About Us
Paula M. Jones, Esq.
Paula M. Jones is the President and founder of Zia. By day, she is an attorney who has focused for over twenty-five years on international estate law, opening her own practice in 2016 in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey. Issues of poverty, especially food insecurity, have always concerned her and she began Zia with the simplest of ideas – bringing home-cooked meals to a family, recommended by the principal at a local elementary school. After partnership with several neighbors and organizations, Zia continues to grow quickly.
Email Paula: paulajones@ziafood.org
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Richard A. Balka
Richard is Vice President of Zia. He owns and runs a manufacturing business in Trenton, New Jersey. He is a third generation Philadelphian and is pleased to join Zia in its pursuit of attacking food insecurity among its schoolchildren and their families. Richard’s understanding that education is paramount to success motivates him to support food efforts as the bedrock of an educational foundation. Richard is a long time Board member of the Employers Association of New Jersey, currently serving as Chairperson.
Cate Lane
Cate has worked in international public health for 35 years with both non-governmental and government agencies, and currently is employed by the US Peace Corps as a youth development specialist. Cate is committed to community-based programming, subscribing to the philosophy of building on community assets to solve problems and the importance of investing in and supporting children and youth to achieve their full potential. Originally from California, Cate now resides in Washington DC, but since her son Leigh lives in Philadelphia, she considers Philly her second home. Working for Zia allows her to give back to vulnerable communities and populations here in the US.
Email Cate: catelane@ziafood.org
HARVEY FORMAN
Harvey is an attorney who has recently retired from a large multi-city, Philadelphia based law firm. He has practiced law for over 50 years, specializing in structuring commercial finance transactions as well as in related restructuring and reorganization activity. Among other organizations, he is an elected member of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers and has been on the Boards of several Philadelphia based non-profit organizations, including the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Harvey and his wife, Marian, have lived in the Philadelphia area all their lives and raised two children. As food insecurity has such a significant impact on elementary school performance, Harvey is pleased to be part of Zia’s efforts to address this critical community challenge.