He/Him

Jorge Neri is a Chicago-based entrepreneur, donor advisor, and public affairs strategist with a record of building businesses and strengthening communities. He is the founder and managing partner of several ventures spanning public affairs, construction, real estate development, and commercial cleaning. With an eye for opportunity, he is also an investor in Mita, a Michelin-starred and 2025 James Beard Award finalist restaurant in Washington, D.C.

A visionary with a passion for meaningful work, Neri is equally committed to giving back. He provides pro bono advising to nonprofits nationwide, particularly those focused on workforce development and immigrant rights, causes that shaped his career, which began as a labor and immigration organizer in Chicago.

In addition to his business and philanthropic work, Neri served in the White House during the Obama administration. He was appointed by Hillary Clinton to the DNC Unity Reform Commission and served as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden’s election and reelection campaigns, as well as an advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign. He also served as Deputy Director of Confirmations on the Biden-Harris Transition Team, overseeing the process for all Senate-confirmed nominees.

Neri is an elected member of the Democratic National Committee and currently serves on the DNC Resolutions Committee. He also advises members of Congress, U.S. senators, and governors on public affairs and community engagement strategies. A trusted strategist, he has advised several high-profile Democratic National Conventions and presidential campaigns.

He/Him

Frank Mahoney has served on Pilot Light’s Board of Directors for 8 years. He first became involved while looking for an organization that had Chicago roots, great people, and a mission that he felt a deep connection to. A friend in the culinary industry suggested Pilot Light and he is humbled by the opportunity to represent the organization.

Professionally, Frank is a Private Wealth Advisor with Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. He and his team are dedicated to providing service to high net worth investors, family offices, entrepreneurs and private foundations. Frank has over 15 years of experience as a financial professional in New York City and Chicago with a focus on alternative investment analysis. A native New Yorker and graduate of Syracuse University, Frank enjoys traveling, baseball, and any dish with a runny egg. He, his wife Taylor, and their young son Theo live in Chicago.

Why do I support Pilot Light? 

Pilot Light is a combination of things that mean a great deal to me – food and education. My mother is a food services employee in the local school district and has been for nearly 40 years. Food has played an important role in my life and I married into a family of educators.

Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #1: Food Connects Us to Each Other

If you want to make a quick friend, offer them a meal. If you want to strike up a conversation, food is generally a safe start. If you want to find out about a place that someone calls home, ask them about the food scene in their city, the groceries stores, what they like to cook or eat. Everyone who tells a story about their family, friends, or relationships will inevitably include food.

A favorite food memory or recipe:

One of my earliest food memories all involve my grandparents’ house in the Bronx, and smelling sauce being cooked on the stove top with meatballs, sausage and lamb shank. I can still smell it.

Implementation Engineer at PAR Technology

He/Him

Justin Large: After spending his youth moving up and down the East Coast, Justin studied at the University of Florida where he double-majored in global business management and economics. While academics brought him to Florida, it was the side jobs he held that would be his calling.

“During my time in college, I worked at several different restaurants in order to make rent. During that period, I became very taken with food, and decided to cook for a living.”

After college, Large made the decision to enroll at the Culinary Institute of America, and the rest, as they say, is history. Following graduation, Large accepted an internship at Paul Kahan’s Blackbird, which evolved into a full-time position.

He worked side-by-side with Kahan creating the dishes that came out of each of One Off Hospitality Group’s restaurants; Avec, Blackbird, Publican, Dove’s Luncheonette, PQM Butcher Shop, Big Star Bucktown, Violet Hour, and NICO Osteria. Moving from Intern to Line Cook to Sous Chef to Chef de Cuisine to One Off’s Director of Culinary Operations, Large spent his time going from restaurant to restaurant fine-tuning their back of the house operations. These operations have won multiple James Beard Awards, and regularly grace the pages of Food & Wine, Bon Appétit and Travel + Leisure. Add to his accolades multiple appearances on Food Network’s Iron Chef and PBS’ No Reservations and his position as a founding member and board member of Pilot Light.

