The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma announced today that its board of directors has appointed Jeff Marlow as chief executive officer.
Mr. Marlow has been with the organization for more than ten years most recently serving as chief culinary officer and executive vice president.
“Jeff embodies the organization’s values and brings a real passion for serving our community. We believe he is the right leader for the future of this critical organization in our community,” said Darren Walkup, board chair.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead and work alongside this dedicated team in our collective efforts to combat hunger and positively impact our community,” Marlow said. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and passion to strengthen further the Food Bank’s ability to serve our neighbors through collaboration efforts with our hunger feeding partners.”
Before joining the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Marlow was the Executive Chef and Clubhouse Manager at The Oaks Country Club from 2005 to 2013. As a Leadership Tulsa Class 42 member, Marlow joined the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s board of directors, serving for four years.
During his time at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Marlow has transformed the organization’s culinary program, including designing a state-of-the-art culinary center that is part of the nearly finished capital expansion project, to one of the top culinary programs throughout Feeding America’s Food Bank network.
Marlow’s leadership skills were displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic when he assisted in joint efforts with Hunger Free OK to lead the Tulsa Kitchens Unite Program, to meet the community’s needs that arose during that time. He created the menus and ordering process, collaborating with 24 local restaurants to serve 32,000 weekly guests through the TKU program.
“In my view there is not a more qualified leader to hold the position of CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma than Jeff Marlow,” said Chris Bernard, CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. “He will lead with humility, unrelenting dedication, and innovation. The Food Bank, the community, and the mission will be at its strongest with Jeff leading the charge.”
“When you look at the devastating stats of Oklahoma families struggling with hunger, it seems overwhelming. But it’s a solvable problem. Working together, with our feeding partners and community leaders, we can create an Oklahoma where no one goes hungry,” added Marlow.
Mr. Marlow’s appointment comes at a critical time as the Food Bank continues to face increased demand for services due to various economic and social challenges. His expertise and visionary leadership will be instrumental in strengthening the organization’s operational efficiency, expanding its outreach efforts, and developing sustainable strategies to address the community’s evolving needs.
