Experience

FIRSTHAND FOODS

• United States
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder & COO/CFO

  • Jan 2022 - Present

  Durham, North Carolina, United States

• Co-Founder & Co-CEO

  • Oct 2010 - Present

  Firsthand Foods is a wholesaler & retailer of pasture-raised local meats. We buy whole animals from a network of remarkable Carolina farmers, and do the legwork necessary to profitably get quality local meats in to local markets. We launched the retail component of our business (a.k.a. The Sausage Wagon) in October 2010, and began wholesale deliveries in February 2011.



NC Choices

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations

• Director of Business Development

  • Jun 2009 - Oct 2010

  NC Choices' overarching mission is to increase consumer access to healthy food choices raised or grown locally and sustainably, provide new market opportunities for small and mid-sized farmers, and support the growth of local food economies. In order to fulfill this mission, NC Choices is currently incubating a business that will act to get more local meats to local markets. As the Director of Business Development for NC Choices I am responsible for the business planning and… Show more NC Choices' overarching mission is to increase consumer access to healthy food choices raised or grown locally and sustainably, provide new market opportunities for small and mid-sized farmers, and support the growth of local food economies. In order to fulfill this mission, NC Choices is currently incubating a business that will act to get more local meats to local markets. As the Director of Business Development for NC Choices I am responsible for the business planning and development work necessary to successfully launch this proposed local meats venture. Show less



CSE Consulting

• Canada
• Professional Training and Coaching
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Sustainability Consultant

  • May 2008 - Aug 2008

  CSE Consulting is a one of a kind, award-winning program that leverages the expertise of Kenan-Flagler MBA students, staff, and faculty to offer world-class sustainability consulting services. CSE Consulting provides business-specific, actionable recommendations that address the triple bottom line: financial profitability, social equity, and ecological integrity. During this summer internship I provided sustainability and business consulting services for four distinct clients: a… Show more CSE Consulting is a one of a kind, award-winning program that leverages the expertise of Kenan-Flagler MBA students, staff, and faculty to offer world-class sustainability consulting services. CSE Consulting provides business-specific, actionable recommendations that address the triple bottom line: financial profitability, social equity, and ecological integrity. During this summer internship I provided sustainability and business consulting services for four distinct clients: a non-profit, two social enterprise start-ups, and a Fortune 500 manufacturer. Show less



Carolina Center for Competitive Economies (C3E)

• Research Associate

  • 2007 - 2008

  C3E is a university-based economic development research center housed at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and the Kenan-Flagler Business School. The Center’s research activities are focused around addressing issues of economic competitiveness and include strategic plan development, economic impact analysis, and industry cluster characterization. As a Research Associate for C3E I performed the analysis and community engagement work necessary to… Show more C3E is a university-based economic development research center housed at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and the Kenan-Flagler Business School. The Center’s research activities are focused around addressing issues of economic competitiveness and include strategic plan development, economic impact analysis, and industry cluster characterization. As a Research Associate for C3E I performed the analysis and community engagement work necessary to help county governments define and address economic development opportunities. Show less



SJF Advisory Services

• Summer Associate

  • Jan 2007 - Aug 2007

  SJF Advisory Services is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to and increases access to capital for entrepreneurial businesses in order to expand their positive community economic development and environmental outcomes. They work with hundreds of companies each year through one-on-one assistance, events, and publications focused on particular sectors and stages of growth. A key area of their expertise is in helping companies get ready for equity investment or other financing… Show more SJF Advisory Services is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to and increases access to capital for entrepreneurial businesses in order to expand their positive community economic development and environmental outcomes. They work with hundreds of companies each year through one-on-one assistance, events, and publications focused on particular sectors and stages of growth. A key area of their expertise is in helping companies get ready for equity investment or other financing. The organization also promotes environmental and workforce innovation by assisting and showcasing companies with successful cleantech business models and effective workforce engagement strategies. As a Summer Associate I helped the Executive Director to plan and manage technical assistance programs, services, and events. In particular, I assisted with event planning, coordination and marketing for “Cleantech Companies in Mainstream Markets,” a panel discussion of CEOs from rapidly growing companies attended by over 200 executives and investors engaging in innovative green strategies. I was also able to do some work with SJF Ventures, contributing to the due diligence process for early stage sustainable ventures. Show less



U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Environmental Engineer, Air Enforcement Office

  • 2003 - 2006

  Responsible for enforcing Clean Air Act: • Prepared for and conducted field investigations to determine compliance status of variety of complex air pollution sources. • Evaluated the environmental performance of numerous companies across a range of industries, and led enforcement actions against facilities violating the CAA. • Developed Compliance Assistance programs for a variety of small businesses.