Sam has spent a career at the nexus of food, health, and development. He has a depth of knowledge in the grocery retail landscape, gained over years working in leadership capacities at Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B, and with multi-state nonprofit Brighter Bites. In these roles, Sam took part in designing and executing innovative efforts that improved access, affordability, and quality of food for individuals and communities.Most recently, Sam was founder/operator of the community market, Little Red Box Grocery, which was an attempt to change the conversation and expectation around good food access across Houston (and beyond). It didn't work. At least, not financially. But it was never entirely about the store. It was about an idea: to purpose-build a space designed for connection + creativity. LRB started with food because the table comes first, and from there it grew. One store, on one block, in one neighborhood, making dents in the system as best it could. Sam maintains a steadfast commitment to creating an equitable food system, with an eye toward replicability and sustainability. In this capacity, he currently leads food initiatives for Concentric Community Advisors, and serves as executive director for Grocery Connect – a cross-sector partnership with Kroger designed to address various economic and social drivers of health in South Dallas.Sam began his career in international trade and development, working with the Commerce Department and World Bank. He has a BA from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from Georgetown, and was a 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar.