BARRY ROSEN, BOARD CHAIRMAN has worked in the arts in New York for over 40 years. Rather simultaneously, 1977 brought him to the founding staff of the New Museum, a book project at ARTnews (The Art World, a 75-Year Treasury of ARTNews, edited by Barbaralee Diamonstein) and a brief internship with John Hanhardt at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Following that, beginning in 1978, work in galleries led him to what has become his professional focus: an intimate engagement with the works of Eva Hesse and Dale Chihuly and commitments to Ida Applebroog and the estates of Allan Kaprow and Dieter Roth.

Despite constant travel, a belief in community, and the importance of sharing knowledge and culture is prime. Working with art institutions as diverse as an alternative space in New York City, an artist’s colony in Massachusetts, an arts education program for elders in Seattle; a glassblowing studio for at-risk youth on the Taos pueblo, and a small art museum in Tacoma, Washington; and now Project EATS, it’s been his good fortune to be of help to others.

HARRIET SANFORD, SECRETARY is the former President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. Harriet led the work of the Foundation from 2005 until 2019. The NEA Foundation’s mission is to advance student achievement by investing in public education. Its programs raise the voice, experience, and expertise of educators in a variety of settings: as individuals, as collaborative teams, and as union leaders. Harriet began her career as a public school classroom teacher, which led to a senior executive career that spans more than 35 years, with 30 years as the President and Chief Executive Officer of nonprofit/public organizations including the Arts and Science Council in Charlotte, NC, and the Fulton County Arts Council in GA. Her career is bound together by an unwavering commitment to strengthening the community by building on the skills, talents, and aspirations of each of its members.
During her 14-year tenure at the NEA Foundation, Harriet transformed the depth and breadth of its programs by investing in educators to improve their instructional practice, so they are better equipped to meet the needs of changing student populations.
Harriet has managed annual budgets of more than $18 million and capital funds of $200 million. A recognized specialist in the field of charitable fundraising, Harriet has led initiatives that have raised more than $80 million to support the mission of various nonprofit organizations. She has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of some 15 nonprofit organizations, having contributed her vision and managerial expertise to institutions including a merger of The National Association of Local Arts Agencies and The American Council for the Arts that created the major arts advocacy organization, Americans for The Arts.
Harriet holds a BA in Education from New England College, an MPA from the University of Connecticut, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education in 2015.
Harriet is taking a gap year to reflect on life, focus on fitness, engage in her favorite past times, be of service in the education, arts, and urban farming worlds and prepare for her third chapter.

KORBIN HEISS, BOARD TREASURER is a Senior Vice President in the Community Lending and Investment group at Wells Fargo where he leads a team responsible for investing in affordable housing communities. The team has financed projects that have created or preserved more than 24,000 units of affordable housing throughout New York City. He has 20 years of experience in community development and housing finance. Korbin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from St Lawrence University.

Korbin lives in Brooklyn with his wife Yvonne and their two young sons and serves on the Parent Association at the Brooklyn Waldorf School. He also keeps bees.

LIZ HOWNG leads the People Agenda for the Office of the CFO at JPMorgan Chase. She is responsible for developing and implementing a global, sustainable program across career development and mobility, employee engagement and communications. Liz focuses on building a collaborative community across the function and making the workplace fun.

Liz is also a Wine Ambassador for the Boisset Collection. Combining her passion for wine with her love of teaching, she makes wine education fun with interactive and engaging events. Liz conducts tastings for small gatherings of guests at dinner parties, for companies as team building activities at their offices, and for large scale industry events and galas. She holds the Advanced Certificate from the London-based Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

Liz graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and lives in New York City with her husband. She is involved in Project Eats through her friendship with Linda Bryant.

NILDA ISIDRO is a trial attorney and partner at Goodwin Procter LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Products Litigation and Counseling, Food and Healthy Living, and Cannabis practices. Nilda focuses on matters involving innovative products/technologies, including Internet of things (IoT), cell-cultured foods, genetically engineered foods, and products containing CBD and other hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Nilda earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University (magna cum laude), and her JD from NYU School of Law. She started her legal career as a Goodwin Diversity Fellow, and now co-chairs the New York chapter of Goodwin’s Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity. She is a 2018 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association. She has been recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot List, New York Law Journal – Rising Stars, Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, and The Legal 500 – Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action.

Nilda has been involved with Project EATS since 2012 and joined the Board of Directors in 2019. She was instantly drawn to Project EATS’ mission of nourishing not only the connection between people and the food they eat but also the connection between individuals and their communities.

JON GILMAN is originally from Seattle and graduated from the California Culinary Academy before moving to New York in 1982 to begin his career as a chef. By 1985 he had launched Taste Caterers, which became one of the most innovative and sought-after catering firms in Manhattan. After 28 successful years, Jon sold the company in 2010 and now devotes his time to his philanthropic efforts.

Jon served on the Board of Directors of God’s Love We Deliver for eleven years and is currently a member of their Board of Trustees as well as a co-chair of the Development Committee which oversees all fundraising events.

Jon joined the board of Project EATS in 2017 where he co-chairs the Finance and
Development Committee. His commitment to Project EATS is just the latest in a life dedicated to service and his particular focus on the nourishing aspects of food, both literally and as a meeting point for bringing people together in meaningful connection.

Jon is an avid cook and gardener. He also loves to spend time with his friends and family, travel, cook, and read. He lives in New York City and Sag Harbor with his husband Brad.

LINDA GOODE BRYANT is Founder and President of Project EATS. An artist and activist, she created Project EATS while making a web series on the impact the 2008 Global Food Crisis was having on families and individuals living on low incomes when spikes in world food prices made it impossible for them to buy food. Linda is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Peabody Award recipient, and Founder/Director of Just Above Midtown, Inc. (JAM), the first gallery to show art by African American and other artists or color in major art districts. She has a BA in painting from Spelman College, completed coursework for an MA in art history from City College of New York, and has an MBA from Columbia University.

Linda believes our ability to use what we have to create what we need - regardless of its form - is art and like food, water and air, it is essential to life.