Our Team

The Food Pantry employs staff members who work with volunteers and partners to ensure that there is a healthy variety of food available and that everyone in need is served. We also have a significant and dedicated workforce of around 90+ volunteers who donate over 200 hours of their time and labor each month to the pantry.

Staff

Sue Heffron

Executive Director

Sue has been in the valley over thirty years and lives in Alta with her husband, Andy. They have raised three children and are blessed with eight grandchildren! Being involved with food has always been a passion, especially since Sue and Andy raise animals on their farm, Purely By Chance. When offered the job at the Pantry, Sue found herself at home, surrounded by great people- both volunteers and clients. Other passions include hiking, snowshoeing, reading and spending time with family and friends.

“This Pantry is our community that reaches us on the basic level of existence. I am happy to be a part of such a wonderful organization.”

Willy Warner

Pantry Assistant

Willy has been a resident of Teton Valley for over twenty years, where he and his wife raised their two children. Willy values the opportunity to work with pantry clients who are experiencing food insecurity. When Willy is not in the pantry, he is outdoors on his bike or in the snow, enjoying Teton Valley.

Siena Hester

Pantry Manager

Siena happily settled into Teton Valley after attending college at the University of Montana in Missoula, where she received a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Food and Farming. She is deeply committed to promoting environmental and social equity and believes everyone should have access to nutritious foods. As a team member of the food pantry, Siena is eager to help foster a resilient community network for the residents of Teton Valley. When she is not working at the pantry, you can find her exploring the far reaches of this beautiful, rugged region she calls home. Her other passions include mountain biking, snowboarding, playing music, making jewelry, and spending time with loved ones.

Marianne Sturken

Pantry Assistant

Marianne became involved with the Pantry as a volunteer. She was eager to join the staff when the Pantry Assistant job became available. On a whim, Marianne moved to the Tetons in 1992 to ski and explore the mountains. A nature lover, she enjoys hiking with Jasper, her beloved Border Collie, working with and riding horses, gardening, and painting.

Daniela Martienz

Pantry Assistant

Daniela was born in Mexico. She studied Modern Languages at the Universidad del Valle de Tlaxcala and is excited to put what she has learned into practice. She lives in the valley with her sister and mother. Her passion is learning something new every day and sharing what she has learned. She likes to meet and help new people. And at the same time she treats everyone how she would like to be treated.

Having experience working in a community center in Mexico made her realize she enjoys helping others the most. Being part of the food bank allows her to reach out to members of the community, especially the Latino community.

“I am very grateful to be a part of the Teton Valley Food Pantry, thanks to them I have an opportunity to prosper.”

Susan Austin

Digital Manager

Susan settled in the valley after working as a wildlife research biologist focused on endangered species protection. She lives in a small, off-grid house she built with her husband. At one point in her life, she was food insecure and is now grateful for the opportunity to give back to her community and be part of a team committed to ensuring everyone has access to healthy food. Susan enjoys exploring wild country, writing, reading, and getting her hands in the dirt.

Board of Directors

Anne and her husband, Mike, moved to Teton Valley in 2017. With the help of their daughter, they run the Fin and Feather Inn, a bed and breakfast in Victor. Ann finds joy in preparing and serving the guests a delicious breakfast (her family has hospitality and food service in their blood!) With her background, she was naturally drawn to the Food Pantry's mission and began volunteering.

"In my mind, there is nothing better than being able to FEED people; it is such a basic need. The work at the pantry is gratifying and fun. I have found a great way to give back because I get SO much from this community: great outdoor activities, great restaurants, awesome friends, and amazing views everywhere." As time passed, she kept saying Yes! "Now here I am on the board helping to build a welcoming and flourishing resource for this beautiful community."

Anne Fortier

Board Chair

"What an honor to serve Teton Valley as a new Board Member of Teton Valley Food Pantry. I am excited to join the team as it navigates the difficulty of food insecurity for so many of our neighbors. I hope to bring the insight of someone who has worked with underserved populations in the urban and rural areas where I have lived."

