Feed the Children Leadership

Travis Arnold has been President and CEO of Feed the Children since 2017 after extensive service to the organization in multiple leadership roles. He first joined Feed the Children in 2001 and was Chief Operating Officer from 2006 to 2017, serving three separate terms as interim President and CEO through periods of change.

He led the development of a world-class inventory management system and implemented a new budgeting process as well as the organization’s first strategic plan. He also streamlined logistics through our network of U.S. distribution centers and international offices in Africa, Asia and Central America.

Travis is an Oklahoma native with three decades of broad experience in operations, transportation and executive leadership at companies with annual revenues and donations in excess of $1 billion. During his more than 20 years at UPS, he held numerous management positions in operations, training, health and safety, business development and human resources.

With her programmatic and organizational expertise, Bre Jefferson leads our international operations, implementing multifaceted projects in diverse cultures and contexts to improve food insecurity, health, education, and livelihoods in the communities we partner with across the globe. For more than 20 years, she has been dedicated to empowering communities and effecting positive changes. Bre’s experience combines programming, enterprise risk management and business development to devise cutting-edge strategies with a keen understanding of local dynamics, creating sustainable solutions that resonate at a global scale.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Bre remains committed to fostering the next generation of leaders in international development. Her mentorship and advocacy initiatives have equipped individuals with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration to effect change in their communities.

Michael Panas has served as Chief Information Officer at Feed the Children since 2016. He provides leadership in managing information technology and developing robust and secure technology solutions for our U.S. and international operations. He has led efforts to implement Blackbaud CRM, Qlik Sense BI and Data Analytics, MS 365 E5, managed detection and response, migrations to Azure Cloud and a number of other SaaS solutions.

Under his tenure, the organization has also established in-house IT management capabilities for Information Security and Data Governance. Mike has chaired or maintained membership on the boards of several nonprofits that provide programming in the areas of financial counseling, autism support and community impact.

Colleen Finn Ridenhour joined Feed the Children in 2022 as Chief Growth and Strategy Officer. Focused on the organization’s impact and strategic plan, she leads our long-term advancement and the development and implementation of U.S. programs and also oversees our marketing and communication teams. Previously, she served as Chief Development Officer at Habitat for Humanity International.

Colleen also held leadership positions at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer and Research Center in Los Angeles and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Prior to her nonprofit career, Colleen managed corporate and philanthropic partnerships in the entertainment sector as an executive at E! Entertainment Television and the Style Network.

Gary Sloan currently serves as the Chief U.S. Operations Officer at Feed the Children, overseeing our operations in the U.S. For the past 15 years, he has provided executive leadership in the development of U.S. programs and operations, including managing our network of distribution centers. Gary has served on the boards of directors for several nonprofits that focus on helping children and families and has nearly 25 years of corporate leadership experience.

Christy Tharp has been Feed the Children’s Chief Financial Officer since 2001. Responsible for our financial reporting and management, she works to ensure professional and ethical integrity and to uphold the expectations of regulatory agencies and donors.

Prior to Feed the Children, Christy served as an audit manager with the international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche and has served a large client base of nonprofit organizations. She also gained experience in the private sector as a Controller and Accounting Supervisor. Christy is a CPA and a member of the AICPA and OSCPA.

Bob Thomas is Feed the Children’s Chief Corporate Procurement and Business Continuity Officer. In addition to administering the organization’s development and implementation of a comprehensive business continuity plan, he oversees relationships with corporate donors that provide gift-in-kind products as well as the purchase and procurement of products that supplement our efforts in the U.S. and internationally.

Before Feed the Children, Bob served as Executive Director of The Xenia Institute for Social Justice, Executive Director of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and Senior Director of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, along with several other leadership positions. His service on boards currently includes, among others, his appointment to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s Dispute Resolution Advisory Board.