President & CEO
As President & CEO of Feeding South Florida, Francisco (“Paco”) Vélez is responsible for the overall administration, management, and leadership of the organization in pursuit of its mission, goals, and objectives.
Since his arrival in 2012, Vélez has increased the number of pounds of food distributed across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, from 29.6 million pounds in 2012 to 50 million pounds in 2018. He has increased funding and reduced expenses to ensure a healthy financial position for the organization, bringing it from seven figures in the red to seven figures in the black.
South Florida Business Journal named Vélez as Ultimate CEO of 2015, as well as a member
of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2013 for his accomplishments as CEO of Feeding South Florida.
Prior to joining Feeding South Florida in April 2012, Vélez served as executive vice president of programs and initiatives from 2010-2012 and director of services from 2000-2010 at the San Antonio Food Bank in San Antonio, Texas, one of the leading food banks in the Feeding America network. Vélez’s responsibilities at the San Antonio Food Bank included oversight of six divisions responsible for all outreach programs and initiatives of the food bank.
Also prior to joining Feeding South Florida, from 2010-2012, Vélez served as a consultant
to the Treasure Coast Food Bank for proposals, budgets, warehouse operations and program creation and innovation.
Vélez holds a Certification in Non-Profit Management from the University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Vélez was recently appointed to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s Living Healthy in Florida Advisory Board by Commissioner Adam Putnam. He is also the past secretary for Feeding Florida and is currently on the board, while also serving on the board of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program with the United Way of Miami-Dade.
In Texas, he has served on the boards of the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) and Holy Spirit Catholic Church Homeless and Hunger Ministry. Vélez is also a Leadership San Antonio graduate of The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce/San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