In 2018, Large accepted the role of Vice President of Culinary Operations for Left Coast Food + Juice located in Chicago, IL.

Large is an avid bike enthusiast and enjoys spending time with his wife Molly and their two children.

Associate Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

She/Her

Dr. Kim Kidwell has served on Pilot Light’s Board of Directors since March of 2024. She was first introduced to Pilot Light through a chance connection with Alex DeSorbo-Quinn, the executive director. Realizing their common interest in food education and nutrition, they established a collaboration to expand Pilot Light’s Fellowship program to more cities throughout Illinois. This has evolved into the new Feeding Futures program. 

Dr. Kidwell serves as the Associate Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she assists the Chancellor with the development of high-priority, high-impact, multi-stakeholder initiatives. She provides leadership in pursuing resources and developing new and sustained partnerships with academic institutions, foundations, federal and state agencies, alumni, and the private sector. These collaborations are designed to better position the University to lead scientific discoveries and innovations that will inspire and empower tomorrow’s sustainable food, agriculture, nutrition, and health systems.

Dr. Kidwell previously served as the Dean and the inaugural Robert A. Easter Chair in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is a proud alum of ACES where she earned bachelor’s degrees in both genetics and development and agriculture science. Dr. Kidwell received her master’s and Ph.D. degrees in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She previously held the role of executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University. Dr. Kidwell is a nationally respected scholar and award-winning teacher. She also is an accomplished spring wheat breeder, developing more than 20 wheat varieties for Washington State farmers. Her research led to multiple patented discoveries and addressed genetic aspects of wheat improvement.

Dr. Kidwell’s goals are to improve student learning; drive sound, innovative research; and cultivate external partnerships to improve the lives and livelihoods of people in Illinois and beyond.

Why do I support Pilot Light? 

The best way to create a paradigm shift in society is to educate and connect with young people, and focusing on teachers as a conduit to youth is both brilliant and effective. The trust and respect needed to influence these young people is built into the model. After nearly 30 years of attempting to change food awareness in students and to elevate interest in careers in agriculture with nominal success, Pilot Light’s approach gave me renewed hope. By engaging with teachers and students at an early stage, food experiences become a foundation for expanding knowledge while creating a platform for wellness. My hope is that students exposed to Pilot Light’s “food connects us all” philosophy will become the teachers of generations that came before that struggle with nutrition, as well as role models for future generations around creating healthy relationships with food.

Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #1: Food Connects Us to Each Other

Food connects us to each other’ resonates most with me for two reasons: 1) I have shared many meals with people at places around the globe and can attest to the connecting powers of sharing a meal with others no matter where they are from; and 2) as a wheat breeder, improving the milling and baking quality of flour extracted from grain from the varieties we developed was our primary goal.

To be successful, a variety had to produce a large volume of grain that produced large quantities of flour that was useful for making high quality food products. I refer to this as the ‘seed to soul’ experience. It starts with planting (seed) and transitions to harvesting grain, extracting flour and producing food products, and ends with someone consuming the end-product, which impacts an individual’s health (soul). Those who are fortunate have a good food experience every day, which should never be taken for granted. Food truly does connect us all.

A favorite food memory or recipe:

When I was an undergraduate at University of Illinois, I worked with Dr. John Laughnan, the father of the sweet corn industry in Illinois and across the globe. He was a fabulous teacher and scientist who sparked my interest in plant genetics. I made the connection between improving plants through genetics and enhanced food quality while working in his research program, which inspired my career. He also instilled in me the importance of being a great mentor. To this day I aspire to motivate and guide young people similarly to how he inspired me. He believed in me more than I believed in myself at a very important time in my life. My greatest moments in academia mirror that experience with students I have been privileged to work with. I will be forever grateful for having the opportunity to pass the torch he handed to me on to others.

