Mara Fleishman

CEO, Chef Ann Foundation; Boulder, CO

Mara Fleishman is CEO of the Chef Ann Foundation. In 2001, Mara turned her passion for healthy and sustainable food into a career by taking a position leading the marketing efforts for Whole Foods Market on the east coast and in Europe. For nearly six years, she worked to raise awareness of the importance of eating fresh, healthy food. After a move to Boulder, CO, Mara decided to join her kindergartener for lunch at school one day. Shocked by the highly processed, high-sugar lunch that she and her daughter were served, she began her crusade to reform school food. While Mara worked with a small group of concerned parents and administrators to change their local school food program, she was also working on Whole Foods Market’s first national initiative to support school food reform, then in her role as global director of partnerships. In 2013, Mara left her position with Whole Foods Market to work on school food reform in a full-time capacity as CEO of the Chef Ann Foundation. With three kids ranging from ages seven to sixteen, Mara brings a parent’s awareness to her work and writes about school food through that lens. In all, Mara has nearly 20 years of experience working in the natural products industry and is dedicated to educating people regarding the benefits of healthy food and sustainable business practices. (Boulder, CO) @marafleishman