Board Members & President and CEO of CookingHub Foundation
Meet our Board of Directors and our President & CEO. The Directors and President & CEO stand as pillars of unwavering support, guiding the CookingHub Foundation with their diverse expertise, profound commitment, and visionary leadership. Passionate about combating food insecurity, each member plays a crucial role in setting our strategic direction, fostering sustainable solutions, and ensuring responsiveness to the communities we serve. Maggie Slepickova Grove Secretary & Board Member Pronoun: she/hers About: I am a Delivery lead for two content management teams at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I enjoy spending time with my husband and two girls in my free time, working on our home renovation projects, listening to books while tending to our flower gardens and ever-expanding veggie garden, exercising, watching a good movie/tv show, and traveling. Why is CookingHub important to you? I’m the first to admit that I’m not the most experienced cook, but being around my husband, who is very talented and creative in the kitchen, has opened my eyes to a whole world I had not ever paid attention to. Over the years, I’ve become increasingly interested in learning more about cooking and food preparation, but as I’ve explored the online world of recipes, I’ve been routinely disappointed in the recipes I’ve tried. I had originally blamed my own lack of skills, but after reworking the recipes with my husband, I realized that it was the recipe that was to blame. Being a part of CookingHub will provide a chance to expand my budding skills and interest in cooking, all while being on the ground floor to build a community of home and professional cooks from all over the world. A community where people such as I can share our budding interests, share our challenges, and all support making the world a better place. Romana Goodell Treasurer & Board Member Pronoun: she/hers About: I am a fitness athlete and coach. My mission is to help people find joy in fitness and maintain their health through enjoyable exercises and healthy habits. Additionally, I enjoy cooking delicious and nutritious meals in my free time. Why is CookingHub important to you? CookingHub is important to me because I want to help fight hunger, and I believe that being part of a non-profit organization dedicated to combating hunger is a meaningful way to make a positive impact on the world. What is your outlook on fighting hunger? My outlook on fighting hunger is optimistic yet realistic. While hunger remains a significant global challenge, there have been notable improvements and successes in addressing it. Efforts by governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals have helped to reduce hunger rates in many parts of the world. However, there are still millions of people worldwide who suffer from food insecurity. I want to contribute to fighting hunger, which is why I am part of CookingHub How would you like to make the world a better place? I aspire to contribute to building a world where everyone has access to sufficient healthy food to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Deborah Lebeda Board Member Pronoun: she/hers About: I had the opportunity to experience several diverse interesting careers including founding, developing, and managing a food manufacturing facility in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have been involved in community service for 22 years, serving on the Eastern Iowa Alzheimer’s Association Board of Directors, the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors Committee for Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Chaplin at Unity Point St. Lukes Hospital, and being part of additional community committees. My Babi (grandmother) taught me how to cook “from scratch” when I was a child, using her traditional Czech recipes. My interests are cooking, reading, art, travel, health and fitness, learning new skills, and spending time with my three children, two grandchildren and their pets. Why is CookingHub important to you? CookingHub is more than a recipe portal. It is an educational tool regarding the growing epidemic of hunger and offers all food lovers the opportunity to be part of an online community by sharing recipes and interacting with like-minded food enthusiasts Read more What is your outlook on fighting hunger? Having the knowledge of the lack of sufficient food and fresh water we can choose to work together to be part of the solution of worldwide hunger. Everyone should have access to adequate food and fresh drinking water. We can make a difference by offering compassion to the less fortunate, getting involved, donating what we can whether knowledge, time, or financial assistance to aid this worthy cause. How would you like to make the world a better place? Lead by example, get involved, become part of the solution. Read less Bill Losh Board Member Pronoun: he/his About: As a chef, I passionately craft culinary experiences that delight the senses. I find joy in combining diverse flavors and experimenting with unique ingredients, creating dishes that leave a lasting impression. My kitchen is a canvas where I blend creativity and technique to satisfy the palates of those who appreciate the artistry of food. Why is CookingHub important to you? Finally, a place where I can truly be myself and showcase the food I love, a place where I can share my recipes for a good cause. What is your outlook on fighting hunger? Hunger is not associated with color, race, or which side of the tracks you come from. It affects everyone, some more than others. If everyone, from government officials and associations to businesses and nonprofits, comes together, we can make a significant impact on reducing or eradicating this problem. How would you like to make the world a better place? If I could make it go away, hatred turns people against each other, and nothing good ever comes of it. Martin Slepicka Board Member Pronoun: he/his About: I am a Mechanical Engineer specializing in textile and automotive