Natalie A. Jayroe, President and CEO
Natalie joined Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans and Acadiana as President and CEO in January 2006. The mission of Second Harvest is to lead the fight against hunger in south Louisiana through food distribution, advocacy, education and disaster response. Second Harvest currently distributes more than 17 million pounds of food annually through more than 200 faith-based and nonprofit agency members in 23 parishes of south Louisiana.
Since graduating with a BA Honors in History and Politics, Natalie has worked in the food banking movement for more than 17 years. After founding the prepared and perishable food recovery program in Savannah, Georgia as a volunteer and board member Natalie became the president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia in 1994. During her nine year tenure she increased revenue by 700% and food distribution by 350%. She founded the community kitchen and restaurant program Bread and Butter Café and helped to establish the Kid’s Café afterschool program for children, a program that became nationally trademarked.
Natalie has held several positions of leadership within the Feeding America network of food banks. She was a founding member of the National Council of America’s Second Harvest, served on the Contract Task Force, and Chaired the Eastern Region of Feeding America. She served on many national state and local boards and committees while in Georgia, including the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board of Georgia, the Board of Parent and Child, and as Chair of the United Way Executive’s Association. In 2005, Natalie became a loaned executive for Feeding America, providing expertise to food banks with challenges. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita she was the Feeding America representative at the Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge.
Currently, Natalie is a member and the past President of the Louisiana Food Bank Association and Co-chair of the Food Policy Advisory Committee of New Orleans’ City Council. She was named one of City Business’ Women of the Year in 2007 and in 2008 was honored with MAZON’s Irving Cramer award, given to individual leaders and groups who emphasize passion, wisdom, and dedication in their mission to end hunger across America.
Natalie is married to Ken Jayroe and together they have three children; Philip, Kyle and Brittney.