In 2003 our founder, Kurt Beecher Dammeier, started a food business based on trust and transparency. He wanted to contribute a portion of sales to a nonprofit that was educating kids about our food system, but he couldn’t find exactly what he was looking for.
He decided to create a program that fit the bill, and we’ve been turning 4th graders into Food Detectives ever since.
Our workshops are commercial-free (we don’t even mention cheese!), but for the first few years when we were going into classrooms teachers lovingly called us “the cheese people” as in “hooray! The cheese people are here to teach the workshop!”
By 2018 we had taught over 100,000 Food Detectives in New York and Washington state. The demand for our program was growing beyond or region, and we dreamed of a way to bring our impactful nutrition workshop to schools everywhere.
In 2021 we launched a fully scalable, virtual program that took all the magic of our in-person workshops and put the clicker into the teacher’s hands. We have since more than doubled our numbers and reached all 50 states! Is your classroom next?
We’re educators, nonprofit leaders, curriculum nerds, and big believers in kid-powered change. Our team brings together decades of experience in teaching, public health, storytelling, and design—all focused on one goal: giving kids the tools to think for themselves about what they eat.
Founder and Co-Chair (he/him)
Kurt has always felt passionately about authentic, full-flavored foods, free of artificial additives. In 2006 he started The Beecher’s Foundation to help the next generation of eaters decipher our increasingly complex food system, and to demand change and transparency through consumer power. Kurt is also the owner and head chef of Sugar Mountain, a creative food company that is home to extraordinary food brands and restaurants. Kurt’s goal is to demonstrate how quality ingredients make for delicious meals, without added food colorings, flavor enhancers, or preservatives.
Co-Chair (she/her)
Laura joined The Beecher’s Foundation as an Advisory Board member in 2018 and played a key role in our shift to online learning in 2020. Laura is also the co-founder of the Exponential Health Program, a personalized and effective approach to holistic well-being and health. Her early career was spent developing digital health solutions for some of the largest health companies to help millions of people around the world manage their nutrition goals. She was honored to be named Forbes 30 under 30 for her contributions and impact in the health field.
Executive Director (she/they)
With twenty years of experience in nonprofit education, Kelly has led hundreds of workshops, designed place-based and emergent curriculum for kids, teens, and adults, and most recently led the Foundation into its newest chapter of national expansion during the pandemic. In addition to her work with the Foundation, Kelly serves as the Vice Chair of the board of Washington’s National Park Fund and is a member of the Community Alliance for Global Justice, a sometimes ultra-runner, and always a mom.
Director of Operations (he/they)
For the past decade, Jonathan has had the opportunity to work with students of all ages in the areas of food education, youth leadership, and music. At The Beecher’s Foundation, he has the distinct pleasure of building and cultivating relationships with classroom teachers across the nation who get to experience our Food Detective Workshop firsthand. In addition to his work with the Beecher’s Foundation, Jonathan is performs wit the SPECTRUM Saxophone Quartet and is a member of Barkada NYC.
Director of Growth (she/her)
Rebecca’s lifelong passion for food and its impact on history, culture and exploration has taken her around the world and inspired her career which has focused on high quality, experiential foods and beverages in the PNW. Her personal mission is to expand corporate citizenship within the food industry along with improving food quality and access. She has served on the food industry boards of Seattle Children’s Purchase a Miracle, Slow Food Seattle, and City of Hope, and is a regular volunteer for FareStart. When she isn’t working, she loves to adventure near and far and cook with friends and family.
Chief Concept Officer & Co-Founder, sweetgreen
“Programs like Food Detectives are essential — they give young people the tools and curiosity to understand what’s in their food and why it matters. Helping the next generation make better food decisions isn’t just good for their health — it’s how we start reshaping the entire food system for the better.”
Co-Founder & CEO, Boddle Learning
“I’m grateful to join the Food Detectives Advisory Board and contribute to work focused on improving kids’ health outcomes. I’ve seen firsthand that education sticks best when it’s fun and interactive, and I’m excited to leverage my experience to help shape experiences that use games and entertainment to create real impact.”
Clarence Tan is the co-founder and CEO of Boddle Learning, a kids’ platform for learning and play that is used by millions of students. He focuses on building interactive experiences that blend strong pedagogy with real engagement. Over the past decade, Clarence has designed dozens of learning games and gamified products, with a passion to bring delight to end users. He is also a speaker on classroom gamification and has been featured at PBS, SXSWEDU, and ISTE.
