At the Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB), connection fuels everything we do — from getting nutritious food to our neighbors to strengthening the relationships that make this work possible. Few people embody that spirit of connection quite like Courtney Grams, our Internal Communications Manager.
This employee spotlight highlights how strong internal communication supports the Central Texas Food Bank’s mission to nourish and empower Central Texans, showing that the same care we put into serving our neighbors also drives how we connect with one another.
Since joining CTFB three years ago, Courtney has become the go-to source for keeping more than 170 employees informed and engaged. She manages our internal communications tools, including the newly launched employee intranet that she designed, and crafts weekly newsletters that bring everyone up to speed on what’s happening across departments.
“I always tell people it’s my job to be a know-it-all,” Courtney jokes. “If I don’t know something, chances are our employees don’t either. I want to make sure there’s always a clear connection between what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”
Courtney’s thoughtful approach means meeting people where they are — literally. With so many team members working in the warehouse, on the road, or in the community, she takes special care to deliver messages in ways that make sense for each person. Drivers receive the weekly newsletter early in the morning before heading out for deliveries. Digital signage keeps warehouse staff in the loop. And for those who spend more time at their desks, the team member chat rooms and intranet offer an easy way to access updates and resources.
“It’s been an interesting challenge to reach everyone,” Courtney says. “But I want every employee, no matter where they work, to feel just as connected and informed as anyone else.”
Her passion for people and communication shines through in everything she does. She admits she even “dorks out” about email analytics, tracking what stories catch her coworkers’ attention. At the heart of it all, she’s motivated by something much deeper: the mission of CTFB.
“There’s something so meaningful about how immediate our work is,” she says. “We help get food into people’s hands today so they can have a meal on their table tonight. That immediacy is what drew me here.”
For Courtney, working at CTFB is also deeply personal. Growing up, she heard stories from her father about the challenges his family faced making ends meet. Those stories instilled in her a lifelong compassion for anyone experiencing financial strain and a deep appreciation for the security that food brings.
“I have so much empathy for our neighbors,” she says. “If you can’t provide a meal for your family, that stress impacts every other area of your life. It’s something you carry with you.”
Courtney’s colleagues describe her as hardworking, caring, and endlessly reliable — a sentiment she reflects right back at them.
“The people here are incredible,” she says. “They’re compassionate, flexible— just ready to pivot and help whenever they’re needed. That’s why I coined the phrase ‘food bankers are flexible…’ because we’re always ready to adapt to serve our neighbors.”
When asked what being recognized means to her, Courtney shared, “honestly, I love being recognized as the go-to person just as much. If someone knows they can come to me with any question and I’ll either have the answer or know where to find it — that’s the best feeling.”
Courtney’s work behind the scenes ensures that every team member shows up for Central Texans with the same dedication and heart that she brings to her role every day.
Thank you, Courtney, for keeping us all informed, connected, and inspired — and for helping make tomorrow possible, one message at a time.
Want to join a team that’s as connected as it is compassionate? Explore careers at the Central Texas Food Bank and see how you can make tomorrow possible.
