Valerie Nicholson Watson

Interim President & CEO, Harvesters—Community Food Network

Valerie Nicholson-Watson serves as interim President and CEO of Harvesters—The Community Food Network and previously served as President and CEO for nine years before retiring in 2022. Harvesters fulfills its mission of feeding neighbors facing hunger by working with a network of more than 900 nonprofit partner agencies that distribute food directly to families and seniors across 27 counties in northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas, covering more than 17,000 square miles. Valerie brings deep hunger-relief leadership to Feeding Missouri, including prior service as Board Chair, and was honored with the John van Hengel Fellowship in 2022 for her contributions to the national food bank network.