As we kick off the year, we are pleased to welcome our 2025 Board of Directors and our 2025 Industry Advisory Board. Please join us in welcoming our national leadership! Welcome to all our 2025 Board Members!
The AHF Board of Directors is made up of 14 industry leaders with diverse backgrounds covering the healthcare and senior dining industries, regions, position types, and more. Our Board also includes members of our Industry Advisory Board. Read below to see how you can apply to run in Board elections and get involved in AHF leadership.
THOM PASTOR
AHF President
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
Director of Food & Nutrition Services
Anchorage, AK
LEISA BRYANT
AHF Past-President
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Director, Food and Nutrition
Houston, TX
NEAL LAVENDER
AHF President-Elect
JPS Health Network
Executive Director of Food and Nutrition Services
Fort Worth, TX
ANGELA O’NEILL
AHF Secretary
Hunterdon Medical Center
Director Nutrition Services
Flemington, NJ
AATUL JAIN
AHF Treasurer
Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Executive Chef
New Brunswick, NJ
ASHLEIGH PEDERSEN
AHF Treasurer Elect
Aegis Living
VP, Culinary Services
Bellevue, WA
ERICA BLOCK
AHF Director At Large
RUSH University Medical Center
Director Food and Nutrition Services
Chicago, IL
JULIE MEDDLES
AHF Director At Large
Ohio State University
Director
Columbus, OH
SIMONE NICOLAS
AHF Director At Large
New York State Office of Mental Health, Kingsboro Psychiatric Center
Nutrition Services Administrator 2
Valley Stream, NY
ANDREW BERGMAN
AHF Director At Large
Director of Food & Nutrition Services
Baptist Health
Paducah, KY
TONI WATKINS
AHF Director At Large
System Food Nutrition & Environmental Services Director
Riverside Health
Newport News, VA
HEATHER FRENCH
IAB Chair
PepsiCo Foodservice
National Sales Director, Healthcare
Anaheim Hills, CA
DANIELLE MASON
IAB Past-Chair
Marra Forni
Director of Consultant Services
St. Petersburg, FL
SHELLY GARNER
IAB Vice-Chair
Ecolab
Assistant Vice President, Southwest Area Manager
Irving, TX
The Path to AHF Board Leadership
AHF board or leadership service is an exciting career step and a great way to give back to the self-operated industry. AHF prides itself on leading the way in self-operated healthcare, senior dining, and hospitality and our Board leaders, volunteers and chapter leaders exemplify that sentiment. AHF is a 501c6 nonprofit and we follow nonprofit industry best practice for board leadership to ensure we provide a diverse set of leaders that are representative, to the best of our ability, of our industries and stakeholders. AHF elections are overseen by the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) which consists of the AHF Immediate Past President (Chair), President, two (2) elected LDC members, and one Board appointed operator member. Additionally, AHF’s IAB Chair and Executive Director serve on the LDC as advisors.
Board Leadership Prerequisites
Joining the AHF board typically first requires participation on an AHF committee for at least 1 year or participation in AHF Chapter leadership. Once you have served as an AHF volunteer, you will be more prepared to serve in a higher-level leadership position. If you are interested in serving on the AHF Board, you can submit yourself during the Leadership “Call for Nominations” which comes out in the 1st quarter of each year. AHF’s Officer positions (President, Treasurer, and Secretary) are slated positions, and typically (but not always) come from existing board members. A slated position means that the Leadership Development Committee determines who will be placed into that position. This helps ensure AHF’s highest leaders have Board experience and understanding of the detailed workings of the Association. The Director At Large and LDC positions are contested elections, enabling the full AHF membership to participate in shaping the composition of the Board and the LDC with the goal of achieving the greatest representation.
Keep an eye out for our 2025 Call For Nominations soon!
