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Board of Directors

The Organic Trade Association Board of Directors consists 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.

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Paul Schiefer, Amy's Kitchen

BOARD PRESIDENT

Paul is the Vice President of Impact & Communications 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.

Paul Schiefer, Amy's Kitchen
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Tracy Favre, Fig Hill Farm Consulting

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE 

Tracy Favre has over 30 years in natural resource management working as an environmental engineer, then in various positions working in sustainable agriculture. She served as the Global Director for Quality Assurance International, setting strategic direction for the organization, including international expansion. From 2012 – 2017, Ms. Favre served on the National Organic Standards Board, serving in one of two Natural Resource/Environmental seats and wrapping up her tenure there as board chair. Tracy has worked as an independent organic inspector, conducting inspections for fruit/vegetable growers, livestock operations, and food and beauty products processing facilities around the country. She is passionate about the intersection of good, healthy food and sustainable livelihoods.

Tracy Favre, Fig Hill Farm Consulting
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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 Farm

SECRETARY  

Britt Lundgren is the Senior Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs 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.

Britt Lundgren, Stonyfield Farm
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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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Kim Dietz, Firmenich

Kim is the Business Development Director of Organics, Extracts and Sustainability for Firmenich. Kim has been involved in organic farming sustainability her entire life, and has over 30 years of 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.

Kim Dietz, Firmenich
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Matt Dillon, R2R Strategy

Matthew Dillon is the founder and owner of Risk to Resilience (R2R) Strategy, an organic consulting company. Most recently, Matt was Chief Sustainability Officer at Farmer Focus. Before his role at Farmer Focus, Matt led Clif Bar's federal and state advocacy engagement. Matthew spearheaded Clif Bar’s organic research investments, endowing four chairs in organic research and funding 17 Ph.D. students, making Clif the largest private funder of organic research in the United States. He has held diverse roles in organic agriculture and policy fields since 1982, including farmer, advocate, and consultant to food companies, government agencies, and non-profits.

Matt Dillon, R2R Strategy
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Ann Marie Hourigan , Whole Foods Market

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE 

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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Kellee James, Mercaris

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE  

Kellee James is the Founder and CEO of Mercaris, 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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Bob Kaake, Slice Of Kaake Consulting

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, CHAIR  

Bob Kaake is Principal at Slice of Kaake Consulting. He uses his entrepreneurial background in product development and quality to help companies bring great tasting, organic products to market.  His time at Annie’s proved to him that good food can also do good.  Bob firmly believes meaningful partnerships across all levels of the organic supply chain are key to a successful food company and are critical to the essential work needed to leverage agriculture as a solution to climate change. 

Bob Kaake, Slice Of Kaake Consulting
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David Lively, Organically Grown Company

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR  

David Lively and his brother Tom started out with gardening organically on a one-third acre designed to feed a commune of 15. Froom 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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Mike Menes, True Organic Products

CHAIR, ORGANIC PAC
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITEE

Mike is the Vice President of Food Safety & Technology 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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Johanna Phillips, Ecocert

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE 

Johanna Phillips is a Technical Director of the USDA NOP certification team for Ecocert USA, where she also works on technical and policy initiatives as part of Ecocert Group. She carries over a decade of regulatory experience in commercial feed, food, and organic certification, and a lifetime of experience in agriculture. Johanna has a passion for agriculture that is closely tied to her belief that we can do so much more to support the sustainability and wellbeing of the planet, as well as lifestyles that ensure healthy and safe food available domestically. She is inspired and driven by a calling to support opportunities for families and businesses to operate sustainably and make a living.  

 

Johanna Phillips, Ecocert
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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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Adam Warthesen, Organic Valley

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE, CHAIR 

As 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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