Philadelphia, PA (August 1, 2024) — MANNA is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Rickie Brawer, PhD, MPH, retired from Jefferson Health; Scott Barnes with Comcast, and Yonathan Kebede, FACHE, MHA with Main Line Health, for two three-year terms, effective July 1, 2024.

“Our Board members are dedicated advocates and supporters of MANNA’s mission to provide nourishing, medically tailored meals to those suffering from critical illness who require nutrition to heal,” said MANNA CEO, Sue Daugherty. “We could not be more excited to welcome our newest slate of community-minded, hard-working individuals to the MANNA Board, who will use their diverse expertise to propel MANNA’s mission forward.”
 

Rickie Brawer, PhD, MPH, brings nearly three decades of experience in practicing public health in the Philadelphia area. Before her retirement, Rickie was the VP and Chief Community Engagement Officer for Jefferson Health and a Co-Founder and Co- Director of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Center for Urban Health. Additionally, she was faculty in Jefferson’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, Co-Director for Scholarly Inquiry Population Health Research in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, and adjunct faculty in the College of Population Health. Dr. Brawer has served on multiple Boards including: the Philadelphia Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Pennsylvania Public Health Association, Urban Tree Connection, as an appointed member of the Mayor of Philadelphia’s Food Policy Advisory Council and the National Board of the Society of Public Health Education. She currently serves on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Board of Directors and has served on the MANNA Institute Advisory Board since 2019.

Scott Barnes (he/him) is the Director of Events & Hospitality at Comcast Corporation. He brings more than 20 years’ experience in special events, integrated marketing, and brand management. Scott is actively involved with professional and nonprofit groups, including Meeting Professionals International, the Greater Philadelphia Regional Advisory Board and Treatment Committee of Caron Treatment Centers, as Secretary of the Board of Directors of The Attic Youth Center, and now, on the Board of Directors at MANNA. In 2023, Scott was recognized as an LGBTQ+ Power Player by Metro Philadelphia highlighting his dedication to community service.   

Yonathan Kebede, FACHE, MHA is a distinguished healthcare executive with a profound commitment to improving health outcomes and community welfare. Currently serving as Vice President of Operations at Lankenau Medical Center within Main Line Health, Yonathan oversees the growth and operational performance of all departments at Lankenau and works with leadership to identify and set strategic goals and implementation. Yonathan’s dedication to community leadership is evident through his involvement in local and state initiatives, focusing on healthcare, education, immigration, and community development. He maintains active memberships in the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Association for Health Services Executives and has held leadership roles within both organizations. 

The three new members are joining the 2024 –2025 MANNA Board of Directors, which includes: Board Chair Ted Dallas, President & Chief Operating Officer of Merakey Human Services; Vice Chair Brandon Johnson, Executive Director of Marketing & Events of Drexel University; Treasurer Kristin N. Jumper, Senior Transactions Counsel, Head of Transactions Legal Group of Hamilton Lane Advisors; Secretary, Melissa Fox, MHA, FACMPE, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer of Acenda Integrated Healthcare; Jimmy Contreras, Vice President, U.S. Regional Communications of JP Morgan Chase; Jay Feldstein, D.O., President & Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; Katherine Foy, MSW, Chief Compliance Officer of Quick Med Claims; Dinesh Indala, Executive Vice President of Philadelphia Housing Authority; Martin Lupinetti, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthShare Exchange (HSX); Jaime Pludo, Chief People Officer of Pay Governance, LLC; and Rachael Tamalonis, retired Executive Assistant at American Airlines.