Maria Anderson manages Elk Run Farm which grows delicious, local produce exclusively for the food banks of the South King County Food Coalition. Maria has leveraged the work of more than 3,000 different volunteers over four years to convert part of a golf course into a productive and beautiful suburban farm. When she isn’t dreaming about harvesting carrots, she loves cooking and entertaining, off-season hikes with her extended family, and reading when she should be doing other things. She is currently dreaming about starting a second farm for the food banks. You can follow along on Instagram @elkrunfarm, on Facebook @elkrunfoodbankfarm or connect by email at elkrunfarm@skcfc.org.

Alyssa Auvinen manages the Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program  at Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Prior to working at DOH she started and managed a farmers market in Billings, MT. That experience prompted her to volunteer on small to mid-sized organic farms in Washington, Oregon, and Utah before making her way back to work in public health.

Jennifer Antos is the Executive Director for the Neighborhood Farmers Markets in Seattle, whose seven markets serve over 200 farmers, ranchers, and food producers. She is passionate about creating community connections through food and believes farmers markets are the best place for people to become more educated about the food system. Jennifer has over 15 years’ experience managing programs, sales teams, and event operations in the non-profit sector.  She started her career at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco where she had the opportunity to manage venue-logistics for the inaugural Slow Food Nation event. She worked most recently for IslandWood, an education organization out to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Jennifer holds a B.A. in American Studies from Smith College and an MPA from Seattle University.

Nancy Bacon works at the intersection of nonprofits and adult learning to create learning experiences that move people to action. In 2013, she founded the learning program at Washington Nonprofits, the Washington state association for all nonprofits. In 2013, she was challenged to create a training on finance, a topic described to her as “being as fun as getting a root canal.” She led the team that created Finance Unlocked for Nonprofits (FUN), as well as Boards in Gear (BIG), Let’s Go Legal, Strategic Planning in Nonprofits (SPIN), and more. Nancy regularly speaks on learning and leadership, and she writes occasionally on her blog: www.nancybacon.com.

Kelli Diann Billips is the current Operations Manager for Seattle Farmers Market Association – organizing the Ballard, Madrona and Wallingford Farmers Markets. Growing up on a farm in Southwest Virginia, she helped her grandfather at farmers markets and enjoyed spending time with her grandparents in their garden. She relocated to Seattle in 2016. A graduate of Radford University, Kelli Diann holds a degree in advertising. She has assisted several markets and individual vendors alike in creating a marketing strategy that works for their business model and available staff resources. Working in the world of farmers markets for over 4 years, Kelli Diann is invigorated by the spirit of local community and the abundance of Washington grown produce. The primary message she hopes to pass on through all of her work is, “It’s time to flip the script, from, ‘local food is expensive’ to, ‘local food is valuable’.” She is known for whipping up “something out of nothing” in the kitchen, using the blessed tools of her Granny Louise.

A lifelong resident of Southwest Washington, Jordan Boldt has led the Vancouver Farmers Market since 2010. Jordan also serves on the board of Visit Vancouver USA, the Clark County Food Systems Council, and Clark County Technical Advisory Committee (for food safety). Previously, he worked in finance and small business development where he learned to love the entrepreneurial spirit of farmers and food based businesses. Jordan also spent 15 years working in emergency services as a firefighter and EMT. When not helping farms, Jordan is a lunch buddy with the Vancouver Public Schools and is attempting to remodel an old home.

Genine Bradwin, of Kirsop Farm, has been growing organic vegetables for more than 20 years with her husband, Colin Barricklow. Kirsop Farm has always had a mixed marketing plan including CSA, direct wholesale and farmers markets. We enjoy farmers markets the most, which is how we found ourselves selling at 10 per week for a couple years there! In addition to our 20-acre vegetable operation, Kirsop Farm now includes a growing livestock and feed operation, as well as producing broth and stock, yarn, and sheepskins. In 2013 we were able to make the transition from multiple short term leased fields to one forever farm in cooperation with a local land trust and conservation group. We have experience selling in all sizes and many locations of markets and are eager to share what we have learned over the years.

