BIG TABLE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Member of the Spokane Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Spokane Team
- City Director
Chris is the City Director overseeing our care team in Spokane. Most known for his time at South Perry Pizza and high school ministry at First Presbyterian church, he brings a unique mix of ministry and kitchen experience to the table. He has a Culinary Arts degree as well as bachelor's degree in Communications Studies.
Chris is a Spokane native and lover of all adventures with his wife Ashley and their dog Jake. A few interests in Chris' life include having people over for dinner, playing golf, and riding his bicycle. He has also been known to sport the occasional bow tie.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Chris worked for ten years as a general manager for a national coffee chain where he saw firsthand the hardships people in the industry face. Fueled by a desire to help those he worked so closely with (and too much coffee), he quickly felt called to Big Table. He loves the opportunity to serve Nashville and give back some of the love he and his family have felt since moving there in 2012.
Chris, his wife Tina, and their two children, Parker and Emma, enjoy traveling, swimming, spending time finding "tressures" at flea markets, and gardening. Chris also enjoys cooking and introducing his Nashville friends to native Chicago dishes like his favorite homemade tavern-style pizza with sausage, tomato, and giardiniera peppers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Spokane Team
- Office and Volunteer Coordinator
Claire has had the privilege of growing up beside the beach in New Jersey and tucked in the Rocky Mountains in Park City, Utah. She is the oldest of three sisters, all of which were born in February, and have a "C" name. She moved to Spokane to earn her bachelor's in political science from Gonzaga University and has lived here since. At Gonzaga, Claire led the student government's senate, volunteered at mission and ministry retreats, and interned with the Office of Sustainability. For three summers, she served as a camp counselor in Utah where she has made some of her fondest memories. In her free time, Claire can be found writing poetry, learning Italian, or roller-skating on Gonzaga's campus. Her favorite dessert is marzipan, and she will never pass the opportunity to entice others to try it!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Manager, Able Label
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Eric made his way down to San Diego for a surf session almost 20 years ago and ended up staying! He brings a unique perspective to the team with a diverse background in the restaurant industry spanning 25 years, starting in Portland, Oregon. Growing up on a farm not far from the majestic Mt. Hood, he became obsessed with the sport of snowboarding. These days, he enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, family and friends - whether at the beach surfing or at church, where he volunteers for the youth program. Eric is passionate about people, never shying away from deep conversations.
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Gloria comes to Big Table as a long-time resident of San Diego after having built a close-knit family of 4 adult children with her husband Robert. Her career life spans from bilingual educator to corporate VP in her family's restaurant chain, Rubio's Restaurants Inc., to homeschooling her kids and church ministry in the downtown area where she and her husband currently reside. Her love for connecting people to their aspirations and embracing them with hope has been her primary endeavor beginning with her kids and extending to anyone she meets. Gloria loves a great run and coffee with her friends, discovering acoustic entertainment with her husband, swapping music finds with her kids, and spontaneous trips with her entire family. Her daily medicine is a good, solid laugh.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chief Technology Officer, IntelliTect
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
- Marketing Intern
Ian is a student at Eastern Washington University studying visual design. Drawn to Big Table by the amazing generosity it shows to those working in the industry, Ian is proud that the work he does makes a difference in the lives of those who need it. Ian enjoys time with friends, video games, and rollercoasters. He also has been an avid trombone player for 8 years. Ian would enjoy nothing more than to kick back at the end of the day with a bowl of cheesy popcorn and an energy drink.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Spokane Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Born and raised in the west plains, Jackson's roots run deep here in the greater Spokane area. Coming to Big Table with many years of drive thru coffee experience and vocational ministry experience, Jackson has a huge passion and heart for serving others. In his free time, you can find Jackson active in various activities, including rock climbing, disc golfing, and playing tennis. Above all, Jackson just loves spending quality time with friends and family… and some pumpkin cheesecake with a ton of whipped cream on top.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Vice President of Strategic and Customer Services, Retired
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President, NAI Black
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Nashville City Director
Jen is new to Big Table but not to Nashville, having lived here for almost three decades. With over 10 years of experience leading a Care Department at a large church in town, she is ready to care for the city she loves in new ways.
