Deborah Tucker, Chief Executive Officer
Deborah Tucker's 23 year career as an executive in the Entertainment Industry in Feature/Advertising & Publicity Operations at Warner Bros is highlighted by her many accomplishments as she represented the Studio's interests in the worldwide release of feature films. Her leadership in project management established her department, amongst filmmakers, as 'the best'.
In 2003 Tucker met Donna Ross-Jones's son Nicholas who had been diagnosed with autism. Shocked by the challenges they faced and armed with a desire to help Deborah began fundraising and volunteering for Special Needs Network, an organization dedicated to providing support to families in low income communities impacted by the autism epidemic.
Determined to make a difference, Tucker seized the opportunity to combine many years of corporate training, leadership and relationship building with her life-long passion for nutrition and fitness into a vehicle to make a foot print for improved health outcomes for children with developmental disabilities, primarily autism.
Tucker successfully transferred her business talents from the Big Screen to a new expression of dedication and commitment with the founding of What's In Your Lunch Box (WIYLBOX). Children with autism are her focus for advocacy and action and WIYLBOX her most important and rewarding endeavor. WIYLBOX is a non-profit community-based organization formed in 2006. WIYLBOX's mission is to provide nutrition services and education in Low Income communities.
Achievements, Awards and Recognition:
Deborah Tucker received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in English Literature. She has served on the Advisory Board of the International Studies Program, California State University Northridge, is a Lifetime Member of the National Council for Negro Women, and has multiple Certificates of Accomplishment from Avid and Video Symphony Institute of Entertainment Media Production in Professional Video & Film Editing.
Donna Ross-Jones, President
Donna Ross Jones, is president Transition Music Corporation . As president of Transition Music Corporation she has contributed to the success of superstars including; Eddie Murphy, Heart, Irene Cara, Rick James, Stevie B. and Anita Baker. Her company provides music for more than 20 different weekly television series. She has been routinely recognized for her business accomplishments. Jones' received the "Emerging Entrepreneur" award from the City of Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter featured her as one of their "50 Most Influential Women in Entertainment", the Emmy Award winning TV show, "Making It", featured her and she was selected by Black Enterprise as one of Hollywood's Rising Stars.
Her son Nicholas was diagnosed with Autism in 2000 and Jones took on the challenge of advocating for him while helping to educate others. Donna's advocacy and community involvement now includes co-founding, Special Needs Network SNN a non profit that has provided education and advocacy services to thousands of underserved families in California. Donna serves on the Executive Board of Director's for North Los Angeles Regional Center, where she chairs the committee on housing for individuals with developmental disabilities. She serves on the Best Practice Guidelines for Treatment and Interventions team: A Project of the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and authors a daily blog Autism Day By Day. Jones testified before the Autism Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and served on its early intervention task force developing recommendations for the California Legislature.
She has also participated in videos and documentaries including; "I Am Your Child" with Sylvester Stallone" and Dr. Brazelton's "Coping with Grief", and "Normal People Scare Me" produced by Joey Travolta.
Jones has been recognized for her extraordinary work in the community. the US House of Representatives presented her with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for her outstanding and invaluable service to the community. In an official ceremony at City Hall the Los Angeles City Council recognized her work on behalf of families and children in Los Angeles and as a Spotlight Partner in the national CDC "Act Early, Learn the Signs" program.
Lorena Alvarez, Secretary
Lorena Alvarez is a dedicated mother of a 4 year old son and has been married for four years. She has served as a Marketing Administrator with Warner Bros. Studios, in the Non-theatrical Sales department for several years. Her expertise is in marketing and publicity for motion pictures for in-flight entertainment.
Lorena also possesses an entrepreneurial spirit in business development and has her own part-time business in marketing wines for small, boutique vineyards.
Lorena is fluent in both English and Spanish, on her way to fluency in the Italian language.
Jesse D. Smith, Treasurer
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Beverly Hills, CA
Jeri Hall - Director, Executive Chef
Jeri joined the organization in 2008. She brought with her over 25 years of professional experience in food and menu design as well as preparation management and coordination.
Jeri began her food service career as the owner/chef of Jeri Ross Catering. She built a large and loyal client base of primarily entertainment-based companies by providing them with uncompromising quality and attention to detail.
With the assistance of outside capital she founded The Foodworks. This company expanded on the successful high-end catering by including gourmet prepared meals to go and planned full diet meal service for a select group of clients. This company’s cutting-edge program of total diet planning with nutritional excellence, minimal processed food and true gourmet quality was at the forefront of current food marketing concepts.
Jeri's in-depth knowledge of international cuisine and ingredients and their nutritional attributes will enable our food design and production programs to have a true worldview of possibilities and the capacity for highly focused attention on the dietary needs of the individuals we serve.
Joyce Reece Kitchen, MSW, Director
Joyce Kitchen (formerly Joyce Johnson) is the Chief Operating Officer for National Family Life and Education Center and is also the Pastor of Henry McNeal Turner African Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Kitchen served as a Physician Assistant for over 17 years, helping children and families enhance their quality of life physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In 1997, at the ripe age of 42, Rev. Kitchen stepped out on faith, leaving a high paying job, and comfortable career, to return to school to get a degree in Social Welfare. After receiving her MSW from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Rev. Kitchen worked for the Department of Children and Family Services for Los Angeles County, Adoptions unit, helping abused children find families to love and care for them. After two years of service, Rev. Kitchen is now carrying on the legacy of her late husband, the reverend Ronald Johnson, with National Family Life and Education Center. Rev. Johnson's ability to integrate her professional knowledge with her faith makes her ability to enhance the development of young people and families, unmatched. She has been a facilitator for co-dependency groups in the Los Angeles area, and currently counsels many individuals and couples throughout the nation. Rev. Kitchen has a way of speaking to the heart of people's pain, and helping them transition from pain to power. Rev. Johnson is known as a prayer warrior, and has taught many dynamic workshops on the power of prayer.
Advisory Board:
Charles H. Anderson
Managing Director, The Matrix Institute on Addictions
Seattle Sutton, RN, President, Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating(SSHE)
Dr. Dexter Williams Wellness Chiropractic Group
Steven Rice President, Authentic Foods
Paul Nesbitt, Esq. Nesbitt & Nesbitt LLP Lawyers
Program Steering Committee:
Patricia Novak, MPH, RD, CLE NutritionWise
Cary Kreutzer, MPH, RD Community Education Director, USC UCEDD, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Dr. Joyce A. Gilbert, PhD, RD, LD/N Director, Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, California State University Northridge
Dr. Taeyou Jung,ATC,CAPE Center of Achievement, Department of Kinesiology, California State University Northridge
Dr. Leslie Richard, Pediatrics, Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center
Dr. Michael Chez, Neurologist, Sutter Memorial & Sutter Neuroscience Medical Group
Dr. Karla Ausderau, Occupational Therapist, Pasadena Child Development Associates