Harvesters announces new Chief Operating Officer

Harvesters—The Community Food Network is pleased to announce it has promoted Monic Houpe to the position of Chief Operating Officer for the organization. She assumed her new role October 1. Houpe previously served as Harvesters’ Director of Agency Partnerships and Capacity. She replaces Stephen Davis, who is now Harvesters’ President and CEO. As COO, she will serve on the Executive Leadership team and will lead the following areas: Community Impact, Operations, and Quality Assurance.

Previously, Houpe advanced through roles of increasing responsibility in Product Development/Brand Management and Information Technology at Hallmark for more than 21 years. She served as the volunteer BackSnack program leader for 15 years at Hallmark. BackSnack is a weekend feeding program for children operated by Harvesters. Throughout her career, Houpe has been a strong advocate for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Serving on multiple diversity councils, as member coordinator for Hallmark’s inaugural African American ERG, and as recruiter for diverse talent, she has dedicated her life to invoking change for others.

Currently, Houpe serves on the board of directors for High Aspirations and works on several teams for her local church. She also previously served on the board of the American Jazz Museum and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City’s Emerging Leaders Council. Houpe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration majoring in management information systems from Iowa State University. She also earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University.