Clare has been an elementary school library media specialist in Fairfield for 18 years and has also worked part-time at Fairfield University's library for 25 years. Before transitioning to library work, she had an HR career in the banking industry in New York City. She holds master's degrees in Human Resource Management, Library Science, and Curriculum & Instruction, along with an undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire. Clare lives in Fairfield with her husband, Paul, and enjoys spending time with their two adult children, reading, power walking, and entertaining friends and family. She began volunteering at the Food Pantry in 2018, later joined ELL classes, and has since served on the Board of Directors — for the past several years as Board Chairperson.

is a strategic and operational leader with more than twenty-five years of experience driving innovative solutions to improve service delivery, streamline agency operations, and manage multimillion-dollar operating and capital budgets for nonprofit, municipal, and educational organizations. He currently serves as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Greenwich Public Schools, leading finance, business services, safety and security, and facilities for one of the nation's premier K-12 school districts — a return to GPS, where he previously served as Managing Director of Operations. For the previous nine years, Ben served as Town Administrator and Chief Operating Officer for the Town of Greenwich, overseeing essential services including law enforcement, firefighting, public works, and parks and recreation, while developing and maintaining a 15-year capital plan and annual operating budget. Earlier in his career, he served the Town of Stratford as its last Town Manager and first Chief Administrative Officer, as Chief Operating Officer for Stratford Public Schools, and as Assistant Town Manager for both Stratford and East Grand Rapids, Michigan. A Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma and a certified School Business Administrator through the Connecticut State Department of Education, Ben has applied his operational discipline to drive transformation across every organization he has led, and he shares that expertise as an adjunct professor of public administration. He is deeply committed to community service, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Board of the nonprofit organization nOURish Bridgeport, Inc. and as a member of the Stratford Board of Education Finance Committee, and previously served on the Board of Trustees for Sterling House Community Center in Stratford, CT. Ben holds a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Calvin College.

Jessica Layman serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for nOURish, bringing over two decades of experience in business operations, corporate training, and financial oversight to the organization.

Currently a Purchasing Agent for Surys Inc. in Trumbull, Connecticut, Jessica’s career includes a successful tenure as a multi-unit Subway Franchisee. During that time, she also served as a Corporate Trainer for DAI, facilitating foundational training for new franchise owners. In addition to her corporate work, she provides independent bookkeeping guidance to local small organizations.

A lifelong member of the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, Jessica has a deep-rooted commitment to community outreach. Her early experiences volunteering in regional work camps across the United States and internationally inspired her to co-found "FEEL THE WARMTH MOBILE HOT MEALS" on January 4, 2007, which became nOURish's foundational program.

Jessica formally joined the nOURish Board of Directors in 2013. She remains deeply inspired by the organization’s growth and is profoundly grateful for the dedicated volunteers who drive its mission forward.

Jessica resides in Stratford, Connecticut, with her daughter, Ava.

Morgan Cleveland is an operations leader with over 25 years of experience guiding executive teams across the design, technology, wellness, and education sectors. Throughout her career, she has led operations for startups and consultancies, building systems that improve efficiency, drive growth, and align teams around shared strategic goals.

Morgan holds a master’s degree in organizational management and brings a leadership philosophy rooted in clarity, empathy, and strategic focus. She is committed to creating environments where operational excellence, accountability, and alignment fuel sustained success.

Morgan is proud to serve on the board of nOURish Bridgeport, where she channels her passion for community and connection into helping advance the organization's mission with integrity and purpose.

Morgan lives in Fairfield with her husband and three children.

Livia Barndollar is a lawyer practicing in Westport, Connecticut, recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice and Family Law. This peer-reviewed recognition, which Livia has held since 2026, is based on a survey of lawyers within the same geographic region and legal practice area, reflecting the professional regard in which she is held by her peers. Livia serves as a Director on the Board of nOURish Bridgeport, Inc., bringing her legal expertise and commitment to community service to the organization's mission.

Frederick W. Gunther is a construction, design and property management executive with more than 50 years’ experience leading residential and commercial building projects in lower-Fairfield and Litchfield counties. As president of Gunther Homes, Inc., he enjoys working on new construction as well as renovations in both today's architectural trends and classic styles.

In addition to his construction leadership, he has extensive experience in property management. He has served as founding president of GBC Company Inc, a commercial property management company, since 1987. His background reflects strong skills in financial oversight, strategic planning, team leadership, and organizational management - assets he brings to serving on the nOURish board. He also serves on the boards of the United Congregation Church and Recovery Community Development.

