GET TO KNOW THE SPEAKERS

GET TO KNOW THE SPEAKERS Alodie Spires, Accounting & Office Manager, Portland Farmers Market Alodie has worn many accounting hats over the past 20 years. Five years ago she found her way to a bookkeeping job at Portland Farmers Market after completing culinary school. Alodie loves having a job that encourages eating fresh, local foods and where she can wear all her hats at the same time. Brian Estes, Program Coordinator, Catholic Charities Spokane Brian Estes is a native eastern Washingtonian who splits time between Spokane and Seattle. Working for Catholic Charities of Spokane (CCS) since 2008, Brian serves as Program Coordinator of food access programming for the agency. In this work, CCS strives to make healthy food more affordable and accessible to low-income households through development of the region's food system. Brian has worked extensively with farmers markets, and currently administers the WSFMA Fresh Bucks and Farmers Market Access Partnership initiatives in Spokane County. Chris Curtis, Executive Director, Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance Chris Curtis is the founding Director of the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance. The NFMA has been organizing successful Farmers Markets in Seattle since 1993 and currently is responsible for seven neighborhood markets; U- District, West Seattle, Capitol Hill-Broadway, Columbia City, Lake City, Magnolia and Phinney. The NFMA was responsible for the legislation that allows wine sales at Farmers Markets and in 2012 piloted the first successful Seattle based EBT incentive program called Fresh Bucks. Chris is a previous board member of the WSFMA, the nationally based Farmers Market Coalition, a member of the King County Agricultural Commission and City of Seattle Mayor s Small Business Task Force. Chris also participated on the WSDA s Small Farm and Direct Market Advisory Board and Farmers Market Action Team. Joanne Macnab, Market Manager, Auburn International Farmers Market Washington. Joanne Macnab has been involved with the Auburn International Farmers Market (AIFM) since its inaugural season in 2009. She began as a volunteer and served as chairperson of the AIFM Advisory Board until 2011. She began her current position as the AIFM market manager in 2010 and is proud to have American Farmland Trust recognize the AIFM as one of the top 100 most celebrated farmers markets in America for 2013. She and her husband currently live on a small farm in Auburn

Joel Wachs, Chair Advocacy Team, Washington State Farmers Market Association Joel Wachs served as president of the Washington State Farmers Market Association (WSFMA) from 2010-11 and currently is the chair of the organization's Advocacy Team. In this role, Mr. Wachs has worked on such policy issues as continued state funding for the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), free-expression issues at farmers markets, and wine-sampling at Washington farmers markets. In addition to his work with the WSFMA, he has been involved with the Mercer Island Farmers Market, since its inaugural season, most recently serving as the organization's president in 2011. Mr. Wachs is a trustee of Mercer Island's Open Space Conservancy Trust, which oversees over 100 acres of open space and second-growth forest in the community. He has also served on the Puget Sound Regional Food Policy Council's Farmers Market Working Group, Washington State University's Farmers Market Action Team (FMAT), the planning committee of the PCC Farmland Trust, the advisory board to King County's Farmers Market Access Project (FMAP) of King County, and the advisory committee to Seattle Tilth's farm incubation program. Mr. Wachs is currently a member of Washington State's AgForestry Leadership Program's Class 35. Julia Zander, Manager, Bremerton Farmers Market; Coordinator, Regional Market Leads Program Julia Zander has managed the Thursday Bremerton Farmers Market since 2011. During this time, she helped to establish and manage a Sunday farmers market, monthly markets at the local hospital, and other special markets throughout the year. She is currently also serving as the coordinator for the WSFMA Regional Market Leads program, working specifically in Kitsap and North Mason counties to improve food access at farmers markets. Julian O Reilly, Director of Operations, Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance Julian O Reilley earned an MBA focused on Sustainability and Food Systems. She s worked for the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance in Seattle since 2010. Prior to that, she worked in food manufacturing as a sustainability planner for Nature s Path Foods, ran a catering kitchen, and served as a nonprofit manager for 10 years. She never gets tired of kale. Katherine Flores, Farmers Market Program Lead, Washington State Department of Health Katherine Flores, is our new Farmers Market Program Lead. Katherine has worked through WSU on nutrition projects with Hispanic communities in Washington and Idaho, and with the Washington State Department of Agriculture on projects to support risk management for farm workers. She has a degree in Human Nutrition from San Carlos University in Guatemala City, and is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Kurt Tonnemaker, President, Tonnemaker Family Orchard Kurt Tonnemaker and his family have been farming in Washington for 110 years and have seen many changes to the local food industry. He has been involved in direct marketing at farmers markets for 22 years. In 2013, Tonnemakers attended 14 farmers markets in the Puget Sound Region. Larry Spilker, Director of National Programs, Campbell Risk Management Larry Spilker has been the Director of the national farmers market insurance program for the past 4 years. Larry conducts risk management seminars for farmers market associations from coast to coast. He serves his community as an elected town councilman, serves on the board of directors for a public utility and is president of his homeowners association. Margaret Hansen, WIC Vendor Management Unit Supervisor in the Office of Nutrition Services, Washington State Department of Health Margaret Hansen manages the WIC Farmers Market and Senior Farmer Market Programs, as well as the WIC Retail Management Team. In addition, Margaret has worked in community based prevention programs to increase access to fresh, healthy food, and with schools to increase access to nutritious school meals. Mark Wall, Coordinator, Thriving Community Marketplaces Mark Wall, Thriving Community Marketplaces Market manager and farmer. Organizer of over 20 farmers markets, executive director of nonprofit farmers market association, consultant in 14 states on farmers market management, promotion, and creation.