Chef and Partner, One Off Hospitality; James Beard Award Winner

He/His

Chef and One Off Hospitality partner Paul Kahan has become the nationally recognizable face of Chicago chefs. Passionately seasonal, unconventionally creative, and dedicated to the inspiration of classical cuisine, Kahan has received international acclaim for Blackbird, avec, The Publican, Big Star, Publican Quality Meats, Dove’s Luncheonette, Publican Quality Bread, Publican Tavern O’Hare, Big Star Wrigleyville and Café Cancale. Awarded Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 2013 and Best Chef of the Midwest in 2004, Kahan has earned the praise of many who claim him to be one of America’s most influential working chefs.

In 2018, his cookbook “Cheers to the Publican, Repast and Present: Recipes and Ramblings from an American Beer Hall,” won the IACP award in the “chefs and restaurants” category. His second cookbook, “Cooking for Good Times”, was released in October 2019 and has received national accolades including a nod as a New York Times Best Seller. A Chicagoan through and through, Kahan is known for developing relationships with Midwestern farmers—leaving a permanent mark on his culinary outlook.

A Chicagoan through and through, Kahan grew up around food. His father owned a delicatessen and a smokehouse, and “when I wanted to make a buck,” says Kahan. “I would help my dad take the fish out of the brine, hang them on the racks and wheel them into the smokehouse.”

After a brief post-college stint as a computer scientist, Kahan took a job in the kitchen of Erwin Drechsler’s Metropolis. It was in Dreschler’s kitchen where Kahan realized his true calling. Over the course of 15 years at Metropolis and Erwin, Kahan developed relationships with Midwestern farmers—leaving a permanent mark on his culinary outlook. He further honed his craft at Topolobampo under the tutelage of the award-winning chef Rick Bayless.

In 1999, shortly after Blackbird opened, Food & Wine placed Kahan on their Best New Chefs list, recognizing his highly individual approach to cooking and the talent that Chicago diners have celebrated for years.  Despite accolades and adoration, Kahan’s biggest accomplishment remains his work as a mentor for young chefs. As Kahan puts it, “I have won my awards, what I love is cooking and teaching. If somebody has a great creative vision or a great mind for food, I want to learn from them.” He works to foster empowerment, providing the resources necessary to grow, both as a chef and person.

Kahan is an ardent supporter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for pediatric cancer research, as well as Pilot Light, an organization dedicated to enhancing school children’s perception of food through hands-on education. Paul Kahan is a devoted husband to his wife Mary, an ardent music lover, and a bike aficionado.

Principal, Invested Consulting Firm, Social Worker

She/Her

Ms. Tynisha Jointer LCSW, M.Ed, is a Chicago native and a product of Chicago Public Schools. Ms. Jointer is passionate about educating all children, staff and school leaders in developing a holistic approach to support student achievement. Ms. Jointer brings an array of experience and expertise. In her career, Tynisha Jointer has supported students on the ground working as a school social worker (in both charter and public schools), as a social worker in a behavioral health hospital, and in network and district-level positions at Chicago Public Schools to provide support to students and staff.

Chef and Owner, Lula Café and Marisol; Jean Banchet Award Winner

He/Him

Jason Hammel is the chef and owner of Lula Café in Chicago’s historic Logan Square and Marisol Restaurant at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Hammel is the recipient of the Jean Banchet 2018 Chef of the Year award and a James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes finalist. A twenty-year farm-to-table institution, Lula Cafe has been recognized by Eater’s “Essential 38” and the Michelin Guide. Opened in 1999, Lula is known as a harbinger of the local foods movement and– through its hyper-seasonal menus– an expression of restless, artistic change. 

Hammel is also a founding member of Pilot Light, a not-for-profit, chef-centered organization that is writing a food-based curriculum for Chicago Public Schools. Through his work in education and in the kitchen at Lula, Jason Hammel seeks to bring community, creativity, nourishment, and purpose back to the table around which we all sit.

Attorney, Legislative Policy Specialist

She/Her

Leah Gordon joins the Pilot Light Board after volunteering with the organization for the past seven years. During this time she Co-Chaired the Feed Your Mind Gala three times, including the 2019 Gala which was Pilot Light’s largest fundraising event to date. One of Leah’s favorite Pilot Light memories is watching a demo of Pilot Light lessons at the Disney II Magnet School in 2015.

