Our Executive Board

Damon Bazziel

Mr. Damon Bazziel, who is the Chair of the Gary Food Council received his Business Administration degree from Vincennes University. He also studied Marketing Promotion at Indiana State University. Mr. Bazziel has also received his Master Garden Certification from Purdue University Lake County & is a member of their board. He is currently a Community Board Member for Indiana University Northwest. Mr. Bazziel is a Community Advocate & Hopes to help the community of Lake County by supporting local food producers.

Carl Weatherspoon Jr.

Carl Ivy Weatherspoon Jr. is the vice chair of the Gary Food Council, an educator, entrepreneur, and community advocate, currently serving his hometown of Gary, Indiana. Ever inspired by possibilities, Carl prides himself on growth, innovation, and athleticism; which is evident in his most recent entrepreneurial ventures, Supa Sportz LLC, and Stack it up—a robotic weight stacker bound to revolutionize the health and wellness industry. 

Carl began developing his leadership skills as the oldest of four siblings, and he continued to develop them on the court and field. Carl, affectionately known as “Spoon,” graduated from the historic Gary Roosevelt High School, where he lettered in four sports. He went on to play at Purdue University where he lettered in two sports, Baseball and track. Carl earned dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Computer Technology and Liberal Arts. He also has an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Those academic experiences led him to opportunities in professional and independent sports with the Gary Rail cats. He also has experience in corporate America with Schwan’s Food Company and the Chicago White Sox.


Alma Wilkes

Alma Wilkes is a charter member of the Gary Food Council and treasurer. Formally she was a Nutrition and Wellness teacher in the Gary Community School Corp. Ms. Wilkes also conducted "Vibrant Foods" workshops for fellow teachers  during the Teacher's Institute Days. Alma is a committed advocate for increasing awareness of the connection that food choices have to health. Her volunteer work in food demonstration and preparation encompasses:

  •        grilled veggie demo at the Fresh County Market

  •       juicing demos at Embassies of Christ (flea market)

  •       Valparaiso's Earth Day 2014/2015

  •       Purdue Calumet University with the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity

  •      Mulelewana (school for orphans) in Lusaka, Zambia

  •      Annual Chicago Raw Food Festival

  •       Green Gary Day and Harvest Fest ( with the City of Gary and Green Urbanism)

    Ms. Wilkes holds a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. She grows her own herbs and spices and creates flavorful juices that can be medicinal.


Shenae Williams

Shenae Williams is a graduate student pursing a Master of Public Health at Michigan State University. She received her BA in Psychology with minors in Biology and Spanish from Indiana University. In her grandmother’s garden, she cultivated an interest in farming and preventative medicine through the lens of healthy eating. As an aspiring public health practitioner,  her current interests include behavioral epidemiology with a focus in health disparities, specifically food insecurity in BIPOC communities.  Shenae currently serves as the Secretary of the Gary Food Council. (Pronouns: she/her/her)