Edible Detroit - How a Culture of Food is Shaping Detroit's Economy
Amanda Musilli
Amanda has been with Whole Foods Market since 2005, and was the Michigan marketing team leader prior to taking on the role as Detroit community liaison in 2011. Amanda has nearly 10 years of experience in marketing, event planning and community outreach & organizing, and has lived and worked in New York City, Atlanta, GA and Detroit. Amanda and her husband moved to Detroit in 2005, from Atlanta, and have lived in Downtown Detroit ever since.
Jackie Victor
Jackie Victor is the co-founder of Avalon International Breads, delighting over 1,000 customers and 40 restaurants seven days per week with baked goods. Their vision of an “Agri-Urban” economy is beginning to come to life in the seeds of a new economy with sustainability and community at its core. With a commitment to Earth, Community, and Employees, Avalon International Breads continues to inspire growth and fulfill their mission: Eat Well. Do Good. Ms. Victor has lived in Detroit (a suburban Detroit expatriate) since earning her Political Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1988. She is the proud parent of Rafaella (11) and Ari (6), who are now hard-core Detroiters in their own rite. Jackie is on the Board of Greening of Detroit, Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, and the Boggs Educational Center, a place-based elementary school inpsired by James and Grace Boggs.
Jess Daniel
Jess Daniel spends her time thinking about how to change the world through financially sustainable, environmentally restorative, socially transformative responsible food businesses. Since graduating from Stanford in 2006, she’s grown an education start-up from 5 to 80 employees; managed product marketing for Google's email service for schools and non-profits; developed programs to support girls’ education at a local NGO in Cambodia; organized briefings on sustainable ag for congressional committee staff; processed chickens on a small farm off the coast of Washington, and conceived and planned a national incubation laboratory to develop local food distribution businesses. She started a popup restaurant soon after moving to Detroit in July 2010 which connected her to a vibrant, inspiring community of food entrepreneurs and activists that inspired the formation of FoodLab Detroit. When she’s not hanging out with the FoodLab crew, she practices her facilitation skills at various community meetings and moonlights as a PhD student in sustainable food systems at MSU.
Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges
Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges is a graduate of Central Michigan University's MBA program. In 2005, Mrs. Bridges joined the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, a non-profit organization that works with businesses, government and other organizations throughout Detroit to encourage and manage economic development projects. As DEGC's Business Development Manager, Ms. Bridges focuses on Food Cluster Strategy and works diligently to retain existing Detroit businesses and assist them in their efforts to expand their Detroit footprint.
Randall Fogelman
Randall Fogelman joined Eastern Market Corporation (EMC) as the director of special projects and business development in February 2007. EMC is a nonprofit organization that manages Detroit’s historic Eastern Market, the largest historic public market district in the country. In January of 2009, Fogelman was promoted to Vice President of Business Development. In this role, he manages Eastern Market 360º, EMC’s renovation and construction initiative to improve and revitalize the market core. To date, he has served as the project manager on the complete renovation of Shed 2 ($1.2 million) and the complete renovation and modernization of Shed 3 ($6.2 million). The renovation of the historic Shed 3, which dates back to 1922, has received numerous awards from industry and trade groups. He is currently managing the planning for the renovation and adaptive reuse of Shed 5 including the construction of a community kitchen.
Fogelman is responsible for recruitment and leasing activities as part of EMC's effort to bring new and innovative farmers and vendors to the market. He also is responsible for the creation and management of the successful Eastern Market Bridge Card Program, which enables recipients of federal food-assistance benefits to use their Bridge Card (Electronic Debit Card) at the Market. Since the program’s inception in July of 2007, more than $550,000 has been spent by Bridge Card users at the Market, providing fresh and wholesome produce to those who, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, have consistently had the least access to it. In addition, Fogelman served as the manager of the successful Mo’Bucks Pilot Program during the summer of 2009, which offered a dollar-for-dollar match of Bridge Card customers, up to $10, for the purchase of locally grown fruits and vegetables at Eastern Market and four other markets in Detroit. In the summer of 2010, he oversaw the launch of the Double Up Food Bucks program at five Detroit markets, which offered a $20 match. This was the second generation of the program and was eventually rolled out state-wide.
