Ertharin Cousin is the Managing Director and CEO of FSF Ventures and the CEO of Food Systems for the Future Institute. She is a Distinguished Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University. From 2012 to 2017, she led the UN World Food Programme, providing food assistance to over 80 million people annually. Cousin served as the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 2009 to 2012. She has held leadership roles at Feeding America and in corporate retail. Cousin is on several boards and has been recognized on multiple influential lists. 

Aaron “AJ” Johnson is the Owner & CEO of Oasis Fresh Markets and Oasis Fresh Foundation. Before Oasis opened in 2021, North Tulsa, near Historic Greenwood’s Black Wall Street district, had been labeled a ‘food desert’ for over 14 years. AJ became passionate about contributing to long term health for residents in underserved communities when he learned that the life expectancy was 11 years shorter than other parts of Tulsa. Now his vision to create an Oasis in the middle of a food desert has become a reality. 

Oasis exists to eradicate food deserts by providing fresh and healthy access to all. Oasis Fresh Market aims to change the narrative of America’s underserved populations by bringing grocery innovation to food deserts across the nation. Oasis offers vital resources to families and connects them with local assistance programs that will exponentially increase their livelihoods. AJ is honored to build bridges for customers, community residents, and employees with valuable resources to improve health and wellness from a holistic lens. “The word Oasis means refuge, safe place, shelter,” AJ says. “We offer more than just groceries. We’re equipping people for life!” 

AJ is a graduate of The University of Tulsa and was nominated Distinguished Alumni in 2022 for his work in North Tulsa.  

Sherman Park Grocery endeavors to be a durable company that is profitable yet puts social conscience at the heart of our mission. With childhood obesity and diabetes peaking in the minority community, people need options on nutritious food and education.   Sherman Park Grocery will provide fresh food options to thousands of City of Milwaukee residents as well as job opportunities for about “15” motivated, customer service-oriented individuals.  People should be able to shop in their own neighborhoods on a regular basis.  Access to freshly prepared fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices should include communities of color as well.  Through building relationships with social service agencies, healthcare organizations, and workforce centers, Sherman Park Grocery will have the ability to help connect the community and transform the lives of many. 

 The owner/operators come with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the food industry.  They also have a proven track record of both financial and people management. Yashica Spears-Wince has 15 years of experience at Retail Management With strong educational experience in Human Resource Management; Maurice Wince has more than 20 years business experience in the community which includes Real Estate investments and Franchise experience. 

RF Buche has been the President of GF Buche Company since 2000. GF Buche Company was established in 1905 in Lake Andes, SD by RF’s great-grandfather. He is a 4th generation grocer. RF has had the passion for the grocery business since he snuck out of the house at the age of four years old in blizzards like conditions to walk to the store at work with his dad. RF has been working in the stores at every level ever since.

Stephanie Johnson, is the Group Vice President of Government Relations for the National Grocers Association. Johnson oversees federal legislative and regulatory affairs on food, nutrition, and health care policy for independent grocers. Through advocacy, collaborative leadership, creative communications, and scientifically anchored solutions, Johnson leads NGA in addressing policy issues with SNAP, WIC, the supply chain, and pharmacy reimbursement.

She is a former health, education, labor, nutrition, and appropriations advisor in the U.S. Senate. Prior to working on the Hill, she used her expertise as a registered dietitian to empower organizations to optimize federal regulatory and legislative landscapes on food, nutrition, and public health policy.

Johnson earned degrees in food and nutrition, and cell biology and neuroscience, from Montana State University and received her registered dietitian nutritionist training at Virginia Tech. She cares deeply about the role dietitians play in health care and the food system and she is continuously looking for ways to move the profession forward.