Board and Advisors

Daniel Capra is Partner and Executive Chef of Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, where for the past 22 years he and his team of chefs have been creating culinary experiences on par with the highest standards of fine dining restaurants. A native Virginian, Daniel spent time mastering his craft in Virginia Beach, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, before landing in the Bay Area. He oversees the company’s organic garden in St. Helena, incorporating produce from the garden in his seasonal menus, and works with his staff to maintain and develop environmental and sustainable kitchen practices. He has partnered with Foodwise for over a decade, as a participating chef at both Foodwise Summer Bash and Sunday Supper, as well as hosting cooking demos at Foodwise farmers markets.

Marty Cepkauskas is the Senior Director of Real Estate for the Western Properties Division of the Hearst Corporation. He is responsible for the real estate management of Hearst’s sustainable agricultural properties in California and commercial buildings in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Marty completed one of the largest agricultural conservation transactions in California with the American Land Conservancy for preserving the historic 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch at San Simeon, which received the Governor’s Environmental Award in 2006. He was also involved with the startup of the Hearst Ranch grass-fed, all-natural beef program and Hearst Ranch Wines. Marty earned a MBA from Saint Mary’s College, a MS in Construction Management from UC Berkeley, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Union College. He has worked in San Francisco since 1991, and currently lives in San Francisco with his wife, Allison.

Jamie Chan worked for 14 years at San Francisco State University (SFSU) where she served as Operations Director for the Center for Science and Math Education. Jamie received a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration, M.S. in systematic biology in partnership at the California Academy of Sciences and B.S. in zoology from SFSU. Her current research is focused on integrating STEM teaching, anti-racist organizational practices, and climate/food justice. As a Master Gardener, she co-founded a food security project in SF called Sisterhood Gardens and is co-owner of Fog City Gardener, a garden education firm. Jamie is passionate about gardens as places for education and social activism. Currently she serves as director of programs and partnerships at The Gardens of Golden Gate Park and adjunct professor in teacher education at SFSU. She believes public gardens tell a story about the rich biological and cultural stories of our communities and sees the potential gardens hold to shape mankind for a more sustainable future. She lives in SF with her partner and two children.

An early starter in the hospitality industry, Joel worked in his family business running a luxury timeshare resort in Lake Tahoe while still in High School.  Prior to graduating from the University of California Berkeley, a summer job at a campus hotel solidified his career path. Currently representing 1 Hotel San Francisco and the Treehouse Hotel Sunnyvale, Joel is proud to be a part of the team to further the sustainability mission of SH Hotels and Resorts in the Bay Area. Giving back to the industry has been a focus of his since 2008 when he was added to the faculty roster at San Francisco State University’s School of Business teaching in the Hospitality Management Department. In his spare time, Joel is found on his small 3-acre farm in Lake County raising chickens and goats and bringing heirloom vegetables to the farmer’s market in Lake County. He is thrilled to be a part of Foodwise to continue their efforts to support farmers and to nourish the community.

Aomboon Deasy is the General Manager/Proprietor of K&J Orchards, a family-owned farm founded in 1982 and located in California’s Central Valley. One of K&J’s first customers was The French Laundry. Today, K&J partners with over 150 restaurants in the Bay Area, working directly with chefs and owners. Aomboon also consults in manufacturing and operations across multiple industries (e.g., apparel, food, hard goods, and CPG). She also regularly participates on panels in the agriculture and horticulture industry. Born in Bangkok, Aomboon was raised in Sacramento. She received her Master’s in Project Management from USF. In her spare time, Aomboon loves cooking, photography, and enjoying local cuisine.

Andrew Freeman is president of Andrew Freeman & Co., an innovative restaurant and hospitality consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco that offers marketing, public relations, and creative services to clients across the country. Prior to opening AF&Co, Andrew was Vice President of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. A dedicated philanthropist, Andrew sits on the boards of Foodwise, Dress for Success San Francisco, and The Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation. He is a former board member of Meals on Wheels San Francisco, the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Anti-Defamation League, and was an advisor for the American Airlines LGBT committee. In 2016 and 2017, AF&Co. was named by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Top 50 LGBT-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area. Andrew is a contributor to numerous industry magazines and blogs and guest speaker at industry conferences. He resides in San Francisco with his gorgeous yorkies Tulip and Daisy.

