David Emerson
Chief Executive Officer

David joined the East Texas Food Bank in June of 2023. He is the sixth CEO in the 35 year history of ETFB. David has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Midwest Food Bank. Emerson helped to restart operations for the Midwest Food Bank in Texas, increased revenue from $9 million to $25 million and grew the operations from 40 agency partners to 100 in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Emerson also has extensive non-profit experience with the American Red Cross in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Henderson State University in Arkansas and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia International University in South Carolina.
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Andrew Ayo
Chief Operating Officer

Andrew joined the East Texas Food Bank as Operations Director in June 2015 after 13 years in both Sales and Operations at Frito Lay. During his time at Frito Lay, Andrew served the East Texas and Tulsa areas while gaining valuable experience in team building, change management, customer/vendor relationships, multi-facility management, and budgetary/financial planning. In 2013, Andrew was the recipient of the national sales Ring of Honor award. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. Andrew has spent most of his life in the East Texas area and currently resides in Tyler. He is very committed and proud of being part of an organization that serves the community in which he calls home
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Stacey Wood
Chief Financial Officer

Stacey joined the East Texas Food Bank as CFO in August of 2024 bringing with her over 20 years of leadership experience in finance and operations.  She brings a collaborative approach to non-profit finance strategies, emphasizing efficient methods for financial oversight.   Stacey is passionate about serving the community and preserving the integrity of donor funding.  Earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri in sociology, Stacey successfully passed the CPA exam, meshing compassion with logic.
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Tim Butler
Chief Development Officer

Tim joined the East Texas Food Bank in August 2012 as the Volunteer Coordinator, coming from a management position at FRESH by Brookshire’s. He also served as manager in the Child Hunger Programs Department, and became the Chief Impact Officer in 2017.
From an early age, Tim has been involved in missions across the globe with Youth With a Mission (YWAM). He grew up in Lindale and married his high school sweetheart Jannah. He has a strong desire to help people in need, and is grateful to be part of an organization that makes such a big difference in the community.
Tim earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Tyler.
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Kim Morris
Chief Impact Officer

Kim joined the East Texas Food Bank as Chief Impact Officer in October of 2023 after leaving the North Texas Food Bank where she oversaw distribution partnerships and strategic initiatives to grow distribution in high-need areas.  During her time at NTFB, Kim and her team grew and maintained high rates of service through and after COVID by creating a connected and inclusive partner environment through a community-based model.
Kim has extensive non-profit experience having been in non-profit leadership roles for well over 10 years.  Kim grew up in Garrison, TX, and earned her bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Texas at Arlington.  Kim and her husband have four daughters and met and married in Tyler before relocating to DFW.  They are excited to be back in East Texas with their daughters who are right at home amongst the trees and family.  Kim loves the East Texas area and loves being a part of an organization whose mission is to create hope for all East Texans.
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Comelita Neal
Chief Human Resource Officer

Comelita joined the East Texas Food Bank in July 2022 as Chief Human Resources Officer bringing with her over 20 years of experience in Human Resources.  Over the years, she has worked as an HR manager, Director and Consultant in various arenas, ranging from oil and gas and higher education to private health care.  Comelita has always strived to help anyone she comes in contact with and continues her work today through her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., her church, and her neighborhood, instilling good ole’ homegrown East Texas values of community.  She believes that inclusion, love, compassion, understanding, diversity and communication are key to a successful team and credits that to her days of working as a grassroots professional with the City of Longview’s Drug Task Force.  Comelita received her Bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, with a B.A. in Communications. She is grateful and proud to work for such an organization and feels that she is happily at home doing heart work striving to make a difference and committed to continuing to do for the community.
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