The 2026 Colorado Food is Medicine Summit Speakers
Jack Becker, Consultant, Colorado Food Cluster
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Jack Becker is a Colorado-based consultant with more than 13 years of experience helping communities, government agencies, and nonprofits navigate complex decisions and design inclusive, community-led solutions. As principal of Grounded Solutions, Becker supports the Colorado Food Cluster in researching, designing, and launching new initiatives, including guiding the creation of Food Trust—a 12-month pilot of a universal basic food program—and helping the organization join Colorado’s Medicaid provider network to deliver medically tailored meals. As project lead for the Colorado Project at the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, he leads statewide conversations on inclusive and sustainable economic development. A certified mediator, Becker has facilitated more than 150 stakeholder processes across Colorado, strengthening systems in education, behavioral health, and community well-being.
Cody Belzley, Principal, Common Good Consulting
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Cody Belzley has dedicated her more than 20-year career to making public policy change in Colorado. In 2015, Belzley founded Common Good Consulting, LLC, offering policy and organizational strategy services to nonprofit organizations, coalitions, and campaign committees focusing primarily on health, education, and human services issues at the state and local levels. Her previous experience includes serving as vice president for health & strategic initiatives at the Colorado Children’s Campaign and as senior policy analyst for health for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. Belzley has played leadership roles in many state and local ballot measures and state legislative initiatives. She has volunteered with many community organizations, including Mile High Early Learning, Colorado School of Public Health, and Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Belzley and her family live in Denver.
Greg Berman, MD, MBA, Interim Executive Medical Director, Vice President, Executive Medical Director of Operations, Kaiser Permanente
Dr. Greg Berman serves as interim president and executive medical director for Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) and the Colorado Permanente Medical Group (CPMG). He also sits on the KP Medical Foundation leadership team, championing value-based care and integrated delivery. Since August 2022, Berman has led operations for primary and specialty care, member experience, access, and hospital strategy. His leadership emphasizes quality, affordability, and growth through a “leading as one” model. Joining CPMG in 2011 as an anesthesiologist, he has held roles including vice president of acceleration and enablement, senior transformation officer, and medical director of Kaiser Ambulatory Surgery Center. He earned his MD and MBA from Indiana University and completed residency at the University of Colorado. Board-certified in anesthesiology, Berman enjoys family time, gardening, skiing, hiking, and music.
Karen Besterman-Dahan, PhD, RD, Research Health Scientist, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Maryland Healthcare System
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Karen Besterman-Dahan is a research health scientist and the qualitative core director at the VISN 5 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the Baltimore Division of the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System. Besterman-Dahan’s research focuses on veteran food insecurity and rural health. Her work uses a community engaged research approach that includes qualitative and mixed methods to enhance trust, relevance, and fit of projects, as well as more immediate translation of findings.
R.J. Briscione, Principal, Health Management Associates
R.J. Briscione is a seasoned executive with more than two decades of experience leading large-scale businesses and driving innovation in the health care sector. Briscione is an expert in operations and patient/member engagement across government-sponsored plans, with a focus on social determinants of health (SDoH). Previously Briscione led SDoH for CVS Health, scaling SDoH strategy across the CVS Health enterprise for all lines of CVS and Aetna business. Briscione has built and scaled high-impact strategies for some of the nation’s largest health care companies, launching new products, expanding into new markets, and transforming service delivery models. His work spans corporate leadership, startup advising, and investment strategy—always focused on creating measurable value and sustainable growth. In addition, Briscione serves as a health care advisor to NEXT VENTŪRES, an early-stage venture fund founded by world class athletes, investing in whole-person health.
Monica Buhlig, MPH, Chief Impact Officer, Food Bank of the Rockies
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Monica Buhlig has more than 20 years of experience focused on creating communities in which people face no barriers to health and thriving. She has worked in health care, public health, local government, and philanthropy. Buhlig has consistently forged partnerships to advance the social determinants of health, including leading the integration of the first food security screening within a health system in Colorado. Buhlig holds a master of public health from San Diego State University and is both a Bighorn and RIHEL Fellow. Buhlig is a proud mother of two children and enjoys being active outdoors, gardening and the produce it yields, and exploring new communities as often as possible.
