We are visionaries, foodies, entrepreneurs, fundraisers and communicators.
We show up every day to build a more equitable food system that unites people, launches careers and changes lives.
Shaolee Sen
Chief Executive OfficerRead BioKobla Asamoah
Head of Small BusinessRead BioKaren Bornarth
Head of WorkforceRead BioKaren Bornarth
Head of Workforce
Which food would you cross the desert for?
A good baguette with good butter.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
My son. He is (almost) always a very happy camper in the morning and I love to kiss his sunny face.
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
Find a quiet beach and read, swim, snack, sleep and repeat.
Kristine Borok
Head of BrandRead BioKristine Borok
Head of Brand
What is your favorite food memory?
My 9th birthday when I requested to have a cooking party and made Chicken Parmesan!
What's something you've learned that's always stayed with you?
Always say thank you and please.
What song best describes you and why?
“You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King. It’s my wedding song!
Cedric Jarrett
Chief Financial OfficerRead Bio
Leadership Team
Dana Archer-Rosenthal
Director of ImpactDana Archer-Rosenthal
Director of Impact
Would you rather cook or do the dishes? Why?
Cook! Cooking is a good way to quiet my mind and focus on one task, and I like the satisfaction of being able to make things that I like to eat.
How do you define success?
Doing something personally meaningful, building connections with other people and being happy!
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
My toddler! And coffee.
Sonam Choedon, MSW
Outreach and Member Success ManagerSonam Choedon, MSW
Outreach and Member Success Manager
What is your favorite food memory?
My favorite food memory is sitting around the kitchen table making momos with my family. The flavors in our Tibetan household have these amazing influences because my mom grew up in Bhutan and dad grew up in Nepal. Making momos was always a time for my family to have bonding time.
What motivates you about working at Hot Bread Kitchen?
My own immigrant family’s journey to the US and my parents’ drive to seek opportunities for me and my brother motivate me to work at Hot Bread Kitchen. I see that same drive and passion in the women that we serve, and it motivates me even more.
What's something you've learned that's always stayed with you?
A quote from the Dalai Lama that my mother shared with me as a child has always guided me: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Sujata Bharani
Financial CoachSujata Bharani
Financial Coach
Would you rather cook or do the dishes? Why?
Both! The dishes are part of the meal. When you do the dishes you digest both the food and the conversation, and get ready for the next day.
What motivates you about working at Hot Bread Kitchen?
All the learning that happens in a day.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
If I know that I have a chance to take a walk outdoors, ideally in the wilderness.
Wai Chu
Lead Culinary InstructorWai Chu
Lead Culinary Instructor
What motivates you about working at Hot Bread Kitchen?
I’m genuinely inspired by the women we serve. As much as they think we give them through the program, they give us more in return.
How do you define success?
Satisfaction and happiness.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
A good breakfast. It’s my favorite meal of the day.
Debbie Kellogg
Sr. Development DirectorDebbie Kellogg
Sr. Development Director
What is your favorite food memory?
A Whooper—my first “real” job was working at Burger King while in High School.
Would you rather cook or do the dishes? Why?
Dishes! My husband is an excellent cook.
What's something you've learned that's always stayed with you?
Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you or makes you happy.
Jenny Kutner
Chief of StaffJenny Kutner
Chief of Staff
Which food would you cross the desert for?
Probably buttered toast.
What's something you've learned that's always stayed with you?
A sentence shouldn’t be longer than two lines on a page! (Seriously, it’s good general writing advice.)
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
Eat my way across the globe, of course.
Caroline Mak
Director of Small BusinessCaroline Mak
Director of Small Business
What is your favorite food memory?
Trying to wrap spring rolls as a child with my grandmother.
What's something you've learned that's always stayed with you?
Building and motivating a team is hard work—and it take a while to get it right—but the rewards are long lasting!
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
Travel and work on a photo essay on spices (from the history trading of spices to how they’re currently used.)
Jason McFadden
FacilitiesKelsey Minten
Impact ManagerKatie Peabody
Senior Manager of Business DevelopmentKatie Peabody
Senior Manager of Business Development
What is your favorite food memory?
