Our Board
PRESIDENT
Mark Willis
Mark Willis is the Director of the Hall Hunger Initiative. Before coming to the Hall Hunger Initiative, he worked as Assistant to Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge and previously served as Community Relations Manager at Dayton Metro Library. He’s also co-founder of the literacy coalition Project READ and is currently on the board for the Gem City Market and Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice. He has served as a volunteer for the suicide prevention center and as a youth soccer coach. He also plays old-time baseball at Carillon Park with the Dayton Clodbusters. Mark graduated from Wright State University with a degree in Communication.
VICE PRESIDENT
Darius Beckham
Darius was born and raised in Dayton. He is currently the senior policy aide to Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims and served as Legislative Aide to Mayor Nan Whaley. In between those jobs, Darius worked as Project Manager at HHI. He graduated from University of Dayton where he studied Political Science and Sociology and was a Dayton Civic Scholar.
TREASURER & SECRETARY
Alexandra Klug
Alex previously served as Outreach Director for Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice, working with community partners to increase regional application of regenerative farming methods. She has also worked with Homefull leading their on-the-farm vocational training program, and for the Foodbank, Inc. developing their first urban ag production space.
She has volunteered with the Feminist Health Fund and BW Greenway, and works seasonally as an easement monitor for Tecumseh Land Trust. Alex has a B.S. in Agricultural Science and Permaculture Design and was proud to participate in the EPA Region 5’s first Environmental Justice Academy.
Ariella Brown
Ariella joins the Hall Hunger Initiative board as a former HHI alum on staff where she worked on tackling food insecurity issues through grant writing, events planning, and promoting local food. She is also a former alumna of Agraria, where she led several BIPOC food and farming initiatives. She has worked on constituent services and community-led events as an aide to former Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, where she led national urban agriculture initiatives and served as an advocate for international study abroad programs.
She is especially interested in helping build a more equitable food system by lifting up the work of Black and underrepresented farmers through advocacy and serving as a community connector. She is a founding committee member for our region’s annual Black Farming Conference. She received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace University and a Bachelor’s Degree in German from the University of Mount Union.
Rick Carne
Rick has enjoyed a 45-year professional and advisory relationship with Ambassador Tony Hall, former US House of Representatives Member from Dayton, Ohio. In that position, Rick served 17 years as his District Director, then Chief of Staff.
In 1991, Rick was appointed Treasurer of Montgomery County, Ohio, and was elected to that office two years later. He also held several positions in the private sector and was the owner of Rick Carne Consulting, LLC. In 2015, Rick helped Ambassador Hall establish the Hall Hunger Initiative and served as Senior Advisor.
Christine (Chris) Corba
Christine Corba’s love of nonprofit work and volunteering began when she was fourteen. Her mom signed her up to work at the town’s Food Co-op and the food pantry, and she discovered that she really enjoyed the camaraderie that comes from working toward a common cause.
After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a psychology degree, she worked for several nonprofit and governmental organizations, including the Family Service Association, the Governor’s Community Council (now ServeOhio), the Friends of the Dayton Metro Library, We Care Arts, and Epilepsy Foundation Ohio.
In her current role as executive director of the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area, Chris is responsible for supporting the work of over 350 members whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government.
Lamees Mubaslat, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Lamees currently serves as the Dayton Regional Green Director in the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Montgomery County. She is an architect with a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Jordan. She designed, directed, and administered capital improvement projects for the Montgomery County Office of Administrative Services.
Since 2011, Lamees has directed Dayton Regional Green (a Montgomery County initiative). Established and launched a successful Green Business Certification program with over 1000 participants to date to promote greener government, businesses, and personal practices throughout Montgomery County and the Dayton region. Recently expanded the program and launched an online platform to engage individuals, employees, and students in energy conservation and sustainable lifestyle challenges through gamification. The platform allows the capture of greenhouse gas emissions reductions through lifestyle choices.
Stephanie Patino-Garfias
Stephanie is a graduate of Wright State University, and as a Newman Civic Fellow, she demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication, both at home and abroad, in the fight for social justice and human rights. Driven by a passion for effecting change, Stephanie pursued a dual master's degree from the University of Malta and George Mason University in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, with a focus on Inclusive Conflict Engagement and Mediterranean Security.
During Stephanie’s time as project manager at the Hall Hunger Initiative, she spearheaded the Miami Valley Community ID program.
Today, Stephanie continues to shine as a pioneering force within the Montgomery County Auditor's Office, where she advocates for the Hispanic community, ensuring equitable access to essential services and fostering a sense of belonging for all residents.
