Our Team
Taste Buds
The most important members of our team are our Taste Buds! At Taste Community Restaurant, our volunteers are referred to as Taste Buds. With each carrot chopped, each plate served, and each dish cleaned, our Taste Buds are working to help end hunger in our community.
Meet the Team
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Jeff Williams
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Taste Project
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Morgan Pocock
Business Manager, Taste Project
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Lukus Hess
Program Manager, Taste Community Restaurant Fort Worth
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Mizhraim Pena III, CFC
Program Manager, Taste Community Restaurant Arlington
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Danielle Mindieta
Executive Sous Chef, Taste Community Restaurant Fort Worth
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Denise Fullmer, CC
Executive Sous Chef, Taste Community Restaurant Arlington
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Dorian Turner
Sous Chef, Taste Community Restaurant Arlington
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Sous Chef
Sous Chef, Taste Community Restaurant Fort Worth
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Elise Malveau, CFC
Sous Chef, Taste Community Restaurant Arlington
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Nekeisha Davis, CFC
Sous Chef Apprentice
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Christine Turner
Sous Chef Apprentice
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Kenneth Bennett
Sous Chef Apprentice
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Emilio Rivera
Program Navigator, Taste Community Restaurant Fort Worth
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Program Navigator
Program Navigator, Taste Community Restaurant Arlington
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Ashlie Wood
Program Navigator, Taste Project
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Julie Williams
Interim Events Manager, Taste Project
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Leslie Eades
Development Associate, Taste Project
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Juliana Matous
Marketing Coordinator, Taste Project
Board of Directors
Our board of directors governs and oversees the activities of Taste Project. Our board has completed BoardBuild training in preparation for service to our community.
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Jeff Williams is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Taste Project. He has always had a passion for cooking, food, and feeding people. Being half Italian, Jeff’s heritage feeds his passion and discovery in the area of Italian cuisine.
His vision for Taste Project is different than a growing, profit generating, Italian restaurant. His vision is not a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen, but a place where everyday folks eat; and those who could not afford to eat there could still enjoy a meal in the restaurant. In June 2012, Jeff launched Taste Project, and in December 2017, the organization launched Taste Community Restaurant.
Jeff works full-time for Taste Project and attends Gateway Church.
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Brian has always had a passion for serving. For years, he and his wife hosted their small group Bible study in their home and served in their church. Brian lives in Fort Worth with his wife Jacqueline and their three children: Tyler, Brandt, and Grace.
Brian has been involved with Taste Project since its inception. His background in sales, organization, and leadership have been invaluable in launching Taste Project and sustaining Taste Community Restaurant.
Brian works for Hourglass Wealth, LLC, and attends Gateway Church.
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Bill Chubb joined our Board of Directors in July, 2020. Bill spent nearly 30 years in management at Pacific Bell, SBC and AT&T where he led large organizations within Network Operations . Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
Bill and his wife Pamela live in Weatherford. Their two children are grown; William lives in Dallas and Deborah lives in Los Angeles.
Bill has been a prayer warrior for our community well before Taste Community Restaurant opened in the Near Southside. He has a burden for people to be loved and free. And Bill regularly uses his talents to meet the practical needs of those around him.
Bill is retired and attends Gateway Church.
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Julie Williams is the wife of Taste Project founder, Jeff Williams. She has volunteered with Taste Project since its inception in 2012, and previously was a full-time marketer in the healthcare industry. When not working or volunteering, Julie enjoys running and chasing their son Brian. Their family lives in Fort Worth.
Julie’s creative background has helped launch Taste Project and Taste Community Restaurant, and has helped in the planning for future projects.
Julie is a full-time mom and volunteer, President of the One World Everybody Eats Board of Directors, a Tarrant Area Food Bank Board Member, and attends Gateway Church.
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Bonnie joined our Board of Directors in July 2020. Bonnie lives with her husband Mark in North Richland Hills. Their oldest son, David, is engaged to be married to Casey. And their youngest son, James lives with his wife Angela and their daughter Genevieve.
Bonnie has volunteered over 100 hours at Taste Community Restaurant, and she has been a prayer warrior for Taste Project and Taste Community Restaurant since before its inception. She has a passion to see people thrive in their relationship with the Lord, and she is deeply vested in the lives of those around her.
Bonnie is a retired librarian from the Carroll Independent School District and attends Gateway Church.
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Tyler is a Texan through and through. He is a Financial Advisor by day; but loves the country and his horses. Tyler is also an avid sports fan, and loves to travel. He is very active in the community, and is always willing to lend a helping hand to his neighbors. Tyler and his wife Brittany live in the Cultural District of Fort Worth.
Tyler is an excellent researcher and resource for us. He continuously brings new ideas to the table which makes him a perfect match for Taste Project!
Vocationally, Tyler holds the title of Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley and focuses on Financial Advising. He attends United Methodist Church, Arbor Lawn.
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Greg Nelson joined our Board of Directors in July 2020. Greg spent most of his career as an executive in the Financial Sales Division at IBM. Greg holds a master’s in Business Administration from Western Illinois University.
Greg has volunteered over 500 hours at Taste Community Restaurant, and he has played a huge role in the organization’s COVID-19 response. You will regularly find Greg in the dining room engaging with guests and making sure they feel welcome…and sometimes behind the grill working side by side with the kitchen staff.
Greg is retired and lives with his wife Lorrie in Benbrook. The two met at IBM and have been married for 36 years. Together, they have two grown children. Ryan married Stacey, and they live in Benbrook with their sons Calvin and newborn twins Henrik and Jack. Daughter Staci married Ky and they live with their sons Miles and Max in Florida.