David B. Waters, CEO
With over 30 years of experience in the food industry, David has been involved with Community Servings since its founding in 1990 as a home-delivered meals program for individuals and families ill with HIV/AIDS. For the past 19 years, the agency has grown from feeding 30 individuals in Roxbury and Dorchester, to over 750 in 16 communities in and around Greater Boston.
As General Manager at UpStairs at the Pudding Restaurant in Harvard Square, David helped build a coalition of Boston restaurateurs to assist the newly founded agency with fundraising and public relations. In 1990, he joined the Board of Directors and helped to create the LifeSavor and Pie in the Sky fundraising events that have won "Best of Boston" awards and become annual traditions in the Boston area, raising over $900,000 each year. In 1996, he came to Community Servings full-time, serving in a variety of capacities before becoming the Executive Director in 1999.
Under his leadership, the agency has expanded its mission to feed those with other acute, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, amyothrophic lateral sclerosis and liver disease. Community Servings has also introduced a food service job training program and nutrition education classes for its clients who become well enough to leave the program and for members of the community. The agency has also taken a leadership role and partnered with the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies in reaching out to Ikamva Labantu, an agency struggling to provide nutrition support in fighting AIDS in South Africa.
David served for 2 years as President of the board of the International Association of Nutrition Services Agency. In 2001, he was honored by the Boston Celtics as a "Hero Among Us". In 2008, he was honored by the American Marketing Association as a Nonprofit Marketer of the year.
Christopher Muhammad, Director of Operations
Brother Christopher came to Community Servings in 1994 with a background in the military as well as extensive food service experience. He started with us as a volunteer, then became a pot washer before being promoted to delivery driver, and then to delivery coordinator. Over the years, Christopher has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the mission, always going above and beyond to ensure our hungry clients receive their meals each day.
Through his leadership, we have never missed a delivery day! In recognition of his excellent work and dedication, Brother Christopher was promoted to Director of Operations in 2005. He also plays an active role in his mosque, Muhammad's Mosque of Islam located in Roxbury which has been a key element of his personal development, and his desire to give back to those in need in the community.
Tim Leahy, Vice President of Development and Communications
Tim joined the staff of Community Servings in August of 1999. He is responsible for all fundraising for the agency and works with the Board, staff, and individual donors and corporate and foundation partners to acquire the resources we need to provide our services. He received a BA in English & Economics from UMASS Boston.
Tim brings a unique perspective to his position at Community Servings, a blend of for-profit sales and an intimate knowledge of food service and several years work in non-profits. After 16 years in the food service industry, from ice cream parlor to fine dining, and six years of sales & marketing with the world's largest Macintosh computer show, he transitioned to the non-profit development field. Tim has long been a passionate supporter of HIV/AIDS & hunger-relief causes, volunteering for a number of organizations. After years of working in the private sector, Tim chose to dedicate his efforts to nonprofit development. Before coming to C.S. in 1999 Tim served for two years as the Director of Development for the Boston Salvation Army and for three years at the United Way of Dutchess County, NY.
Janet Dillon, CFO
In 2000 Janet came to Community Servings with 20 years of financial management experience at a wide variety of Boston area non-profits. She handles all aspects of financial management from internal control and contract management to insurance and final audits. Janet has a Masters in Human Services Management from Heller School of Social Welfare at Brandeis University.
Meghan Ostrander, Registered Dietitian
Meghan Ostrander joined Community Servings in 2010. She is responsible for assessing the nutrition status and providing counseling to clients with any issue from weight maintenance to managing the nutritional side effects of their medications. She also supports the kitchen with the planning of client and school menus, fielding topics ranging from the navigation of therapeutic diets to meeting federal requirements for school meals. Lastly, she has the opportunity to teach nutrition and cooking classes both on- and off-site. Her food and nutrition expertise combined with ten years in the restaurant industry and a theatre background make her nutrition and cooking classes dynamic, informative, and enjoyable.
Her nutrition background has been behind-the-scenes in food distribution, from food banks to grocery stores to her current role in home-delivered and school meals here at Community Servings. Meghan earned her MS in Food and Nutrition from Framingham State College in 2009.