Tessa Cushman, MPH, RDN, Food Access and Systems Coordinator, Adams County Health Department
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Tessa Cushman is the food access and systems coordinator for Adams County Health Department, leading food policy, systems, and environmental change. Through authentic community partnerships and guided by her own lived experience of poverty and food insecurity, she catalyzes community-led solutions that advance food justice and food sovereignty. Through a partnership with Boulder County Public Health and her colleague Alyssa, Cushman co-facilitates a patient advisory board, “Voces de Mamas,” which co-designed the 2026 Boulder and Adams Prenatal Produce Prescription Delivery program. Tessa is a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow and holds a master of public health with a concentration in food systems and environment. Cushman is also a part-time nutrition instructor for Ball State University. She is a pit bull mom, auntie, activist, snowboarder, backpacker, thrifter, writer, gardener, and volleyball player.
Colleen B. Daywalt, MPP, Vice President, Government Programs, Colorado Community Health Alliance
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Colleen Daywalt serves as the vice president, government programs at Physician Health Partners. Daywalt has more than 18 years of public policy and communications experience in Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance. In her role, she leads overall operation and strategy for Colorado Community Health Alliance, the Medicaid Regional Accountable Entity for eight counties serving more than 285,000 members. Daywalt also oversees the Medicare Shared Savings Program participation for the largest primary care independent practice association in the Denver area, which covers more than 18,000 seniors. Daywalt is passionate about civil service and serves as president of the Colorado State Board of Optometry. Daywalt holds a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University and dual bachelor’s degrees in English and communications from The Pennsylvania State University.
Ynke de Koe, MS, RD, Nutrition Integration Specialist and State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program Manager, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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Ynke de Koe is the nutrition integration specialist and State Physical Activity and Nutrition program grant manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). She is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. In her role at CDPHE, she serves as the subject-matter expert for food policy, systems, and environmental change grantees. De Koe also works with other state agencies, local public health agencies, statewide food advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, and the charitable food system to increase access to healthy food and beverages, expand healthy food incentive programs, and improve the nutrition environment through policies.
Giselle Díaz Campagna, Executive Director, The GrowHaus
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Giselle Díaz Campagna is the executive director of The GrowHaus, a Denver nonprofit dedicated to community-led food justice through education and food access. She has dedicated her career to advancing social equity by developing and implementing innovative strategies and programs that directly address the needs of historically excluded communities and connect them with lasting resources across the nonprofit, media, health care, and higher education sectors. Through her leadership at The GrowHaus, she prioritizes children’s nutrition and leadership education, ensuring young people have the knowledge and resources to shape the future of food systems. When she is not tending to her vegetable garden, Díaz Campagna explores life as a cook, herbalist, and creative writer.
Becky DiOrio, MPH, Diabetes and Health Navigation Program Manager, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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Becky DiOrio is the diabetes and health navigation program manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, where she has worked in diabetes prevention and management since 2014. She has experience increasing access to, participation in, and reimbursement of evidence-based diabetes prevention and management programs. In addition, DiOrio provides leadership support for the state’s Community Health Worker credentialing infrastructure. DiOrio received her master of public health from the University of Michigan, with a focus on health behavior and health education.
Gerard Frunzi, Director Virtual Care at CommonSpirit Health
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Gerard Frunzi is the director of virtual care for CommonSpirit Health’s Mountain Region, where he leads the expansion of telehealth services across Colorado, Kansas, and Utah. He specializes in developing tele-enabled clinical care protocols, driving strategic planning, and integrating virtual care solutions to enhance patient access and outcomes. Additionally, he leads a number of teams that support food insecurity programs in Colorado and Utah. Frunzi holds a bachelor of science in computer information systems from Metropolitan State University of Denver and an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver. He is at the forefront of transforming clinical operations through innovative telehealth models, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care in the digital era, and driving the future of health care.
Katie Garfield, JD, Director, Whole Person Care, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School
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Katie Garfield is a clinical instructor and the director of whole person care at the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI) of Harvard Law School. In this role, Garfield directs the center’s initiatives that focus on better equipping the U.S. health care system to identify and respond to health-related social needs, including CHLPI’s Food is Medicine portfolio. In her work on these initiatives, she conducts legal and policy research regarding current pathways to integrate innovative services into health care delivery and financing. She also provides education and technical assistance to a range of community-based organizations, state agencies, health care providers, and coalitions that are working to develop or implement strategies to achieve these goals.