Jen and her husband, Steve, met at YMCA day camp when 8 and 9 years old where they both remember couple skating on a rainy day to a popular 70s tune "Slow Dancin' Swayin' to the Music." Living in different parts of town, they skipped their braces and puberty years before meeting again at 16 and 18 through a random encounter. They now have three kids in their 20s that are doing cool things in fun cities, so visiting them is a favorite pastime.
Jen doesn't cook so the restaurant industry is particularly meaningful to her. She loves dark chocolate and has a small piece after every meal (yes, even after breakfast) to keep her sweet tooth in check.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Spokane Team
- Care Director
Jenni is a Pacific Northwest native who grew up in the lentil capital of the world, Pullman, WA. Initially drawn by the community and relational aspect of Big Table, she started serving as a volunteer after her family moved back to the area. Jenni is passionate about offering space for people to feel known and valued. Her role at Big Table connects her experience in hospitality and fundraising with her heart for advocating and caring for people. Jenni is a proud University of Montana graduate of Communication Studies and received training through Whitworth's School Counseling program.
Jenni is a self-described "people-loving introvert" who is fueled by trail runs, stargazing, and coffee. She has great reverence for her green reading chair but seizes every opportunity to picnic with her daughter, Adalyn and explore with her husband, Justin and corgi, Watson.
Job Titles:
- Associate Executive Director
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
Jill joined the Big Table team in 2011. She is the organizational virtuoso behind Big Table's growth and expansion and now manages our vibrant city teams as our Associate Executive Director. She is a graduate of WSU's hospitality business program. Jill and her husband Jamie (a gifted architect) have three boys - who are now all young adults.
Jill laughs a lot, and her smile is contagious. She is gracious and direct in tough conversations and gives thoughtful gifts. She thinks tacos are always a good idea and is a big fan of fresh crab with melted butter. She drives a seriously fast Volkswagen GTI and prefers to get her exercise by chasing a tennis ball. Her CB Handle is, appropriately, Sunbeam.
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Josh is the Lead Pastor of Center Church in Downtown San Diego. He's been leading inner city community outreaches for over 20 years. He along with his wife Brianna own "The Pascua Pack" who specialize in caring for pups all throughout San Diego county. Josh enjoys the outdoors, coffee table conversations, and good leadership reads. His favorite pastime is exploring new cuisines with the people he loves most. Josh is passionate about serving the city but even more, he loves the everyday connections that invite people into life transforming hope.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
Karri brings with her a 25 year background in marketing ranging from extensive advertising agency client service to product development at American Greetings where she worked on Christmas all year long. Fueled by creativity and compassion, she is beyond thrilled to join the Big Table team in the communications role.
Caring for and encouraging others is in her DNA - so, if you need someone to speak life over you, just give her a call. While you're at it make sure to ask her about the time she sang with The Temptations and how it is that she's related to every US President! In her spare time, she loves to get her hands dirty in the garden, hand stamp jewelry, grab coffee with friends and always enjoys a random pop-up dance party (even if it is a party of one). Her favorite people are her husband Andy and their three young adult sons.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
After working at a family-owned food and snack company for twelve years, Kealan was excited to join the Big Table family on mission to care for restaurant and hospitality industry workers in crisis. She was raised in Spokane and loves all that the Inland Northwest has to offer. Kealan enjoys bike rides, camping, eating al fresco, hiking, gardening, knitting, paddleboarding, the county fair, walking through parks, and spending time with family. She and her husband Victor have been married for ten years and enjoy their fluffy miniature American Eskimo named Meeka who loves nothing more than being snuggled.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
Kevin moonlighted as a restaurant critic for the Spokesman Review, The Inlander, and Spokane Coeur d'Alene magazine for ten years. Writing about people in the restaurant and hospitality industry triggered his "spidy" sense that there is a massive amount of unmet need hidden behind the smiles of those working in the industry. His day job during those years was that of a pastor, but when he discovered that this title was an instant barrier for many people working in the industry, he quit his day job to launch Big Table in 2009. He graduated from Seattle Pacific with an English degree and Princeton with a Masters in Divinity.
Thankfully, Kevin gets energy from being with people and truly loves food in almost any form. Finding a great hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurant or discovering a secret recipe for… anything… make his eyes dance. An incessant doodler, his note pages in meetings end up full of cartoons. He has a long hit list of countries to visit and recently decided road biking is fun as well as exercise.