Marie Trimble Holvick is the Assistant Managing Partner of the Bay Area Offices of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP. Marie specializes in employment law. She counsels employers on employment and human resources issues, conducts sexual harassment trainings, prepares employee handbooks, and presents on “best practices” for employers. Marie also defends employers in high-stakes litigation, including claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, wage-related claims, ADA access claims, and Labor Code 132a claims. Marie is passionate about food and wine.  She uses this passion to help defend restaurants and agricultural clients in employment-related litigation. Marie is a regular shopper at Foodwise’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Nkechi Ihuegbu is the Global Anti-bribery Compliance Lead and Corporate Counsel at Google. In her role, she is responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring Alphabet’s global anti-bribery compliance program and strategy. Nkechi is an investor in Yellow Moto Pizzeria in San Francisco, a restaurant that is dedicated to supporting farmers and sources ingredients from local farmers markets. She is of Nigerian origin, and was raised in a family where food was a means of creating, cultivating, and maintaining community. In her spare time, Nkechi enjoys traveling, hosting dinner parties, experimenting with new recipes, and collecting vintage vinyl records. Her two favorite dishes to cook are spinach lasagna and Thai shrimp coconut curry with steamed or grilled veggies. Nkechi is fluent in French, and received her undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, and her JD from Howard University School of Law.

Nafis Jamal grew up in suburban Louisiana and was raised on Bangladeshi food and the occasional crawfish boil. He studied physics and electrical engineering at Stanford University, and later went to culinary school in New York. He has been Co-Founder/CTO at Mopub, Director of Engineering at Twitter, and Director of Product at Lime. Nafis is in the early stages of a restaurant concept bringing together his French culinary arts training, penchant for great local ingredients, Bangladeshi heritage, and Louisiana upbringing. 

Farmers market enthusiast and avid cook Danian Peo has been a lover of fresh produce since his South African childhood. He has lived in San Francisco for the past 30 years and has his MSc in Financial Analysis from the University of San Francisco. He joined the Foodwise board to lend his financial expertise. When he is not searching for the perfect peach or the most delicious mulberries at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, he is helping clients in the Bay Area and beyond realize their financial goals through his financial advisory practice.

Kelli Pirtle is a product leader with a passion for bridging communities and technology to drive positive social impact. As the Head of Product for Giving at PayPal, she serves donors, charities, and partners in their collective mission to advance social progress through powering charitable giving. She is a life-long learner and received a joint master’s degree in business administration and public policy degree from the University of Chicago, along with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College. Originally from metropolitan Detroit, Kelli now calls San Francisco home. In her leisure time, Kelli enjoys balancing farmers market visits with winery tours, and enjoying the best of California weather.

Aaron Tidman is Global Compliance Counsel for Pinterest, where he is responsible for growing a strong ethical culture, providing legal advice and strategic support, and partnering with a wide range of cross-functional teams to coordinate and implement compliance initiatives. Aaron is deeply passionate about the hospitality industry and sustainable agriculture, and is currently an investor in two Bay Area restaurants that are committed to sustainable food practices and shopping at the Foodwise farmers markets. Aaron’s also passionate about pro bono work, public service, and fighting for LGBTQ rights and women’s rights. He’s originally from Washington, DC, and moved to San Francisco in 2015 with his husband Christopher and their fat orange tabby cat. In his free time, Aaron enjoys eating out and trying new restaurants, shopping the farmers market and cooking, making his own cocktail bitters at home, reading fantasy novels, and traveling the world. Aaron earned a BA in History and Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from Syracuse University College of Law. 

Dilan Urun is the Managing Partner of Les Partenaires Ottomans, a real estate development consultancy firm. She has over 20 years of industry experience. She helps real estate developers, sales & marketing companies, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and high-net worth individuals invest and grow their portfolios and projects. She is also an expert in fundraising, sales, and marketing in new construction developments. Dilan is in the leadership circle of Commonwealth Club of California, is a leader with SPUR, and a member of ULI, World Affairs Council of Northern California, and Global Real Estate Institute. She earned a BA in English Literature from Ege University in Turkey and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Golden Gate University. She speaks Turkish and English. She has been living in San Francisco for the past 23 years and enjoys travelling around the world, reading non-fiction, cooking, watching spy movies, and supporting startup companies in the tech industry as an angel investor.

Toyia Wortham is Executive Assistant to the Vice President/General Manager of the Western Properties Division of the Hearst Corporation. A special events project manager for almost 30 years, Toyia pairs that career with her 30+ years as a Singing Wedding Coordinator. Born and raised in San Francisco, she has been around farmers markets all her life. Growing up in San Francisco’s Cole Valley District, Toyia graduated from Lowell High School and went on to graduate from San Francisco State University earning her B.A. in Broadcast Communications Arts (BCA), where she coordinated the 1st BCA Dept. graduation and reception. She also minored in Music and has sung the National Anthem for Mayors, Governors and at various sporting events including a Giants/Dodgers Game. Toyia enjoys frequenting farmers markets whether she’s shopping for produce and local wares or performing on a farmers market stage. She loves cooking Paleo-Friendly meals for herself, friends, and family.