Meet Our Collaborative Support Network
At the core of the Michigan Good Food Fund lies an ecosystem comprising lenders, technical experts, visionary lenders, and dedicated support staff — all committed to your success.
Our Lending Network
Our lending network is pivotal to our mission, offering essential financial support and resources to support local food and farm businesses. Together, we're growing a more resilient, inclusive local food system.
Stakeholder Board
Our initiatives are steered by our Stakeholder Board, comprising of individuals with diverse backgrounds across Michigan’s food value chain, some of whom have benefitted from our loans in the past. Collaboratively, we strive to align future investments with the needs and priorities of communities disproportionately impacted by wealth disparities.
April Anderson
Co-Owner/CEO, Good Cakes and Bakes | Detroit Metro
Terri Barker
Economic and Community Development Analyst, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | Statewide
Brittany Bradd
Greydale Farms | Detroit Metro
Carolyn Cassin
President & CEO, Michigan Women Forward General Partner & Co-Founder, The BELLE Michigan Impact Fund | Detroit Metro
Dan Cornelius
Technical Assistance Specialist, Intertribal Agriculture Council - Great Lakes | Northwest
Charles Donaldson
Senior Community Assistance Team Specialist (Region 6), MEDC | East Michigan
Juan Escareño
Government and Community Relations Director, Midwest Independent Retailers Association | Detroit Metro
Kiar Gamsho
Owner/Director of Operations, Park Street Market | Southwest Michigan
Matt Gougeon
General Manager, Marquette Food Co-op | Upper Peninsula
Jerry Hebron
Executive Director, Oakland Avenue Urban Farm | Detroit Metro
Ana Jose
Program Manager, Transformando West Michigan | West Michigan
Daniel Marbury
Program Coordinator, Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology | Northwest
Rebecca O’Connell
Government Affairs Manager, Lake Trust Credit Union | Statewide
Brandon Seng
Director of Programs, Eastern Market Partnership | Detroit Metro
Jamie Rahrig, MPH, RDN
Michigan Good Food Fund Specialist & Innovation Counselor, MSU CRFS and Product Center | Statewide
Darel Ross
Director, Start Garden | West Michigan
John Schoeniger
Loan Fund Manager, Detroit Development Fund | Detroit Metro
Kaja Thornton
Founder & CEO, Kaja’s Flavor LLC | West Michigan
Tony Vu
Owner/Operator, MaMang, The Good Bowl, and Flint Social Club | Northern Michigan and Flint Metro
Adrienne Wolff
Farmer and Owner, Buckwheat’s Market Garden | Northwest
Milinda Ysasi
CEO, GROW | West Michigan
Support Team
Our administrative partners at Fair Food Network provide expertise, guidance, and unwavering support to food and farm entrepreneurs across Michigan.
Aaron W. Jackson
Program Director
Aaron leads the investment process of the Michigan Good Food Fund and oversees its portfolio management. He collaborates closely with the lending network’s Stakeholder Board, which establishes the organization’s vision and priorities, channels community input, and ensures accountability to those it aims to serve.
Shakir Bralock
Investment Manager
Shakir has 15 years of experience as a banking center manager where he worked at various banking centers throughout southeastern Michigan. Shakir was most recently a Loan Officer at a Michigan based CDFI where he worked directly with entrepreneurs in securing lending and technical services for their business.
Shakir has a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University where he majored in Finance and Marketing. Shakir and his wife have two daughters ages 12 and 16 and he spends his time listening to music, watching sports and traveling.
Carlos Santacruz
Investment Manager
Carlos supports Michigan Good Food Fund’s lending and investing initiatives throughout the state. He collaborates closely with the lending network’s partners to facilitate financing to food and farm businesses.
Our Funders
Together with our funders, we are committed to making investments in food and farm businesses that reflect the priorities of the people and communities most affected by wealth inequities.
Become a Funder
Join us in supporting food and farm businesses that spark local economies and drive direct benefit for our communities.
To learn more, reach us at info@MIGoodFoodFund.org
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