Randy Brinson is Third Sector Company’s Senior Strategist for Board and Executive Leadership Development. Certified in nonprofit board consulting (by BoardSource) and leadership succession planning (by Third Sector Company), Randy is a trusted partner in chief executive searches and leads governance trainings, board retreats and strategic planning activities. He also has interim leadership experience and is passionate about helping organizations build capacity to better serve their missions.

Stacy Carkonen joyfully joined the staff of the Tacoma Farmers Market in March 2014. She is passionate about supporting and strengthening small, local farms, educating the community about protecting and preserving our agricultural lands and ensuring that locally grown and raised food is available to all of our community members regardless of income level. Prior to joining TFM, Stacy worked as Farm-to-Table Program Manager for Cascade Harvest Coalition, Director of Development for Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), National Field Director for Global Action for Children and Director of Global Grassroots Advocacy and Expansion for RESULTS Educational Fund. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Idaho with an emphasis on political violence, revolutions, and economic development, and finished her degree at the University of Birzeit in Palestine. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Music from Washington State University.

Sydney Debien is originally from Michigan, where she was the Food Access Manager for the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA). She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and a specialization in Agribusiness Management. Sydney currently lives in Olympia with her husband and dog and is a Contract Specialist for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. In her spare time, she likes to garden, camp, and comb thrift stores for vintage Pyrex.

Kimmi Devaney is a communications strategist with roots deep in agriculture. She is a leader in the agricultural field with more than a decade of public relations, stakeholder engagement and crisis communications experience working with non-profits, government agencies, cooperatives and national trade magazines from coast to coast. Kimmi is the president of KDev Communications, a communication consulting company providing strategic solutions and bridging the communication gap between her agricultural clients and their target audiences. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal sciences and agricultural communication from Washington State University. Kimmi’s passion for connecting consumers with agriculture began at a young age as the granddaughter of Enumclaw farmers. Her classmates, however, were generations removed from the farm and were fascinated with the unknown-to-them world of farming she frequently discussed. This was the beginning of what would become a 10+ year career in public relations bridging the rural urban divide. In her spare time, Kimmi serves on the Enumclaw Plateau Farmers Market board of directors, on the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Urban Farm Bureau Coalition steering committee and is an active member of King-Pierce Farm Bureau.

Colleen Donovan is the Executive Director of the Washington State Farmers Market Association and coordinator of the Farmers Market Integrity Project. She has worked in Washington since 2003, providing direct support and research, leading statewide farmers market surveys and data tracking, conducting over 20 Rapid Market Assessments, projects with Latino farmers, and creating shopper promotions. Colleen and Karen Kinney curated their favorite tips and tools in the “Washington Farmers Market Management Toolkit” among many other publications and projects. Originally from California’s Central Valley, Colleen lives in Ellensburg. She has a B.S. in Social Sciences from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and M.A. in Geography from the University of Washington.

Sarah Dylan Jensen is the creator and curator for Mockingjay Press – a brand ambassador company that helps small businesses stay sane in the world of Social Media marketing. Don’t let the fancy title fool you. As a market manager herself, Sarah does more than just editing etiquette from behind the keyboard. She’s a boots-on-the-ground style businesswoman that believes there’s a story behind every 10 x 10 and she’s found some clever ways to help your customers understand why Farmer’s Markets are worth the “likes” and “shares.”

This season, Karen Erickson begins her eighth year as the Manager of the Everett Farmers Markets. She has facilitated the Market’s EBT SNAP Program, the Music Program and all social media platforms and advertising for the Market since partnering with Gary Purves in 2012. Karen managed the Snohomish Farmers Market for seven years and began her market career there as a vendor selling hand crafted, reusable shopping bags, and other hand-sewn plastic and fabric items. She was the first Snohomish County Regional Lead for the WSFMA, fulfilling that role for three years. Karen is passionate about building strong working relationships with social agencies across the local Community, while supporting “access for all” to nutritious fruits and vegetables at Farmers Markets. She enjoys music and art and plays an active role in the local music scene. For 26 years, Karen was the owner/operator of a nationally recognized slipcover and sewing educational business traveling cross-country in support of her business model.

