Carl Howell, who’s led a nonprofit community action agency in Lowell for the past 16 years, will take the helm of The Greater Boston Food Bank in October
The food bank’s board said it conducted a national search to find a replacement for CEO Catherine D’Amato, who announced her retirement in January after three decades of working to expand food assistance programs and bolster the organization’s distribution network
Howell will become the food bank’s CEO and president on Oct. 1 as Massachusetts grapples with record-high food insecurity that could worsen amid eligibility changes to SNAP benefits and acute strain on the Department of Transitional Assistance’s caseworkers
“Carl possesses both the practical experience of leading a large, complex human services organization and a legacy of lifting up those most in need — critical assets for this important role,” said food bank board chair Ted Truscott. “Carl understands how economic instability contributes to hunger and has a proven track record of successfully navigating and shaping federal and state policy to improve lives.”
Howell is CEO of Community Teamwork, which has more than 650 employees and serves more than 65,000 individuals and families annually. Community Teamwork also describes itself as a regional nonprofit housing agency and a community development corporation
“Having experienced food insecurity firsthand, I know its lasting impact,” Howell said. “Right now, so many people are struggling to get by, and we cannot afford to look away. I am eager to bring my energy and ideas to our mission while pushing for systemic solutions to ensure all community members have the nourishment they need to thrive.”
Howell has a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from McDaniel College in Maryland. He worked as a program manager at Catholic Charities of Baltimore and an overnight counselor at Brandon School & Residential Treatment Center in Natick, according to his LinkedIn
Congresswoman Lori Trahan called Howell a “fierce advocate for families across the Merrimack Valley and MetroWest.”
Editor’s note: Catherine D’Amato is on WBUR’s Board of Directors.