Debbie and her husband, Bob, have had a home in Teton Valley since 1994. The most rewarding aspect of her nursing career was her Clinical Practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner for twenty years.

Volunteering has been a constant in her life as a parent, nurse, and community member. She has volunteered at many of our local nonprofits.

Debbie loves the four seasons of Teton Valley, finding winter the most enjoyable. She loves her book club, reading, baking, cooking, and traveling the world. Her companions on many of her outdoor adventures are Bob and her golden retriever, Finnegan Driggsby.

Debbie Whipple

Member

Julie is a freelance writer, a ski instructor in Jackson and a proud homeowner in Teton Valley. She writes for local magazines, coaches authors and does marketing and event planning for nonprofit organizations. She moved to Jackson in 2010 from her hometown of Rochester, New York and is grateful to have raised two kids in the mountains. When she’s not working, you may find her smiling on a downhill mountain bike or ski trail. She began working at the pantry as a distribution manager in 2021, a year after she moved to Teton Valley and joined the board in 2023 when she helped launch the pantry's Inaugural Harvest Dinner.

“Working at the food pantry is so rewarding. I feel like I have found a new family and I am fully invested in feeding this community.”

Julie Kling

Member

Teton Valley has been Sue’s home for 20 years. She is a small scale farmer—an owner of Snowdrift Farms along with her partner Greg—and grows many varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, some of which are grown for the Food Pantry. She loves the mountains and the wildlife of the area, and is always up for an outdoor adventure. Sue joined the board of the Food Pantry in fall 2022.

“I found myself drawn to this organization through my own connection with food. Our farm and eating our own fresh produce makes us so happy, and I like to share that. I am concerned with people not having enough food on the table, as well as not knowing how to prepare healthy food and why it’s important. I enjoy fostering connections between clients at the Pantry and local food, and am psyched to contribute to the well-being of our community through work on the Food Pantry board.”

Sue Miller

Secretary

Raised on her family's dude ranch near Dubois, Wyoming, Joanne has lived in Teton Valley since 1995. "Although the valley has seen changes over the past twenty-five years, the sense of community has not changed, thank goodness! I am honored to join the Teton Valley Food Pantry Board of Directors. It is a privilege to serve alongside this group of passionate volunteers and staff."

When Joanne is not working as a real estate broker with Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty in Driggs, she can be found on her small farm in Victor, moving irrigation pipes to raise hay, mending fences, and gardening. Joanne's other passions include mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and Nordic skiing with her sweetheart Kib and golden retriever.

"I grew up learning that many hands make light work. The Pantry embodies this idea to the fullest. In our small community, it is inspiring to be part of an organization with nearly 100 volunteers dedicated to the mission that no one in Teton Valley should go hungry. I hope to contribute to the growth and strength of this vital non-profit organization for many years to come."

Joanne LaBelle

Member

Diane has lived in Teton Valley for two decades, where she raised her two children, who are now independent adults. Originally from a dairy farm in the Midwest, Diane values sustainable food practices and community engagement. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time on the river, and exploring new places.

Diane Temple

Treasurer

Tim moved to the valley in March 2020 to be closer to his children and their families. "I absolutely love this beautiful area and all the wonderful people I have known and worked with."

Tim served in the United States Marine Corps as a Captain. Following the Marine Corps, he had various roles in sales and management.

He is retired and the proud father of two children and four grandchildren. "In my free time, I enjoy being with my family, reading, caring for our three acres, and participating in many wonderful activities at Seniors West of the Tetons."

Tim joined the Food Pantry Board in June 2022. "It is a privilege to serve on the board, where I can help to strengthen and advance the pantry's mission. The staff and board are committed to serving those needing our services."

Tim also enjoys the opportunity to volunteer at the pantry. "I love working with the Pantry Team and the people who shop there."

Tim Foreman

Member

Teton Valley Food Pantry

Our Team

Staff

Sue Heffron

Willy Warner

Siena Hester

Marianne Sturken

Daniela Martienz

Susan Austin

Board of Directors

Anne Fortier

Debbie Whipple

Julie Kling

Sue Miller

Joanne LaBelle

Diane Temple

Tim Foreman

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