Nourishing Hope is thrilled to welcome two new executive leaders to its board of directors to help guide the organization forward.
“Together, they bring extensive business acumen, entrepreneurial drive, project-management expertise, deep food-industry knowledge, and a shared passion for our mission,” said Chief Development Officer Drew Moran.
Nourishing Hope is proud to welcome Niki Cordell, Founder & CEO of Junior Chefs Kitchen and Debbie Merovitz, Managing Director at Deloitte.
Niki Cordell is the Founder & CEO of Junior Chefs Kitchen, a children’s cooking and nutrition school with locations in Lincoln Park and a second West Loop location opening soon. Passionate about food education and community impact, Niki launched JCK to empower kids with essential culinary skills, confidence, and a love for nutritious eating. Prior to founding JCK, Niki built a career in sales and leasing at Afterpay (acquired by Block) and GGP (acquired by Brookfield Properties), where she specialized in retail growth and strategic partnerships. Her expertise in business development and relationship management has been instrumental in scaling Junior Chefs Kitchen.
A Chicago native, Niki resides in Lakeview with her husband and three children. She and her family have been dedicated supporters of Nourishing Hope for over five years, actively volunteering and serving on the Gala Committee to help fight food insecurity in the community.
Debbie Merovitz is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Human Capital Organization, Workforce, & Change practice. She has spent her 26+ year career at Deloitte leading organizational change management for large-scale business and technology transformations. She was raised in St. Louis and moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University where she earned her bachelor’s degree and later her Masters in Business Administration.
Debbie lives in the city with her husband and two teenage sons and loves to volunteer at Nourishing Hope with her colleagues and family. Debbie is thrilled to serve on the board of directors at Nourishing Hope.
“It’s a true honor to have these two remarkable women join Nourishing Hope’s board of directors,” Moran said. “They’ll engage our community and elevate our ability to ensure that Chicagoans have what they need for a dignified life.”