Board of Directors
Susan Taylor
PresidentSusan Taylor has written two locally best selling books about local food, The Guide to Good Eating in Lincoln Land and Central Illinois, and The Guide to Good Eating in St. Louis. She has written more than 650 food stories for the Chicago Tribune and the Dallas Morning News, many of which have been nationally syndicated. In her 20 years as a food writer, Susan has interviewed thousands of people involved in food, including people who grow it, those who bring it to the table, and internationally-known food writers. She believes that food has deep psychological connotations, among which it can bring comfort, the joy of discovery, and a sense of empowerment.
Sarah Mayeda
SecretarySarah Mayeda is a Manager of Program Investments at The Chicago Public Education Fund, a venture philanthropy fund working to support human capital and innovative school management initiatives in Chicago Public Schools. Sarah previously worked as the coordinator of teacher candidates and external partnerships at National Teachers Academy, a professional development school within Chicago Public Schools. Prior to that, she was a middle school teacher in Chicago Public Schools. Sarah and her husband Eric feel strongly about supporting local agriculture and eating seasonal foods, and believe that all children should understand the pleasurable benefits of eating real food. Sarah earned an M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Northwestern University.
Elesa Commerse
TreasurerElesa Commerse is the Founding President of the Illinois non-profit organization, Forever Whole, Inc., and is a nationally known meditation teacher of children and adults. For 20 years, as President of Touch Marketing, she served as a consultant to Fortune 1000 and non-profit organizations in the areas of fundraising, program development and marketing. Elesa is the creator, executive director and producer of Finding Your Way, the comprehensive DVD/CD program for women with breast cancer. Elesa earned a B.S. in Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, from Smith College, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lauren Petersen Edwards
Lauren Petersen Edwards is the principal at Sango LLC, a public relations and marketing company for food artisans and purveyors and all things delicious. Working both with local and national businesses, Lauren has placed features in O The Oprah Magazine, Bon Appetit, Town & Country, Real Simple, Saveur, CNN, TODAY Show, CookingChannel, Wall Street Journal and New York Times, among others, in addition to stories with almost all local Chicago and regional media outlets. Lauren worked as a reporter and production assistant with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom (UK) and in the newsroom of Nashville’s NBC affiliate. Lauren is excited to work with The Good Food Project, and to help give every child the chance to develop a lifelong love of good food and enjoy the benefits of a healthy life. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and studied at Cambridge University in the UK.
Dennis Courtier
EmeritusDennis Courtier is the owner / CEO of Pepin Heights Orchards, Inc., a vertically integrated grower and processor of apples and apple products based in Lake City, Minnesota. Pepin Heights specializes in growing high culinary quality apple varieties. Dennis is a Board Member and Past President of The Minnesota Apple Growers’ Association, and has served on the Public Relations and Education Committees of The US Apple Association. He is a Board Member of the western New York based Premier Marketing Cooperative, and a Past President and past Board Member of The International Fruit Tree Association. Dennis co-founded and is a Board Member of The Next Big Thing, a grower owned variety management cooperative with members spanning five North American time zones. Dennis believes that improving eating quality and increasing young peoples’ exposure are the keys to stimulating consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. When apples taste better than junk food, kids will eat more apples.
Sullivan High School teacher, Shannon McGlynn and her students joined Food Film Festival Director George Motz and Good Food Project Executive Director, Susan Taylor at the 2nd annual Chicago Food Film Festival. The Good Food Project was named host and beneficiary of the only film festival where guests eat what they see on the screen.