CINDY HOUTS
Executive Director
Cindy Houts joined the AFB as Executive Director in June 2015, bringing a decade of nonprofit experience fighting hunger. She has expanded our reach with mobile food distributions to Alameda Housing Authority sites, AUSD schools and homeless outreach programs. She is most proud of transforming the client experience from prepacked Foods to an all choice grocery shopping experience.
Cindy likes to hike, go wine tasting, and travel, sometimes to compete with her dragon boat team, the Alameda Dragonflyers
LUCIA CATALANO
Warehouse Manager
Lucia Catalano first joined the Alameda Food Bank in 2014 as a volunteer, and then in 2015 as staff. Today she serves as our warehouse manager, making sure we’re well stocked and ready for each distribution.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of California, Davis, Lucia worked for a number of startups in finance, sales, and operations roles where she demonstrated her creativity, love of details and problem solving ability. Lucia’s work with the AFB enables her to work with and serve the community in an impactful way.
When not working, she enjoys spending time in the kitchen, finding new ways to utilize ingredients in recipes while singing where no one can hear her.
TEALE HARDEN
Program Manager
Teale joined the Alameda Food Bank in October of 2019 as the Program Manager. She is responsible for ensuring food distributions are executed smoothly and managing the food bank’s nearly 300 volunteers.
Prior to joining the Alameda Food Bank Team, Teale worked for Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association where, among other tasks, she helped manage the Alameda Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays. Teale is excited to strengthen old connections and form new ones within the Alameda community while exploring a new facet of the food system.
She holds a degree in Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems from Montana State University and enjoys hiking and eating her way through the East Bay in her free time.