CORE, a national non-profit organization that supports food and beverage service employees with children, has added four board members: Frank Sickelsmith, vice president international for Inspire Brands, Desiree Springer, vice president national accounts on premise at Titos Handmade Vodka, Rachael Kelly, chief people officer at Smokey Bones and Stacey Kane, president BroadTalk Marketing, an independent marketing executive who has been a CORE consultant for two years.
“CORE will benefit from the new members wealth of knowledge and industry experience,” Colleen Brennan, vice president of national accounts of Rodney Strong Wines and chairman of the board of directors for CORE, said in a company press release. “They join CORE at an exciting time as we continue to build awareness and funding for food and beverage service employees who have legally dependent children and face a qualifying circumstance. The addition of these directors complements our board of directors’ skills and experiences, and we are confident they will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute our strategy, drive development, and meet the needs of some of the industry’s 15 million employees.”
During the last five years, CORE has helped restaurant workers families in all 50 states, D.C. and in Puerto Rico facing tornadoes, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and health crises. The group helps cover living expenses, costs for medical needs, costs, childcare, therapies and more while navigating a qualifying circumstance.
“During my time serving the food and beverage industry, I have met many employees and families with heartbreaking stories of how they have faced adversity,” CORE Executive Director Sheila Bennett said. “They inspire our team to work even harder and now, I hope for CORE to be the first resource that comes to mind when employees with children are affected by a health crisis or natural disaster and are in need of support, and financial relief.”
Sickelsmith, Kelly, Kane and Springer will work with the other 11 board members and in engaging the foodservice and beverage industry.