who we are
Meet The Executive Director
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Nadia Arbelo
Nadia Arbelo, Executive Director of the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis (CTGO), brings a diverse background in business development, education, and international consulting to her leadership role. Formerly Interim Regional Director for the Kansas SBDC at Washburn and a consultant with North Carolina’s SBTDC, she has also worked across the UAE, Slovenia, and Hungary, focusing on entrepreneurship, education, and cultural engagement.
Nadia has owned several small businesses ranging from tech to art and interior design. She has held leadership roles in education from Kansas City to Abu Dhabi, where she earned a British Master's in Management and Leadership. Her academic journey also includes PhD research in gender equity and public space at a European university.
In the U.S., she has served on nonprofit boards, developed mentoring programs for underrepresented students, and led enrichment and consulting programs supporting minority communities. A passionate arts advocate, she also founded Silk Road Gallery, focusing on Eurasian cultures and education.
As a resident of Central Topeka's Tennessee Town, she is especailly proud to help lead a growing movement for food equity and community-driven development in Central Topeka. Today, Nadia oversees CTGO’s administration, fundraising, and strategic direction. Her position is funded by a grant from the Topeka Community Foundation.
Meet The Board
Sara Cain
Sara Cain, vice chair, is a dedicated realtor, investor, and community advocate with a passion for improving local neighborhoods. As the team lead of Legacy Group at Coldwell Banker American Home, she helps clients navigate real estate with expertise.
Sara also co-owns Cain Home Solutions LLC, a construction company focused on quality home rehabilitations. Committed to community growth, Sara actively works to make a positive impact through volunteerism and local initiatives.
Chuck Johnson
Coming soon...
Kristen Kreie
Kristen Kreie's first job was at her hometown grocer and she started her post-college career in grocery architecture. With more than 25 years of experience in architecture, construction and design serving the healthcare and retail grocery industries she has a deep expertise as a business advisor.
Kristen is a strategic thinker and understands the challenges inherent in delivering complex projects on time and on budget and has an extensive depth of knowledge.
She believes the best business happens when ideas are cross-pollinated across several fields and disciplines. Kristen is passionate about leveraging her grocery background to continue the CTGO initiative.
James Monson
James Monson was born and raised in Topeka. He is committed to strengthening the Topeka community and volunteers at several local organizations. He has an entrepreneurial background and spent time as a Business Advisor for the Washburn Small Business Development Center.
James received Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Innovation degrees from Washburn University and is currently working towards a Master of Business Administration.
Josh Perry
Josh Perry, treasurer, is a Senior Loan Officer at Revolution Mortgage, bringing over a decade of experience in the mortgage industry.
With a strong background in both management and finance, Josh has helped hundreds of individuals and families navigate the path to home ownership with confidence and clarity.
A lifelong member of the community, Josh is passionate about giving back to the place he calls home. His decision to join the board stems from a deep commitment to supporting meaningful, lasting change—particularly for those in need. He believes in the power of community-led impact and is always seeking opportunities to make a difference.
John Quinton
John E. Quinton, Jr., AIA, secretary, is an American Architect with a passion for architectural photography, art, design, music and philanthropy. Originally from Brockton, MA, John spent his childhood in North-East Kansas and graduated from Holton High School. He attended Kansas State University and received his bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1990.
After graduating John began his architectural career with Franklin Frieze Boice, named by Architectural Record magazine as the Top Retail Architectural firm in the U.S. During John’s 25 years with the firm BRR Architecture, the staff of six grew to approximately 250 employees with ten offices across the United States.
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John is currently the Owner of Studio Q, LLC, which was established with the purpose of positively impacting others through design. John provides various consulting and design services as well as volunteers time to support local non-profit and philanthropic groups.
Nikki Ramirez-Jennings
Nikki Ramirez-Jennings is a dedicated community builder with extensive experience in strengthening neighborhoods and supporting families throughout Topeka.
Nikki has coordinated large-scale food distributions in partnership with Topeka Public Schools and Harvesters, launched a community-driven farmers' market for the Hi-Crest community, and built strong volunteer networks to address food insecurity and foster community connections.
Nikki is passionate about creating sustainable solutions that bring people together, expand access to resources, and ensure that every family feels supported. She brings her skills in collaboration, grassroots engagement, and program development to advance the vision of the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis.
Robert Riley
Robert Riley, chair, graduated from Washburn University with a degree in art, business, and mass media and spent the first part of his career producing events that taught others to live sustainably.
He loves lending a hand and organizing complex ideas into workable, simplified systems, recognizing that most of the solutions for healing our planet reside in the wisdom of past generations who lived in greater harmony with the natural world.​
Robert has volunteered with several local organizations, including Meals on Wheels, his Neighborhood Improvement Association, and Shawnee County Food + Farm Advisory Board . Additionally, he and his partner founded and operate Full Circle Sustainability, a local food distribution service, demonstrating his deep commitment to addressing local food security.​​
Josh Wilder
Josh Wilder began his career sharing stories in and around his community in southeast Ohio for local news sources. Since relocating to Topeka in 2017, his work has been focused largely on inspiring and educating people to grow, preserve, and prepare local, fresh food through national sustainability media brands.
In his current role at Ogden Publications in Topeka as the Director of Content, he oversees all of the company’s media output from stories in magazines such as Mother Earth News, to various online platforms such as podcasts, and social media video.
Josh is a graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Graphic Design. More importantly, he has spent his lifetime learning from a variety of growers and makers across the Midwest. He endeavors to use those problem-solving skills to find solutions to obstacles in local food systems and beyond.
