Executive Staff
Executive Director
Larry Sly ext. 202
[email protected]
Executive Director since 1976
After graduating from UC-Berkeley, Larry joined the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and soon became the organization’s Executive Director. He has guided the Food Bank’s development from an organization that distributed 36,000 pounds of food in its first year to one that distributed over 20 million pounds of food last year.
Larry has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Feeding America, the national food bank network, and on the National Council (NAC), an elected group of food bank leaders who serve as the voice of the network for Feeding America. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Food Banks and chairs the Emergency Food and Shelter board that allocates Federal funds to hunger and shelter agencies in Contra Costa County. Larry has served on State advisory committees on hunger and has served on task forces for Feeding America. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Concord.
Finance Director
HuLynne Besharatpour ext. 212
[email protected]
Finance Director since 2013
HuLynne has over 8 years of nonprofit accounting and grants experience. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector she worked for over 10 years in the corporate world as a Business and HR Management professional. The industries she has worked have ranged from the High Tech industry to the Manufacturing industry. The last 7 years she worked as Accounting Manager at a nonprofit healthcare provider. The agency that she worked for had service area and revenue growth close to 100% during her time with the agency. She currently serves on two Bay Area Youth Sports organization boards and is currently working on her MBA.
Operations Director
Hisham Hamdy ext. 258 (Concord) 294 (Fairfield)
[email protected]
Operations Director since 2013
Hisham has spent the past 15 years developing and maintaining programs to feed the hungry in California. One of those programs collected 12 million pounds of food a year from growers and packing houses throughout California. He has also established and coordinated tailgate food distributions across rural California. Hisham also keeps active in the local Bay Area community by coaching youth basketball, soccer, and softball. In the future, Hisham plans to go back to school for his MBA.
Program Director
Caitlin Sly ext. 204
[email protected]
Program Director since 2013
Caitlin Sly has worked for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano since 2008 and has been Program Director since 2013. She graduated from UC Davis in 2006 with a major in Latin American History and a minor in Spanish. She previously lived in Mexico, teaching English to elementary school students before coming to work at the Food Bank. She sits on several committees throughout Contra Costa and Solano counties tackling nutrition and food access in low-income communities.
Communications Director
Lisa Sherrill ext. 206
[email protected]
Communications Director since 2014
Since coming to the Food Bank in November 2006, Lisa has strengthened the organization’s visibility and brand awareness to advance the Food Bank’s mission through strategic communications and creative marketing strategies. She also directs education and advocacy efforts on the issue of hunger, and where the public can help. Her team inspires the community to take action to help nourish our most vulnerable neighbors. Lisa was first drawn to issues of food insecurity and accessibility while still a student at San Francisco State University (SFSU). In her senior year, Lisa wrote a research paper about poverty that would shape her future.
When Lisa graduated from SFSU with a degree in International Relations, she felt compelled to pursue a helping profession and began a career in nonprofit management. Lisa has served on the national Hunger Action Month committee for Feeding America and is a long-standing member of Public Relations Society of America.
Development Director
Kim Castaneda ext. 265
[email protected]
Development Director since 2017
With more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Kim brings expertise and energy to her role as Development Director. Kim’s team creates strategies and builds relationships that advance all aspects of the Food Bank’s fundraising efforts, including private donations and corporate partnerships. Kim is passionate about giving back to her community, and through development, she sees opportunities to inspire and enable others to give back as well.
Kim is a graduate of San Jose State University, where she studied Hospitality Management and Business, and received the Diversity Enhancement Award. She is a member of the Rotary Club, and a graduate of Leadership San Jose, class of 2017, and holds a certificate from the University of Norte Dame-Mendoza College of Business Executive Leadership Program.
Human Resources Director
Holly Neu, MS HRM ext. 203
[email protected]
Human Resources Director since 2014
As Human Resources Director, Holly provides strategic leadership in all areas of people and culture management. She joined the Food Bank in 2014 with a diverse background in the legal, higher education, and construction sectors.
At a young age, Holly learned that we have a responsibility to serve our community and those in need. Throughout her childhood, Holly spent countless hours in her grandparent’s garden harvesting fruits and vegetables for donation to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. It’s a tradition she continues to this day in the same garden with her own two children. And as a Food Bank staff member, Holly is able to give back on a daily basis and is always inspired by the passionate and caring individuals around her.
Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from California State University, Chico and a Master’s of Science in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University. Outside of work, you can find Holly running the local trails and cheering for her children at their various sporting events.
Photos by: Katheri Neelyse Photography
Other Staff Members
Annual Fund Manager
Gloria Blecha ext. 246
[email protected]
Food Drive Administrator
Neil Zarchin ext. 208
[email protected]
Volunteer Manager
Sharon Zeppegno ext. 209
[email protected]
Donor Relations
For help with a monetary donation by mail or online
Brandon Baldwin ext.210
[email protected]
Corporate Donations
John Calender ext. 218
[email protected]
Institutional Giving Officer
Lindsay Drakeley ext. 236
[email protected]
Media and Education
Lisa Sherrill ext. 206
[email protected]
Education and Community Outreach
Patty McDowell ext. 243
[email protected]
Advocacy Manager
Cassidie Bates ext. 261
[email protected]
Special Events
Agency Relations Manager
Amy Faletti ext. 232
[email protected]
Purchasing Manager
Babak Mehryar ext. 242
[email protected]
Child Programs and Extra Helpings Administrator
Anna Gorman ext. 249
[email protected]
Food For Children/Food Assistance Coordinator
Julie Redmond ext. 207
[email protected]
CalFreshOutreach Manager
LaLisha Norton
[email protected]
Senior Food Coordinator
Meg Zentner ext. 205
[email protected]
Community Produce Program and Mobile Food Pharmacy Administrator
Matthew Durkin ext. 232
[email protected]