Raised on a farm in the agricultural region of Northern Utah, Douglas Farr has always been passionate about anything to do with farming, entrepreneurship and with building community. He previously owned and operated five successful businesses that gained popularity along the Wasatch Front in Utah, speaking to his skills of developing fruitful organizations that benefit the local economy. His knowledge of farming infrastructure, coupled with his background in business, cultivated the necessary know-how to cater to both farmers and customers. Additionally, he worked as the Manager of the Fremont Sunday Market for well over a decade before accepting the role of General Manager for the Seattle Farmers Market Association (SFMA). In his leisure time, Doug enjoys gardening, canning and developing his culinary skills. He also enjoys “geeking out” on architecture and machinery marvels, and taking road trips with his husband and their two dogs to explore all that the world has to offer.

Catt Fields White is the founder of Farmers Market Pros, the national farmers’ market industry organization that promotes financial sustainability, community engagement and entrepreneurship for local market managers, small farmers and food makers. Classes and online forums provide education and support year-round for market participants at all stages and In Tents: The Farmers Market Conference brings market managers and vendors from throughout the US and Canada together for three days of speakers, workshops and roundtables each year. Catt co-hosts weekly episodes of Tent Talk, the farmers’ market podcast. Since 2008, Catt and her San Diego Markets team have brought farmers to the city and more than 25,000 people to the table each week by developing and managing farmers’ markets, including San Diego County’s largest: the six-block Little Italy Mercato. Catt writes and speaks about food, farms and business for regional and national publications and at conferences and events worldwide.

Katherine D. Flores is the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Lead for the last six years at the Washington State Department of Health. She has also worked at WSU on Nutrition projects and with Hispanic growers in Washington, Idaho and with the WSDA on projects to support risk management. She has a degree in Nutrition form San Carlos University in Guatemala City. She sat on the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs Board of Directors in 2015 and she is currently the Western Region Representative for FMNP at the national level.

Ivy Fox was raised on a family farm in Utah and credits these early childhood experiences for bringing her here today.  After receiving a B. A. in Economics and Spanish from Smith College, Ivy moved to Seattle and began working at local nonprofits. Noticing systemic patterns that lead to burnout and toxic work environments, Ivy returned to school and obtained her M.A. in Organizational Development and Sustainability. Upon graduation, Ivy began working for the Neighborhood Farmers Markets where she was able to directly connect her farm background to her education and work experiences. Through 2019, Ivy focused on creating vibrant neighborhood farmers markets that are economically sound, socially and environmentally responsible and DELICIOUS!

Katie Green is the co-owner of Wild Hare Organic Farm, located just outside the city limits of Tacoma. Though they are Puget Sound natives, Katie and her husband Mark started farming on the east end of Long Island, cutting their teeth selling to chefs and eaters in New York, both as wholesalers and eventually direct marketers. They are proud to have put down roots in the Puyallup River Valley where they grow fresh produce for a year-round CSA program and farmers markets. Katie also serves on the board of the Tacoma Farmers Market. And when she’s not busy running a farm, you’ll probably catch her buried in a good book or living it up with Hazel, their amazing daughter.

Susan Howlett has been raising money joyfully for over 40 years, as a trustee, development director, executive director, and consultant to thousands of nonprofits – large and small — across the continent. Author of two award-winning books (Getting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals, and Boards on Fire: Inspiring Leaders to Raise Money Joyfully), Susan has been led the University of Washington’s year-long Fundraising Certificate Program since 1990. She speaks, trains and consults nationally, known for offering concrete solutions to persistent problems, delivered with humor, stories and chocolate. And she cries when she goes to farmers markets because they make her feel connected to what matters.

