Business
Present
Jefferson County (WV) Development Authority
Agricultural Development Officer
Responsible for programs and services that increase the viability of Jefferson County agriculture, including the development of high value and value added crops and products as well as increasing the "utilization ratio" of local production. Also responsible for management of the Charles Town (WV) farmers market and consulting with Jefferson County farmers on a wide range of production, marketing and management issues.
2008 - Present
Just So Consulting Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Principal
Launch phase consulting for businesses wanting to enter the organic marketplace. Areas of expertise include marketing, advertising, public relations, product development and market research. Also available for strategic planning, including preparation of written business plans and venture capital acquisition. Location 1.5 hours west of Washington DC provides coverage of events and issues in DC for small businesses and non profits in the policy arenas of food system and climate change.
2006
Heritage Organics Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Managing Director
Heritage Organics was founded to preserve the working landscape of the Mid-Atlantic region by finding or creating profitable businesses in the regional, sustainable agricultural infrastructure sector. Responsible for identifying opportunities, developing and implementing business plans and locating personnel to manage these entities as subsidiaries. Also responsible for building relationships among food producers, distributors, institutional buyers and consumers.
1983 - 2003
The Cook’s Garden, Inc. Londonderry, Vermont
Founder, President, CEO
Took an existing organic market gardening and nursery / garden center operation and turned it into one of the USA’s most respected mail order seed companies. Grew sales from $25,000 in 1983 to just over $1,000,000 in 2002. Was personally responsible for creation of all business plans, venture funding proposals, market analyses and marketing materials, product selection, testing and long term research and development as well as production, operations, staff management and budgeting.
1978 - 1982
Boston Teaco, Inc. Weston, Massachusetts
Vice President, Production
Managed distributed collectives engaged in manufacturing of insulated clothing for indoor wear. Responsible for tracking input materials and finished goods and accounting.
1973 - 1975
Toni Totes of Vermont Londonderry, Vermont
Assistant Production Manager
Prepared materials for production of canvas tote bags, managed home production network, including machine maintenance, and assisted in overall workflow planning.
1972 - 1973
Chickenbone Cafe Burlington, Vermont
Founder, Proprietor
Responsible for all aspects of operation including staff management, marketing, as well as budgeting and scheduling. Second biggest beverage account in town after only three weeks.
Media
2007
People, Places & Plants magazine New Gloucester, Maine
Director, Special Projects
Responsible for launch of a new, national non-profit organization in the organic lawn and landscape industry.
Winter 2003-4
The American Gardener magazine Alexandria, Virginia
Consultant, Contributing Editor
Responsible for normal editorial duties with the AHS magazine, web site and book programs.
1994-2002
Encyclopedia Brittanica Chicago, Illinois
Correspondent, Horticulture & Envioronment
Responsible for annual yearbook entries on international environmental and horticultural topics.
1990-1993
National Gardening magazine Burlington, Vermont
Editor at Large
Responsible for normal editorial duties as well as writing and photography.
1988-1990
Organic Gardening magazine Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Contributing Editor
Responsible for normal editorial duties as well as writing and photography.
Non-Profit / Academic
2007
SafeLawns Foundation Maine / Washington, DC
Executive Director
SafeLawns Foundation, Inc. was formed for the purpose of developing and promoting the use of ecologically sustainable garden and landscape management methods through research and education. Responsible for organizing the corporation, raising funds, determining long term strategy and implementing programs as well as creating budgets, staffing and day to day operations of the foundation. (www.safelawns.org)
2004-2005
The Rodale Institute Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Project Director – Online Training
Managed development of an online economic modeling tool to help conventional farmers transition to organic production, as well as a self-paced online training course to help them acquire the necessary management skills. Funded by a $3 million USDA partnership award.
Fall 2003
Shepherd University Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Adjunct Lecturer, Sustainable Agriculture
Responsible for teaching Environmental Science 340 Sustainable Agriculture and for mentoring students in creation of long term plan for a research and practicum garden on three college owned acres at Popodicon, the college President’s residence.
1996 - 2002
The Intervale Foundation Burlington, Vermont
Member Farmer, Mentor
Through The Cook’s Garden’s research and development programs, provided mentor support and technology development to new farmers as part of the Intervale regional sustainability and agricultural incubator projects. (see: http://www.intervale.org)
1999 - 2000
Green Mountain College Poultney, Vermont
Adjunct Faculty, Environmental Studies
Taught seminar course Advanced Organic Agriculture and acted as consultant for planning and creation of curriculum integrated college farm and garden operation, as well the green college consortium which eventually became The Eco League (http://www.ecoleague.org).
Sept 1995
VOCA/USAID Czech Republic
Specialist, Sustainable Agriculture
One month lecture and seminar series organized by Czech Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and funded by Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance and USAID. Traveled 3,000 km and made over 20 presentations to garden groups as well as numerous press appearances in support of the sustainable agricultural movement in the Czech Republic.
