The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia’s largest hunger relief organization serving 20 counties, announced the hiring of Mark Hilling as director of Operations, effective. Mr. Hilling will be instrumental in ensuring the long term strategies for warehousing, food distribution, transportation, inventory control, food purchasing and food resourcing align with the Food Bank’s end goal of achieving its 10 year strategic plan to double in size by 2025.
As the former director of Manufacturing and Warehouse Operations for Ferrara Candy (formerly Farley’s and Sathers Candy Company and Brach’s Candy Company), Mr. Hilling played a key role in developing and implementing the supply chain network through growth and acquisitions. He spent over 11 years in this position, overseeing operations in Chattanooga, as well as additional operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For the past two years, he has worked as a consultant on food operations design and improvements.
“Combining Mark’s expertise and empathy to our mission with the passion and dedication of our high-functioning ops team will propel the Food Bank to fulfill our mission of leading a network of community partners in eliminating hunger and promoting better nutrition by 2025,” said Gina Crumbliss, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. “We have the utmost confidence in Mark as an innovative thought leader and have already seen a positive impact in our organization and community.”
Mr. Hilling attended Vanderbilt University, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA with an emphasis in Operations. Besides his extended role with Ferrara Candy, he also owned and operated the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Chattanooga from 2004 to 2010. A 20 year resident of Chattanooga, Mr. Hilling began his relationship with the Food Bank in 2004, serving as a board member from 2004-2010.