Team

Feed The Hunger Fund feeds your capacity to accomplish what matters most to you. Our team works hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs and funders in Hawaii and California, to create a world where access to loans and opportunity catalyze positive changes in food equity, security and sustainability.

CAREERS:
Feed The Hunger Fund endeavors to make our website and job application process accessible to any and all users. If you require assistance at any stage of the job application process due to an accessibility issue or with matters related to Section 504 compliance, please contact us at info@feed-hunger.com or call Mike Canale, by phone at (773) 480-9226. Information can be provided in an alternative format or language upon request.
Job Opening: Business Development & Loan Officer -

Feed The Hunger Fund is hiring a Business Development Officer (BDO). 

  • Generating a strong pipeline of prospective borrowers.
  • Maintaining an active presence in the communities served by FTHF.
  • Providing business assistance to loan applicants in coordination with the Loan Officers.
  • Collecting required loan documentation.
  • Engaging in public speaking events and participating in networking events.
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Meet our Board of Directors

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Vivian Pham

Board Chair

Vivian Pham

Vivian is the Community Health Manager for Kaiser Permanente (KP) Hawaiʻi where she leads a high-performing team and various community health need areas that aligns with KP’s mission to improve the health of everyone in the communities it serves. Vivian leads operations for the team and large initiatives for KP such as the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Coverage Program (CHCP). Vivian has a master’s degree from University of California, Riverside, and obtained her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. She's held multiple roles in project and program management in the areas of business, community development, strategic development, operations, and technology for banks, community-based organizations, government, and healthcare. When she’s not actively chasing or feeding her toddler, Vivian enjoys surfing, hiking, reading, traveling, and eating delicious food.

Vivian's Bio
Bret-Malone

Brett Melone

Vice Chair

Brett Melone

Brett is Director of Lending with California FarmLink, making loans to farmers across California. His passion for a more sustainable food ecosystem comes alive in his role teaching sustainable agriculture at the Monterey Institute. He served as Executive Director of Friends of MarViva Foundation and Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA).

Brett's Bio
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Philip Bacchus

Treasurer

Philip Bacchus

Phil is the Chief Financial Officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, a privately owned, federally chartered wholesale bank that promotes housing and homeownership by providing liquidity to a diverse set of financial institutions. Before FHLB Topeka, he served as Treasurer at American Savings Bank Hawaii and Director and Treasury CFO at Captial One Financial in Washington DC. Phil has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business, an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a Global Executive Masters from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He enjoys SCUBA diving, hiking, sailing, skiing, basketball, and is passionate about sustainability of island economies.

Philip's Bio
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Avary Maunakea

Secretary

Avary Maunakea

Avary proudly serves as the Executive Director of Kahumana (Alternative Structures International), a non-profit organization deeply rooted in Waianae, Hawaii. As a Native Hawaiian she brings a profound cultural perspective to her leadership role. Her vision centers on integrating culturally based services that emphasize compassion and draw upon lived experiences. Her approach is to honor her kūpunaʻs (eldersʻ) values while addressing contemporary community needs.

Avary's Bio
Mark-Murakami

Mark Murakami

Board Member

Mark Murakami

Mark is a partner at Cades Schutte LLP, the largest and one of the oldest law firms in Hawaii.  He is in their Finance, Real Estate, and Corporate group and practices complex commercial real estate law.  He currently (2026) volunteers as the President of the Hawaii State Bar Association, and also on the Management Committee of the Hawaii Chapter of the Urban Land Institute.

 

Mark's Bio
Eunice-Azzani

Eunice Azzani

Board Member

Eunice Azzani

Eunice is the Founder and Partner of Azzani Search Consultants. She serves on the boards of City College Foundation, SFWorks, and YMCA of San Francisco. She received the “Women Who Make a Difference Award” from the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women.

 
Eunice's Bio
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Natalie Aliga

Board Member

Natalie Aliga

Natalie Concepcion Aliga is a Vice President and Community Relations Market Manager for the San Francisco Bay Area at Citi. She joined the West Region team in June 2022 and is responsible for building powerful partnerships both internally and externally to catalyze Citi’s investments and to create wealth-building opportunities for communities of color and low- to moderate-income communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

Natalie was named one of the “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S., Emerging Leaders Category by the Filipina Women’s Network in 2012. She is a graduate of Leadership Napa Valley and Leadership Contra Costa. Most recently, Natalie received the Cornerstone Award from Year Up United in the Bay Area and was named Community Reinvestment Champion of the Year 2023 by ASIAN, Inc. Natalie completed a maximum term of nine years of service on the national board of directors of Disability Rights Advocates – a leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center based in Berkeley, California.