Mouse Bird, Womanager, Mount Vernon Farmers Market; Secretary, Skagit Valley Farmers Market Coalition; Regional Lead, WSFMA Mouse Bird has been working with the Mount Vernon Farmers Market in various roles for four years, last year she became the Womanager. She's obsessed with food, environmental stewardship, and the idea of an adaptive, resilient, local community and economy. She's been working with three other Farmers Markets in Skagit County as well as local organizations and agencies to improve food access and alter the sometimes "exclusive" mentality that surrounds Farmers Markets. Patrice Barrentine, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Washington State Department of Agriculture Patrice Barrentine was in the natural foods grocery business for 10 years, working with agricultural producers to increase their market share by developing pricing, displays that sell, and new value-added products. In her time at WSDA, she has assisted small farm and food businesses with marketing and regulatory information. She has developed the 2010 and 2014 Small Farm Direct Marketing Handbook, a CSA Program for State Agencies, Savor WA - a culinary agritourism program, and the Farm Wisdom Video Series. Patrice is an advisor to the WSFMA Board as well as a WA State Beer Commissioner and a Council Member of Pike Place Preservation and Development Authority. Randy Stegmeier, Head of Security, Pike Place Market PDA Shelly Stevens, Owner, Northwest Farm Fresh Randy Stegmeier has over forty years of experience in law enforcement and public safety. After graduating from Washington State University, he began his law enforcement career with the University of Washington Police Department, where he was the Assistant Chief from 1995 until 2000. In 2001 and 2002, he was the Commander of the Washington State Law Enforcement Academy. In 2013, Randy retired from his position as the Chief of Police at Western Washington University in Bellingham and accepted the position as Security Manager with the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. Shelly Stevens is the owner of Northwest Farm Fresh, an online farmers market serving farmers and local food enthusiasts in Northeast Washington, and is a founding member of the award-winning Chewelah Farmers Market. She enjoys sharing the joy of locally produced food, one local tomato at a time.

Rhonda Bishop, CPA, Owner, Bishop French LLC Rhonda co-founded Bishop French after holding a senior management audit position with Grant Thornton. Rhonda s 15 plus years of experience also includes serving PacifiCorp, where she managed the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The remainder of Rhonda s experience was gained with Deloitte & Touche. Her background includes experience in audit and business consulting services to nonprofit, private and public companies in a variety of industries, including technology, energy, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and transportation. Rhonda received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Accounting Concentration) from Washington State University. Rhonda is a licensed CPA in Oregon and Washington. She is a member of the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants, Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Rhonda serves as Treasurer of the Portland Farmers Market. Russ Parsons, Food Editor, Los Angeles Times Russ Parsons is the food editor and columnist of the Los Angeles Times. He has been writing about food for 30 years, including almost 25 years at The Times, where he has also been managing editor, and deputy editor. He has won many food journalism awards, including those from the International Association of Culinary Professionals, the Association of Food Journalists, and the James Beard Foundation. In 2008 he was inducted into the James Beard Foundation s Who s Who of Food and Beverage, the hall of fame of American cooking. He is the author of the cookbooks "How to Read a French Fry" and "How to Pick a Peach". "How to Read a French Fry" was a finalist for two Julia Child cookbook awards. How to Pick a Peach, which was published in 2007, was named one of the best 100 books of the year by both Publisher s Weekly and Amazon. Suzanne Briggs, Co-founder, Portland's Hollywood Farmers Market; Former President, Oregon Farmers Market Association Suzanne Briggs is the co-founder of Portland's Hollywood Farmers Market and past President of Oregon Farmers Market Association. Over the past seven years she has consulted with farmers markets on how to implement wireless card services, including SNAP. Suzanne co-authored the Community Food Security Coalition report titled Real Food, Real Choices: Connecting SNAP Recipients with Farmers Markets. In 2012 Suzanne provided technical assistance for King County s publication Farmers Market Access Project: Expanding Nutrition Assistance Programs in Washington Farmers Markets, which is now housed at WSFMA. Claire Lane, Principal, Claire Lane Consulting Claire Lane has worked on hunger policy and food access issues since 2007, especially focusing on state and federal advocacy efforts to expand participation in the federal nutrition programs. She has been a longtime member of Washington s Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition and has worked closely with WSFMA on a variety of projects to improve access to food stamps and the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs at farmers markets.

