Our organization is guided by community members and follows a community-centered approach rooted in the principles of kaizen, which emphasizes continuous improvement. We apply this philosophy by integrating community perspectives, knowledge, and skills into our work. Community members with lived experience play a central role in shaping our efforts.

Our board, community advisors, volunteers, and site managers at Kaizen Food Rescue come from the same communities we serve—individuals who have experienced food insecurity and are committed to transforming the food system. They actively participate in decision-making, planning, and program implementation to advance a shared vision that extends beyond the organization.

We welcome anyone interested in contributing to this work to join us as a volunteer volunteer and support our efforts to create meaningful change.

Visionaries of Kaizen Food Rescue

Kaizen was founded by hai Nguyen and Shawn Traylor, driven by a shared commitment to address food waste and nutrition insecurity. Shawn's initial personal funding supported the organization’s early growth, while Thai's efforts during the pandemic led to securing Kaizen's first grant, marking a significant step in the organization’s mission to recover surplus food and foster lasting community change.

Community Advisors

  • Aleah Traylor - Youth Community Member

  • Em Nguyen - Senior Community Member

  • Vinnie Nguyen - International Business and Strategy Director, Sierra Nevada

  • Nhan Nguyen - Senior and Veteran Community Member

  • Thanis Rincon - Business and Finance Manager

Community Navigators + Site Leads

  • Airille Ogawa, Mercy Housing Community Manager and Site Lead

  • DeLori Norman, Senior Care Taker and Southwest Denver Site Lead

  • Sol Martinez, Jefferson County Site Lead and Community Navigator

Volunteers

  • Kaizen consistently has over 150 volunteers contributing their time every week.

Board Directors

  • Daniel Stange, Director - Peer Specialist, Fort Logan Mental Health Institute

    Board recruitment is an ongoing process vital to the continued success of Kaizen Food Rescue. We are actively seeking individuals with diverse skills and a deep commitment to addressing food insecurity. If you have experience in board governance, food access work, and lived experience with nutrition insecurity, we strongly encourage you to apply. Your unique perspectives will enrich our organization and guide our mission.