2026 WINNER

Mara Fleishman

Chef Ann Foundation

The Chef Ann Foundation promotes healthy food in schools by supporting scratch-cooked meals made from whole ingredients and by empowering school food professionals with training and tools.

Mara Fleishman’s career in food systems advocacy started in her early 20’s when she looked to the power of food after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Mara has over 20 years of experience in leading systems change initiatives in the for-profit and non-profit sectors including over a decade at Whole Foods Market where she served as Global Director of Partnerships.

In Mara’s current role, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Chef Ann Foundation, she has spent the last 13 years fighting for healthier food for our nation’s kids. Mara’s niche is system-based change and although she takes on many roles as a leader, her favorite is programmatic engineering; breaking down problems to their foundation and building programmatic solutions through dynamic and integrated approaches. This type of work can be seen at the Chef Ann Foundation, an organization recognized as the national leader in driving fresh, healthy scratch cook food in schools.

Mara also serves on regional and national boards, has spoken at conferences and academic institutions across the country, and has been recognized in publications as a champion and national advocate for change.