Oaklee Gilliland

Executive Director

Oaklee joined The Food Group in June 2025, bringing more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience and a passion for people-first, community-centered work. 

Originally from Wyoming, Oaklee is a proud graduate of the University of Wyoming and has called Sheridan home for over ten years. She is also a graduate of Leadership Sheridan County and the CiViC Project—programs that reflect her deep commitment to community involvement and local impact.

Oaklee is inspired by The Food Group’s clear and tangible mission to serve children and families. She believes strong communities are built through connection, compassion, and access to basic needs, especially food.

Outside of work, Oaklee enjoys spending time with her husband and young son, being outdoors, and supporting causes that strengthen rural Wyoming.

Jenny Tribley

Program Director

Jenny has had the privilege of working within the education world since her B.S. degree in Elementary Education. She has worked in non-traditional roles supporting communities, school districts, schools, staff, programs, and families. She has worked as an Executive Director of a bi-county Literacy Council, preschool teacher, adult basic education/workforce training educator, and has developed and launched rigorous programming for students and their families to gain access to higher education post-high school graduation while working with 21st Century Learning Communities and GEAR UP grants.

Jenny has been with The Food Group since May 2021. Food is foundational to achieving academically. She appreciates the partnerships needed to successfully create food access for all children in Sheridan County.

Jenny loves to hike, read, refurbish furniture, and thrift shop. She is married to Walt and has three grown daughters.

Shane Rader

Operations Coordinator

Shane joined The Food Group as the Operations Coordinator in September 2025. As a long-time advocate for community service and child welfare, he brings his passion directly to the organization’s mission. Shane’s core focus is on the efficient execution of our programs through inventory management and leading our dedicated team of volunteers. His commitment to operational excellence ensures that our mission translates into tangible action and consistent support for children across Sheridan County. 

David Peterson

Board Chair, Retired 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

Secretary

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

Vice Chair, 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

Treasurer, 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

Amanda Esch

Board Member

Patrick Suchor

Board Member

CPA, CVA – Partner, Harker Mellinger LLC

Patrick was drawn to The Food Group because of the critical mission it serves in providing nutritious meals to hungry Sheridan kids and families.  Too often, children in our community are going to school hungry, trying to complete homework on an empty stomach, or attempting to fall asleep without having had a sufficient evening meal.  The Food Group steps in to help alleviate these issues so kids can focus on learning, living, and simply growing up. 

Originally from Gillette, WY, Patrick spent the decade from 2002 – 2012 living elsewhere in the country and the world, attending college, serving overseas in the military, and exploring over 30 countries.  He attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, and Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) in Arcata, CA, earning a BS in Accounting.  In 2012, he returned to Wyoming, earned his CPA license, and settled in Sheridan, where he met his lovely and talented wife, Melissa.  He became a partner at the local CPA firm Harker Mellinger LLC in 2016.  He has served on numerous boards in Sheridan, and in addition to his seat on the board of The Food Group, is currently the Chair of the WYO Theater Foundation and the Vice-Chair of the Wyoming Society of CPAs.  In his free time, he likes to travel, hike, hunt, read, and spend time with his wife, friends, and family. 

Jennifer Heermann

Board Member, 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

Dan Lee

Board Member

I joined the Food Group board in 2023 at the invitation of my friend and fellow board member Jim Shellenberger. As an entrepreneur at the intersection of business, art, and design, I’m always excited to be involved in the creative act of solving problems in my community. It can’t be overstated how valuable The Food Group’s work is for Sheridan County, through provision, investment, and empowerment; the success of students and kids who face the greatest challenges, after all, is a powerful measure of the success of all of our families. I’m thrilled to be part of an organization that’s prioritizing the health and ongoing well-being of our county’s children, and ultimately our future.

Community Involvement:

• Leadership Wyoming Graduate
• SAGE Board Member
• Bought Beautifully Board Member

Mandy Galloway

Board Member, Consumer Lender – First Northern Bank of Wyoming

I stumbled upon the Food Group in large thanks to Elizabeth Moore who at the time was coaching my
daughter in cross country at the Jr. High. In this discovery, I found myself inspired to volunteer and
involve my family as much as possible. In volunteering, I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know the
wonderful staff better and so when the opportunity came to me to become a part of the board, I knew
without hesitation this is a pursuit I want to be a part of. I’m no stranger to the struggles kids experience. In our youth, my brother and I dealt with food scarcity. It wasn’t uncommon to eat at the gas station or only get a decent meal at school. Keeping our community’s children well fed–amongst other opportunities the Food Group provides–is a mission I’m grateful to be a part of and look forward to finding the best ways to have a hand in helping do just that.

Community Involvement:

• Big in Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Weekly meal deliverer for the HUB on Smith
• Board member for the Sheridan Recreation District
• Mother to a wildly capable teenage daughter, wife to an extraordinary firefighter and lover of three
  dogs (and any others that come across my path)

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