Table of contents
Ruthi Solari
Founder and CEO
Ruthi came up with the idea for SuperFood Drive in January 2009 while at a "Food as Medicine" conference in San Francisco, CA and incorporated SuperFood Drive as a non-profit in June 2009. Ruthi is a Certified Nutritionist through the Natural Healing Institute of Naturopathy in San Diego, CA and is currently completing her training as a Mind-Body Specialist through the Center for Mind Body Medicine. Since March 2007, Ruthi has worked first as a Health Coach in the areas of Weight Management, Tobacco Cessation and Mind-Body skills for individuals nation-wide and currently works as the Project Manager for corporate wellness programs at American Specialty Health, Inc.
Ruthi has traveled extensively though Southeast Asia, India, Kenya, South and Central America, gaining insight and experience into the healthy lifestyle practices of many cultures. Ruthi's interests include yoga, cooking healthy foods, hiking, cycling, rock-climbing and running in the outdoors with her husband and friends.
Favorite SuperFood: Blueberries – packed full of antioxidants and so delicious!
Monique Haan
Director of Community Outreach
Monique has been working in the non-profit sector for the past 5 years, which has led her to discover he passion for nutrition and public health. She is currently living in San Francisco working with CARE, an international NGO focusing on women's empowerment work. Monique is thrilled to be part of the amazing work SuperFood drive will doing to promote healthy living for everyone.
Monique is thriving off the amazing energy in the Bay Area, enjoys yoga, running and discovering healthy new recipes to cook!
Favorite SuperFood: Tomatoes
Laurel Barosh
Director of Community Outreach, San Diego
Laurel Barosh is a graduate student at San Diego State University studying Public Health, focusing on health promotion in impoverished communities. Laurel’s background includes fundraising and development for the UC Irvine Medical Center and has been part of a team of people who raised over $35 million annually to support healthcare research. Laurel has also served on strategic planning committees and implemented community outreach programs for other non-profit organizations in Orange County including the Surfrider Foundation.
Laurel currently works on Project Dulce, a disease management model for the Whittier Institute for Diabetes at Scripps Memorial Hospital. Project Dulce’s mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes through community-based diabetes and nutrition management, education, and support programs. Laurel manages the clinical data and analyzes the health outcomes and progress of its patients. In her current studies at the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health, Laurel collaborates locally and internationally to provide health education to under resourced communities. Laurel is passionate about reaching individuals and families in need to educate them on the importance of healthy eating and how it can contribute to better health outcomes and disease prevention.
Laurel enjoys surfing, hiking, cooking with and drinking wine, and eating fresh, local, and organic foods.
Favorite SuperFood: A fresh-picked berry from her backyard growing up
Sadie Sponsler
Community Health Representative
Sadie Sponsler is a Registered Dietitian with a focus in community health and diabetes prevention and education. Sadie's professional background has been working for food banks and in school districts. For 8 years, Sadie worked in Eugene, Oregon, at FOOD For Lane County Food Bank as the Healthy Futures Coordinator where she taught nutrition and cooking classes to those receiving food boxes. Sadie was also part of a team of community leaders who created the Lane County Food Policy Council in Eugene. The Food Policy Council focuses on policies regarding food security, farm preservation, farm foods to institutions like schools or hospitals.
Sadie is currently working for the Lemon Grove School District organizing a Lemon Grove Community Food Assessment to assess community access to healthy food and to determine the potential of a Lemon Grove community garden and Farmer's Market. Sadie's passionate about organic farming, cooking, soccer, music, and any outdoor activity.
Favorite SuperFood: Fresh-picked homegrown tomato
Maureen Polimadei
Secretary and Food Bank Liaison
Maureen Polimadei is a non-profit professional with more than 10 years experience. She spent six years at the San Diego Food Bank, managing vital relationships with major corporate donors, large-scale volunteer groups, partner charities and other important community groups, as well as individual donors and volunteers. Fundraising activities included grant writing, direct mail, gift acknowledgement, event sponsorship and management of the online food drive. Previous experience includes working with major donors at The Salvation Army and assisting with fund development and community relations at University of San Diego High School.
Maureen currently serves on the Advisory Board of the USD American Humanics and is a former board member of the San Diego Friends of Parks and Recreation Foundation. She is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Jessica Roeckel
Communications Director
Growing up in a health conscious household, Jessica has been aware of the effects of different types of food on the body from a very young age. Good food has always been the focus at family gatherings and she quickly picked up a love for creating dishes with unique flavor combinations with the best ingredients from family members. Being so passionate about the quality of food, Jessica is excited to work with SuperFood Drive to improve the nutrition content of food in food banks across the nation.
With a B.F.A. in Intermedia emphasizing 3D Animation and Video Art from Arizona State University, Jessica applies her visual background to the SuperFood Drive website and digital media communications. The SuperFood Drive website is built on MindTouch 2009 software, where Jessica previously worked as a User Experience Designer. She is currently pursuing a career as a Health and Wellness Coach to help others achieve their goals to live a healthier lifestyle physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys photography, traveling, yoga, hiking, playing piano, and reading almost any non-fiction book that crosses her path.
Favorite SuperFood: Raw almonds – the perfect snack on the go!
Jeff Silva
Graphic Designer and Branding Specialist
Jeff Silva loves the challenge of making sense in the complex world that exists today and the important problems that need to be addressed. He considers himself an insatiable designer when he’s involved with design that really matters; design that touches humanity in any positive direction. He is currently a Senior Designer for Johnson & Johnson’s Global Strategic Design Office based in NYC, the first internal design and strategy group in the one hundred plus years that Johnson & Johnson has existed. He’s responsible for OTC (over-the-counter) brands such as Tylenol, Motrin, Pepcid, and Imodium. His day-to-day job at JNJ involves collaboration between cross functional teams such as marketing, innovation, project management, engineering and R&D. His role involves integrating the value and competitive advantage of design into the business model of the company.
Jeff holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and Packaging from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he also serves as the NYC Art Center Alumni Co-Chair. When he’s not designing, you can find him spending quality time with his two precious kitties Tyler and Munchkin.
Favorite SuperFood: The blueberry – usually on top of a pancake with the help of Claire and her amazing cooking