Our Team
Richard Armenia
Executive Director
Richard "Rich" Armenia is a compassionate advocate, dedicated to fighting world hunger and serving others. With extensive experience in leading and serving on projects in over ten different countries, he has gained invaluable knowledge and expertise in addressing this global issue. Growing up in upstate New York, Richard's strong sense of community and passion for making a difference led him to spend five years combating hunger with Rise Against Hunger. He has also contributed to waste reduction and sustainability efforts as a member of the advisory board for the Wipe Out Waste program, and worked directly with the homeless populations through Lighthouse Ministries in Western New York. In his spare time, Richard enjoys world travel, motorcycles and spending time with family and friends. You can contact him at [email protected].
Suzanne D’Alonzo
Program Director
Suzanne D’Alonzo comes to Feeding Charlotte as a sincere community advocate. She has worked in a number of nonprofit animal sheltering organizations in DC, PA, TN, and NC over the past 2 decades. She was instrumental in developing Adopters Welcome while at The Humane Society of the United States. This approach for social change in companion animal adoptions shifted her focus from animal sheltering into community outreach and support. Suzanne initiated and expanded community support programs at each of the organizations she has served. Her work with pet food pantries in Reading and Lancaster, PA, and right here in Charlotte provided her with a strong foundation of knowledge for what works to connect people with what they need. She knows that offering truly accessible resources sets a community up for success. She’s a Clark University graduate, spends time cycling, gardening, and hiking with her family, and delights in working with her Charlotte neighbors to build a stronger community. You can contact her at [email protected].
Board of Directors
Raj Merchant
BOARD CHAIR
Raj has lived in Charlotte since 2015 but has roots in the Carolinas (Greenville SC and Greensboro NC). By day, Raj works as a Director at Grant Thornton. Raj’s interest in tackling food waste was born out of his experience as an EMBA student at UNC Chapel Hill, during which time he spent three months working on a consulting project for F4A (https://f4a.com/). F4A is a Luxembourg-based startup that has developed a technology solution to help supermarkets reduce food waste by applying dynamic pricing to expiring (but still safe to eat) food. As part of this project, Raj learned just how massive the food waste problem is, especially in the US.
Raj is passionate about supporting the Charlotte community and especially its nonprofit ecosystem. As a Partner at Social Venture Partners Charlotte, Raj has served on SVP’s Investment Committee, Revenue Diversification Committee, and SEED20 Steering Committee. Raj is also SVP’s Lead Partner for its relationship/investment with Families Forward Charlotte. Raj recently joined the Board of Directors at HELPS Education Fund based in Raleigh. Finally, Raj actively volunteers with Apparo to provide technology and project management expertise to local nonprofits including The Independence Fund.
Raj holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also completed Duke University’s Nonprofit Management Certificate. Raj lives in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte with his wife, Leigh Ann, and their one year-old, Thomas.
Betty Alexander
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Betty was born and raised in Mecklenburg County and raised her two daughters in the greater Charlotte area. She also has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Betty worked at Presbyterian Hospital in environmental services and was a manager overseeing several departments, including child care. She started her own business doing commercial cleaning and currently cares for seniors in her community. She is an Elder at Faith Liberation Community Christian Church and oversees the hospitality program. Betty has a passion for making sure people’s basic needs are met, especially food and clothing.
Georg Benzinger
BOARD MEMBER
Georg is an award-winning chef whose impressive array of experience includes luxury hotels, executive dining for FORTUNE 500 companies as well as healthcare. In his current role he is the System Chef for Atrium Healthcare in Charlotte NC, Atrium-Navicent in Macon GA and Floyd in Rome GA. A talented innovator, he loves to create new food concepts and to develop his team.
Georg began his culinary career as Chef Tournant at the Harvard Club in New York City and as Banquet Chef at the city’s famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
His professional work also includes Chef Garde Manger of Peacock Alley Restaurant; Executive Chef of Panache Catering; District Executive Chef, TIAA-CREF; and Executive Chef at Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, all in New York City.
Georg is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He keeps in shape through triathlon sports, skiing, and marathons. He gives back to his community by participating in poverty alleviation through food drives with his local parish and feeding the communities neediest residents at Inter-Faith Council for Social Service and most recently as a board member at Feeding Charlotte.
Neil Bloomfield
GOVERANCE COMMITTEE
Neil is a member of Moore & Van Allen PLLC where he co-heads the Financial Regulatory Advice and Response practice group. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University School of Law. Neil believes in giving back to the community. In addition to his work with Feeding Charlotte, he has performed pro bono and volunteer work in the areas of domestic violence, veterans’ rights, and housing. He is married to Dr. Hima Maramreddy and they have two daughters.
Amy Dong
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Taylor Houston
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Mark Logan
BOARD MEMBER
Mark has worked in restaurants, bars, and events for 20 years, now working as a hospitality consultant to improve the guest experience at local fine-dining spots across the Carolinas. Sustainability and equity are top values.
He is active in justice-oriented work relating to food security and inclusion. He studied acting in New York City and has close ties with the Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder at Caldwell Presbyterian. He loves to see theatre, rock ‘n roll concerts, eat any and all scrumptious food, and knows no stranger.
Linda Rakvic
BOARD MEMBER
Sam Sanders
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Sam has grown up in the Charlotte community where he now lives with his wife and three young children. He is a partner at RSM US LLP where he provides tax and advisory services to large and mid-sizzed businesses across multiple industries. Sam has extensive experience helping business, organizations, and investors forecast, plan, and strive towards strategic objectives involving finance, accounting, and tax. Sam currently serves on the finance committee for Feeding Charlotte and supports the organization as it maintains its finances and accounting records. In his free time he enjoys, volunteering in the Charlotte community; the Blue Ridge Mountains; and coaching soccer for this three children.