Martin Pierce - President
Martin Pierce comes from a background of accounting, having been a partner at Ernst & Young for twenty-two years. He and his wife, Mari, now own a local print and marketing business, AlphaGraphics. Martin is a native of Indiana, graduating from Indiana University with a B.A. in Accounting. He has called St. Charles home for almost twenty years now. Martin took over the role of President of the board last year.
Scott Green
Scott Green brings a unique perspective and skill set to the board of directors for the Fox Valley Food for Health organization. Scott has a deep understanding of the day to day kitchen operations and finances of running an operation at both the ground level and top-down perspective. Scott is currently a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, where his fiduciary practice focuses on personal and small business finance. Prior to working in the finance industry, Scott spent nearly two decades as a Pastry Chef running high-level kitchens around the country where he achieved both national and international accolades for his work. His desire to give back to the community and his own personal experiences with family illness led him to Fox Valley Food For Health. “Community and nourishment are so essential when you’re battling illness. They can be literal lifelines during the darkest time in someone’s life. The fact that I can be a part of that support for people in our community through FVFFH is what drives my passion and commitment to the organization.” Scott lives with his wife, Madeline, and their rescue cat, Fox, in Batavia.
Heather Houston
Heather Houston is currently the Brand Director for Guittard Chocolate Company. As a native Texan, she earned a BS in Psychology from Tarleton State University then later went on to earn a L’Art de la Patisserie certificate from The French Pastry School in Chicago, transplanting her to the Midwest. For the past 18 years she has put her passion for good food to work, specifically within the chocolate industry, as well as earning her Masters in Applied Psychology from the University of Southern California. In 2013 Heather joined FVFFH as a volunteer mentor chef to work alongside the teens and found a passion for the mission. Heather has called Elgin her home town where she enjoys baking, sharing food with friends and time spent with her two dogs Ella and Charlie.
Vera London
Vera London is a dedicated real estate professional with Baird & Warner, bringing a strong background in sales and marketing. Prior to her real estate career, she served as an Area Manager, leading marketing initiatives for one of the largest retail chains in the Midwest. Vera holds a B.A. in Community Health from the University of Nebraska and an A.S. in General Education from Snead State Community College. In 2024, she joined the Board of Directors for Fox Valley Food for Health, driven by her passion for nutritious food and its positive impact on wellness. Outside of work, Vera enjoys cooking, running, cycling, and spending quality time with her husband, Frank, and their three children—Kenadie, Francesca, and Frank III.
Jerry Perez
Jerry J. Perez, a recently retired Senior Vice President, brings more than four decades of sales and leadership expertise to Fox Valley Food for Health. His career has spanned three industries—beginning at Frito-Lay, continuing as managing partner of Thatcher Tubes, and culminating as SVP of Sales at Follett Solutions—providing the strategic insight he now lends to our board. A St. Charles resident for over thirty years, Jerry and his wife Kay raised their three sons here and remain deeply rooted in the community. Serving both as a weekly meal-delivery volunteer and a board member, he witnesses first-hand how our volunteer-powered program nourishes neighbors fighting cancer and is committed to expanding that impact.
Meera Atkins
Dr. Meera Atkins is a physician and long-time member of the Fox Valley healthcare community. After many years in clinical practice, she transitioned into healthcare leadership, holding executive roles focused on advancing whole-person care and addressing social determinants of health to improve outcomes. She is passionate about the mission of Fox Valley Food for Health — supporting families during times of medical crisis while teaching local teens how to cook nutritious meals and give back to their community. Dr. Atkins holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Pat Engel
Pat Engel, a Geneva resident with a background in accounting and tax, works part-time as a tax specialist after selling her 30-year practice. She has been an active volunteer in the community serving in leadership roles on the boards of directors for several non-for- profit organizations. She has been involved in capital campaigns at Hands of Hope (formerly Fox Valley Hospice), Tri City Family Services and Batavia Congregational Church. She is always eager to share her training as a Master Gardener and to share stories of her travels around the world and looks forward to contributing to the continuing success of Fox Valley Food for Health.
Sue Carey
Sue Carey graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with a Bachelor of Art in Business Administration. After retiring from a 30-year career at ADP, a Payroll, HR and Benefits company, Sue was seeking an opportunity to give back to the community with an organization that aligns with her passion for healthy eating and the belief in the power of food to heal. She brings a broad level of management experience in the areas of implementation/project services, client services and training. She is excited to be part of Food for Health and further its mission. Sue has called Batavia her home since 1999, raising her 3 sons with her husband, John. Over the years Sue has been an active volunteer in the Batavia schools, sports organizations, and church community supporting her sons and all their activities, as well as volunteering for various other community organizations. She enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, biking, travelling, and spending time with family.