As Chief Operating Officer at Feeding Westchester, Tami has not only risen to the role of leader, but also to that of mentor. 

Funny enough, Tami was on a completely different path at the start of her career. Her journey to COO came after a few career shifts—or, as she puts it, “reinventions.” 
“I had to reinvent myself a couple of times.” 

In doing so, Tami found her perfect niche. Operations immediately aligned with her skills and talents. 

She explains her love for the field stems from the ability to collaborate across all teams. 
“I always think of operations as being in the center, and I like being able to serve and help every single department.” 

Her enthusiasm for this work only grew once she began working in the nonprofit space. 

This passion comes from a deeply personal place—helping people is instinctive for Tami. 
“Being in a nonprofit, it was just natural because I enjoy helping people.” 

Reflecting on her work, Tami shares:

“This is where my passion lies. Like, I was born to do this work.” 

When it comes to food insecurity, Tami is deeply empathetic.

“It’s something as simple as food. Food is love. Food is community. Food is nourishment. Food is history.” 

With this perspective, it’s no surprise that Tami brings a clear, values-driven vision to her leadership. 

“I was a Vice President of Operations, and then ultimately became Chief Facilities Officer before stepping into the role of COO. I’ve always wanted to be a COO because I believed at this level, my impact would be even greater.”

Her drive to move up the leadership ladder has always come from a desire to create impact. 
“For me, the first thing I look at is: what can my impact be?”

As a mentor to her staff, Tami is intentional in her approach.

“I keep three things in mind: people, product, and process. That product could be services, it could be food. But without efficient processes, you can’t move your products—and without people, you can’t do anything.” 

But for Tami, people always come first. She makes it a priority to support her team with both guidance and care. 

“People are above everything. I can’t sit here and say I do this work by myself. Even if I never came to work, it would get done—because we have great people. People who care.” 

With an incredible team behind her, Tami is committed to coaching staff in ways that plant seeds for their growth as professionals. 

One message she emphasizes: no one achieves great success without experiencing failure. 

“I got here by failing a lot. I tell people every day—I fail every day—as a parent, as an employee, and as a supervisor. But failure shouldn’t stop you. It should just propel you to the next level and push you to be better. I’m learning every single day—from both my staff and my colleagues.” 

Leading by example is one of the most powerful ways Tami supports her team. 
“I think leading by example, and showing people that I’m in the trenches with them, is very important to me.” 

Her leadership style, especially at Feeding Westchester, is grounded in lived experience. 

Tami knows firsthand what it means to need a little extra help—something deeply personal to her. 
“I’m a single mother of two… I’ve been in need. So I know what it’s like. And I think the one thing I’ve helped change the perception of is this: you can be a COO, you can be a Vice President, and still be in need.” 

Tami speaks candidly about the circumstances she—and many of our neighbors—have faced. 
“I think my lowest financial point was when I had to return cans just to put food on my table. Hunger can affect anyone, at any point. I’ll never forget—I was a Vice President of an organization, and I was returning cans so I could feed my kids as a single parent.” 

Hunger is not linear—and it doesn’t look the same for any two people. 

Tami is an inspiration to many. Not only is her professional journey one to admire, but her character and authenticity are what truly stand out. 

She understands the needs of Westchester community members—and because of that, she takes action, so others won’t have to face the struggles she did.