engineering. I have also held senior positions at a research institute and a factory, serving as a technical director. Although I retired two years ago, I remain an active working pensioner. In my leisure time, I enjoy sports, travel, and cultural activities. Why is CookingHub important to you? This is a great project for many reasons. It is crucial for individuals with ideas and energy to create such organizations. They demonstrate to those around them that they are individuals who strive to make the world a better place for everyone. This is vital for fostering a collective awareness that goodness is worth fighting for and that the world is not solely a place where bad things happen. Cultivating a sense of hope is significant. Additionally, it brings me joy to be able to cook excellent meals using great recipes. Being aware of what I eat is important to me, and now that I have more time, it’s incredibly enjoyable. What is your outlook on fighting hunger? As a young boy, I had the chance to live with my family in Afghanistan. There, I witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of life in a poverty-stricken country, especially for children like me. It often left me feeling ashamed of my own abundance. This experience had a profound impact on me. Read more Over the years, I’ve occasionally donated funds to charities providing aid in various parts of the world, but I’ve come to realize that it’s not enough. Now, I have the opportunity to be part of a community that I hope will continue to grow, allowing me to play a more active role in this cause. Additionally, I strongly believe in the importance of caring for the environment. Preserving our natural resources is crucial to ensuring access to food and clean drinking water for as many people as possible. Furthermore, access to at least basic healthcare and education is essential. How would you like to make the world a better place? I believe that, in the spirit of charity, there are many responsible citizens who can provide financial and other donations, and even more who appreciate good recipes and enjoy cooking. CookingHub will not only collect donations but also generate proceeds from its own activities, such as selling advertising, offering premium content, conducting live classes, and more. Generating proceeds from online activities will be possible thanks to visitors who will enjoy all the content for free. So, regardless of whether users merely participate or decide to donate as well, everyone will contribute to the cause. CookingHub is a unique project that will facilitate all of this. Participating in and supporting CookingHub is the way I am trying to make the world a better place. Read less Tom Slepicka President & CEO Pronoun: he/his About: I am a food writer, recipe creator, culinary instructor, moderator, and restaurant and hotel consultant, as well as the proud founder of CookingHub. Why is CookingHub important to you? I believe that everyone in the world should have access to clean water, good healthcare, and food. These necessities should be provided to all individuals regardless of their nationality, level of contribution to society, or any other factor. In my opinion, these three things should be considered fundamental rights. Unfortunately, they are not universally accessible, which saddens me deeply but also motivates me to take action. CookingHub is my response to this issue, allowing me to contribute to the fight against hunger. I am passionate about cooking and sharing delicious recipes, even for those on a limited budget. Through CookingHub, I can share my love for food and provide resources for others to do the same. All proceeds from CookingHub activities will be directed to our partner charities, namely the World Food Program and No Kid Hungry. Additionally, CookingHub will raise awareness about the importance of combating hunger and collect charitable donations to support our partner charities. I firmly believe that CookingHub offers a sustainable solution to fighting hunger and making a positive impact. As our user base grows, so too will our ability to make a difference. Together, we can enjoy great recipes while working towards a common goal 😊. Read more What is your outlook on fighting hunger? Fighting hunger is a moral imperative and a wise investment for future generations. Envisioning a world without hunger isn’t just envisioning a better place; it’s imagining a realm of boundless opportunities for all. I firmly believe that everyone would benefit from residing in a world devoid of hunger, enabling us to declare ourselves as members of a truly civilized society proudly. Let’s savor and embrace such a world! How would you like to make the world a better place? How would you like to contribute to making the world a better place? In addition to overseeing the CookingHub Foundation and its efforts to combat hunger, I aim to educate individuals fortunate enough to have access to resources on making the most out of often limited ingredients to create exceptional meals. Beyond being a basic necessity, I believe that food has the power to unite us and contribute to making the world a slightly better place. Looking ahead, I aspire to also address two other crucial issues close to my heart: ensuring access to fresh water and promoting universal access to quality healthcare for all Is there anything else you would like to add? I am eternally grateful to all those who have provided me with help, trust, and support, enabling me to bring this unique project to life. Read less Because we would like to be an international organization, our board members are and will continue to be not just from the USA, but also from other parts of the world to understand better what needs to be done. Our founding board members are located on two continents and come from different backgrounds. In the near future, we would like to expand this diversity even more by adding new board members from different classes, educational backgrounds, and professional backgrounds, but all with a common love for food and the intention to fight world hunger.