Heather J. Lange is a Principal at Brody Wilkinson, where she is a member of the firm's Trusts & Estates and Probate Litigation Groups. Heather focuses on problem-solving for her clients, whether assisting high net worth individuals and family groups with estate planning or advocating for clients in trust and fiduciary litigation, and she has also developed a niche practice in equine law that bridges her legal capabilities with her equestrian interests. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a member of the Connecticut and Fairfield County Bar Associations, and a past chair of the Estates and Probate section of the Connecticut Bar Association. Heather has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Trusts and Estates and Litigation – Trusts and Estates since 2023, and has been recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer in Estate Planning and Probate since 2022. She earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan, her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, and her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Heather serves as a Director on the Board of nOURish Bridgeport and on the Board of Directors of the Bridgeport YMCA, both organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity in the Bridgeport community, and she previously volunteered with Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit providing equine-assisted activities and therapies to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities.

Creates innovative solutions, using technology.  Has made industry leading changes across the food, financial and most recently the broadcast technology fields.  Has served on the Nourish Board since 2022, and currently a member of the Finance Committee.

Helped establish the Nourish Indoor Hydroponic Farm, and still volunteers as a Technical Farm Hand when needed.

Nourish allows me the opportunity to engage my passion for innovative solutions like indoor farming while addressing food insecurity.  I see firsthand the joy of having fresh produce grown in our indoor hydroponic farm.

Founding Board Member, nOURish BRIDGEPORT

Principal, Masarech Consulting

Mary Ann has 30+ years of experience helping organizations create work environments where motivated employees can focus their unique talents on what matters most. She has consulted with clients large and small across a wide range of industries and countries in employee engagement and retention, leadership development, values-driven culture creation, and career management.

Mary Ann has played many roles in her career, including senior consultant for custom leadership development, engagement practice leader, product manager for self-directed and facilitated leadership and career development programs, director of workplace research, and content editor. Most recently, she was a senior product manager at Harvard Business Publishing, responsible for digital leadership development that closes the “knowing-doing gap.”

She spent much of her career in a division of GP Strategies (formerly BlessingWhite, now LTG). Before her time there, she completed stints at Drake Beam Morin (DBM) and Learning International (AchieveGlobal), where she was product manager of the industry leader in sales training, Professional Selling Skills. She co-authored The Engagement Equation: Leadership Strategies for an Inspired Workforce while at BlessingWhite and has written many blogs, articles, and research reports.

Mary Ann is a graduate of Wesleyan University. Her commitment to meaningful lives and meaningful work extends beyond her day job. As a member of United Congregational Church, Bridgeport, she joined fellow church members serving hot meals to neighbors in need. In 2010 she became a founding member of nOURish BRIDGEPORT, continuing to volunteer in its weekly Feel the Warmth supper. Recently she expanded her volunteering to teach English as a second language.

She lives in a now-empty nest in Fairfield, CT with her husband Jim Motavalli and orange cat Archie.

Alan has led multiple public and private software companies over the past 35 years. Most recently, Alan served as CEO of Avaya Holdings, and previously, as CEO of Vonage Holdings. In each instance, Alan led an era of transformation and corporate restructuring. Alan came to Vonage from Google, Inc. following Google's acquisition of his prior company, Quickoffice, Inc. where he was co-founder and CEO. Alan earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his BBA from the University of Georgia.

Alan and his wife Patti split time between Highland Beach, FL and Milford, CT. They are loving parents to two adult children and three fabulous grandchildren. Alan is a fitness enthusiast, lifelong learner, and committed philanthropist with particular devotion to Nourish’s mission. In addition to Nourish, Alan and Patti support a variety of important causes through their Masarek Giving Fund.

Donna has built a distinguished career in the banking and financial services industry, holding a variety of senior-level positions across several specialized areas including commercial banking, commercial real estate, and wealth management. Throughout her career, she has developed extensive expertise in these areas allowing her to provide customized guidance to business owners, investors, and individuals pursuing business and real estate opportunities. Donna enjoys sharing her knowledge with those seeking financial advice and works to provide a comprehensive approach to each client’s financial objectives.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Donna is deeply committed to giving back to the community. She has had the privilege of serving on the Boards of Directors of several local nonprofit organizations in the Bridgeport area. Among her many leadership roles, Donna served as Chairman of the Board of the Norma Pfriem Breast Center, an organization whose mission and impact have touched the lives of countless individuals and families throughout the region. Donna is a strong believer in the mission of nOURish Bridgeport and is committed to helping advance its effort to address food insecurity and support the health and well-being of the Bridgeport Community. In addition to serving on the nOURish Board of Directors, she actively contributes her time and expertise as a member of several of the organization’s committees.

