Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino CEO Resigns

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — After six years of feeding the hungry, Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino CEO, Stephanie Otero is resigning, it was announced Monday.

“While I am sad that my time at FARSB will be coming to an end in the upcoming months, I am so incredibly grateful for the past six years! This role has been more than just a position of leadership but a hands-on opportunity to ensure people have food on the table when they’ve needed it most,” said FARSB CEO Stephanie Otero. “I feel fortunate to have represented a cause dear to my heart and I look forward to assisting our selection committee in search of my successor in the coming months.”

During her tenure, FARSB’s food distribution saw a one million pound per year growth with an emphasis on distributing higher-quality, nutrient-dense items. Otero had successfully re-structured existing programs, increased board engagement, implemented strategic processes to improve food bank efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, launched over seven new food distribution programs, and has provided a foundation for future food bank growth, according to the nonprofit organization.

“Under Stephanie’s leadership, the food bank monumentally grew to better serve our communities facing food insecurity. It has been an honor to witness her committed advocacy and achievements that represented our mission to alleviate hunger in the Inland Empire,” said Jill McCormick, FARSB board chairperson. “As we look to the future, we thank Stephanie for her dedication and wish her the best during her next chapter.”

FARSB’s Board of Directors has developed a selection committee and will invite applicants to apply early February. Interested applicants will need to send a resume and a short cover letter outlining their interest to Joanna Solorio, Human Resources Director, at jsolorio@feedingamericaie.org for consideration.

FARSB provides food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary source of food to over 200 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over two million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, halfway houses, senior centers, residential treatment centers, shelters for the abused, after school programs and group homes. With the help of these charity partners, they make up the largest hunger-relief organization in the Inland Empire, making food security a reality for over 1.2 million people every year, according to FARSB.