Who We Are

Brielle Underwood has extensive experience working on government-funded programs with a focus on food systems, technical assistance, and economic development. Prior to her employment with NGA, Underwood worked at The Food Trust managing a large network of SNAP EBT Farmers Markets and provided technical assistance to other farmers market networks, farmers, small food businesses, community organizations, and public schools in the Greater Philadelphia Area. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Certificate in Software Quality Assurance.

Kari Wolkwitz comes to the NGAF from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation where she led data management and analysis of programs promoting healthy environments for youth by increasing access to nutritious foods and high-quality physical activity. She holds a master’s degree in public policy and has several years of experience as a data and research analyst, including work on large-scale technical projects and being the lead internal expert on CRM systems.

Gabrielle Rumney comes to NGAF from the Food Trust where she managed (alongside Brielle) a network of SNAP EBT farmers markets across Philadelphia for several years. She has extensive experience working with SNAP recipients, and retailers, along with nutrition incentive programs such as FMNP/SFMNP and Food Bucks. She brings strong relationship-building skills and a passion for food equity work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in public health and human service studies.

Ames Robb’s work has been focused on EBT in a variety of roles since 2008: as EBT Director in Vermont, as the project manager for FIS for the State of Florida’s SNAP and WIC EBT programs, and as a technical assistance consultant to USDA FNS for the SNAP Online Purchasing project since its inception. Her experience has given her a breadth of perspective and expertise in EBT functionality across stakeholders: States, benefit recipients, EBT processors, retailers, and FNS.

Peter Relich has been involved with EBT since 1981, initially in a system development capacity, and for the last 20 years as a consultant. He has been involved in all facets of EBT from EBT account establishment, card issuance, transaction acquiring and processing, and transaction settlement. Because of his experience, Relich has a deep understanding of EBT and how it works, starting with the retailer experience in accepting EBT as a tender type for purchases.

Jimmy Wright is lifelong independent grocer. He is President of Wright’s Market in Opelika, Alabama and Wright2U.com, an eCommerce fresh food delivery company. He is also President of Wright Food Solutions, consulting with retailers, wholesalers, non-profits, and community development groups in the areas of food access and food security, with a focus on inner city and rural America. Wright has testified before both the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture committees on the importance of the SNAP program in our country. Wright’s Market was the first independent grocer in America to offer SNAP Online along with Online Produce Incentives.

Ted Mason brings vast experience from former positions within the retail food industry, including as a retail technologist for the nation’s largest wholesale grocer, Director of Emerging Technology & Electronic Payments for the Food Marketing Institute, Director of Standards Implementation for the National Association of Convenience Stores PCATS (now known as Conexxus), and Executive Director of the Kentucky Grocers & Convenience Store Association. He most recently served as the Director of Information Technology for an independent supermarket chain. Mason served as chairman of the committee that published the first national standard (X9.58) for today’s SNAP card-based EBT system. Mason was also a participant in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AutoID Center where Internet of Things (IoT) originated.

Josh Anderegg comes to the NGAF from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank where he ran the Green Grocer, a mobile farmer’s market program that served neighborhoods across the city that were experiencing food apartheid. It was there that he first interacted with SNAP payments and various nutrition incentives, including the Food Trust’s Food Buck program and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s S/FMNP program. While on the Green Grocer Anderegg helped grow the initiative from fourteen to twenty markets and helped design the return to business solutions following the mobile market’s shutdown at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelly Hanson brings a breadth of experience working as a registered dietitian nutritionist in non-profit, government, and private settings. Most recently she managed a statewide farm to early care and education project with the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children. Prior to that she worked with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction advancing healthy school meal environments.

Chelsea Matzen is an experienced project manager working in the grant and nonprofit space with a passion for the food industry. She has helped multiple organizations apply for and win their first Federal grants and worked on multiple $4 million+ grants. Matzen oversees all programs of the NGA Foundation providing leadership, guidance, and strategy. She manages the Foundation’s budget, fundraising, and events. Prior to employment with NGA, Matzen worked with the National Farmers Union and the consulting firm, Corner Alliance.