Governance, Leadership and Operations
The FoodPLUS|Detroit innovation coalition is currently governed, lead and operated by an inaugural board of directors, a distributed leadership team, and four work groups. The Board of Directors, Operations and Portfolio Director, and work group co-chairs make up the distributed leadership team which works collaboratively to co-develop policies, practices, processes, and services. The Operations and Portfolio Director and work group co-chairs lead and manage day-to-day operations.
Inaugural Board of Directors
Our inaugural board was formed to do the work to transition FoodPLUS|Detroit from a set of formation working groups to a legalized coalition. The board has been commissioned to develop our decision making model and practices, as well as select, install and orient an elected board which will provide governance and leadership. The inaugural board officers served in the formation work groups and were nominated by fellow work group participants. Board members also served in the formation work groups and are serving voluntarily on this inaugural board to lend support to formation of the governance body and legal entity.
Inaugural Board Officers
- Kathryn L. Underwood Chair/President
- James Ribbron Secretary
- Khalil Ligon Treasurer
Inaugural Board Members
| NAME | ORGANIZATION | ORGANIZATION TYPE |
| Blair Evans | Incite-Focus | Business (For Profit) |
| Rick Foster | MSU | Knowledge Institution |
| Khalil Ligon Treasurer |
Individual | Community/Societal Org. |
| Kwamena Mensah | Detroit Black Community Food Security Network | Community/Societal Org. (Non-Profit Org) |
| Daryl Pierson | WSU | Knowledge Institution |
| James Reimer | Individual | Community/Societal Org. |
| James Ribbron | Individual | Community/Societal Org. |
| Jay Richardson | Sustainable Water Works | Business (Non-Profit) |
| Kathryn Underwood Chair/President |
City of Detroit | Government |
| Renee V. Wallace | Doers Consulting Alliance | Business (For Profit) |
| Gary Wozniak | RecoveryPark | Community/Societal Org. (Non-Profit Org) |
Shared Leadership Team
The Inaugural Board of Directors, Operations and Portfolio Director, and work group co-chairs make up the shared leadership team.
INAUGURAL BOARD OFFICERS
- Kathryn L. Underwood Chair/President
- James Ribron Secretary
- Khalil Ligon Treasurer
STAFF
- Renee V. Wallace, CEO of Doers Consulting Alliance currently serves as FoodPLUS|Detroit’s Operations and Portfolio Director.
OPERATIONS WORK GROUP LEADERS
Fund Development & Financial Management Work Group
- TBD
- Renee V. Wallace, co-chair – Doers Consulting Alliance
Innovation Services & Support System Work Group
- Kathryn Underwood, co-chair – City of Detroit
- Renee V. Wallace, co-chair – Doers Consulting Alliance
Engagement, Education, Outreach, & Communications Work Group
- Renee V. Wallace, co-chair – Doers Consulting Alliance
- Khalil Login, co-chair – Vista Consulting Group
- Chris Geith, co-chair – MSU
Business Planning & Organization Development Work Group
- James Reimer, co-chair
- Ocie Irons, co-chair – Eden Urban Farms
- Renee V. Wallace, co-chair – Doers Consulting Alliance