Justine A. Rella joined the nOURish BRIDGEPORT Inc. Board of Directors after volunteering at “FEEL THE WARMTH MOBILE HOT MEALS” in 2020. With a background in financial operations, Justine was drawn to the direct service nature of nOURish and knew it was the place to be to give her the missing “purpose” in her life and give back to her community. Justine’s contributions to the Board center around telling the nOURish story visually, especially during our vital HOPE BLOOMS fundraiser.

Justine received a BA in Women’s Studies from Fordham College at Lincoln Center and is passionate about LGBT rights, kindness and dignity for immigrant families, and challenging expectations of what women are allowed to be out in the world--through dialogue and advocacy.

As a member and deacon of the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, Justine relishes the extravagant welcome that nOURish extends to its neighbors and sees it as a vital and critical service to our community; we are called to care for one another!

Raised in Connecticut with Italian and New York roots, Justine enjoys nature, animals, Broadway, house music, Strange Planet comics, and pasta. Justine is a Licensed Massage Therapist and resides in Bridgeport with her wife and their three rescue dogs.

John F. Stafstrom Jr. is co-chair of the Public Finance Department at the law firm of Pullman & Comley, LLC. John is experienced in the fields of government and municipal law, public finance, public/private partnerships, commercial finance and commercial transactions. John has served as counsel in large government bond transactions and has represented borrowers in significant public/private partnerships. John received his degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and is also a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross with a degree in economics and accounting.

John was: the founder of Career Resources, Inc. – now one of Connecticut’s foremost workforce development entities; the 2013 Barnum Festival Ringmaster; long-time Vice Chair of the Board of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council; a four-term member of the Bridgeport City Council; and former Town Chair of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee. John also served for ten years on the Board of Lambda Legal – the nation’s most impactful LGBTQ+ civil rights organization -- serving two years as Chair of the Board and Co-Chair of Lambda’s 50th Anniversary fundraising campaign which raised a record breaking $285 million. John currently serves on the Board of the Circle Care Center – one of Connecticut’s most important providers of health care to the LGBTQ+ community.

Reverend Sara D. Smith, Esq. currently serves as President/CEO of “nOURish BRIDGEPORT, Inc.” a volunteer-powered, food-centered, and community-anchored not-for-profit, she founded in 2010, providing direct service programs to the people of Bridgeport. These programs include a SUPER FOOD PANTRY serving 3,000 individuals each week, a BABY CENTER providing diapers and formula to 400 babies each month, a HOT MEAL Program feeding 300 hot healthy meals each week, weekly ESL classes for 175 immigrants weekly, and the first non-profit INDOOR HYDROPONIC FARM in the state with the exclusive purpose of distributing fresh healthy produce to the food insecure. In its first four years of production, nOURish has distributed 20 tons of fresh produce from its Farm all over our City.

Reverend Sara also currently serves as the Senior Minister of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, the oldest institution in the city, gathered in 1695. Reverend Sara is the first woman and first openly gay clergy called to serve this 331 year old congregation of the United Church of Christ. She is known for her passionate preaching, calling for justice, peace, and inclusivity.

She also serves as the Protestant Chaplain at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic institution of higher education, where she works with students, faculty and staff on issues of diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging, teaches Community and Public Health academic classes, and participates in the campus ministry activities as a member of the Interfaith Chaplains team. She also cheers regularly for the SHU Women’s Basketball Team!

A leader in the Bridgeport community for 17 years, Reverend Sara is the past Board Chairperson of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, and the Convenor of the Tent of Abraham Interfaith dialogue group. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Center for Family Justice, KEYS Music Empowerment Program, and the YMCA-Bridgeport. She has been awarded the “PT Barnum Leadership” Award by the Barnum Festival, “American Dream” Award by the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, the “Partner of the Year” Award by the Center for Family Justice, and the “Spirit” Award by the SHU Athletic Department. She has been recognized for her visionary leadership and inspirational preaching throughout her career; including the “Outstanding Women Leadership” Award by Al-Aziz Islamic Center, and the “Community Impact“ Award by Notre Dame Prep School.

Prior to receiving her Masters of Divinity from TCU’s Brite Divinity School in 1995, Reverend Sara practiced law as a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor in Dallas, Texas, after receiving her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 1988, and her Bachelor of Science from Texas Christian University in 1985. Originally raised on a 1000 acre farm in Kentucky, she has been an ordained United Church of Christ minister since 1996. She lives in a handsome Craftsman home on a quiet street in Bridgeport with her spouse, and their three rescue dogs.