Meet the Board
Jim Dechert Board Chair and Treasurer
Jim developed a passion for helping others develop leadership skills and achieve their career aspirations while working in the food ingredients business. During the 20 years Jim spent in operations, his teams were recognized as global leaders in Safety and Plant Operations. Jim moved from leading North and South American operations to leading the Savory Business Unit. After being acquired by Givaudan, Jim moved into the role of Sales Head NA. Jim retired in 2013 and returned to school to obtain an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Jim met Suzy in 2016 and began volunteering for La Soupe. In addition to volunteering in the kitchen, he has taught La Soupe's Give-a-Crock program at Reading Lockland Presbyterian Church, Milford High School Academy, Boy/Girl Club Price Hill, and Roll Hill School. Jim is currently the Board Chair and Treasurer for La Soupe.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue, an MBA from the University of Indianapolis, and an associate’s degree in Culinary Art from the Art Institute of Ohio, Cincinnati Campus.
Suzy DeYoung Founder
Suzy is a French-trained chef. She spent 30 years running her own high-end boutique catering business. She was extremely successful, but became disenchanted by the excess and waste; she saw the huge need in our community and marshaled her skills, experience, relationships, and passion to found La Soupe. La Soupe’s mission is the RESCUE fresh produce before it hits landfills, TRANSFORM it into nutrient-rich soupes and sides, and SHARE it with our hungry community.
Mimi Dyer
Mimi Dyer is currently a full-time volunteer for various organizations, including ProKids, Kindervelt, and La Soupe. She was formerly a Business Analyst for Inslaw Inc. a computer software company specializing in developing tracking systems for Private and Public entities. Mimi worked in the private sector with corporate legal departments and claims litigation offices, specifically. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire.
Scott Miller
Scott Miller is a Director of La Soupe, chairs our Nominating Committee, leads the strategic planning process at La Soupe, and is board sponsor for La Soupe’s Inspire Network. Scott is a technology entrepreneur, specializing in business software applications. He is also a director and investor of for profit companies, Navistone LLC, and Paycor HCM, Inc. Through his work as an Edmund Hillary Fellow, Scott is a founder of Tolaga, which provides pathways to entrepreneurship for indigenous peoples.
Scott holds a B.S. in Accountancy from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Scott and his partner, Lori, are life-long Cincinnatians.
Rich Moore
Rich is a partner with the law firm of Frost Brown Todd in its Labor and Employment Practice Group. His practice includes defending clients in litigation arising from claims of workplace discrimination. Rich is a frequent lecturer and author on topics related to employment law and is an adjunct professor of Legal Ethics at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
Rich received his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he was a member of the Law Review. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Rich has been selected for inclusion in the Ohio Super Lawyers since 2018, Cincy Magazine Leading Lawyers in 2021, and Best Lawyers in America since 2020. Rich was also previously named as one of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40.
In addition to his service on the Board of La Soupe, Rich is a current board member of the Taft Museum and the Bowling Green State University Foundation. Rich has also served as President of the Mercantile Library Association, Board Chair of the Cancer Support Community of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Board Chair of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, and Co-Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program, Rich is also, a former trustee of the Cincinnati Bar Association and the Cincinnati Bar Foundation.
Julie Richardson
Julie has long been involved in community charitable and non-profit organizations such as the Indian Hill Swim Club, Kindervelt #50, Stepping Stones, Cincinnati Ballet, Indian Hill Lacrosse Association, and La Soupe. Having served on boards for each of these and as chair/co-chair for many of these organization’s largest fundraisers, Julie has experience in event planning and fundraising. Julie received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky and spent over twenty years as a business professional focused in the areas of Benefits, Human Resources, and Mergers and Acquisitions at several companies including Lab Corp of America and Cintas. Julie also serves on the Sam Hubbard Foundation board and The Joe Burrow Foundation board.
Jessica Cotter
Jessica is a healthcare professional with 15 years of experience in both inpatient and outpatient environments, as well as payer operations, including healthcare consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers and at NorthShore University Health System in Chicago as well as Mercy Health in Cincinnati. She is thrilled to be a part of La Soupe and hopes her expertise in healthcare can aid particularly in the growth of the Food as Medicine and Food as Nourishment programs.
Jessica holds a Master of Health Services Administration from XU. She lives with her husband, two sons, and a boston terrier, Ziggy.