Montgomery County Food Bank Welcomes Five New Board Directors as Hunger-Relief Mission Grows
For families, seniors, veterans and children facing food insecurity in Montgomery County, the strength of the local food bank’s leadership can have a direct effect on how quickly help reaches the table.
Montgomery County Food Bank has welcomed five new members to its Board of Directors for a term that began in May 2026, adding experience from H-E-B, Kroger, Conroe ISD, Waste Connections and the Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. The new directors will help guide an organization that provided more than 10 million meals to local neighbors in 2025 from its 78,000-square-foot warehouse in Conroe.
The appointments come as the nonprofit continues working with 100 partner agencies, local school districts, retailers, wholesalers and community organizations to distribute nutritious food throughout Montgomery County.
“We are truly grateful to welcome these extraordinary leaders to the Montgomery County Food Bank board. They bring a depth of experience and a genuine commitment to serving our community, and we are honored they have chosen to dedicate their time and talent to this mission,” said Jim Carman, chairman of the board and president of the Houston Region for Howard Hughes.
New Directors Bring Experience From Across Montgomery County
James Anderson, general manager at H-E-B, joins the board with 18 years of experience across the company’s Central Texas and Houston operations. He also serves on H-E-B’s WGO council.
Anderson earned his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and an MBA from Tarleton State University. His previous community involvement includes service on the Willis ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors and lifetime membership in the Montgomery County Fair Association.
Mark Linabury, president and CEO of the Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, has led the organization since 2019. During his tenure, the chamber has grown to more than 550 member businesses, the largest membership in its 36-year history.
Linabury holds the Advanced Chamber Management certification and regularly works across the business, nonprofit, education and government sectors. He also serves on the boards of HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood and the Tavola Community Foundation.
Dr. David Vinson, superintendent of Conroe Independent School District, joins the board after being selected to lead Conroe ISD in 2025. He previously served as superintendent of Wylie ISD, where every campus earned an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency and the district’s fund balance grew from $9 million to more than $85 million.
Vinson earned his degree from Texas Tech University and holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. He has also been involved directly in the Food Bank’s work, volunteering alongside Conroe ISD staff and students during a mobile food distribution in November 2025. An Eagle Scout, he has maintained a lifelong focus on service and education.
Mary Anne Whitney, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Waste Connections, brings more than 25 years of financial leadership to the board. She has served as the company’s executive vice president and CFO since 2021 and has been with Waste Connections for 17 years.
Whitney also serves on the Vestis Corporation Board of Directors and its Audit Committee. Her local volunteer experience includes eight years on the board of Interfaith of The Woodlands, including two years as board chairman. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University and an MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Kaylea Williams, division associate and labor relations manager at Kroger, oversees associate and labor relations for more than 100 stores across South Texas and Southwest Louisiana.
Williams began her Kroger career in 2011 and has worked in both store and division leadership. She mentors Kroger’s Associate Resource Groups and works with NextUp Texas to support women in leadership. Williams holds SHRM and LERN certifications and is pursuing a master’s degree at Sam Houston State University.
Her connection to Montgomery County Food Bank also extends beyond the boardroom. Williams has volunteered with Kroger coworkers in the Howard Hughes Produce Rescue Center, sorting and packing fresh produce for local distribution.
Brian Albert Named Board Secretary
Montgomery County Food Bank also announced that Brian Albert, a partner at Kean Miller LLP The Woodlands, has been named board secretary. Albert joined the Board of Directors in 2025 and succeeds outgoing Secretary Edmund Robb.
The Food Bank also recognized departing directors Elizabeth Garner, vice president of merchandising for The Kroger Co., and Victor Nivens, vice president of human resources for H-E-B.
“These new directors join us at a pivotal moment for our organization and our neighbors,” said Scott Burns, president and CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank. “As we welcome them, we also extend heartfelt thanks to Edmund Robb, Elizabeth Garner, and Victor Nivens, whose service and counsel have left a lasting mark on this organization and on our mission of uniting the community to fight hunger. We are grateful for the foundation they built and energized by the perspectives our new directors bring as we work to ensure every neighbor has access to nourishing food.”
Montgomery County Food Bank Board Leadership
The organization’s board officers include Chairman Jim Carman, president of the Houston Region for Howard Hughes; Vice Chair Dr. Stephen Popp, head of school at The John Cooper School; Treasurer Justin Kendrick, senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital; and Secretary Brian Albert.
The full Board of Directors includes Anderson; Dominic Clausi, vice president of research at ExxonMobil; retired ExxonMobil senior finance executive Scott Darling; Jacqueline Huntsman Calder of the Huntsman family; Linabury; Sean Meredith, vice president of project delivery at Entergy; the Rev. Phillip Moore, executive pastor at The Ark Church; Andrew Paur, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Woodforest National Bank; Krystle Riley, vice president and chief operating officer at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital; Kristen Shults, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Western Midstream; Justine Smith, executive vice president of commercial at Chevron Phillips Chemical Company; the Rev. Mark Sorensen, senior pastor at The Woodlands Methodist Church; Angela Storseth-Cooper, senior director of government relations for The US Oncology Network–McKesson; Vinson; Whitney; and Williams.
Members of the Food Bank’s Advisory Committee are Bill McGraw of Quality Home Products of Texas; Kathy Pepper, retired from ExxonMobil; Dr. Ann Snyder of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors; George Waggoner of First National Bank Texas; and Jim Wolf, retired managing partner at Meridian Compensation Partners LLC.
Betty Hardy is the founder of Montgomery County Food Bank.
Why the Board Appointments Matter to Local Families
Board members help shape long-term priorities, financial oversight, partnerships and community outreach. For Montgomery County Food Bank, the range of experience represented by the new directors could strengthen connections with schools, grocery retailers, employers, nonprofit organizations and rapidly growing communities throughout the county.
Those partnerships are central to the Food Bank’s operating model. The nonprofit receives donated and surplus food from retailers and wholesalers, then distributes it through partner agencies, school districts and community programs to residents who may not otherwise have reliable access to wholesome meals.
Montgomery County Food Bank serves families, veterans, seniors and children through a network of 100 partner agencies and community partners. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit is an affiliate of Houston Food Bank and a member of Feeding Texas and Feeding America.
As Montgomery County continues to grow, the Food Bank’s new leadership will help determine how the organization expands its reach while keeping its mission focused on neighbors experiencing hunger.
Residents can stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Montgomery County Food Bank programs, volunteer opportunities, food distributions and other community resources.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.