This is one of the 12 finalists for the Herald Business Journal’s annual Emerging Leaders Award for 2025. The winner will be named at an event on April 8.
Megan Kemmett, 31
Megan Kemmett said she is deeply solution-oriented, always seeking ways to overcome obstacles and create positive outcomes.
It wasn’t long after starting her job as executive director of the Snohomish Community Food Bank in September that she was put to the test.
In November, a “bomb cyclone” left the Snohomish Community Food Bank without power for more than two days.
Kemmett worked with city officials, volunteers and local businesses to move perishable food into refrigerated spaces Snohomish PUD workers were able to restore power.
“I’m very proud of the way in which I was able to utilize community support and creative problem-solving to ensure minimal disruption of services during the 52 hours that we were without power,” she said. “While this situation challenged us as an organization and myself as a new leader, I am incredibly proud to say that we were able to save all of our perishable food and provide continuity of services for our clients.”
“Additionally,” she went on, “as a result of this situation, I have started a capital campaign to fundraise for the purchase and installation of a 3-phase generator with an auto-transfer switch to better prepare us for potential power outages in the future.”
Kemmett’s latest assignment is to obtain more food for the food bank from community members after federal cuts to some food deliveries and assistance programs.
“There are some big cuts coming, unfortunately,” she said.
Kemmett said the food bank is kicking off a “grow a row” program where community members can grow an extra row of produce in their gardens and donate it to the food bank when its ready for harvest.
She said the food bank will also encourage consumers shopping at the community farmers markets when they restart in May to buy two items — one for their selves and one for the food bank.
“Folks can shop for themselves and the food bank at the same time,” she said.
Randy Diamond: 425-339-3097; randy.diamond@heraldnet.com.
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