Feeding America West Michigan Names New President and CEO

KENTWOOD, Mich. (Grand Rapids Press Wire) — Feeding America West Michigan has selected Pattijean McCahill to lead the organization as its next President and CEO, effective June 29.

The Board of Directors unanimously voted to select McCahill following a national search. McCahill succeeds Ken Estelle, who guided the organization through rapid growth, the COVID 19 response, and the transition to a new warehouse in Kentwood over the past 15 years.

A Decade of Leadership at FAWM

McCahill will transition from her current role as Chief Philanthropy Officer. During her decade with the organization, she significantly strengthened FAWM's long-term sustainability and philanthropic capacity.

She drove contributed revenue from $2.2 million to $8.4 million while expanding the active donor base from 5,711 to 9,566. She also transformed the organization's brand and visual identity, shifting the focus to strength-based neighbor storytelling and increasing digital engagement and brand trust.

Pattijean's particular commitment to being a leader for equitable food systems, elevating community voice, serving neighbors with dignity, and cultivating an internal culture of belonging stood out among candidates, said Board Chair Danielle Sheffield LaPorte.

I am deeply committed to the food bank's future and prepared to lead the organization into its next chapter, McCahill said. Advancing this work requires listening first, using data to guide decisions, and allocating resources that reflect the realities of a service area spanning both urban centers and deeply rural communities.

Building on Success

McCahill credits Estelle for leaving the organization in a sound financial position and for building FAWM's reputation as a trusted community partner. She also credits him for the transition to a new warehouse that doubled capacity and improved operational efficiency.

The Board Chair noted that throughout the search process, the board was consistently impressed by McCahill's vision for FAWM's future, her values-driven leadership, and her genuine belief in the role each team member plays in nourishing neighbors and engaging communities.

She brings a leadership style rooted in reflection, clarity of purpose, and a strong capacity to listen and learn, as well as a deep commitment to fostering an internal culture of belonging and advancing equitable service across our 40 counties, Sheffield LaPorte said.

Extensive Professional Background

In addition to her years in nonprofit philanthropy, McCahill possesses extensive experience in brand management, strategic planning, new product development, and category management for leading packaged goods companies including Sara Lee Bakery, Whirlpool Corporation, and Amway.

Throughout her corporate career, she led cross-functional teams in making data-informed decisions grounded in consumer needs, financial discipline, and long-term sustainability. She led the global launch of eSpring at Amway, which is now one of the world's largest home water treatment brands. She also founded and scaled a national fitness products company and co-led the strategic evaluation and acquisition process for a nutrigenomics company.

Serving the Region

As a member of the national Feeding America food bank network, Feeding America West Michigan supports hunger-relief efforts in 40 counties in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

In 2025, the food bank partnered with more than 800 community organizations to distribute 28.7 million meals worth of food to more than one million households through fixed-site pantries, mobile food pantries, summer meal programs, and more.

McCahill and Estelle will work together for the next several weeks for a transitional period before she begins her duties on June 29.

Throughout the search process, the board was consistently impressed by Pattijean's vision for FAWM's future, her values-driven leadership, and her genuine belief in the role each team member plays in nourishing neighbors and engaging communities across our service area, Sheffield LaPorte said.

Education

Pattijean McCahill grew up in Chicago and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University. She holds a Master of Public Policy in Nonprofit Leadership from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

About Pattijean McCahill

During her decade with the organization, Pattijean has significantly strengthened FAWM's long-term sustainability and philanthropic capacity. She drove contributed revenue from $2.2 million to $8.4 million while expanding the active donor base from 5,711 to 9,566.

Pattijean transformed FAWM's brand and visual identity, shifting the focus to strength-based neighbor storytelling and increasing digital engagement and brand trust. She led FAWM's first-ever primary research initiatives, securing grant funding to assess neighbors' experiences, the Mobile Pantry's impact, the effectiveness of nutrition education, and brand health. She also managed a personal major donor portfolio of 70 donors, generating approximately $1.5 million annually.