After nearly a decade as President and CEO and 14 years of service with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Patti Habeck will be stepping down to pursue a new opportunity in the region. During her tenure, she has transformed the organization into the state’s leader in hunger relief, and her influence will be long felt across our network, partners, and the communities we serve.

Since assuming the role in 2016, Patti has guided Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin through extraordinary growth and change. Under her strong leadership, the organization has doubled its annual food distribution to more than 40 million pounds, allowing thousands of neighbors in need to receive reliable access to nutritious food. She has spearheaded efforts to increase the organization’s investment in fighting food insecurity, expanding infrastructure, capacity, and sustainability so that we not only address immediate needs, but also systemic challenges that drive hunger. Patti has emphasized innovation, forging new distribution methods, strengthening connections with farmers and producers, and diversifying revenue models to ensure long-term financial stability and reach.

True to her belief that solving hunger is a collective endeavor, Patti has built strong partnerships with nearly 600 hunger relief partners and trusted community-based programs across our 35-county service area. She has also cultivated a leadership culture internally, emphasizing mentorship and professional development so that future leaders are prepared to carry forward our mission.

She has served statewide and regionally on multiple boards, including as Board Chair for Feeding Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin DATCP Board, and on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Council of Trustees.

Her work has earned many honors, including recognition as a Wisconsin Titan 100 CEO; the ATHENA Leadership Award; the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2024 Women of Influence award; the Northwestern Mutual Leadership Award; and additional honors recognizing her leadership.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin extends our deepest thanks to Patti for her determination, empathy, and vision. She has not only ensured the organization can meet the immediate needs of our communities, but also laid a foundation for sustainable progress toward ending hunger in Eastern Wisconsin.

Though she will be missed, we are excited for Patti as she steps into this next chapter of her career, confident that she will continue to make a positive impact wherever she goes. In the coming weeks, a search process will begin to identify our next President and CEO, someone inspired by Patti’s legacy and ready to lead us into our next phase of growth and service to our neighbors. Patti will remain in her role with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin through November 2025.

For additional details regarding Patti’s next steps, please view the press release HERE.