OUR TEAM
"COMING TOGETHER IS THE BEGINNING.
KEEPING TOGETHER IS PROGRESS.
WORKING TOGETHER IS SUCCESS."
Distribution Center
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Stephanie Otero
CEO
Stephanie is our fearless leader. Don't let her 5 ft. frame fool you, she's a CPA (inactive) with over 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, an author, a certified business coach, and she loves helping people. Her diverse background is truly an asset to the FARSB team! Stephanie started out as the CFO for FARSB in 2016 and one year later, we welcomed her as our CEO. With her contagious positive attitude and ability to inspire others, we know we are in good hands and the future looks bright!
When she's not working towards our mission to end hunger, you can find Stephanie with her husband, two kids, and goldendoodle, Yogi.
john crooks
VP of Operations
vanesa mercado
Director of Programs
John is originally from Michigan. However, for several years now, he's been enjoying the warmer weather that Southern California has to offer! John is our "go-to-person" for anything operations, and when he's not busy at the food bank you can find him riding his motorcycle, off-roading in the sand dunes, or spending time with his wife Julie and dog, Coco.
One of the many things Vanesa loves about working at "FARSB", is having an impact on the community! Back in the day, Vanesa was a competitive diver and competed in college. Though her diving days are over, her two kids keeps her busy! When Vanesa is not at the food bank you can find her singing in church and spending time with her family.