PRESIDENT
SANDY HOPPLE
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Assistant Director
Phone: 717-772-2693
E-Mail: shopple@pa.gov
ABOUT SANDY HOPPLE
Sandy has worked for Department of Agriculture since 2011; currently as the Assistant Director, ordering USDA commodities, administer SAE funds, monitors TEFAP funds, and administers the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and State Food Purchase Program. In addition, she attended and received her M.B.A. in Food and Agribusiness from Delaware Valley College. Sandy has been highly involved in ACDA since 2015. She was the Treasurer of ACDA from 2015-2017 and as a valuable member of the board, Sandy was invited to attend the Strategic Planning Retreat. Outside of work, Sandy is involved in the Keystone International Live Stock Exposition and the Pennsylvania Livestock Association.
INCOMING PRESIDENT
GARRICK HOWELL
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Director of Office for Child Nutrition
Phone: 502-782-9231
E-Mail: Garrick.Howell@ky.gov
ABOUT GARRICK HOWELL
Garrick has been with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture since July 2009. He began as processing specialist for USDA Foods in Kentucky. In 2014, in addition to managing orders for Processing Diversion for Kentucky, he began work coordinating the Commodity Advisory Council and direct delivery products. In 2016, Garrick served on the ACDA Processing Committee as co-chair of the Forms subcommittee. In 2017, he was elected to the ACDA Board as Southeast Region State Representative. He has enjoyed his time serving on the board and looks forward to the opportunity to serve further as a member of the Executive Board.
VICE PRESIDENT
ELYSIA DICAMILLO
District of Columbia, Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Program Specialist
Phone: 202-403-4556
Email: Elysia.DiCamillo@dc.gov
About Elysia DiCamillo
Elysia DiCamillo has been with the Office of the State Superintendent (OSSE) of Education as a Program Specialist since 2017. In her current role she oversees The Emergency Food Assistance Program for the District of Columbia. In addition, she administers two grants for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and organizes, supports, and executes national and local events promoting the Child Nutrition Programs. Prior to working at OSSE,Elysia worked at the Capital Area Food Bank in DC where she supervised six feeding programs for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Elysia has been serving as ACDA Secretary since August, 2019. Elysia is passionate about her work to make quality nutrition more accessible to her community. Elysia has a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. In her spare time, Elysia enjoys scuba diving and spending time with her family.
TREASURER
Eliza-Jane Cruse
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Inspector II - Central Kentucky Regional Coordinator
Phone: 502-229-2619
E-Mail: ElizaJane.Cruse@ky.gov
ABOUT ELIZA-JANE Cruse
Eliza-Jane has been with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture since 2013 as an Agriculture Inspector II in the USDA Foods Program. She is based in Central Kentucky and helps with the Training, Development and Continued Education for New Food Service Directors as well as their Staff. In 2015 Eliza-Jane began working with Garrick Howell in the planning and execution of their yearly Kentucky Department of Agriculture Food Service Director Conference. She assists with the overseeing of Education Classes, Speakers, Receptions and helping to manage the budget for the entire event. Eliza-Jane is a Graduate from Western Kentucky University and plans on continuing her education with a Master’s Degree in Social Responsibility and Sustainable Communities. When she isn’t working Eliza-Jane spends time with her daughter, Ada Scout and family.
SECRETARY
BRANTLEY TUCKER
Food Distribution and Child Nutrition Programs
Alabama Department of Education
Phone: 334-694-4836
Email: btucker@alsde.edu
About Brantley Tucker
Brantley Tucker is a Food Distribution Specialist for Child Nutrition Programs at the Alabama State Department of Education. He is experienced with NSLP, USDA Foods, DOD Fresh, TEFAP, CSFP, and the Alabama Statewide Procurement Bid. His background before Food Distribution was in procurement, policy and warehousing. He has been with the state since 2011 and first came to the Department of Education in 2014. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and U.S. History from Troy University in 2008 and received his Master’s Degree in Legal Administration from Auburn Montgomery in 2009. He spends his personal time pursuing to live a good life with his wife and daughter.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
MIKE BIRKMEYER
Maryland State Department of Education
Chief, Food Distribution
Phone: 410-767-0206
E-Mail: Michael.birkmeyer@maryland.gov
ABOUT MIKE BIRKMEYER
Mike started at MSDE as the Processing Specialist in 2005 and was promoted to his current position in 2007. Before joining Maryland he was Purchasing Manager for Maines Paper and Foodservice. Mike has more than twenty year’s foodservice experience, which includes a wholesale produce buyer for Marriott Distribution Services and a local produce company, Director of Operations for foodservice at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and various management positions for Hyatt Regency hotels. Mike has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Widener University. He is active in SNA and is the Exhibits co-chair for the MdSNA. Mike is a Past President of ACDA, the former co-chair of the Processing Committee, and has held other ACDA Board positions. In his spare time Mike enjoys traveling with his family and spending time at the beach.
