Our Team

The Food Group’s
dedicated volunteers have packed over 65,000 bags of food!

75 volunteers per week work to get food bags into kids’ hands.  On average they work an hour a week for the 36 weeks of the school year, which amounts to a whooping 3,000 hours put in by our volunteers in one year’s time!

Meet Our Team

Keri McMeans

Executive Director

Keri joined The Food Group team with passion and purpose in 2019. Keri earned a double degree in Spanish and Business with an International Emphasis from the University of Montana – Missoula. After owning and operating her own business, she brings twenty years of entrepreneurial business experience and a business “owners” perspective to her leadership style. When Keri first learned of the opportunity to work and live the Food Group Team’s mission, she knew she couldn’t turn down the chance to help children in her very own community – feeling it a shared responsibility to strengthen the community by remaining committed to youth. It is with a high level of integrity Keri proudly serves youth in Sheridan County.

Community Involvement:

  • Tongue River Valley Community Center Board Member – Chair
  • Tongue River Valley Scholarship Board Member
  • Bighorn Wild and Scenic Trail Run Team Member – Course Director
  • Graduate of the CiViC Leadership Project
  • Mother of two amazing young men, ages 19 and 16

Jenny Tribley

Program Director

Bio

Jennifer Heermann

Board Chair, Owner, Mountain West Electric

The mission of The Food Group is something that is very important to me.  Having younger kids myself, it makes me realize the vital need that we can provide to those children needing nourishment.

Community Involvement:

  • Big Horn Education Fund
  • Parent Advisory Committee

David Peterson

Board Vice Chair, Faculty Member at John C. Schiffer School

In my role as an educator, I have witnessed first hand the benefit of nourishing kids through the mission of The Food Group. The impact on their lives is profound. A sense of security about food builds a foundation to help them become better learners. Students I work with at the Schiffer School lead challenging lives, sometimes that challenge is overcoming a lack of food or meals. The Food Group has been able to bridge that gap for many of our students and so many more young people in Sheridan County. Being a member of this team is both saddening and encouraging. First, that we have to address a problem like this, but second we live in a community that steps up to overcome it. Is there a spirit of Wyoming? Yep, it is real and found in the work of the contributors, volunteers, and staff of The Food Group.

Community Involvement:

  • Basketball Coach for SJHS
  • Trial End Guilds, Board member, docent, Father Christmas
  • Student Assembly advisor
  • Occasional Chainsaw carver, and adventure seeker

Michelle Fritz

Board Member, Sheridan County School District 1 Social Worker

We wear many hats in our lives. I am grateful to be a mom, wife, daughter, sister, mental health professional and a board member of The Food Group. I feel honored and blessed to work with an amazing team striving to alleviate childhood hunger in Sheridan County. 

Lorne Morris

Board Member, Range Network Sales

I first heard about The Food Group from my friend and Board Member Emeritus, Ken Thorpe. I was curious and asked him what the difference was between The Food Group and other assistance programs in our area. He enlightened me and it was humbling to be reminded of the needs in Sheridan County as well as all other counties in the State. Hunger is everywhere and in one of the wealthiest countries in the world it should not be, but that is the reality we live in. I was honored to be asked to join this board and I look forward to serving and helping to provide kids and young adults with the nourishment and confidence they need whether it be from food, books, or hygiene supplies. I cannot think of a better program and cause to give my time to.

Community Involvement:

  • Leadership Wyoming Graduate and Alumni Member
  • Civic Theatre Guild Volunteer (ex-Board Member of the CTG)
  • Member of Sheridan Lodge #8 AF & AM of Wyoming
  • Member of the Kalif Shrine Temple – Shriners International “Having Fun Helping Children”

Jim Shellenberger

Board Member, Financial Advisor

It is amazing to see the work The Food Group does. After you see what they are doing and the need in the community, it is hard not to want to get involved. Children are the future. Nourishment is not something they should have to worry about today as they navigate this world and what it looks like to be a leader in the community.

Community Involvement:

  • Sheridan County Rotary Board Member
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board of Directors

Everett McGlothlin

Board Member, Retired School Administrator

I grew up in Sheridan and understand the importance of providing our students with weekend healthy food so they don’t come to school hungry on Monday morning.  As a former school administrator, I appreciate the efforts put forth by the community and Food Group Board to raise funds for this need.  Based on the overwhelming community support, Sheridan residents acknowledge how important it is to support the efforts put forth by The Food Group and their volunteers.

Community Involvement:

  • Sheridan College Foundation Board Member
  • Whitney Benefits Board Member
  • Next Level Committee
  • SHS Booster Club
  • Wyoming Senior Olympics (2016)

Amy Albrecht

Board Member Emeritus

Once I found out kids in our community didn’t have the food they needed, it started a community conversation about what poverty looks like in Sheridan County.  The Food Group’s creation was the catalyst and I’m so honored I was asked to help.

Community Involvement:

  • Wyoming Nonprofit Network Board Member
  • Next Level Committee

Ken Thorpe

Board Member Emeritus, General Manager – Powder River Heating and Air Conditioning

When I heard about The Food Group, I told my guys at Powder River about it.  They passed the hat immediately and filled it up on their own.  I found out more about it and when I was asked to be on the board, I accepted.  Powder River packs the bags for Henry A. Coffeen Elementary every week and we appreciate the opportunity to give back to our community.

Community Involvement:

  • Center for a Vital Community Board Member
  • Big Horn Homebuilders Board Member
  • Sheridan Co. Chamber of Commerce, Business Expansion and Retention Committee