Rebecca Thurman was named Thursday the permanent Executive Director of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank after acting as the interim director for the last nine months.
Thurman has been involved with the GMFB for eight years, starting out as the Business Manager/CFO, then moved to Director of Operations and now holds the Chief Executive Officer position, according to officials with the food bank.
Thurman has held the interim director role for nine months after the previous director resigned in February. Since that time, Thurman has been running one of the region’s largest non-profits, serving those in need in Hall, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth and Union counties.
"I am deeply honored to have been selected by the board of directors as the Executive Director of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank,” Thurman said. “At this pivotal point of organizational growth marked by the active capital campaign and facility expansion project, I am eager to assume leadership and guide our team toward the successful realization of our strategic initiatives. Together, we are committed to enhancing our capacity to house and distribute more food to the food pantries we support within our 5-county service area, thereby helping to address the pressing needs of our neighbors facing food insecurity."
During Thurman’s time with the food bank, she has assisted with taking what officials called a financially struggling organization to more than doubling GMFB assets, growing to $8 million in annual expenses. Last year, the food bank reportedly distributed 6.8 million meals to people in their service area.
"It comes as no surprise to me that Rebecca would be the sole finalist simply for the fact that I have watched her grow into the position,” GMFB Board Chair Steve Ellis said. “From day one of taking on the role as interim, she hit the ground running, constantly looking for ways to improve efficiencies, repair relationships, increase funding opportunities, and establish better internal communications and morale.”
The interim position was filled by Thurman following the resignation of previous director Kay Blackstock in February.
