BOD
Board of Directors
Chef Tomm
Founder, President
Chef Tomm has over 30 years of experience in the culinary world and is a United States Army Veteran having served from 1987-1991. He holds his professional educator certificate in Connecticut and is currently teaching culinary to students at New London High School where he created and manages the Whaler Cafe. He has also taught at the International Culinary Center, Professional Culinary Center, and the Connecticut Culinary Institute, to name a few, where he shared his passion for food with students eager to learn. His love of food inspired him to travel extensively where he learned new skills from the places visited and classes he took in such places as Italy, Germany, Mexico, Thailand. Most recently, Chef Tomm Johnson founded “Whalers Helping Whalers”. Born out of the pandemic and looking for a way to solve food insecurities, Chef Tomm began using his culinary skills to help feed New London families in need. Along with other local chefs, Chef Tomm prepared hot meals for both families as well as the seniors in his community. As time went on the need for food continued, “Whalers Helping Whalers” added a food pantry and also started providing basic household supplies.
Through his webpage: https://cheftomm.com/ “Chef Tomm Teaches the World” he shares his culinary talents with videos which contain cooking tips, recipes, knife skills classes, and other culinary skills. Come cook with him!
Chris Campbell
Vice President
Chris Campbell is a New London local, and a graduate of Grasso Tech, UConn and Sacred Heart. He also has worked for New London Public Schools in various capacities for the better part of 13 years. He comes from a long line of military servicemen and women as well as educators so public service runs in his blood and his involvement with Whalers helping Whalers stems from an intrinsic need to help his community in whatever way possible. Growing up here from the age of 3, Chris is a product of the community and when Chef Tomm approached him about getting involved he jumped at the chance. Currently, Chris helps manage our food deliveries as well as provide support for the food pantry and cooking when needed. His favorite part about Whalers is seeing the immediate impact his work has on those around him.
Sophia Murphy
Secretary
Sophia Murphy is the Board Secretary for Whalers Helping Whalers LLC. In this position, she maintains records and keeps track of achievements and important notes. She joined this position after being one of Chef Tomm's culinary students at New London High School with the goal of continuing to support her hometown community while in college. She currently attends the University of Connecticut where she majors in Biomedical Engineering.
Eliezer Melendez
Founder, Board Member
Eliezer is a volunteer and board member of the Whalers Helping Whalers organization. He helped to start the non-profit in May of 2020. He started out helping with tasks around the kitchen and has since worked his way up to where he is now. Eliezer moved to New London in 2016, but now resides in Gales Ferry. He was a part of New London High School's graduating class of 2019. While he was a student at New London High School, Eliezer was heavily involved in the culinary program. He even took a few classes with Chef Tomm! But, he now studies at Western New England University where he majors in Business Analytics as well as Entrepreneurship.
Ninon Guinassi
Board Member
Ninon Guinassi was born and raised in Jauja, Peru. She moved to the USA with her family when she was 20 years old. Upon arriving in the United States, Ms. Guinassi worked in a pasta factory and took night classes to learn English. She started working in the school system as a teacher’s assistant while she attended Queens College to earn a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish and later a Masters in Counseling with Bilingual Extension. Ninon worked as a Bilingual Guidance Counselor for 10 years in New York before moving to CT in 2004. Ms. Guinassi holds a CT certifications; as a Licensed Professional Counselor. She worked for 14 years for a child and family agency as a clinician and is currently employed by New London Public Schools as a School Based Wellness Coordinator with the Hispanic Alliance. Ninon has been very involved in the community. She constantly advocates for services that provide interpretation, equal rights and cultural sensitivity. She served as board member for the Immigration Advocacy Support Center (IASC) and is currently a Board Member of the organization Whalers Helping Whalers.
Andrea Stewart
Board Member
Andrea grew up in southern California, but came out to Connecticut to get her bachelor’s degree from Yale. She got her master’s from the Yale School of Nursing and has worked as a nurse practitioner in New London since 2009. She is passionate about using food as medicine, and recognizes how difficult this can be for families in need. She joined Whalers Helping Whalers in 2020 and loves being able to make a tangible impact on the lives of her neighbors through the pantry.
