15 Feb CFA Appoints Nicole Davis as Executive Director
Center for Food Action is pleased to announce that Nicole Desane Davis has earned the well-deserved appointment as the Executive Director of CFA, effective March 1. She has a proven fundraising record and displays core competencies in developing relationships with donors, sponsors, and community-based organizations. Nicole continues to demonstrate exceptional service and commitment to our organization since joining CFA in 2018.
Nicole is an innovative, visionary, and transformational leader who is well-equipped in strategic planning and cutting-edge brand marketing approaches. As Center for Food Action’s new Executive Director, Nicole aims to deliver organizational growth and sustainability for New Jersey residents facing food insecurity and homelessness. She is a courageous, integrity-filled thought leader.
In 2018, she joined CFA, Bergen County’s largest food pantry featuring six distribution centers, as a special events planner. In 2022 she was promoted to Director of events. CFA’s portfolio includes producing unique events that engage diverse audiences, including corporations, houses of worship, community-based civic organizations, and donors. She led her colleagues in creating signature experiences such as MLK Day of Service and CFA’s Run/Walk that raised significant funds and promoted awareness around food insecurity. CFA’s mission and values align with Nicole’s social justice commitment. Nicole says, “addressing the systemic and systematic disenfranchisement of New Jersey residents who lack economic resources to secure nutritious foods is vital to our collective creation of healthier communities.” Nicole’s hope for the people she serves is for them to live life in totality.
Her professional career began in radio sales and music marketing in Washington, D.C. She has worked for Polygram Group Distribution and served as a National Marketing Manager for Mercury Records. The music industry provided a great training ground for her next courageous venture as an entrepreneur. Nicole founded DeSane & Associates, LLC ~ An Event Planning and Marketing Company specializing in sponsorship development, conference, and meeting planning. Her dynamic team of professionals was responsible for clients, including the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, and National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters. After a successful 17-year career, Nicole closed the door on small business ownership and rebranded to Nick of Time Marketing LLC, which focused on direct consulting services for companies including KPMG and the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research.
Volunteerism is in her DNA. She served as Co-Chair for the Board of Trustees for Community Baptist Church of Englewood, NJ leading the multigenerational team responsible for completing a 42,000-square-foot worship center. Currently, she serves on the Deaconess ministry and is a minister in training.
She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Epsilon Omega Chapter, where she has served as chaplain, fundraising, and standards committee chair. Nicole has curated various programs, including Think HBCU, to assist Black and Brown youth with their college admissions process.
Nicole holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in organizational leadership from Howard University and recently earned a Master’s of Divinity with a concentration in social justice from Drew Theological Seminary. A native of Englewood, NJ, and the daughter of a school educator and public health nurse, Nicole understands that being a lifelong learner is essential to living a life of service. “We are never too old to learn, and we must all be teachable.” Nicole has a great sense of humor and loves her family. She and her husband, Ryan, reside in northern New Jersey.