.jpg)
Wlaf1450Second Harvest distributes food on second Tuesday of each month at La Follette Church of God
MARYVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee announced that Rachael Ellis has been selected as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. This follows a thoughtful succession planning process led by the food bank’s Board of Directors. Ellis will officially assume the role on June 27th following the retirement of longtime CEO Elaine Streno.
Ellis has served Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee for more than a decade, helping lead major organizational growth, strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and emergency response efforts across the region. Throughout her tenure, she has played a key role in expanding fundraising efforts, strengthening operations, and helping position the organization for continued long-term impact across its 18-county service area.
“Rachael has demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission, our staff, and the communities we serve,” said David Owens, Chair of the Board of Directors. “She leads with compassion, innovation, and accountability, while also bringing a strong vision for the future of Second Harvest. The Board is confident in her leadership and excited for what’s ahead for the organization. The Food Bank remains committed to innovation, collaboration, and meeting the evolving needs of East Tennessee families.”
During her time with Second Harvest, Ellis helped support organizational growth from approximately $3 million in annual revenue in 2019 to more than $12 million in 2025 alongside the leadership team and staff. She has also helped lead the organization through major crises and disaster response efforts, including COVID-19 response operations, Hurricane Helene recovery coordination, severe winter weather events, and regional emergency food distributions.
Ellis has also focused on strengthening partnerships across East Tennessee through innovative community collaborations, operational improvements, and long-term strategic planning efforts designed to increase food access and strengthen regional hunger relief efforts.
“I’m incredibly honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee into its next chapter,” Ellis said. “This mission is deeply personal to me because these communities are home. I believe strongly in the future of this organization, the strength of our team, and the partnerships that make this work possible every day.”
She added, “Elaine built an incredible foundation over the past 33 years, and I’m grateful for her leadership, mentorship, and dedication to this mission. I look forward to building on that momentum while continuing to serve our neighbors across East Tennessee.”
“Rachael cares deeply about this mission and the people we serve,” Streno said. “Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to watch her lead with integrity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to our communities. I have great confidence in both Rachael and the future of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.”
As part of the organization’s continued vision for the future, Ellis has also helped develop initiatives to strengthen long-term food access, expand regional partnerships, and increase opportunities to connect local resources with communities experiencing hunger.
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee serves 18 counties across more than 8,000 square miles, working alongside partner agencies, farmers, volunteers, donors, and community organizations to fight hunger and feed hope throughout the region.
About Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee:
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, a Partner Food Bank of Feeding America, has worked to compassionately feed East Tennesseans experiencing hunger since 1982. Last year, Second Harvest distributed more than 27.3 million pounds of food across an 18-county service area through multiple hunger-relief programs and 780+ community partners. More information can be found here. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/03/2026-6AM)