Fogelman oversaw and directed the creation of Eastern Market’s website and also managed Eastern Market’s role in the Fresh Food Share (FFS), setting up purchasing and distribution policies and procedures that endure to this day. FFS is a collaboration between Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Greening of Detroit that allows residents of targeted areas of the city to purchase a monthly food box, loaded with locally grown produce, for $17.
While working for New Center Council, Inc. (NCC) from September 2001 until December 31, 2006, Fogelman held dual roles. He served as the Director of Marketing for the Council as well as Festival Director for the Comerica TasteFest (later CityFest). He continues to consult on marketing and special events as a consultant to other events in the region.
Fogelman was responsible for coordinating all of the marketing activities of the Council, including newsletters, eNewsletters, website, brochures and more, and directing and planning all aspects of the annual Comerica TasteFest. The Comerica TasteFest, organized and run by New Center Council, Inc., was southeastern Michigan’s premier outdoor festival held annually over the Fourth of July weekend in Detroit’s New Center. This virtual “city fest” included outstanding food from over 40 area restaurants, both national and local music on four stages, unique shopping from Detroit’s most au courant retailers at the Second Avenue Street Market, plus plenty of activities for the entire family. As director of TasteFest, Fogelman was directly responsible for the recruitment of all food, beverage and merchandise vendors, the creation and distribution of all marketing materials (28-page newspaper supplement, brochure, radio ads, posters, newspaper advertisements and more), raising over $375,000 in sponsorships each year, establishing sponsorship partnerships with area radio stations, the hiring of national and local talent for all four stages as well as all other aspects of the festival.
Before working at NCC, Fogelman was an associate at Midtown Development Group in Detroit. Midtown Development is a firm that specialized in the renovation of historic buildings in the Midtown neighborhood of Detroit.
In August of 2010, Fogelman completed the National Development Council’s rigorous Economic Development Finance Certification program, finishing at the top of his class, and is now a Certified Economic Development Professional. The program covered topics such as small business lending, business credit analysis, real estate finance, deal-structuring and tax credit use (federal, state, new market, brownfield, etc.).
Fogelman is also the creator and owner of the Detroit Spice Co. (DSC). DSC produces a product line consisting of six specialty spices blends and three hot sauces that celebrate Detroit’s rich ethnic heritage. DSC products are available at grocery stores, specialty food stores and gift shops throughout Michigan and at www.detroitspiceco.com.
Fogelman is the author of Detroit’s New Center by Arcadia Publishing. Detroit’s New Center traces the history of New Center from its founding in the beginning of the twentieth century to the promising future through historic and new photos. He is currently working on a similar book about the rich history of the Eastern Market District. Fogelman is also president of the homeowners' association of the renovated loft warehouse, in Midtown, Detroit, where he lives. Fogelman has lived in the City of Detroit since 1994.
A graduate of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Detroit Class 25, Fogelman has been a board member of the National Association of Produce Market Managers since 2008 and in March of 2011 he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Michigan Farmers Market Association’s (MIFMA) board of directors. Fogelman was elected to the Founder’s Junior Council of the Detroit Institute of Arts in May 2011 and is also an active member of the Community Outreach Committee at the Detroit Athletic Club. Fogelman is a past president of Encore!, the young professionals group of the Michigan Opera Theatre. In the spring of 2003, the Michigan Opera Theatre Volunteer Association recognized him as a 2002-2003 Outstanding Volunteer and in November of 2005, he was named one of the five emerging leaders in Crain’s Detroit Business’ inaugural Who’s Who list.
In September 2011, Fogelman was named one of 30 in their 30’s by DBusiness Magazine and in October 2011, he was named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’s annual 40 Under 40.
Fogelman received a Bachelor of Arts from Wayne State University in 1995, and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan in 1999.