Beyond Hunger announces the appointment of Jennie Hull as next CEO

The Beyond Hunger Board of Directors is pleased to announce Jennie Hull as its next Chief Executive Officer. Jennie will succeed Michele Zurakowski, who will retire as CEO after almost 20 years of exceptional and transformational leadership.

Jennie comes to Beyond Hunger from Nourishing Hope, one of the largest and longest operating hunger relief organizations in Chicago where she has served most recently as the interim President & CEO. Prior, she served as Chief Program Officer.  During her tenure at Nourishing Hope, which spans eight years in total, Jennie has been a guiding force as the organization has evolved into a dynamic social services organization serving the city of Chicago. She oversaw and grew all client-facing programs which included pantry programs, home delivery, and Chicago’s first online market. She also grew key partnerships that provided significant mental wellness programs and critical social services.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Jennie Hull as the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Hunger,” said Laura Gutierrez, Board Chair “After an extensive search process, Jennie emerged as the exceptional leader our organization needs to guide us into our next chapter. Her impressive track record of strategic vision and deep commitment to our mission made her  the unanimous choice for this crucial role. We are confident that under Jennie's leadership, Beyond Hunger will continue to grow its impact and effectively address the critical needs of those we serve. The Board looks forward to working closely with Jennie to build upon our foundation of success and advance our vital commitment to food justice.”

Jennie received her BA in Psychology from The Ohio State University and an MA in Clinical Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is a proud 2024 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and serves on the board of Equal Hope.

"I am thrilled that the Board has selected someone with such deep expertise in food security to lead Beyond Hunger forward. Jennie's passion and skill at creating strategic programmatic response to community need will provide a seamless throughline for the organization,” said Michele Zurakowski, outgoing CEO.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the search and appreciate the partnership of Koya Partners, an executive recruiting firm that specializes in mission-driven search, who conducted the search.

The board and staff of Beyond Hunger are excited to welcome Jennie to our team. As we start to write this new chapter in Beyond Hunger’s story, we thank you for your unwavering support of our mission and work.

Beyond Hunger is harnessing the power of communities to end hunger. An award-winning direct service agency, the organization serves residents of 13 zip codes on the West Side of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Last year, Beyond Hunger provided critical food assistance and programming to 65,000 individuals.

For further inquiries, please contact Laura Gutierrez, Board President, at 708-386-1324.