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Operations Director
Lauren recently moved to San Diego from Orange County to join the Big Table team. After graduating from BIOLA University, she managed her family's dental practice for over 6 years. Her love for building relationships and caring for others has led her onto the path of ministry. When not spending time with family, she and her husband enjoy swing dancing, hiking, and camping with friends. While she does enjoy finding amazing places to eat, she and her husband have taken several cooking classes to further their own skills and appreciation of culinary arts. She is currently in search of the best BBQ in San Diego, so give her a shout if you have a great recommendation to share.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance & Operations
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
Lily describes numbers "as her friends" which is simply brilliant for her finance and operations role. She joined Big Table in 2023 with over 25 years of experience in accounting, business development, and non-profit leadership - this included founding and running a school in Alaska for six years. Lily was born and raised in western Ukraine near the Romanian boarder before leaving in 1989 to escape persecution. The family traveled through Poland, Austria, and Italy before settling in the United States.
Lily laughs easily and often; she speaks six languages. She loves hiking, biking, and camping in addition to travel, and her goal is to walk 10 miles each day. She and her husband Ivan have six children, and their library at home contains over 3,000 volumes. Like many of our Big Table team, food and restaurants make Lily's eyes light up - seafood especially.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- First Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Member of the Spokane Team
- Care Engagement Coordinator
Miranda's husband, Jesse, is the introvert to her extrovert and together they have three energetic boys: Phinneas, Crosby & Oliver that always keep them laughing (or counting new grey hairs). Miranda first got connected to Big Table through Jesse 10+ years ago as he has been a chef in the industry for over 22 years! It's been such a treat for them to serve together at Big Table events. In her free time, you'll find Miranda hosting friends and family, rocking out at a concert, playing piano, having an impromptu dance party with her fam, or adventuring somewhere off the grid.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Private Investor / Philanthropist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Head of Staff Pastor, La Jolla Presbyterian Church
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- CEO, Biscuit Love and ‘Za
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Admin Lead, Volunteer and Event Coordinator
- Admin Lead, Volunteer and Event Coordinator / Community Resources
Sierra is a recent college graduate taking her first steps into "the real world" as a part of Big Table Nashville! She attended Middle Tennessee State University where she received a business management degree. Sierra is very familiar with the hospitality industry after working in restaurants all throughout high school and college. The people she met during that time are important to her - as are their struggles. She was drawn to Big Table and the opportunity to care for those friends of hers.
If you were to run into Sierra outside of the office, it would most likely be on a walk with her dog, Mya, and with an ice-cold diet coke in her hand. She also loves learning new line dances like the born-and-bred Tennessean she is!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Associate Vice President, Whitworth University
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the HEADQUARTERS Team
- HR Generalist
Tara was born and raised in Alaska before moving to Oregon and then Washington. Living in the Inland NW has ignited her passion for the outdoors immensely. Whether it's hiking, paddleboarding, volleyball, or anything in between, Tara is there - along with her husband Dillon and their Bernedoodle named Oakley. A bonus is always spending time in fellowship with friends and loved ones. In her downtime, she loves to read, crochet, paint by numbers, and relax with her husband and their pup. One of her biggest passions is to make others feel included and important, which is what drew her to Big Table. Before working in office management for an internet company, she had quite a bit of experience in the retail/food service industry. Tara is now excited to be on a mission to serve hope to those who serve us.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Restaurant Consultant
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- City Director
Todd lived in San Diego for over four decades and returned here after a ten-year hiatus in the Boston area. He comes to Big Table from an extensive career in education that has spanned classroom teaching, school site administration, charter school development, and teacher preparation at the college level. Todd is passionate about serving others and he and his wife Bonny are grateful to be a part of Big Table's mission to care for industry workers in crisis.
Todd is an avid fly-fisher and feels most at home when he is waist deep in a river trying to outsmart trout. He also enjoys gardening, wood working, playing his guitar, as well as cooking and grilling. Todd and Bonny have three grown children (each with a spouse), two grandsons, and four "grand-dogs" living in San Diego; Hood River, OR; and Brooklyn.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder, Stewardship Concepts Financial Services, LLC