The Great Plains Food Bank is proud to announce Ann Prifrel as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 13, 2026. A Midwest native with a lifelong commitment to ensuring neighbors have access to nourishing food, Prifrel brings more than a decade of executive leadership experience in hunger relief, nonprofit management, and large-scale fundraising.
“I’m proud to be the CEO of The Great Plains Food Bank, an organization grounded in passion, service, and innovation – values that strongly align with my own,” shared Ann Prifrel. “The Midwest holds a special place in my heart. I look forward to moving the mission forward with a dedicated team and integrating myself into all the communities the Great Plains Food Bank serves.”
Prifrel most recently served as Chief Development Officer of Harry Chapin Food Bank, Southwest Florida’s largest hunger-relief organization.
In that role, she led strategic fundraising and integrated marketing efforts, exceeding goals for an $80 million operating budget and a $30 million capital campaign to build a new, higher-capacity food bank. Her leadership expanded and strengthened community engagement while advancing a mission centered around dignity and access.
“Our nationwide search was aimed at finding a leader with the vision to drive the mission of the Great Plains Food Bank forward, and we found exactly that in Ann Prifrel,” said Jasper Schneider, Board Chair of the Great Plains Food Bank. “Her immense talent and depth of industry knowledge make her the ideal choice for this role. We are eager to see the impact she will have as she leads us into this exciting next chapter.”
As CEO of the Great Plains Food Bank, Prifrel will bring a people-centered leadership approach grounded in collaboration, strategic thinking, and accountability. She is known for uniting teams around a shared purpose, building strong relationships, and translating bold ideas into meaningful impact for the neighbors and communities served.
Prior to joining Harry Chapin Food Bank, Prifrel was the Founding CEO of St. Croix Valley Food Bank, where she grew the organization’s annual budget and expanded food access across Western Wisconsin. Earlier in her career, she served as Executive Director of United Way St. Croix Valley and White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf, and co-founded Shelf Saver, a software solution supporting food pantries and food banks. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Master of Arts degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Minnesota.