Rhonda Chafin
Chief Executive Officer
(423) 269-2466
rchafin@netfoodbank.org
Rhonda Chafin serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, bringing 33 years of experience in nonprofit management as the food bank’s CEO, along with over a decade in retail grocery and private-label marketing as an Account Manager. She is a graduate of Virginia Intermont College. Rhonda has completed numerous leadership development programs facilitated by the Chambers of Commerce in Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, Unicoi County, and Johnson County.
Under Rhonda’s strategic leadership, her team has accomplished a series of successful capital-building initiatives. To Rhonda’s commitment to enhancing food security in the region.
In her capacity, Rhonda currently participates on the FEMA Local Allocation Board for Sullivan County, Tennessee, and she serves on the Governmental Council for the Johnson City Washington County Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Kingsport and Bristol chambers, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Co-Chair of No Wrong Door STRONG ACC Policy and Advocacy Committee, and the East Tennessee State University Community Engagement Committee.
Rhonda previously served as Chair of the Feeding America Central Region Association of Food Banks and the Feeding America National Network of Food Banks (NAC). Additionally, she has contributed significantly to the National Council and to the Product Sourcing and Sharing subcommittee for the Feeding America Food Bank Network contract task force. She is presently an active member of the Feeding America National Council’s Food Sourcing Advisory Committee.
Rhonda is the recipient of the Feeding America National Food Bank network 2026 John van Hengel Fellowship Award: The John van Hengel Fellowship Award is the highest honor in food banking and is intended to be the crowning honor of the winner’s career. This lifetime achievement award celebrates individuals whose careers have been defined by unwavering dedication to fighting hunger and serving communities in need. It recognizes their commitment to community engagement, innovation, collaboration, inspiring others, building capacity, and centering people facing hunger.
She is also the recipient of the 2026 Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Elizabethton-Carter County Rotary and the 2019 Tri-Cities Dietetics Iris Award, recognizing significant contributions. 2011 Distinguished Leadership Award: Presented by the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, 2002 Business Journal Top Forty Under Forty: Highlighting exceptional individuals in Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia, and 1994 Jaycee of the Year & East Tennessee Region: Honored with the William Brownfield of the Quarter award.
Rhonda has led Second Harvest to receive the following awards of distinction:
- 2019 Food Lion’s “Food King” FEEDY Award: Honoring the Food Bank of the Year.
- 2012 Feeding America National Food Bank Network Hunger’s Hope Award: For the Food Bank Advocacy Program of the Year.
- 2011 CenturyLink Faith in the Future Region Non-Profit of the Year.
- 2010 Bristol Mayor’s Award of Distinction: Acknowledging outstanding contributions to community welfare in Bristol, TN, and surrounding areas.
Leadership Team
Staff
Emily Peltier
Federal Nutrition Programs and Community Kitchen Manager
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(423)269-2515
epeltier@netfoodbank.org