Leadership

As Executive Director of the West Texas Food Bank since 2012, Libby completed the organization's very successful $13.3M capital campaign to build new facilities. In a short span of 13 months, she energized the community, winning significant support from foundations, corporations, and individuals by 2014. Because of this effort, a new 61,000 square foot headquarters and distribution center opened for service in January 2016 in Odessa, and a new 20,000 square foot Volunteer and Education Center in Midland began providing services in January 2017.

Under Libby's leadership, the West Texas Food Bank has grown to distribute over 6 million pounds of food, including 1.2 million pounds of fresh produce, through our collaborative partnerships with 80+ agencies. She coordinated the Food Bank's relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Harvey that provided 600,000 pounds of food and supplies to the affected area. On a state and national level, Libby's recent advocacy work for the Farm Bill is raising awareness to the issues local food banks face, and deepening relationships with our federal and state legislators.

Libby is a demonstrated expert in moving organizations into high visibility, in order to promote their messages and increase revenues and growth. In addition to previous civic roles, she currently serves as an alternate Board Member with the City of Odessa's Zoning Board, and the Education Partnership for the City of Odessa. She also serves nationally as a member of the Feeding America Policy Engagement and Advocacy Committee, and on the state level as a Board Member of Feeding Texas, where currently serves as Board Vice President for the 2020-21 term.

Libby received the 2014 Beacon Award for Excellence in Organizational Leadership from the Nonprofit Management Center, and received the Heritage Foundation Award for Humanities. She received the Salvation Army Unsung Hero award in 2016, and in 2017 she was chosen by the Young Professionals of Odessa as one of the outstanding individuals under 40. Libby is also honored to have been a Glenn Shepard Excellence in Leadership Award finalist. In 2019, Libby received the Dick Goebel Public Service Award for her work on the Farm Bill.

Joseph "Joey" Ruiz joined the West Texas Food Bank in 2011, and currently serves as COO/CFO. He is responsible for overall leadership, coordination, and management of Food Bank operations, and oversees the development and implementation of financial management strategies across the organization. He also supervises human resources functions, IT network structure, management, security and maintenance. An Odessa native, Joey graduated from Permian High School. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Before joining the West Texas Food Bank, Joey served as senior accountant for Commercial State Bank in Midland, TX. He has also worked as branch manager at Security State Bank and Western National Bank.

Kelly joined the West Texas Food Bank in 2016 as Program Manager. She is responsible for managing and implementing all governmental and non-governmental programs at the Food Bank. These programs include Kids Café, SNAP outreach and assistance, SNAP-Education and Food 2 Kids. In addition, Kelly oversees our partnership with the Permian Basin Master Gardeners and the 80 plus agencies across the 19 counties we serve. Kelly's background includes working with individuals with disabilities and women and children social services. Kelly is from Odessa and earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Professional and Social Service from the University of Hawaii and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Amanda Ellis is Director of Strategic Gifts for the West Texas Food Bank. She joined the Food Bank in January 2017 as the grant writer and a member of the development team. Amanda grew up in Fort Worth, graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. in Art History, and has lived in Midland for over 20 years. She has held leadership positions with the Junior League of Midland, Keep Midland Beautiful, and PTAs for Fannin Elementary, Carver Center, San Jacinto Junior High, Midland Freshman, and Midland High School. Amanda currently serves as an Elder for First Presbyterian Church and is on the leadership committee for Midland YoungLife.

Craig joined the West Texas Food Bank in 2015 with the transition of Food 2 Kids into a program of the Food Bank. He is responsible for managing and implementing all the marketing and communication strategy of the Food Bank. A native West Texan, Craig hit the ground running when he discovered the nonprofit world. Although he held a few jobs prior to coming to the West Texas Food Bank, he has really hit his stride, and loves coming to "work" every day. After graduating high school from Trinity School of Midland, Craig attended Baylor, then moved to Austin, and he swore he would never come back to Odessa. He has been back in Odessa for many years now, and could not imagine being somewhere else, or working anywhere else.

Greg joined the West Texas Food Bank staff in 2017, after serving two years on the Board of Directors, and managing a Food Bank Partner Agency feeding program, the Jubilee Center of Midland, since 2012. Greg is responsible for managing and coordinating over 70 of the food bank's feeding agencies- primarily food pantries- in the 19 county area, and working with our Partners. Greg is also responsible for coordinating Food Bank outreach programs and direct food distributions to our clients. Greg's background includes 28 years of service in law enforcement and asset protection. Greg has spent the last 12 years working with local agencies and the West Texas Food Bank on assisting pantry feeding programs and outreach services to the underprivileged. Greg grew up in West Texas and is a graduate of Midland Lee High school. He also holds a Masters in Law Enforcement and is a Graduate of the Seminary of the South, Education in Ministry. Greg is the 1996 recipient of the Leadership Award presented to him by the Office of the Governor for his outstanding service as well as the 2015 recipient of the Food Bank "Wade Kuehler Award" for exceptional volunteerism, and unwavering commitment to the mission.