Shelley Pasco-Verdi, Farmer, Whistling Train Farm For 16 years Shelley and her husband, Mike, have operated Whistling Train Farm in Kent, Washington. On a farm that ranges between 15 and 20 acres, they operate a CSA that feeds 200 families in the summer and winter seasons, and sell at three very different farmers market throughout the year. They also maintain approximately 300 hens for eggs, and keep a handful of cows for mental and field health. Sophie Kauffman, Food Access Coordinator, WSFMA Sophie Kauffman is the newly appointed Food Access Coordinator for the Washington State Farmers Market Association, and most recently coordinated the Seattle Fresh Bucks program for the 2013 Seattle farmers market season. With a background in both the culinary arts and nonprofits, she is excited for the many opportunities to work with the many members of Washington State's growing and vibrant farmers market community. Sophie is currently pursuing a masters of science in nutrition. Theresa Cross, Registered Dietitian & Health Educator, Clark County Public Health Theresa has been a Registered Dietitian and health educator with Clark County Public Health since 1989. Currently she coordinates an advisory group helping implement SNAP and a matching program at 3 area markets. She staffs the Clark County Food System Council where she was a former member and chair. She is a graduate of Oregon State University and Portland State University. She lives in Vancouver. Todd Dierker, Food Access Programs Manager, Gorge Grown Food Network Todd found his path to community development work through service with the Peace Corps in Thailand and Lesotho. He now lives in Hood River with his wife and two kids and has been working with Gorge Grown since 2008 in a variety of roles. He has led the development and growth of Gorge Grown's farmers' markets and the Mobile Farmers' Market. Todd enjoys gardening, skiing, hiking and playing in the dirt with his kids.

Will O Donnell, Director & Market Manager, Jefferson County Farmers Markets dog. A former JCFM vendor, board member and volunteer, Will oversees all JCFM markets, operations, promotions, and communication. Will has been a leader of Jefferson County's local food movement for the past decade. Will was a co-founder of Old Tarboo Farm, Finnriver Farm and Mt. Townsend Creamery. He currently serves as treasurer of the Washington State Farmers Market Association (WSFMA). He was named the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce's first ever Young Professional of the Year in 2013. He is a proud father of two gregarious children and one quiet spotted Claire Leamy, Outreach & Development Manager, Neighborhood Farmers Markets Claire Leamy has been with the Neighborhood Farmers Markets as the Outreach & Development Manager since May of 2012. Before working with the Farmers Markets Claire supervised a program teaching cooking and nutrition to families on SNAP for over five years. She has also worked on farms in Colorado, Vermont, and Southern France. When not at the Farmers Markets or cooking Claire loves running with her black lab. Ellen Gray, Executive Director, The Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network Ellen has been the Executive Director of The Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network (The Network) since January 2008 (www.wsffn.org). She currently serves on the Kitchen Cabinet of Washington State University s Dean of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences and co-chairs the Good Food Coalition, a group of organizations and individuals that advocate for policies that advance a more sustainable and just food system in Washington State. Ellen has a Masters from the University of Washington and a BA from the University of Vermont. Ellen has a long commitment to advocacy work and more than 30 year s experience in the non-profit sector. Originally from Vermont, Ellen spent much of her childhood working on either dairy or horse farms. She has a deep appreciation for the challenges facing small farms that are a vital element of a healthy agricultural landscape. As a parent of an almost 17 year old boy, Ellen has worked for several years to encourage her school district to serve more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. She has a passionate and personal interest in the farm to school movement. Ellen lives in Mount Vernon Washington. Karen Kinney, Executive Director, Washington State Farmers Market Association For the past 16 years, Karen has worked to connect Washington farmers with local neighborhoods to sell their farm products at strong farmers markets, by opening and operating farmers markets, convening groups of market managers on collaborative projects and professional development. Throughout her career, Kinney has worked to build relationships between urban shoppers and farmers, expand the opportunities for low income shoppers to use federal food assistance benefits when shopping at farmers markets, and educate policy makers about direct marketing farmers, farmers markets, and low income shoppers. She s on the steering committee for the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition and in 2012, Kinney was named the 2012 Advocate of the Year by Tilth Producers of Washington.