Charles Gilford III, CEO, Inner City Health
Charles Gilford III, a proud Colorado native, serves as CEO of Inner City Health (ICH), a faith-based nonprofit clinic on Denver’s historic east side providing quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care to uninsured and underinsured patients. Prior to ICH, he was a mayoral appointee for the City of Denver, bridging legislative and executive branches, regional partners, and communities. He led projects influencing $3.65 billion in capital investments and advanced bipartisan, cross-jurisdictional solutions. Gilford also serves as chairman of the Denver Housing Authority, trustee of the CU Foundation, and co-chair of the Judicial Performance Review Commission, and he is an associate pastor of the Potter’s House. A CU Boulder alumnus and former student body president managing a $36 million budget for 34,000 students, he is most proud of being a husband and father of two. His hobbies include reading history, following presidential primaries, and working with horses.
Dr. Wendolyn S. Gozansky, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Dr. Wendolyn S. Gozansky, MD, MPH, serves as vice president and chief quality officer for the Colorado Permanente Medical Group (CPMG), overseeing quality improvement for a group of more than 1,200 physicians caring for more than 500,000 Kaiser Permanente Colorado members. Since joining CPMG in 2010, Gozansky has advanced care through evidence-based practices, data-driven systems, and the integration of research into operations. A board-certified internist and geriatrician, she practices post-acute medicine and has led strategies for geriatrics, palliative care, and complex patient management. She champions collaborative care models and senior care optimization on a national level. Previously, she was an associate professor at the University of Colorado. She holds degrees from Smith College and Tufts University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado. An avid outdoors enthusiast, Gozansky aims to run a marathon in every state, with 27 completed so far.
Kathryn Jantz, MSW, MPH, Consulting Director, HealthBegins
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Kathryn Jantz is the consulting director for HealthBegins. Within this role, she provides strategic direction for consulting projects with a focus on Medicaid health-related social needs policy, the intersection between food and health, social return on investment for upstream activities, and health care-based programs to address social needs. She is a public health policy expert focused on mobilizing the health care system to address the structural drivers of health inequity. In prior roles, she supported states in developing strategies to finance care for children and youth with special health care needs, supported the implementation and design of Colorado Medicaid’s primary delivery system, and ran the Accountable Health Communities Model in Western Colorado. Jantz holds a master’s degree in social work with a focus in clinical practice and a master’s degree in public health with a focus in health law.
Kate Johnston, MPH, Chief Program Strategy Officer, Project Angel Heart
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Kate Johnston joined Project Angel Heart as its chief operating officer in 2022 and now serves as chief program strategy officer. Before this, she spent 10 years in health care, building and leading community-based efforts to improve health for children and families. This experience, along with previous roles focused on health inequities, solidified her passion for addressing the social determinants of health so everyone in the community can thrive. Johnston is originally from North Carolina and holds a BA in psychology and an MPH in health behavior, both from the University of North Carolina.
Kirsti Klaverkamp, Director, Colorado Health Institute
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Kirsti Klaverkamp leads cross-sector initiatives to develop partnerships and implement programming that advance chronic disease prevention and management, social determinants of health, and climate and health priorities. She has facilitated stakeholder groups to develop programmatic and policy recommendations that address complex challenges, including in behavioral health, care coordination, health and social data, and technology. She led efforts to expand community involvement in public health decision-making by coordinating various efforts within the Metro Denver Partnership for Health. Before joining Colorado Health Institute, Klaverkamp managed operations and quality improvement activities under a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation demonstration project called the Accountable Health Communities Model. She also has extensive experience in direct service, having previously coordinated a client advocacy program for older adults and adults with disabilities in the Denver metro area.
Devon Klatell, Vice President, Food, The Rockefeller Foundation
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Devon Klatell is vice president, food, at The Rockefeller Foundation, leading efforts to advance a more nourishing, equitable, and sustainable U.S. food system. She directs the Foundation’s $100 million Food is Medicine initiative, partnering with health care insurers, hospitals, food service businesses, policymakers, and funders to increase healthy food consumption in underserved communities. She previously led work on food waste prevention, sustainable protein, school nutrition, and the True Cost of Food. Earlier, she oversaw strategic planning for global initiatives. Before joining the foundation, she was a consultant with Katzenbach Partners and Booz & Company. She holds a BA from Harvard and an MA in food systems from NYU.