Leah has spent the past fourteen years as a State Legislative Policy analyst and strategist for the health care industry. Her career began with Abbott Laboratories in their Government Affairs group and after seven years there she transitioned to consulting followed by four years with Sanofi U.S. During her time in the pharmaceutical and bioscience industries Leah worked as a liaison between the state lobbyists and the businesses, helping to write and amend state legislation and regulations while crafting policy and determining the impact of the laws on the company and healthcare industry. Her work touched all points of healthcare from specific disease states such as diabetes and cardiovascular health to patient issues around in-home sharps disposal and prescription access. Leah participated in multiple trade association state policy workgroups and worked on behalf of Sanofi U.S. to help found www.safeneedledisposal.org.

A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Leah Gordon went on to earn her Juris Doctorate at The John Marshall Law School.

Leah and her husband Dan have two children and live in Chicago. Cooking and baking have always been a passion for Leah, and she loves sharing this experience with her family. When not in the kitchen, you can catch her spending time with family and friends, along with enjoying sports, live music, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

She/Her

Chandra Garcia-Kitch is currently a Third Grade classroom teacher at William H Ray School, a Chicago Public School.

She has taught on the south and west sides of Chicago for the last 16 years, working with every grade from Kindergarten through 8th. She has reasons that each grade is her favorite.

Prior to moving to Chicago, Chandra taught in her hometown of Dallas, Texas for four years, which explains her affinity for BBQ, Tex-Mex, and hot weather. In both beautiful cities, she has enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and eating yummy food!

Experienced Healthcare Marketing & Communications Professional

She/Her

As a Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Deborah Fullerton has led brand development and marketing programs at six healthcare organizations across the United States.  She has positioned brands for increased top-of-mind awareness, created memorable taglines and built reputation monitoring programs. Deborah has orchestrated quantitative and qualitative research to guide developing sophisticated, metrics-driven strategies to increase volumes, revenue and engagement. Her early foundation in journalism/public relations prepared her to develop strategic communications programs and managed media relations/crisis communications.

Deborah is a though leader in the healthcare vertical, promoting consumerism/consumer experience and digital access, particularly to drive innovation and patient self-service tools and to empower consumers regarding their health. Deborah contributes regularly to national forums such as the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Marketing Development, the Scottsdale Institute and Healthcare Internet Conference.”

After many years in Chicago, Deborah is currently the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Novant Health, a nearly $9B healthcare system operating 19 hospitals and more than 850 locations (clinics, imaging, urgent care, surgery centers and pharmacies) with more than 7,000 healthcare providers and a 40,000-person workforce in North Carolina and South Carolina. She is responsible for consumer insights and market research, branding, marketing, public relations, social media, internal communications, corporate communications and creative services. Her team focuses on the consumer journey and ways to enhance that journey through digital services and artificial intelligence innovation.

Deborah was previously Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Consumerism at Prisma Health in South Carolina. Prior to that, she oversaw the marketing, communications and community relations team at AMITA Health in Chicago as the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer.  Before that return to Chicago, she developed the marketing communications program at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where she held the roles of Chief Marketing Communications Officer and Associate Vice President of Health Sciences for USC and Senior Associate Dean of the Keck School of Medicine.  Her Chicago career started with her recruitment to Loyola University Health System to build its marketing/communications program, after a successful launch of the first marketing program at Duke University Health System in Durham, NC. She started her healthcare career at Duke in public relations after serving as the features editor at The Courier-Tribune newspaper in Asheboro, NC.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism & Media, Deborah also earned her MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business.

“She has served on the Advisory Board of the UNC-Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism & Media since 2007, participates in the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council and serves on the Board of Directors for the Upcountry History Museum in Greenville, SC. Deborah also served on the Board of Bottomless Closet in Chicago, a nonprofit that was devoted to assisting women to re-enter the workforce. She also previously volunteered with the Chicago Symphony and with the Taproot Foundation in Chicago.

Deborah’s passions for health and children and empowering people through education merge thoughtfully for her Board role with Pilot Light.