Janet Jackson Charles, Director, Office of Nutrition Services, Washington State Department of Health Janet Jackson Charles oversees WIC and SNAP-Ed programs around the state. She has worked in public health administration since 1995 and holds a Master s Degree in Social Work. Over the years she has also worked in substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence and child welfare programs, and is deeply committed to social justice and reducing health inequities. Genine Bradwin, Farmer, Kirsop Farms Genine Bradwin has been growing organic vegetables with Colin Barricklow in Tumwater, WA at Kirsop Farm for 18 years. 2013 was the farm's first year selling at markets in Seattle after many years at the Olympia Farmers Market. Kirsop Farm has a 200 member CSA, and sells to stores and restaurants. They currently produce row crops on 15 acres, with other land in grain, pasture and fallow. Jeremy Kindlund, Manager, Sedro Woolley Farmers Market Jeremy has managed the Sedro Woolley Farmers Market since 2011. He worked with a local hospital to implement an EBT incentive program in 2012, and is currently Chair of the Skagit Valley Farmers Market Coalition working with other Skagit Valley Farmers Markets to implement a sustainable EBT incentive program for all Skagit Valley markets. Jeremy also joined the WSFMA Board in 2013. Judy Kirkhuff, Market Master, Seattle Farmers Market Association In 1996 Judy Kirkhuff started a new career as a Seattle urban nursery business and salad greens farmer out of her home in Seattle. She received her baptism into the farmers market family as a vendor selling heirloom plants for gardeners and salad greens at several farmers markets around the Puget Sound Region. After 2 years, she started managing the farmers of the small, quasi-independent section, of the Fremont Sunday Market. In August of 1999, at the invitation of some Ballard Chamber member-businesses, she moved the Farmers Market into Ballard and started the first year-round neighborhood market with only Washington State farms. Since then, several of the markets I ve started and organized have won many awards and recognition for excellence in their communities. As a Board Member of the WSFMA, she s been proud to be part of a team that works to address the challenges that face markets in Washington. It s been her privilege to play a small part in the development of farmers markets as an acknowledged economic driver for the sustainability of small farms and their communities, while growing into a vital emerging industry of the 21 st century.

Amy Crone, Program Manager, Marketlink Amy Crone is part of the NAFMNP team managing the MarketLink Program, as well as Executive Director of the Maryland Farmers Market Association. Prior to her current roles, she was with the Maryland Department of Agriculture as state point of contact for farmers market issues. Since 2008 she administered the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and participated in a number of statewide initiatives such as the innovative Eat Fresh Maryland Network to meet the needs of market managers, farmers, and consumers. Colleen Donovan, Research Coordinator, Washington State University Small Farms Program Colleen has worked with farmers in Washington State since 2003 and coordinated farmers market research for the Washington State University s Small Farms Program and Farmers Market Action Team since 2010. She co-authored the Washington State Farmers Market Management Toolkit with Karen Kinney in 2012. Colleen serves on the board of the WSFMA and was named the 2011 Advocate of the Year by the Tilth Producers of Washington. She has a BS from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; MA in Geography from the University of Washington. Robin Crowder, Marketing Specialist/Sustainable Agriculture/Consultant Robin Crowder is the director of development and marketing for the 21 Acres Center for Local Foods and Sustainable Living. Crowder s expertise lies in sustainable marketing initiatives, building supply and demand for local foods, and developing new programs in a wide variety of settings with a conscious attention to environmental issues, climate change and limiting energy use. In her prior position with the University of North Carolina, Crowder directed research related to local foods, agriculture and economic impact projects addressing health disparities. She managed an Innovation Laboratory titled, Linking Local Sustainable Farming and Health, which examined the question, Can eating local address obesity, the environment and economic viability? Crowder has served on a team to write and manage federal, state and foundation-funded grants related to agriculture, food insecurity and food justice projects and played a key role in community-based participatory research. Crowder has an extensive background leading entrepreneurial initiatives with place-based traditional and social marketing strategies that also take into account the dynamics of behavioral economics. Her work has included: fundraising campaigns; local foods branding; managing packaging and promotion design; creating direct farm-to-consumer buying opportunities; building wholesale relationships; directing public relations; orchestrating major special events; planning cooking and nutrition classes; and conducting educational programming. Crowder served as operations manager the Bellingham Farmers Market for seven years and helped farmers and small businesses position themselves to attract a greater customer base including both wholesale and retail buyers. Prior to that Crowder worked for major health care and senior housing companies leading their corporate marketing departments. Crowder provides ongoing consultation to urban planning and public health organizations, commercial businesses and professional services firms and volunteers for farmers market membership organizations on policy and advocacy issues, and is on the WSFMA Board of Directors.