My grandmother’s matzo ball soup and brisket during Passover when I was growing up. I now know that her recipe (which included french onion soup mix and an entire bottle of ketchup) was the same one used by basically every Jewish grandma in the 1960s… but still, nothing will ever taste that good again.
What's something you've learned that's always stayed with you?
I’m always learning and re-learning that leaning into discomfort and fear (basically doing the harder thing, whatever that means for you) is, infuriatingly, one of the best ways to grow.
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
I would visit and hike around as many national parks as possible, ideally biking part of the way with my dad.
Melissa Preddie
ControllerMelissa Preddie
Controller
What is your favorite food memory?
My favorite food memory is when dad taught me how to make puff pastry and my batch rose was twice as big as his! That joy inspired me to go into baking. I have been sharing that joy ever since.
What motivates you about working at Hot Bread Kitchen?
The company’s mission of empowering women through food is what brought me to Hot Bread Kitchen.
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
I would sail around the Mediterranean on a yacht with my husband and close friends, stopping to enjoy amazing food from the different cultures we visited.
Michelle Rojas, LMSW
Senior Manager of Client Success & CommunityMichelle Rojas, LMSW
Senior Manager of Client Success & Community
What is your favorite food memory?
My favorite food memory is coming home from school to the aroma of my grandma making lasagna just how I like it—no meat!
What's your superpower?
I like to think I’m a very patient person, and in NYC that is definitely a superpower.
What song best describes you and why?
Unstoppable by Sia. It never fails to pump me up! I’m determined to conquer my goals.
Margo Sivin
Brand DirectorMargo Sivin
Brand Director
What motivates you about working at Hot Bread Kitchen?
It really just takes a little help, a spark of confidence, a pro tip, or an introduction to kickstart a career—so many people have mentored, guided, or coached me! I love seeing that in action at Hot Bread Kitchen with the women and entreprenuers we work with.
Who is your inspiration?
Artists like Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Hilma Af Klint who lived full creative lives, often in spite of challenging circumstances.
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
Travel, cooking, eating, and taking photos all day.
Gabriella Stern
Brand AssociateGabriella Stern
Brand Associate
What is your favorite food memory?
Some of my favorite memories surrounding food have been made cooking with my family, especially with my grandmother. There are no written recipes, it’s just learning from her—how she moves about the kitchen, tastes food, and uses various utensils for measuring.
Which food would you cross the desert for?
A big plate of my gallo pinto (rice and beans) with fried queso fresco, maduros, a side of fresh fruit and a tall glass of pineapple juice. That meal could keep me fueled and full for hours!
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
On the weekends, the prospect of making a hearty breakfast gets me out of bed. During the week, I like to get my days started early with a brisk walk with my new dog.
Liliana Vislocky
Accounting CoordinatorLiliana Vislocky
Accounting Coordinator
What is your favorite food memory?
My favorite food memory is eating fresh salad with vegetables picked from my family’s garden in rural Romania.
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
I would love to travel with my family to Europe, spend quality time with our relatives, and visit new places. I would love my daughter to see where her parents grew up.
What's your superpower?
My superpower is my patience and organizational skills. Being patient and organized helped in both my career and in personal life.
Erin Zawacki
HR Coordinator & Office ManagerErin Zawacki
HR Coordinator & Office Manager
What is your favorite food memory?
I grew up in Australia and every Christmas we would have a barbecue and seafood after going to the beach for a swim. Those summer days were the best.
Who is your inspiration?
Anyone who has the passion and drive to go after what they want—create their own business, start a new course, change career—that kind of courage is inspiring.
What would you do for a month if money was no object?
I would travel somewhere warm and internet-free with my husband and dogs. We would eat amazing food and completely disconnect.
Staff
Hot Bread Kitchen Speaker’s Bureau
Our team is well-versed and prepared to speak on a variety of topics, including social enterprise, small business, workforce development, DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, allyship), job quality, women and families, and more. Please contact Margo at msivin@hotbreadkitchen.org to discuss opportunities for events, press, and more.
Join Our Team
Want to help us change lives through careers in food?