By 2021, the Organic Trade Association Board of Directors will consist of seventeen 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 nine at-large members elected by the general membership, two Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) representatives who have been elected by the general membership of COTA and five members who are appointed by elected Board members. There is also a dedicated Farmer Board seat.
 President Kim is Senior Manager of Environmental, Natural and Organic Policy Government Relations & Corporate Sustainability for J.M. Smucker. Kim has been involved in organic farming sustainability her entire life, and has over 30 years experience and expertise regarding organic and non-GMO compliance and standards; her commitment to organic has been shown in her voluntary work with OTA throughout her career, both as a leader and a participant. |
 Vice President Tracy Favre is currently with Fig Hill Farm Consulting. Formerly an organic inspector, she worked for 25 years in environmental management, as an engineer and in sustainable agriculture. She served on the NOSB from 2012-2016 and was chair in 2016. She lives on a small family farm in Texas. |
 Secretary Britt Lundgren is the Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Stonyfield Farm. With over a decade of experience working to advance agricultural sustainability through policy and supply chain initiatives including six years at Stonyfield, she brings much relevant knowledge and enthusiasm to the Board. |
 Treasurer Perry is owner of Pleasantview Farm, his family’s certified organic dairy operation in Ohio. Perry has been a passionate supporter and fully engaged member of the organic community for 15 years, transitioning his family’s 133-year-old farm to an organic grass-based dairy, and wants to use his resources and knowledge to further promote organic through advocacy and working with OTA. |
 Ben was raised in the suburbs outside of Boston where his only exposure to farming and agriculture was his mom’s garden. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002, and moved out to the Bay Area. While working on an MBA at Cal State Bakersfield, he found work with Grimmway Farms in the Cal-Organic division working in quality assurance, food safety and organic certification. He quickly developed an appreciation for the amount of hard work that goes into farming, especially organic farming. |
 Community Relations Committee 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. Prior to launching the farm, Doug managed the State of Montana’s Organic Certification Program. |
 A nationally recognized environmental leader, lawyer and advocate, Avi currently serves as Patagonia Works’ Environmental Advocate, helping to sharpen and strengthen the company’s voice and vision on environmental and conservation issues as Patagonia pursues its mission: being in business to save the home planet. |
 Karen is Vice President of Sales for Clif Bar & Company. She brings three decades of experience in the food industry with 15 years at Clif Bar & Company. Karen is inspired by Clif Bar’s commitment to create a healthier, more just, and sustainable food system. Guided by the company’s five bottom lines of Sustaining It’s People, Business, Brands, Community and the Planet, Karen leads Clif Bar’s Natural, Mass & Club business teams. |
 Governance Committee, Chair Bob Kaake is Organic & Natural Technical Director at General Mills. He leads a passionate team of product development and quality professionals to ideate, develop, and bring innovations to market that drive Annie’s and General Mills' long-standing mission to create great-tasting foods that are better for people and the planet. Bob firmly believes meaningful partnerships across all levels of the organic supply chain are the key to a successful food company. |
 Community Relations Committee, Chair David Lively farmed professionally before joining the staff as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing and serving on the Board of 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. |
 Community Relations Committee Mike Menes is Vice President of Food Safety and Technology at True Organic Products, a leader in organic fertilizers. His responsibilities include oversight of food safety and organic integrity. Using his chemistry background, Mike has centered his career interests over the years on biological systems and how modification of surroundings can influence the ways these systems interact. |
 Paul is the Senior Director of Sustainability for Amy's, 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. |
 Community Relations Committee James is the CEO of Yorkshire Valley Farms, a producer and marketer of organic poultry products. During James time as the CEO, the company went from a grassroots startup to a Canadian leader in organic poultry. James has also been successful in implementing new programs that helped support and enhance the organic chicken industry both domestically and internationally. James is excited to increase his involvement Canada Organic Trade Association. |
 Governance Committee Mark Squire is co-owner and manager of Good Earth Natural Foods. His career began in the 1960s after reading J.I. Rodale and Sir Albert Howard, which instilled in him a deep conviction of the need to move agriculture from pesticide dependence and the foundation of our diets to natural system approaches. This led him to Good Earth Natural Foods where he has worked for the past 48 years. During that time, he spent three years out of retail to transition a family farm in North Carolina to organic production. |
