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Board of Directors

The Organic Trade Association Board of Directors consists of fifteen people, each of whom serves a term of three years. A Board member cannot serve more than three consecutive terms. OTA Board members are elected by OTA trade members each year. The Board is made up of eleven at-large members elected by the general membership and four members who are appointed by elected Board members.

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Tracy Favre, Handsome Brook Farms

BOARD PRESIDENT 

Tracy Favre has over 30 years in natural resource management working in various positions, now serving as the Vice President of Sustainability for Live Operations at Handsome Brook Farms, LLC. From 2012 – 2017, Ms. Favre served on the National Organic Standards Board, wrapping up her tenure there as board chair. Tracy has worked as an independent organic inspector, and served as the Global Director for Quality Assurance International, setting strategic direction for the organization, including international expansion. She is passionate about the intersection of good, healthy food and sustainable livelihoods.

Tracy Favre, Handsome Brook Farms
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Adam Warthesen, Organic Valley

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

As Senior Director of Government and Industry Affairs for Organic Valley, Adam oversees the cooperative’s government affairs and engagement with industry trade groups. His duties include cultivating relations with policymakers, engaging administrative agencies, and driving forward-facing public relations with numerous food, farm, and media stakeholders. 

Adam Warthesen, Organic Valley
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Domenic Borrelli, Danone North America

TREASURER  

Domenic Borrelli is the President of Plant-Based Food & Beverages and Premium Dairy for Danone North America  Danone North America, where he balances the company’s commitment to social and environmental progress while generating profitable, sustainable growth. Domenic brings 24 years of food and beverage experience, including work in sustainable meat, refreshment beverages, coffee, cheese, cereal and ready-to-eat meals.

Domenic Borrelli, Danone North America
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Britt Lundgren, Stonyfield

SECRETARY  

Britt Lundgren is the Senior Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs at Stonyfield. She has over fifteen years of experience working to advance agricultural sustainability through policy and supply chain initiatives, and is a passionate advocate for organic agriculture with expertise in both policy and supply chain initiatives.

Britt Lundgren, Stonyfield
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Ann Marie Hourigan, Whole Foods Market

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, CHAIR

Ann Marie Hourigan is a Quality Standards Principal Advisor for Sourcing Standards at Whole Foods Market. She has worked in the organic and natural foods industry since 2003 in a variety of roles. Prior to working at Whole Foods Market, Ann Marie was the Director of Organic Integrity and Compliance Programs at Earthbound Farm, a dedicated organic producer and handler of packaged salads and other produce. In previous roles Ann Marie has been an organic inspector and technical reviewer for Quality Assurance International (QAI), member of the California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC), and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) chapter leader. 

Ann Marie Hourigan, Whole Foods Market
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Paul Schiefer, Amy's Kitchen

Community Relations Committee, Chair

Paul is the President of Amy's, a producer of organic frozen meals and soups. He oversees Amy’s Planet Strategy, which includes integrating sustainability into all aspects of the business, including sourcing and agricultural practices, manufacturing operations, and products. He also leads Amy’s Policy and Advocacy Strategy, and is a member of Amy’s Leadership Group.

Paul Schiefer, Amy's Kitchen
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Mike Menes, True Organic Products

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR

Mike is the Chief Technical Officer for True Organic Products. His curiosity about the organic industry and how to affects the biological systems around it continue to be satisfied in his role by helping to find new inputs for use as organic fertilizers.

Mike Menes, True Organic Products
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Doug Crabtree, Vilicus Farms

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE & FARMER SEAT

Doug and his wife Anna own and operate Vilicus Farms, a 5,000-acre certified organic dry-land farm growing 12 to 15 grain, pulse, broadleaf and oilseed crops annually. Having started the farm “from scratch,” they share a passion for beginning farmers. Doug has been an active member of the Farmers Advisory Council and regular participant in OTA’s Policy Conference and Hill Visits.

Doug Crabtree, Vilicus Farms
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Heidi Diestel, Diestel Family Ranch

Heidi grew up on her family farm getting folks excited about all things Diestel. Today, Heidi is President of Sales & Marketing at Diestel Family Ranch, leading the industry one turkey at a time.

Heidi Diestel, Diestel Family Ranch
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Ed Fish, Bay State Milling

Edward Fish is the Vice President and General Manager of Varietal Solutions at Bay State Milling where he works to connect food with agriculture. Prior to joining Bay State Milling, Ed worked across a variety of businesses at Cargill focusing on corporate strategy and business development. He currently chairs the Organic Trade Association’s Grains Council and the Board of Directors of About Fresh, a Boston-based nonprofit that gets healthy foods to vulnerable populations, and serves on the MIT Sloan Sustainability Advisory Board. Ed holds various certificates and degrees from UC Davis, Kansas State, George Washington University and MIT. He resides in Boston where he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family. 

Ed Fish, Bay State Milling
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Leonard Freeman, Oregon Tilth

Leonard Freeman, Managing Director of Oregon Tilth, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing organic food and agriculture through certification, education, and advocacy. He’s deeply involved in the community, with affiliations including the NFL and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas, using sports for community building and personal development. A noted writer, he’s featured in Forbes and publications, sharing insights on innovation, diversity, and leadership. Leonard holds a bachelor’s in Kinesiology and a minor in Special Education from Sam Houston State University, a master’s in Public Administration from Grand Canyon University, and serves on the boards of The National Society of Black Sports Professionals and the Hue Project, residing in Houston, Texas, as a dynamic force for positive change.

Leonard Freeman, Oregon Tilth
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Kellee James, Mercaris

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE  

Kellee James is the Founder and CEO of Mercaris, an Argus company, a start-up company that provides a market information service and online trading platform for organic and non-GMO crops and ingredients. Kellee currently serves on the Board of Oregon Tilth. Kellee has an interest and experience in values-driven entrepreneurship, finance, and governance issues.

Kellee James, Mercaris
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David Lively, Organically Grown Company

David Lively and his brother Tom started out with gardening organically on a one-third acre designed to feed a commune of 15. From there, they started to professionally farm and the work that created Organically Grown Cooperative. This evolved to Organically Grown Company, with grower and employee owners. He currently is Pioneer Ermeritus at Organically Grown Company. He is a co-founder of the Sustainable Food Trade Association, Organic Produce Wholesalers Coalition and the Organicology Conference. He has also served on the Boards of Oregon Tilth and the Organic Seed Alliance.

David Lively, Organically Grown Company
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Daniella Velazquez de Leon, Organics Unlimited

Daniella Velazquez de Leon is the general manager of Organics Unlimited, where she's responsible for the success of day-to-day operations across sales and distribution, logistics, and production entities. Daniella is the newest generation of this family business: the fourth generation of organic growers in her family and the third generation of organic banana wholesalers. Organic Unlimited primarily imports top-quality bananas from farms deep in the soil of Mexico. 

Daniella Velazquez de Leon, Organics Unlimited
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