Board of Directors
Art Berman
Chair & Treasurer
Art’s executive leadership experience includes Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit Twin Cities RISE!, and Senior Vice President and Treasurer at Ameriprise Financial. Art also serves on the boards of Graywolf Press and Stratis Health (Board Treasurer). He also served on the Board of Directors as Board Treasurer for the Public Health Law Center, Better Futures Minnesota, and Marnita’s Table. He received an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics from Bowdoin College.
Harvey Rupert
Vice Chair
Harvey is a Strategic Sourcing Manager at Wells Fargo. He also has experience in a similar role at United Healthcare with marketing vendors, and as a Supplier Diversity Champion at Target Corporation. Harvey practiced law at Faegre and Benson LLP after graduating from Mitchell Hamline Law School.
Lauretta Dawolo Towns
Secretary
Lauretta is a Middle School English Language Arts teacher in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Her professional background is in community and ethnic media, specializing in coverage of underrepresented and underserved populations. Lauretta has worked for Insight News, KFAI-Fresh Air Community Radio, and The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. She has also worked as a program manager for Girls in Action, a curriculum-based leadership program for urban high school girls. On a mission to help youth realize their self-worth, Lauretta aspires to not only be a good teacher but an instructional leader in the classroom and the community.
Lester Royal III
Lester is the founder and owner of Tri-Construction and possesses over 15 years of expertise in the areas of construction and carpentry. Lester’s leadership and experience with diverse and large construction projects have cultivated his ability to prioritize the support of women and minority groups in workplace and social systems. Lester provides leadership and direction for all aspects of construction throughout the company, including project management, negotiations, and building community partnerships. He teaches at Summit OIC, and has many years experience mentoring young people and working alongside community.
Elizer Darris
Elizer is the ACLU Smart Justice Campaign Field Organizer in Minnesota. He is also Chair of a Hennepin County JDAI committee to reduce juvenile incarceration and a member of the JDAI Executive Steering Committee. He has experience as the Field Director with the Nekima Levy-Pounds campaign for mayor of Minneapolis. Elizer is also the founder of the Darris Consulting Group, which focuses on personal and communal empowerment.
Joselynne Fynboh
Joselynne has 15 years of experience building brands across General Mills and ConAgra Foods. With a Master’s degree in Marketing from the Carlson School of Management her vision is to transform the landscape of health through the healing power of food. By day Joselynne regenerates our food system as the Sr. Sustainability Manager at General Mills, by night she enjoys canning, volunteering and spending time with her husband, daughter and their pet dog.
Brent Marmo
Brent is the co-founder of a strategic creative communications firm in Minneapolis called Agency Squid – holding a grand scale strategic vision while executing in a day-to-day tactical reality to create opportunities and expand our clients’ businesses. He has the honor of working with some of the world’s top brands including KLM, the French Government Tourist Office, FitVine Wines, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Bank, Piper Jaffray, TCF Bank, Arctic Cat, Relais & Châteaux, Principality of Monaco, Estée Lauder, and Cargill. He has served the Washburn Center for Children both as a trustee and chairman and is currently serving on the Emeritus Board for The Center.
Ariel Tauer
Ari is a Principal at Boston Consulting Group and a leader in their social impact practice with experience in portfolio strategy, digital transformation, operating models and governance. Prior to BCG, she worked at Target and Apple in a variety of merchandising and negotiations roles. Ari is a college basketball enthusiast and enjoys practicing left-handed reverse layups with her young son.
Darlynn Benjamin
Darlynn is the is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Impact Officer and SVP at the Minneapolis Foundation. She has over 30 years of proven leadership within public and private sectors. A strong focus on building solid internal and external relationships, cultivating trust, creating a culture where teams can be effective and work to advance the organization’s mission. She holds a MS in Public Management and Policy from Carnegie-Mellon University and a BS in Business Administration from Duquesne University. Darlynn brings her nonprofit experience, entrepreneurial spirit and love of cooking and baking to Appetite For Change.
Lee Friedman
Lee is Chief Operating Officer for Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis. He has overall strategic and operational responsibility for JFCS’s 30 programs that serve people of all backgrounds, and he leads wonderful colleagues in human resources, facilities, data and outcomes, diversity/equity/inclusion, and foundation and government grants. Lee was previously Associate Director for Wilderness Inquiry. Before starting his nonprofit leadership career, he was an attorney and partner with Briggs and Morgan, where he specialized in employment law. Lee’s volunteering has included Jewish Community Action, Hopkins Ultimate Frisbee, Nechama, and Golden Valley Little League. He enjoys biking, concerts, and ice cream with family and friends.
Trent Taher
Trent is the Vice President Purchasing & Director of Culinary Nutrition and Development at Taher and co-founder and co-owner of Craftmade Aprons. He holds a BA in economics and more than 13 years of experience in the restaurant and nonprofit industries. Trent has served on the Boards of Share Our Strength MN, the Minnesota Restaurant Association, the American Heart Association, and is the co-founder of Project Black & Blue. Trent believes everything centers around the dining table, a space of diverse and infinite possibilities. He brings passion for social justice through education, equity, and urban ag into his work with food and Appetite For Change.