Joe Schulz to lead Food Bank of Iowa service in Southeastern Iowa
Food Bank of Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa – Joe Schulz has joined the Food Bank of Iowa team to lead operations in southeastern Iowa. Schulz, who lives in Ottumwa, will help manage the merger of Food Bank of Iowa and Food Bank of Southern Iowa as Branch Manager. In that role, he will be responsible for all operations of the Ottumwa facility, managing food distribution for 13 Iowa counties.
Schulz comes to Food Bank of Iowa from Growing Wapello Together, a consortium of individuals, businesses and organizations dedicated to improving food security in Wapello County. Schulz’s experience with Growing Wapello Together, as well as a Food Bank of Southern Iowa board member, gives him a solid background in the food insecurity field.
Food Bank of Iowa’s leadership focused their hiring process on Ottumwa and surrounding communities. Schulz’s role is essential to keeping the food services in southeastern Iowa locally led and locally operated, as they have been throughout Food Bank of Southern Iowa’s tenure.
“It is a true honor to accept the opportunity of leading the fight against hunger right here in Southeast Iowa,” said Schulz. “With the engagement of the Food Bank of Iowa, I am looking forward to collaborating and partnering with the many agencies who are on the front lines when it comes to food insecurity.”
Food Bank of Iowa and Food Bank of Southern Iowa will complete their merger by January 1, 2018. Since 2012, the Food Bank of Southern Iowa has operated as a redistribution organization for Food Bank of Iowa, serving 13 counties in Southeastern Iowa. This milestone merger will place the facilities, staff, and equipment of Food Bank of Southern Iowa under the ownership and management of Food Bank of Iowa. Food Bank of Iowa will bring the full resources of its service area to bear in Ottumwa, resulting in significant efficiency gains.
“We’re looking forward to having Joe on board,” said Michelle Book, chief executive officer for Food Bank of Iowa. “With his passion, hunger fighting experience and knowledge of Southeastern Iowa, Joe will create greater awareness of the issues, build collaborative partnerships to address these issues, and work diligently to meet the nutritional needs of thousands of our food insecure neighbors.”
