Meet the Team
Nora Weiser
Executive Director
Nora holds a masters degree in art history from London's Courtauld Institute of Art, and has undergraduate degrees in art history and French from Washington University in St. Louis. During a year abroad in Normandy, she honed her culinary skills with weekly courses at the culinary school in Caen. With a passion for the food and beverage space and extensive experience leading non-profits through times of transition, Nora strives to lead GFF with innovation and transparency. She is Director Emeritus of the American Cheese Society, supported the formation of the American Cider Association, chaired the board of the Specialty Food Foundation, and has advised nonprofits in multiple industries. A trusted advocate within the food community, she shares a commitment to GFF’s mission and to supporting the work of our members.
Samantha Putman Allen
Mercantile Director
Samantha is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she studied both Archaeology and Anthropology. Upon moving to San Francisco in 2014, she began looking for opportunities with organizations that shared her love of food and desire to promote sustainability. Samantha joined the Good Food Foundation team soon after and has enjoyed immersing herself in the food community in the Bay Area.
Meghan Shellenberg
Committee Chair Manager
A native of Alameda, CA, Meghan’s appreciation for food runs deep: her Italian ancestors emigrated here as farmers. After completing her Anthropologie Degree from CU Boulder she went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Food Culture and Communications from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Colorno, Italy. There, through the teachings of Slow Food, her appreciation and advocacy for artisanship, locality and sustainability were realized. She spent the beginning of her career in retail produce procurement on both the East and West coasts. She then spent 6 years running a Global Corporate Food Program which included program development, strategic initiatives, purchasing, space design, and sustainability goals. Above all, she believes food should be delicious, nutritious and sustainable.
Claudia Bistrain
Office & Community Manager
Claudia, a Media Studies and Food Systems graduate of UC Berkeley, grew up in the greater East Bay area. After graduation, she pursued her passion for cooking, working in professional kitchens and developing a deep love of the craft. Claudia hopes to support the sustainable food community and all the hard-working individuals that dedicate their lives to sharing tasty, authentic and responsible food.