I’ve never been much of an athlete. My greatest junior varsity softball achievement was being named team scorekeeper.

But I have sufficient stamina to jog relatively long distances, so over the past 10 years, I’ve entered various marathons and half-marathons. I’ve never trained seriously for them, though, so I usually finish with a mediocre time and monthslong injury.

While I wasn’t bothered by my slow pokiness, the bodily harm seemed like a problem, so I last year enlisted a coach. I explained that I didn’t have any goals beyond lifetime fitness, which my coach took to mean I wanted to become a competitive 10K runner. Fortunately, “competitive” in my age division isn’t too far off my previous pace, so now I have a few trophies to show for 2024—and nothing hurts.

In short, sometimes you need an expert to push you to the next level. Or, in the case of The Food Section, five of them.

Earlier this year, The Food Section assembled a board of exceptionally successful people to advise the publication in areas which I can’t with a straight face claim as strengths. Namely, I sought out smart folks with experience and expertise in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, finances, technology, and growth. I wanted a group of people with nothing in common besides their willingness to think big and talk bluntly.

We had our first meeting last week, and I’m tremendously excited about their insight and ideas, many of which you’ll see in action over the coming months. But first, I wanted you to meet the advisory board members, and know our conversations are ongoing.

As such, I hope you’ll keep letting me know what you like and don’t like about The Food Section. While we’ll no doubt schedule more formal listening sessions soon, please remember that my inbox is always open, and I respond to every message right away.

The Food Section’s Advisory Board

JOHANNA DERLEGA

Johanna spent over 20 years growing and leading Beltway media companies—including as SVP at National Journal and publisher at The Hill—through advertising, events, content, and new product development. In 2018, she started a media consultancy focused on revenue strategy but couldn’t pass up the opportunity in 2020 to join The 19th, a nonprofit news startup, as its founding chief revenue officer.

In January 2024, Johanna launched Beech Strategies, a company focused on revenue strategy consulting, building healthy internal teams for sustainable growth, and leadership coaching. Johanna lives in Washington, D.C. with her two teenagers, two dogs, and chef husband.

DAN GARRISON

Dan Garrison founded Texas’ first legal bourbon distillery—Garrison Brothers Distillery—in 2004.

In 2006, Dan set up shop on his small ranch in the Texas Hill Country and began tinkering with equipment, barrels, grain, and yeast. Since then, Garrison Brothers has grown from a single antique pot still named The Copper Cowgirl to a 68-acre ranch and distillery that welcomes over 50,000 visitors a year. It’s home to six massive barrel barns, a restaurant and bar, visitor’s center, and much more. As of 2025, Garrison Brothers bourbon is sold in 50 states and a handful of foreign countries.

 In 2023, Garrison Brothers Distillery, was named Distillery of the Year and Dan and Nancy Garrison were presented with the prestigious Bubble Cap award by the American Distilling Institute. Dan is also the co-founder of Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501c3 non-profit. To date, his efforts have raised over $1.5 million dollars for worthy causes.

TOM HADFIELD

Tom Hadfield is the CEO of Mio, an enterprise software company backed by Y Combinator and Khosla Ventures. Tom is a British entrepreneur whose first company, Soccernet.com, was sold to ESPN when he was 17 years old. Tom graduated from Harvard University, and he is a board member at Heifer International, a charity working to end hunger and poverty around the world.

OWAIS JADOON

Owais Jadoon is owner of Jadoon’s Market, a family-run neighborhood staple in North Charleston, South Carolina. Since 2010, he has transformed the shop from a small generic convenience store into a thriving, hyper-local market. With a craft convenience approach, the store redefines retail by prioritizing quality, supporting small businesses, and fostering community connections.

Inspired by his father’s neighborhood market in 1970s Karachi, Owais continues the family legacy of creating vibrant community spaces. A business graduate of the College of Charleston, Owais’s vision seamlessly blends cultural heritage, hospitality, and modern retail practices.

CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA

Christian Monterrosa is an accomplished photojournalist and reporter who has freelanced for top news outlets including The Associated Press, the New York Times, and Bloomberg.  Committed to supporting fellow journalists, he served as the Western Region Chair for the National Press Photographers Association, advocating for the rights and resources of visual journalists.

Christian was previously the Community Manager at LION Publishers. In this role, he fostered community and organized local events to enhance networking opportunities. Christian now serves as portfolio manager for The Pivot Fund—a philanthropic organization that centers and invests in BIPOC-led, community news organizations—aiming to establish a transparent and trusting partnership with grantees.