The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (CFBN) has appointed Mariam Parker as Executive Director, succeeding founding leader Alan Reed, who is retiring after nearly a decade of service.
Founded in 2017, CFBN has grown into a regional network connecting hundreds of food and beverage companies across Chicagoland. Under Reed’s leadership, the organization expanded its mission with the launch of Bigger Table, a 501(c)(3) that applies industry expertise and supply-chain capabilities to address food insecurity through innovative product development and distribution.
Mariam brings deep experience in nonprofit leadership and food-system collaboration. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance, where she built partnerships among chefs, producers, and industry leaders while overseeing community grant programs focused on impact and innovation.
In her new role, Mariam will lead both CFBN and Bigger Table into their next phase of growth, strengthening member engagement, advancing cross-sector collaboration, and scaling initiatives that deliver measurable value to the industry and the broader community.
“Mariam brings a rare combination of strategic vision, relationship-building, and mission-driven leadership,” said Lisa Johnson, Managing Director. “Her experience aligning industry stakeholders around shared outcomes makes her exceptionally well positioned to guide CFBN and Bigger Table forward.”
The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network is an association that brings together the region’s food and beverage industry to drive innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. Bigger Table serves as its charitable arm, aligning industry expertise and resources to develop high-quality, nutritious food solutions for communities in need.
