Feeding Westchester Welcomes Five New Board Members

Feeding Westchester, Westchester County’s largest nonprofit hunger-relief organization, is pleased to announce the addition of Davis John Abraham (of Yonkers), Tracey Levy (of Larchmont), Kecia Palmer-Cousins (of Peekskill), Jonathan Tretler (of Scarsdale), and Jennifer Wells (of Bronxville) to their Board of Directors.

Davis John Abraham has worked in the philanthropic and international development sector for 19 years. He currently serves as a Director at the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, overseeing strategic philanthropic investments in priority markets in the US and internationally. Previously Vice President of Corporate Responsibility Operations at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Director of Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Abraham holds a Master of Science degree from the NYU Center for Global Affairs with a concentration in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance. He completed his undergraduate work at Pace University and received a BA in Computer Science and Political Science. Abraham serves on the board of directors of his local church as well and as the Youth Pastor.

Recognized by Super Lawyers in the New York Metro Area annually since 2016, Tracey Levy is the founder of Levy Employment Law, LLC. Offering clients the benefit of her 25 years of legal and employee relations experience, Levy guides managers and in-house counsel through the full employee life-cycle, providing practical advice on workplace-related issues. Prior to launching her firm, Levy was an Employee Relations Specialist with UBS AG as well as an employment attorney with Proskauer Rose LLP. She holds an advanced law degree from Yale Law School’s LLM program, a JD from Albany Law School and a BA from Union College. Levy is a member of the Westchester Business Council and chairs the Legislative Committee of the Westchester Human Resource Management Association.

Kecia Palmer-Cousins is a wellness entrepreneur, manufacturing engineer, and project management consultant. As co-owner of Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc., a business management and training company, she provides technical assistance and one-on-one coaching to Minority Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) to grow their businesses. Kecia is also co-owner of G&K Sweet Foods, LLC, a MWBE Certified baked goods company that was a contracted vendor at the 2014 Super Bowl. She is Vice President of the City of Peekskill’s Youth Bureau Board, Civic Engagement Chair and 2nd Vice President of the Peekskill NAACP, a member of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and a former Chapter Editor/Foundation Chair of the Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter. Kecia was honored by the Women’s Enterprise Development Center for Women (Lillian Vernon Award), City of Peekskill (Black History Month Awards), 914INC. Magazine (2014 Women in Business) and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester and Rockland Counties (10 Influential Blacks). She received a BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University, a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and an MBA in Marketing from Long Island University.

An investment banker for nearly 25 years, Jonathan Tretler is a Managing Director and Head of the North America Consumer & Retail Group at HSBC. He has also led the food & beverage practice at RBC Capital Markets and Deutsche Bank. Tretler has advised clients on transactions with an aggregate value of over $200 billion and works closely with many of the leading industry players and private equity firms in the sector. He serves on the Ambassador’s Council for the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Tretler also served on the Board of Directors of The Acceleration Project, a Westchester-based nonprofit helping women entrepreneurs in the region. He holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from The Wharton School.

Jennifer Wells is currently the Vice President of Human Resources for the North Division of PepsiCo Beverages North America, which is responsible for making, moving and selling a variety of beverage products. Wells has been with PepsiCo approaching 14 years and has held HR leadership roles across the Foods and Beverages businesses in North America. Prior to PepsiCo, Wells held leadership roles in Human Resources at Citrix Systems and Kraft Foods/Mondalez. She graduated from Tulane University with a BS in Economics and Biology.

“Hunger is pervasive right here in our own backyard,” said Karen C. Erren, president & CEO of Feeding Westchester. “We are excited to welcome Davis, Jonathan, Tracey, Kecia, and Jennifer, who share our commitment to end hunger in Westchester County. Their collective knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to meet the increased demand in our community due to COVID-19.”

According to a study by Feeding America, food insecurity in Westchester County has risen by more than 50 percent due to the pandemic. Feeding Westchester’s network of nearly 300 partner agencies and programs throughout the county are serving on average 300,000 hungry residents each month — more than twice as many as pre-COVID-19. The nonprofit has distributed 22 million pounds of food, or 18.4 million meals, in the last year compared to 8.5 million pounds in 2019.

Erren continued, “Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for hunger. Our neighbors continue to face unprecedented economic challenges. We invite you to join us and get involved. Consider making a donation, hosting a food drive or participating in a virtual volunteer opportunity.”

Every $1 donated to Feeding Westchester provides three meals for local children, seniors, and families struggling with hunger. To find help, or to help, visit feedingwestchester.org or call (914) 923-1100. For the latest news and updates, follow @FeedingWestchester on Facebook and Instagram and @FeedWestchester on Twitter.

About Feeding Westchester

Feeding Westchester is the county’s leading nonprofit hunger-relief organization at the heart of a network of nearly 300 partners and programs. With a mission to end hunger in Westchester County, the organization sources and distributes good, nutritious food and other resources to every community in Westchester – from Mount Vernon to Mohegan Lake. In the last year, Feeding Westchester delivered 22 million pounds of food or 18.4 million meals to our neighbors through soup kitchens, food pantries, schools, shelters, residential programs, and mobile distributions. Feeding Westchester is located at 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. For more information, visit feedingwestchester.org.

http://www.feedingwestchester.com – Feeding Westchester