Eve M. Kutchman, M.Ed., Prevention, Education and Outreach Manager, Children’s Hospital Colorado
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Eve Kutchman manages food security strategy development and program implementation at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Additionally, in her role as an exercise physiologist within the Lifestyle Medicine service line, she ensures a holistic and comprehensive approach to food security initiatives from both clinical and community perspectives. Kutchman brings more than 25 years of experience promoting healthy eating and active living programs in a variety of settings, including childhood obesity intervention programs, school-based initiatives, coaching, teaching, and fitness center management. She earned a master’s degree in exercise science and a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cleveland State University.
Marti Macchi, DrPH, MPH, M.Ed., President & CEO, Project Angel Heart
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As president & CEO of Project Angel Heart, Marti Macchi advances the mission to deliver medically tailored meals to people with severe illnesses. Partnering with the board and executive team, she leads strategy and operations to ensure success and sustainability. Overseeing 49 staff and a large volunteer network, she manages the budget with transparency and fosters a collaborative, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with the organization’s values. As chief spokesperson and primary fundraiser, Macchi builds relationships with donors, partners, and community leaders, serving as the public face of Project Angel Heart through media, speaking, and outreach to expand its reach and impact. She holds an M.Ed. in exercise science (Wichita State University), an MPH (UNC Chapel Hill), and a DrPH (University of Illinois at Chicago), with more than 25 years of public health experience focused on chronic disease prevention and the national Food is Medicine movement.
Rebecca Martinez, Chief Operating Officer, RecoveryWorks
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Rebecca Martinez is a seasoned human services leader and chief operating officer of RecoveryWorks, with more than 15 years of experience in homelessness response and systems transformation, grounded in local government and nonprofit collaboration. Through her work with the Denver Department of Human Services and the Department of Housing Stability, she has led high-impact, trauma-informed initiatives, stewarded complex local, state, and federal funding, and helped improve housing stability and health outcomes for individuals and families across Denver. Nationally recognized for her leadership in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, Martinez is known for centering dignity, belonging, and compassion in the systems that serve the city’s most vulnerable neighbors. Her work is guided by the belief that healing-centered, accountable systems—rooted in humanity—create stronger, more equitable communities.
Roberto Meza, CEO, Hearty Provisions
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Roberto Meza is a first-generation farmer, food systems entrepreneur, and educator. Born in Mexico, he co-founded Emerald Gardens, a year-round greenhouse operation in Bennett, Colorado, and currently serves as CEO of Hearty Provisions, a regional food hub and distributor advancing local food access across Colorado. Meza is known for developing community-centered models for food production and distribution that help institutions and food-service partners source local ingredients with transparency and reliability. His work focuses on value chain coordination, shared infrastructure, and collaborative partnerships that strengthen resilience in regional food systems. A committed advocate for policy change and grassroots leadership, Meza serves on the boards of Zero Foodprint and the Ag & Food Lab. He is a frequent speaker on regenerative farming, food systems innovation, and social entrepreneurship.
Thái Nguyễn, Founder and Executive Director of Kaizen Food Rescue/Kaizen Food Share
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Thái Nguyễn is an advocate and storyteller advancing food justice, sustainable agriculture, and community resilience. As a speaker with the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau, she shares her immigration story to elevate refugee voices and inspire systemic change. She founded her grassroots nonprofit in 2019, turning lived experience into impact by expanding equitable food access, mobilizing communities, and shaping policy across the Denver metro region. Nguyễn bridges grassroots wisdom with institutional decision-making and serves across several leadership spaces, including Provecho Collective’s Food Sovereignty Advisory Board, the board of directors for Food Justice Northwest Aurora, the Jefferson County Food Policy Council Community Advisory Board, and the Mountain West Climate Engagement Hub. She is also secretary and co-policy chair for Mile High Farmers and a member of the Office of New Americans Community Advisory Committee.
Matt Nigro, Northern Colorado & Logistics Specialist, Project Angel Heart
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Matt Nigro has been with Project Angel Heart for 10 years. Prior to that, he spent three years with Food Bank of the Rockies. Over that time, he’s worked in various aspects of operations, including project management, volunteer coordination, warehousing and inventory, fleet management, and packaging and delivery logistics. Nigro is passionate about community efforts that meet the needs and respect the dignity of neighbors, as well as problem‑solving to get high‑quality food to more people in more places.
