iHeartMedia
- Dan Moore – Co-Manager of Commercial & Real Estate Properties, Crown Pacific Group, LLC
- Sathya Narayanaswamy – Vice President, Viasat Inc.
- Jim Nuckols – Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications (Retired), Sharp HealthCare
- James Rossi – Regional Sales Director, youpower
- Gangaram Singh – Dean of the College of Business & Economics, California State University East Bay
- Rick Williams – Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer, Gelson’s Markets
For more information about San Diego Food Bank’s leadership and Board of Directors, visit sandiegofoodbank.org/about/board-of-directors.
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About the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
Established in 1977, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the food safety net for all of San Diego County, providing food to people in need, advocating for the hungry and educating the public about hunger-related issues. Through a combination of programs and robust network of more than 450 local partners, the San Diego Food Bank distributed nearly 53 million pounds of food and supplies in FY 25 to individuals and families through our regional network of services. The organization serves 400,000 people per month in communities throughout San Diego County. Join us online at sandiegofoodbank.org and @sdfoodbank on social media.