Experience

Keystone Development Center

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Jan 2014 - Present

  Moved up internally during leadership transition to provide a new perspective on systems, programs, and policies. Responsible for directing operations, projects, staff, and consultants, developing budgets and policies, writing grants, and providing financial reporting. Key focus on rebuilding and modernizing foundations and systems for KDC to grow, increase its impact, and improve client services. Track, measure, and report on clients’ progress.Funding: Qualified for more funding sources by having non-profit status changed from 501(c)6 to 501(c)3. Within the first year after incorporation revenue doubled by qualifying for new grants.Modernization: Transitioned from a totally paper-based office with a physical location to implementing cloud-based systems to meet the needs of remote teams. Liability & Fraud Risk Reduction: Reduced liability and fraud risks by improving internal financial systems, efficiencies, and audit controls. Integrated project management, client records, timekeeping invoicing, and activities reporting systems.Board Diversification: Diversified board of directors from an entirely white board of nearly all males from the agricultural sector to a better balance of male, female, people of color, and diversity in industries and skills.Team Expansion & Client Growth: Built a team from 3 to 12 including full-time staff and consultants. Grew number of clients from 10 per year to 40 and growing. Quality Services: Tailored technical assistance to each group's needs (e.g., financial analysis, feasibility studies, business planning, market planning, research, legal structure assistance, bylaw development, organizational development, personnel policies).



Penn State Extension

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Farm Food Safety Program Coordinator

  • Apr 2008 - Dec 2013

  Stakeholder Collaborations: Collaborated with State and private organizations and Pennsylvania food hubs (e.g., produce auctions, cooperatives, distributors, wholesale buyers, and farmers markets) to educate growers and review food safety plans policies to improve produce food safety in Pennsylvania.Educational Programming: Planned, organized, implemented, and evaluated educational programs in agricultural business development, direct marketing, farm market management, food safety, and farm energy efficiency. Utilized conferences, workshops, classes, farm and market tours, webcasts, social media, publications, mass media, and community coalitions to deliver educational programs.Previous position: Agricultural Economic DevelopmentLancaster County Commissioners funded position with Penn State Extension to focus on agricultural economic development, local foods development, agricultural innovation, renewable energy, natural gas, environmental impact, manure management, leadership development, and farmland preservation. Responsible for providing educational programming and facilitating agricultural economic development. Partnerships & Community Development: Built partnerships with local and state agencies, elected officials, farmers, industry partners and community advisory councils to identify needs, opportunities, and actions for developing and strengthening local food systems, infrastructure, family farms and agricultural businesses. Analyzed and communicated impact on the local agricultural economy.

• Associate Director

  • Jan 2012 - Nov 2013

  •Feasibility studies and financial projections•Market analysis and business plan development•Strategic planning and organization development



Scarecrow Hill Organic Farm

• Co-owner

  • 1999 - Dec 2011

  Co-owner responsible for farm work and administrative tasks including sales, marketing, and customer service for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce farm (e.g., financial management, staffing, membership surveying, coordination of core group and host sites organizers, direct marketing, newsletter writing and editing, public speaking, seasonal and special events, educational programs, farm tours). Focused on identifying positive solutions to the disparity of food economics for both consumers and producers. Organization Startup & Growth: Served as the catalyst behind the development of what eventually became Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative (LFFC - now cooperatively owned by 100+ small family farms) Helped LFFC incorporate, develop bylaws, and begin operations. LFFC generated $300K in sales their pilot year of operation in 2006 and is now generating $15M+ as they move into their third warehouse to accommodate growth.

• Cooperative Development Specialist

  • Sep 2005 - Dec 2006

  Education and facilitation of business planning, marketing, and board development for farmer groups and entrepreneurs forming cooperative businesses. Services offered included content management systems design including customer and product database creation, writing bi-laws, creating and analyzing financial pro-formas including multi-year revenue modeling, cash flow, balance sheets, and income statements.