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Our TEam

Alan Reed Executive Director at CFBN

ALAN REED, Executive Director

Alan Reed is the Executive Director of Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network. Prior to this role, Alan was Executive Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at Dairy Management, Inc., and was responsible for creating and driving innovative strategies to grow dairy demand. Alan has a degree in Telecommunications from Indiana University and an MBA in Management & Strategy from Northwestern University.

MAYRA CRUZ,  Administrative Coordinator

Mayra Cruz joined the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network in 2018. She comes to CFBN and Bigger Table with over 25 years of administrative experience. Prior to joining CFBN, Mayra worked as an Executive Assistant at Dairy Management, Inc. She attended Northwestern Business College in Chicago.  

Mayra Cruz Administrative Assistant at CFBN


WEI TING HSIEH, Communications & Marketing Consultant 

Wei Ting joined the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network and Bigger Table in 2024. Specializing in Brand Strategy, Content Marketing, Content Development, and Social Media Marketing, she has successfully led content strategies across diverse industries such as Food and Beverage, Fitness, eCommerce, and Technology. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Olaf College, Wei Ting brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and creative prowess to the team.

PATRICK SCHAFFLER, Finance & Planning

Pat has been with Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network soon after its inception, initially serving as interim COO, and now primarily as a consultant for varying financial control needs and special projects. Prior to this role, Pat served as the Executive Director at the Northern Michigan Catholic Foundation, leading the organization through an operational stabilization. He spent much of his career in Chicago in the banking and fund services sector, then serving as a Director in Dairy Management Inc.’s Strategy, Insights and Planning department. Patrick has a degree in Finance and Business Economics from The University of Notre Dame.

Patrick Schaffler, Finance and Planning at CFBN



AMATZIAH (Zee) SNIPES, Events Manager

Amatziah joined the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network in 2022.  He has 15 years plus in the service industry and has grown to love and appreciate the servicing of others in all forms! With a background in customer service and restaurant management, his attention to detail is impeccable. Diving into non profit work has awaken the endless possibilities of helping his community to grow from small businesses to larger organizations. His experience over the past 7 years has lead him into project management where he has inspired company's and individuals across the board with goal driven strategies.


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