Growing Chefs! Ontario: Our Board of Directors

Jordan is a Director in the Risk Management Group at Libro Credit Union since 2013. Prior to joining Libro, Jordan was involved in community economic development projects focused on enhancing local food systems throughout much of Ontario.

Jordan attended the University of Waterloo, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Masters of Applied Environmental Studies. He has since returned to his hometown of London where he enjoys playing baseball, biking and cooking with his family.

Mary retired from the Ivey Business School at Western University in 2021 where she held the position of CFO. Prior to joining Ivey, Mary held senior financial positions for several
organizations in London.

Prior to becoming a CPA, Mary completed the Nutrition and Biochemistry program at the
University of Guelph and spent the early years of her career in nutrition research. With four
family members with Type I diabetes, Mary’s interest in food and nutrition education, and theimpact of making healthy food choices on our health has always played a key role in her
family’s life and the reason for her interest in joining the Growing Chefs board.

Mary has two grown daughters, Natalie, and Kristen. She is an avid runner and enjoys cooking, gardening, cycling, and has recently taken up tennis!

Michael is an Urban Planner with the City of London working to help build a sustainable and equitable city for the future. Prior to joining the City, Michael worked with the Old East Village BIA supporting small businesses, many of which were in the food industry, to open up and grow in the neighbourhood.

Previously, Michael completed a Master of Arts degree in Geography at Western University, including his thesis studying the local supply chains and food networks which connected small food businesses in London to growers, producers, distributors and retailers around South Western Ontario and beyond.

Michael enjoys cooking for his family and tending to his vegetable and fruit garden, being outside biking and walking, and playing board games.

Michael is passionate about food education and volunteering with Growing Chefs! Ontario since food is so important in our communities. Food impacts everything from our personal health, our local economy, to the environment. Cooking and eating also bring together families, friends and new acquaintances to catch up, share a laugh, and get to know one another.

Andrew is a twenty-year veteran of the food service industry; Chef Andrew enjoys the challenges and demands of a service-orientated career. As Stratford Chefs School graduate, his experience in restaurant kitchen’s include hands-on training with distinguished professionals including Jamie Kennedy, Rob Feenie and Norman Apris.

With regards to his extracurricular cooking activities, Andrew and two other Toronto chefs were invited a couple years back to cook at the Ontario Wine Awards in the Distillery District which was a great honour and experience. As well, Andrew has presented several talks on behalf of the O.F.I. on Food Trends and other Kitchen and restaurant issues. He does consulting cooking with a Major food Distribution company in Canada, and has had the pleasure of preparing lunch for the Prime Minister of Canada while on his visit to London.

Andrew believes his style, energy and hospitable demeanour are source of pride. He promises to uphold these characteristics. He works to enjoy a record of excellence with catering to the guests needs and surpassing their dining expectations.

Nicholas is an avid gardener and outdoorsman from London Ontario with diverse experience ranging from archaeology to veterinary care. Achieving a Master of Arts degree in International Development from Queen's University, Nicholas has a background in researching not-for-profit development initiatives.

Nicholas is passionate about promoting food literacy and addressing the difficulties in accessing local food to foster healthier, happier, and more robust communities. Nicholas currently resides in London and can usually be found cooking, tending to his grapes, practicing archery, or preparing for an outdoor adventure.

Caitlin is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Western University alumnus who has worked in corporate finance and public accounting for over 10 years. She has experience in a wide range of industries, including asset management, renewable energy, apparel, and software. She currently provides freelance specialty finance and accounting services to her clients.

Caitlin has a passion for food education, sustainability, and local agriculture. She loves learning about where her food comes from and is always willing to try new cuisines! She regularly takes her two young daughters to visit local food producers and enjoys teaching them about new foods and how to cook.

Brooklyn Einwiller is a dedicated fundraising professional with years of experience in non-profit fundraising. A graduate of Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Justice and Peace Studies, Brooklyn brings a strong commitment to community building and advocacy to her work. Her academic background fuels her passion for creating equitable opportunities and connects seamlessly to her role in fundraising.

Currently, Brooklyn is the Fundraising Manager at SARI Therapeutic Riding, Brooklyn plays a pivotal role in securing resources to sustain and expand programs that support individuals with disabilities. Her expertise in relationship-building and campaign development has been instrumental in advancing SARI’s mission.

Beyond her professional work, Brooklyn has a deep passion for food education, sustainability, and local agriculture. She loves learning about where her food comes from, supporting local farmers and markets, and exploring new cuisines. Whether she’s trying a unique dish or advocating for sustainable practices, Brooklyn brings curiosity and enthusiasm to everything she does. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and cats, diving into a good book, or embarking on exciting adventures.

Andrea is a passionate advocate for children and families and believes in a trauma informed, equitable approach to all interactions. Earning a diploma in Early Childhood Education as well as a bachelors degree in Childhood and Family Relations, Andrea has worked as a child protection worker for the last 19 years and as an adult trainer for the last 5 years.

Andrea is dedicated to ensuring food security for unstably housed families and believes that food education will create a generation of healthier families.

In her spare time Andrea enjoys being a foodie, travelling, spending time with friends and family, reading and doing weekend adventures.

Jenifer runs Blue Skies Marketing, a small company that creates affordable communication plans for clients in the non-profit and business worlds. As a former Shopping Centre Marketing Director, she routinely got in trouble for spending too much time working with her non-profit partners and believes that her experience in the for-profit world gives her insight into how to approach companies for support in a way that delivers a “win-win” instead of the straight donation requests that are so often received.

Stay tuned!

Stay tuned!