Liz Owens, Vice President of Government Relations, Colorado Access
As Colorado Access’ vice president of government relations, Liz Owens leads the organization’s Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) plans, policy engagement, and legislative advocacy to support quality, equitable, and affordable care. Prior to her time at Colorado Access, Owens served in senior leadership positions at the Colorado Department of Human Services, where she was instrumental in designing and launching the state’s Behavioral Health Administration. She also led the department’s behavioral health legislative agenda and was the architect of the I Matter youth therapy program, a first-in-the-nation initiative that provides free mental health support to young people across Colorado. Owens holds a Master of Arts in public policy and women’s studies from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication, with a minor in political science, from Drake University.
John Patton, CEO & Founder, Street Charity
John Patton is the founder and CEO of Street Charity, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit that developed a prepaid card that addressed food insecurity and acute hunger needs by leveraging the quick-serve restaurant industry of more than 240,000 outlets. Patton has spent 15 years in public health as a vice president for the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and serves on the board of directors for the Population Health Alliance. He is also the author of the book “Brainless Health,” which teaches people how to incorporate healthy habits into their lives without thinking.
Ro Pereira, MD, Director of Community Integrated Health Care, Denver Health
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Dr. Ro Pereira is a physician leader at Denver Health, where she is director of community integrated health care and division chief of endocrinology, and she is a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Pereira leads Denver Health efforts to identify and address health disparities impacting Denver communities. She is a practicing clinician with expertise in endocrinology and diabetes. She receives research and program funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the American Diabetes Association, and others. Pereira is the founder and director of a community-based lifestyle intervention program and former president of the board of directors for the community-based organization Vuela for Health. Pereira is a leader with the Endocrine Society, a global community of clinicians and researchers. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar and a fellow in the Drexel Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine and Executive Leadership in Health Care programs.
Hannah Peterson, Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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Hannah Peterson is a chronic disease epidemiologist with expertise across heart disease, diabetes, older adult health, nutrition, physical activity, and the built environment. She develops and manages Colorado’s Chronic Disease Data Dashboard VISION, which provides more than 100 chronic disease and health behavior metrics to local and state public health professionals, community stakeholders, researchers, and policy and decision makers. Her work is guided by the belief that every data point represents a person’s life and lived experience, and she is passionate about ensuring that space is held for that truth in analysis and interpretation. Through data storytelling, she works to transform complex health data into narratives that highlight disparities, inspire action, and drive meaningful change.
Matthew Pieper, CEO, Open Hand Atlanta
Matthew Pieper, chief executive officer, recently celebrated his 17th anniversary with Open Hand Atlanta, a not-for-profit that cooks, packages, and delivers more than 5,000 meals a day to neighbors in need in metro-Atlanta and many surrounding counties, including Clarke, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties. Open Hand also provides nutrition education and counseling for clients facing a chronic disease diagnosis. In addition to his role as CEO, Pieper serves as chair of the board of advisors for the national Food is Medicine Coalition, serves on the board of directors for Rotary Club of Buckhead, where he has been a proud Rotarian since 2010, and is the immediate past president of the Meals on Wheels Association of Georgia. He is also an active member of the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement and speaks frequently as a public policy advocate for the role community-based nutrition interventions play in helping to achieve better health outcomes.
Penelope Powell, Executive Director, Valley Food Partnership
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Penelope Powell (Montrose, Colo.) grew up in a farming family and community, sparking a lifelong passion for agriculture. With a background in nonprofit management, she found the perfect opportunity to combine her skills and passion when she became executive director of Valley Food Partnership in 2021. In this role, Penelope leads initiatives that strengthen the regional food system—from supporting the next generation of producers to operating a vibrant farmers market with multiple food access programs—ensuring fresh, local produce is available to everyone, regardless of income. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration and innovation, with a vision for building resilient, equitable food systems centered on community. She also serves as a board director for River Valley Family Health Center, a federally qualified health clinic, where she champions the connection between food and health.
