Slow Food Seattle Board of directors

The Seattle Chapter of Slow Food USA has assembled a new board of directors to guide the chapter in reinstating its programs that reflect the heart of the Slow Food movement. As a dedicated group of individuals, they are stepping up to revitalize the chapter, establish a clear operating structure, and define the chapter’s new direction and goals.

Our volunteer board members are eager to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with the volunteers and supporter of Slow Food, and look forward to celebrating and promoting good, clean, and fair food for all in the Greater Seattle area.

LINDSAY KUCERA / BOARD CHAIR

Lindsay (she/her) was born and raised in Alaska, but moved to Washington for the second time a few years ago. A journalist by education, but working as a chef for the past decade, Lindsay is now the publisher and editor in chief of Edible Seattle, a quarterly magazine celebrating Puget Sound’s incredible food system. She’s passionate about storytelling, hospitality, and bringing folks together over a good meal.

In her free time, Lindsay likes making elaborate handmade pastas, foraging wild foods, and attempting very earnestly to garden. Raised by a librarian, she reads widely and voraciously.

Jennifer Ball / VICE-CHAIR

Jen was raised on a farm in western Washington, where she developed a lasting appreciation for fresh, seasonal ingredients, comforting home cooking, and the joy of nourishing others. She later ran a personal chef and catering business, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges of sourcing clean, sustainable food.

Jen earned her B.A. from The Evergreen State College, focusing on agroecology and food studies to deepen her understanding of sustainable food systems.

When not in the kitchen or garden, Jen enjoys visiting her grown children, exploring handcrafts, savoring olive oil, and is always chasing the sun through travel and adventure.

Monica Montgomery / SECRETARY - ADMIN

Monica (she/her) works in the environmental field and has over a decade of experience supporting community-based environmental initiatives in Hawaiʻi and Washington. She currently works at a local land trust, working with landowners and partners to conserve wildlife habitat, community greenspaces, and small farms. 

Monica is interested in working at the intersection of food justice, environmental stewardship, and community well-being, and finds joy in the many ways that food connects us with the natural world and with each other. By supporting local food systems that are good, clean, and fair for all, she believes that we can forward systemic change and collectively build a future that reflects these values in our communities from the local to global scale. As a Slow Food Seattle board member, Monica seeks to support local efforts that celebrate and connect people to values-based food in our region. 

Helaina Hurwitz / Treasurer

Helaina is a lifelong food enthusiast, backyard duck wrangler, and someone who believes that gardening counts as both meditation and cardio. She grew up in a rural area where produce wasn’t just local — it was often growing right next door. That early connection to food stayed with her, and today she gardens year-round in North Bend, growing heirloom fruits and vegetables with the zeal of someone who has definitely spent too much time reading seed catalogs. She also keeps ducks for eggs and fun.

As interim treasurer for Slow Food Seattle, she’s passionate about making sure everyone has access to food that’s not only good for the body, but also the planet. She believes that food is one of the most beautiful and delicious ways to learn about other cultures, and whenever she is fortunate enough to travel, her itinerary tends to revolve around hole-in-the-wall eateries and new, to her, fruits and veggies. She’s especially excited to focus on food equity in our communities with the support of our amazing local vendors — especially our Snail of Approval awardees. When she’s not gardening, cooking, or reading about gardening and cooking, she can usually be found foraging, climbing, skiing, or running around in the mountains pretending to be part goat.

Rachele Neal / Membership Chair

Rachele was born and raised in Seattle, WA where she has always felt connected to the local food system — going to u-picks during summers and spending her weekends at the farmers markets. Over time, this appreciation for food has evolved as a way to tell stories, build community, and create change. Her professional background is in digital marketing, where she’s spent time working with farmers, small food producers, and mission-driven food brands to help them grow their businesses and share their values - across Seattle and Italy.

Her love of food and sustainability eventually led her to Italy, where she earned a Master’s degree in Food Culture, Communication, and Marketing from the University of Gastronomic Sciences — a university founded by the Slow Food movement. There, she explored the global food system through a multidisciplinary lens and became even more committed to supporting good, clean, and fair food for all. You can always find Rachele at the Ballard or University Farmers Markets on the weekends... when she’s not in Italy!

As Membership Chair for Slow Food Seattle, Rachele is excited to connect with others who care deeply about where their food comes from, and to help build a local network of people who believe in preserving food traditions, supporting local producers, and creating a better food future together.

Slow Food Regional Councilors

KIM ABRAMS-MARSHALL

Kim began her career as a photographer and graphic designer before discovering her true calling in the culinary arts. She graduated with top honors from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver BC, and after moving to Seattle, honed her craft in several restaurants before going on to become chef at Macrina Bakery & Cafe and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. She also holds a WSET wine certification.

As chef and proprietor of Stilly Woods Inn, a five-acre woodland retreat near the Stillaguamish River, Kim brings her commitment to sustainable living to life through method-based cooking workshops, culinary events, and handcrafted products.

Her journey with Slow Food began in 2002 at a convivial gathering where attendees rolled pasta by hand with a traditional mattarello. That experience was a eureka moment — her culinary training and values aligned with Slow Food’s mission. She later served as Executive Director and Board Chair of the Slow Food Seattle chapter. As a Regional Councilor for Slow Food USA, she continues to advocate for food literacy, biodiversity, and traditional foodways.

Jenni Crain

Jenni is a writer and local foods enthusiast who became aware of the connections between food and community when someone at the first food co-op where she volunteered explained the labels on some of the produce to her, demystifying the differences between organic, pesticide-free, and other growing methods.

Since then, she’s become a dedicated food storyteller and local foods advocate. She was honored to be the chapter’s community representative at Slow Food International’s 2016 Terra Madre conference in Italy and has been a member of the Slow Food Greater Olympia board ever since.