Natalie's Bio
Puanani-Burgess

Puanani Burgess 

In Memoriam

Puanani Burgess

Puanani was named one of Hawaii’s Living Treasures in 2009. She was noted for family and values-based economic development, mediation and storytelling processes as part of conflict transformation. She was a lead facilitator and trainer for The Center for Pacific American Women’s Leadership since 1997.

Puanani's Bio

Meet our Team

We are a small but mighty team who are ready to roll up our sleeves and jump into the kitchen or get down in the dirt with you! Meet our California and Hawaii teams. 

Chief Excutive Officer

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Patti-Chang

Patti Chang

Chief Executive Officer

Patti Chang

Patti has worked on behalf of disenfranchised communities her entire career. Patti is the founder and CEO of Feed The Hunger Fund which in California and Hawaii, provides small-scale entrepreneurs locked outside of the financial mainstream, with the tools and access to capital that allow them to participate fully in their community’s food economy.

As the former President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of California, Patti Chang was responsible for the Foundation’s vision and for setting the tenor and momentum of furthering women’s philanthropy within the state, nationally and internationally. Patti helped launch the Women’s Policy Institute, S.F.’s adoption of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and La Cocina (San Francisco’s leading community kitchen).

Patti has served as the President of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, chairing task forces on Adult Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment and CEDAW.
She served as a Commissioner on SF’s Commission on the Environment and was appointed by Congresswoman Pelosi to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Patti has served on dozens of boards of directors.

Patti is a graduate of Stanford University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Jurisprudence. Her strong roots lie both in Hawaii where she was born and
raised, and in California which has been her home for the last 40 years.

Patti's Bio
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Aaron Ellis

Director of Programs and Lending
Oahu, Hawaii

Aaron Ellis

Aaron’s experience spans impact investing and business development in agriculture, aquaculture, marine sciences, and conversation and restoration. He brings his unique knowledge of finance, people, and the land to his work on the ground in Hawaii.

aaronellis@feed-hunger.com

Aaron's Bio
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Eric Bowman

Loan Officer
Hawaii Island, Hawaii

Eric Bowman

Eric brings a diverse background in rural economic development to support small businesses on the neighbor islands. He is passionate about coaching owner-operators on financing, leadership, and growth.

ericbowman@feed-hunger.com

Eric's Bio
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Lama Chang

Business Development Specialist/ Lending Officer
Oahu, Hawaii

Lama Chang

Lama, grounded in her family motto, “I Maikaʻi I Ke Kalo I Ka ʻOhā” translates to the goodness of the kalo is judged by the young plant it produces. The kaona, hidden meaning loosely translates to the parents are judged by the behavior of their children. Therefore, I strive to always make my makua (parents) and kupuna (grandparents) proud through the work I do. I am on a mission to help Hawaiiʻs small businesses' dreams into reality, one loan at a time.

lamachang@feed-hunger.com

Lama's Bio
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Natalie Aczon

Business Development / Marketing Specialist
Oahu, Hawaii

Natalie Aczon

Natalie Aczon, a seasoned entrepreneur within Hawaii's food industry, boasts a rich history—from owning her restaurant to contributing to the startup teams of renowned names like Starbucks Coffee, Jamba Juice, Whole Foods Market, and Town Hospitality Group. Natalie's profound ties with Hawaii industry leaders bring forth a treasure trove of knowledge and connections, promising substantial benefits for FTHF in its upcoming partnerships.
 

natalieaczon@feed-hunger.com

Natalie's Bio
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Meche Sansores

Senior Loan Officer
Bay Area, California

 

Meche Sansores

As loan officer, Meche assists our small business owners with business incubation, coaching, consulting and training in both English and Spanish. Meche is recognized for innovative programs empowering low-­income immigrant Latinx throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

meche@feed-hunger.com

Meche's Bio
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Juan Santiago

Loan Officer
Central Valley, California

Juan Santiago

Juan is an indigenous Zapotec Dreamer in the Central Valley. He strives to ensure equitable access to loan capital for undeserved entrepreneurs by providing bilingual business development assistance and financial literacy. His experiences as a restaurant owner prior to joining Fund allow him to understand the needs of our target market borrowers. Juan enjoys visiting our food-trucks vendors to try their street-food.

santiago@feed-hunger.com

Juan's Bio
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Shanti-Narasimham

Shanti Narasimham

Chief Financial Officer

Shanti Narasimham

Shanti has been FTHF’s chief financial officer for the last 6 years. She designs, implements, and manages financial systems, reports and strategic analysis, while working hand in hand to support the board and the loan officers. She holds a CPA in the State of New York.

Shanti's Bio
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Mike Canale

Portfolio Manager

 

Mike Canale

Mike comes to FTHF with years of experience working in different capacities for CDFIs in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to that, he worked with small businesses in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Mike is passionate about helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams and works tirelessly on their behalf.

mikecanale@feed-hunger.com

Mike's Bio
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