Meet the Staff…
Ana Parra, Executive Director
Ana Parra stepped in as Executive Director in May 2009. An Upstate resident for most of her life, Parra started her community work as a journalist. As a reporter she wrote about community issues and cultural trends, but felt a pull towards working more hands-on with the community. After working with the Spartanburg Parks Commission on special events, she felt another pull, this time in the direction of healthy living initiatives in the Spartanburg County. Parra is proud to work with an organization that works to eliminate the barriers to healthy eating and is passionate about creating more access to fresh foods for all Spartanburg residents. She’s excited to work on growing the Hub City Farmers’ Markets and to see more residents get their food straight from the garden or from their local farmers.
Jerry Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator (“Veggie Man”)
After retiring from Delphi Corp as an Engineer for 30 years, Jerry Allen began living out his passion for community work and was hired at the former Spartanburg Nutrition Council in 2001 as a Community Outreach Coordinator. He was instrumental at coordinating a Spartanburg Diabetes Coalition, the Spartanburg Food Rescue program, the Schools in Action program and many local community gardens in Spartanburg County neighborhoods and schools. Jerry is a Master Gardener and shares his learned skills in gardening throughout the county.
Nikki Smith, Market Manager
Nikki Smith was raised in Spartanburg County and has just recently moved back to the Upstate after living in Savannah, GA for five years. After college, Nikki began working in Union, SC in a grant funded position. When the grant position was complete, Nikki changed direction in her career and began working with children. She served as director of a local preschool program and then as director for a local after-school program. Nikki has a strong passion for local food and local farms. She and her family make it a priority to eat local as much as possible. Nikki is excited about her work as Market Manager at Hub City Farmers’ Market and hopes to help the markets grow and reach more people each week.
Our hardworking Board of Directors…
Wendy Grogan, Chair
Community Volunteer
Jeremy Wills, Vice Chair
Chiropractor, Abner Creek Chiropractic
Page Rogers, Secretary
Director of Health Education, SC DHEC Region 2
Kristen Welch, Past Chair
Upstate Area Coordinator, Clemson Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program
Samantha Adair
Community Volunteer
Shelly Sinclair
Development Officer, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
Ron Jones
Culinary Specialist, Greenville County Schools
Lenette Sprouse
Marketing Consultant, Tryon Daily Bulletin