Team
Meet our team!
Gabriela Perez Hernandez, PhD
Executive Director
Gabriela has spent her career at the intersection of food innovation and entrepreneurship. During her tenure at Kellogg, she led food products from early-stage concept through full commercialization — gaining firsthand experience with everything it takes to bring a food product from an idea to a shelf.
That experience shapes how she leads Battle Creek Food Reimagined today. Gabriela believes food innovation isn't just about building great products — it's about building economic opportunity. She's focused on creating an ecosystem where entrepreneurship in food and ag-tech drives real economic development: new jobs, new wealth, and a stronger, more vibrant Battle Creek.
Jonah Hurtado-Macias
Launch 269 and Events and Program coordinator
Jonah is the first point of contact for anyone stepping into Launch 269 — helping members get settled, connecting founders to the right resources, and keeping the day-to-day of the coworking space running smoothly. He's deeply connected to the Battle Creek community, currently serving on the board of Voces. Outside of work, you'll usually find him on the soccer field.
Meet our collaborators!
Dana Edwards
Start Kitchen & Café Manager
With 15+ years in the food industry, Dana brings 8 years of experience with Sprout Kitchen Incubator to her role at Start Kitchen & Café — part of a partnership that connects BCFR's ecosystem to an even wider network of food entrepreneurship resources. An expert in food safety, licensing, and compliance, she's guided 30+ food businesses from concept to opening day, helping restaurants, food trucks, and packaged food brands simplify licensing, kitchen planning, and daily operations.
Wendy Spreenberg
Senior Business Consultant
Michigan Small Business Development Center
Southwest Region
Howie Sher
Advising Services
Founder Cohorts
JPG Resources
Caroline Bowker
FFI/OBE Programming & Outreach Specialist
Food Finance Institute
John Hart
Development Director,
Small Business Development
City of Battle Creek
Amy Hilton
Program Manager Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Grand Valley State University
Battle Creek Innovation Hub
José Aste
Innovation Counselor
Michigan State University - Product Center
Christina Khim
Executive Director
Burmese American Initiative Inc
(Burma Center)