Second Harvest of the Big Bend’s Board of Directors announced October 2, 2019, that Monique Ellsworth (MSW, 2013) will become Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The appointment concludes an exhaustive search that began late this summer.

Ellsworth has served the last four years as CEO of CESC, Inc. in Tallahassee. She has developed a reputation as a community leader and dedicated professional in the areas of homelessness, poverty, and food insecurity.  

Jowanna Nicole Oates, Board President of Second Harvest, said Ellsworth is the “perfect person to continue the upward trajectory of the organization,” which serves 11 counties in the Big Bend. 

“We interviewed several outstanding candidates for this position, but it was Monique’s experience, vision, and energy for Second Harvest’s mission that really stood out,” said Oates. “Monique has a strong track record of nonprofit experience and coalition building, and she is a great fit for our organization. She has the full support of the board of directors.”

“Second Harvest has a dynamic team and a strong board of directors, and I am honored to join them,” Ellsworth said. “The need is great in the Big Bend region, so I am looking forward to learning quickly and doing my part to enhance our services to ensure that hunger is not an insurmountable challenge for our local families.”

Ellsworth has an extensive background in social services. She is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professionals and received her Master of Social Work from Florida State University. 

Second Harvest of the Big Bend’s mission is to feed the hungry in the Big Bend through a network of partner agencies and to educate and engage the community in the fight against hunger. Last year, Second Harvest distributed an all-time record 12.7 million pounds of food to those in need. For more information, please visit www.FightingHunger.org.