Who We Are

Kate Howe has been with IHN since 2016 and currently serves as the Executive Director. Howe became interested in food insecurity after serving as a volunteer and board member of Mid-North Food Pantry, exposing her to the challenges of poverty and food insecurity up close. Learn more about Howe’s experience here.

Megan Gendig has been with IHN since 2017 and currently serves as the Cooking Matters Program Manager. Gendig started at IHN as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Cooking Matters program and now oversees that program as a full-time staff member. Megan enjoys teaching others the importance of cooking a healthy, nutritious meal on a budget. Learn more about Megan’s experience here.

Mark Lynch is our Director of Advocacy. He became interested in food insecurity during his 20 years as a student pastor where he saw many students and their families struggling to make ends meet. Since 2015 Lynch has been working full time on basic needs projects and became focused on advocacy as the best way to solve hunger domestically and internationally.

Adam Meyer currently serves as the Director of Food Assistance Programs at Indy Hunger Network (IHN). With previous experience as a Director at Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette, Adam brings a wealth of expertise to his role, where he oversees initiatives such as the Food Pantry Network, Community Compass, and more. Passionate about alleviating hunger and supporting organizations dedicated to helping those in need, Adam is committed to enhancing community food assistance programs and making a lasting impact.

Niqolas Askren works in the FRSH Food Resources Hub as a FRSH Resource Navigator at IHN. A working and touring Artist for over 15 years, Niqolas has served the music and arts community, creating resources and fostering spaces for expression all throughout Indianapolis. Serving in AmeriCorps Public Allies program he grew passionate about helping his community members in need and made the transitional journey into public service with his role at IHN.

Angel McKenna serves as the Program Coordinator for the Healthy Nudges Program. She has a passion for people and community service through the work of nonprofit organizations. With her B.A. in Community Nonprofit Leadership, Angel uses her experience to help organizations find funding sources, increase community engagement, and improve programming. Her background in food pantry leadership and government programming gives her a unique perspective into the challenges food pantries and other organizations face while helping families who live with poverty and food insecurity. The love she has for helping organizations and people is what drives her to assist food pantries in finding nutritious food and so their communities can make healthier food choices.

Tom Lageveen is the Community Compass Coordinator for IHN. After working in the service industry for years, Tom took a certification in Informatics through Ivy Tech. Looking for positive ways to apply his new training, he found a VISTA position at Indy Hunger Network working with Community Compass and now serves on the staff full-time.

Franklin Lowe is the Food Pantry and Community Outreach Coordinator at IHN, working with the Food Pantry Network and Food Pantry Summit. A member of the Episcopal Service Corps, he is interested in helping small, dedicated communities positively affect society at large. Previously, this interest inspired him to study history and religion at the graduate level, to move to the UK to live in intentional community, and to work as a youth minister and parish administrator.

Emily Patterson is the Cooking Matters Program Assistant at IHN. Emily has worked with the Cooking Matters program since 2018, when she began volunteering as a student at IUPUI. She worked as an intern with IHN while earning her B.S. in Public Health, and she served a year-long term as an Americorps VISTA with Cooking Matters. Additionally, Emily has been a professional cook for 7 years and speaks Spanish. Her love of cooking and fighting hunger are what drew her to the Cooking Matters program. The hands-on, boots on the ground team is what led Patterson to stay with IHN after completing her VISTA term. Serving communities in her home town of Indianapolis is her favorite part of her job!

Anne-Marie Valdez is the Cooking Matters Program Assistant. After her family took a class with Cooking Matters in 2019, she started volunteering with the program. In 2021, she joined our team as a part-time employee. Ann-Marie is an avid cook, gardener, and mom of 2. She is passionate about teaching others how to cook a nutritious meal while staying on a budget. Her biggest joy is watching others enjoy a food or meal that they wouldn’t have tried if it weren’t for Cooking Matters.

Phillisha Wathen is the Office Administrator for IHN. Throughout Wathen’s life, she has been committed to community and public service. Her experience and dedication culminated in her receiving her Master’s degrees in Public Affairs and Arts Administration from Indiana University. In her role with IHN, she oversees administrative operations.