Our Chief Executive Officer

David Emerson joined the East Texas Food Bank in June of 2023. He is the sixth CEO in the 35 year history of ETFB. David has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Midwest Food Bank. Emerson helped to restart operations for the Midwest Food Bank in Texas, increased revenue from $9 million to $25 million and grew the operations from 40 agency partners to 100 in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Emerson also has extensive non-profit experience with the American Red Cross in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Henderson State University in Arkansas and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia International University in South Carolina.

Board of Directors 2025-2026

Michele Bosworth
Health Management Associates

Gregg Davis
Merrill Lynch

Gina DeHoyos
Edward Jones

Kristy Everitt
Henry & Peters, PC

Jenifer French
Director of Operations, Darden Restaurants – The Olive Garden

Leslie Harrison, Past Chair
Attorney, Non-Practicing

Robert Herrera
Operations Manager of Distribution & Transportation, Brookshire Brothers

Jay Jelinek
IT Enabled

Blake Lackey, CPA
Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC

Chevella Layne
Goodwill Industries of East Texas

Moises Leandro
TIAA

Morgan Jones
Brookshire Grocery Company

Jeff W. Johnston
Chick-Fil-A at Broadway Crossing

Jim Noble, Secretary
Community Volunteer

Cathy Schreiber
Community Volunteer

Dr. Valerie Smith, Chair-Elect
University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine

Howard Tagg
Law Office of Howard Tagg

Brian Turner, Treasurer
Southside Bank

Victor Valle
Oncor

Bob Westbrook, Chair
Retired Restaurateur

Dustin Wilkinson
Austin Bank

Lisa Williams
Black Nurses Rock

Ivette Zavarce
Encouragement Media Group