Deb Wilkinson

Operations Manager

 

Prior to managing internal operations with New Venture Advisors, Deb was a recruiter for Accenture, focusing on behavioral interviews for experienced candidates globally. She was previously the Recruiting Operations Leader for Mercer where she oversaw operations and processes for the U.S. recruiting team and worked with all international locations to ensure global consistency in recruiting processes and systems. Prior to that, Deb was back at Accenture/Andersen Consulting in recruiting and consulting roles.

Deb graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Management. She later earned an Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, IL. This experience drove her to start a personal chef delivery business in Chicago focusing on healthy foods for busy families.

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)