Mandy Pullaro, Executive Director, Feeding Colorado
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Mandy joined Feeding Colorado in 2023, motivated by the vision of ensuring that everyone in Colorado has equitable access to the food they need to thrive. Pullaro has worked in government relations across 16 states, focusing on issues ranging from early childhood home visiting to nursing scope of practice. She is particularly passionate about the intersection of food and health and promoting bipartisan, evidence-based solutions that enhance the health and well-being of families. Pullaro co-leads the Colorado Food is Medicine Coalition alongside Project Angel Heart and Nic Soucy. A first-generation college graduate, she holds a master’s degree in politics and public policy from CU Denver and a bachelor’s degree in political science from CU Boulder.
Prabhdeep Sandha, PhD, RDN, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition, MSU Denver
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Prabhdeep Sandha is a recognized leader in nutrition education and research. A gold medalist from Punjab Agricultural University, she earned her BS in nutrition and dietetics before completing her PhD with highest honors at the University of Mississippi, where she was named Outstanding Graduate Student and Class Marshal. Her research on produce intake among U.S. schoolchildren in the National School Lunch Program has informed child nutrition policy. Sandha completed her dietetic internship at Ohio State University and currently serves as chair and associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has led national initiatives as chair of the IND MIG at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and earned prestigious awards, including the CDR Faculty Fellowship and Kathleen Stitt Award. Her work reflects a deep commitment to advancing nutrition science, education, and public health.
Pamela Schwartz, Executive Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente
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Pamela Schwartz, MPH, is the executive director of community health for Kaiser Permanente. She leads a broad portfolio of work addressing social determinants of health in the areas of highest need among Kaiser Permanente members and its communities, including food, housing, mental health workforce development, and financial security. Schwartz oversees Kaiser Permanente’s $50 million commitment to improving access to healthy food, which includes the Kaiser Permanente Food Is Medicine Center of Excellence, created in 2024 to more fully integrate food and nutrition into health care delivery. Schwartz and her team have created innovative, high-impact initiatives to increase affordable housing and reduce homelessness in dozens of communities and to increase the number of medical respite programs available in communities to help patients experiencing homelessness. Schwartz is currently on faculty at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in the Department of Health System Science.
Daysi Sweaney, Director of Nutrition Incentives, Nourish Colorado
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Daysi Sweaney is the director of nutrition incentives at Nourish Colorado, where she leads statewide initiatives to build a more equitable food system. She oversees Colorado’s largest nutrition incentive programs, including Double Up Food Bucks, the Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus, and the Colorado Nutrition Incentive Program, along with cross-sector partnerships connecting farmers, retailers, state agencies, and the community. Sweaney’s work includes guiding strategic planning, strengthening program accountability, and advancing policy solutions that expand access to nutritious food while supporting local agriculture. She is actively engaged in federal policy work, collaborating with national coalitions to advance Farm Bill priorities and strengthen SNAP incentive policy. Her work is grounded in the belief that community-informed nutrition incentive programs can improve food access and health while generating meaningful economic impact by supporting farmers, retailers, and local economies.
Joy Twesigye, WHNP-BC, MPP, VP of Health Strategy, Colorado Access
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Joy Twesigye is a nurse practitioner and health strategist with more than three decades of experience driving community-based solutions to improve health outcomes. As vice president of health strategy at Colorado Access, she leads care coordination, population health, and community engagement teams, and develops innovative strategies to expand access to services across diverse systems and programs. Twesigye’s career spans leadership in public health, maternal and child health, and school-based health initiatives. She has founded and led socially responsible initiatives since 1991, including Delaware, Ohio’s first sustainable soup kitchen. Twesigye holds degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University, Ohio State University, and Johns Hopkins University. She is passionate about equity, access, and building healthier communities.
Lorena Zimmer, Chief Impact Officer, Denver Health
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Lorena Zimmer is the chief impact officer at Denver Health and a proven leader in equity work, recognized nationally for her ability to innovate and institutionalize the use of technology, data, and strategy to leverage community partnerships and create social impact. She has a broad background in policy, public health, and economic mobility, always focused on how to close health and economic disparities. Prior to returning to Denver Health, she worked on influencing the business community to provide greater opportunity for low-wage employees through ProsperCO.org. Specific to policy, examples include the legislation to modernize the Colorado Office of Health Equity, and equity in education and workforce legislation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and another in anthropology from Florida State University and a master’s degree in applied medical anthropology from CU Denver. To stay energized and inspired, she loves adventuring with her family.