Dwight Hutton joined Washington Nonprofits after many years in the nonprofit performing arts world, first as a performer then transitioning into administration. He earned an undergraduate business degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City while performing full-time. Dwight worn many nonprofit hats over the years, including as Executive Director, CFO, and Managing Director. He currently serves on the board of a small arts foundation and as Treasurer of Lifelong Aids Alliance.

Alan Ismach is a Research Coordinator for the University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition, where, since June, he has helped to facilitate the data collection and technical assistance involved in the Washington State SNAP Match program (formerly FINI). Alan holds degrees in medical anthropology, sociology, and nutrition from the University of Washington. A systems-oriented social scientist at heart, he is deeply passionate about addressing the severe sociocultural and economic inequalities rampant in our food system. He hopes to spend his career working towards a just and equitable food system for all, maintaining a focus on race, gender, culture, class, and environmental sustainability as they intersect in the context of food. Alan works on the UW Childcare Culture of Health Study, which aims to examine working environments and early childcare provider health in the greater Seattle area as they correlate with rising minimum wage. He is also a founding member of the UW Food Systems Coalition.

Samantha Kielty started her work with farmers markets in Tacoma almost a decade ago. For the last seven years Sam has held various positions with the Neighborhood Farmers Markets and spent time working for the Washington State Farmers Market Association assisting with the WSFMA Annual Conference and farmers market membership. While under Sam’s management, the West Seattle Farmers Market saw 20% annual growth following relocation in 2015. Now in a new role as the Programs Manager Sam can combine her commitment to local agriculture and her passion for food access.

A young, passionate farmer, Ryan Lichttenegger was born to play in the dirt and proficiently use (read: ride and play with) tractors. Raised in rural Minnesota next to a seasoned, well-educated dairy farmer, he brings his midwestern roots and passion for the land here to the Northwest. A creative thinker, Ryan received his degree in digital animation before returning to the land to focus on growing nutrient dense food for the local community.

Caprice Teske is the Food Access Coordinator for the Washington State Farmers Market Association. She previously served as the Director of the Bellingham Farmers Market for ten years, working with over 150 small businesses and farms annually. In that role, she helped establish SNAP/EBT services at farmers markets and developed successful incentive programs. She is passionate about engaging the community on maintaining healthy food systems and making sure that those food systems serve all. She served two terms as Secretary of the WSFMA Board of Directors and worked on the WSFMA Conference Planning Committee, helping to develop the last 5 conferences. Prior to her work with the Bellingham Farmers Market, Caprice was Program Director for Whatcom Volunteer Center. Before relocating to Bellingham, she worked overseas with the U.S. Antarctic Program, where she learned the value of fresh produce since most food came in cans at the bottom of the earth. Caprice has a BA in English Literature from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC.

Gary Purves has served as the Director of the Everett Farmers Market for the last eight years. Gary began his market career volunteering at the Snohomish Farmers Market for two years and later as the assistant manager for a year. His partnership with Karen Erickson of the for-profit Everett Farmers Market began in January of 2012, and he has managed all vendor activities since then. Gary worked directly with the Port of Everett to facilitate all things farmers market logistics until last year when the Market moved to downtown Everett.  He currently works closely with governmental agencies to garner a smooth running 100+ vendor market. Gary enjoys those rare getaway days, photography, and finding quiet spaces for short hikes and downtime from the year-round activities of the Market. His long career in the concrete construction industry, 21 years as his own boss, serves as the foundation for the many hats a Market Manager must wear.

Jamie Wells supports the Washington State Department of Health’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program and SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) grant. In her work she aims to improve the health of low-income Washingtonians and reduce food insecurity through targeted program efforts and local, regional, and statewide partnerships. Jamie is happiest with when she’s exploring the outdoors, watching good TV, or in the kitchen trying a new recipe with produce from the Olympia Farmers Market.

With years of experience as Central Washington’s farm to school coordinator, Joan Qazi joined the WSFMA understanding the challenges that small and diversified farmers face. Farmers markets are such an important part of Joan’s life, where she can show gratitude to the farmers who grow the local food that nourishes her family. Strengthening community food security is a personal passion. Joan has been the Geography professor researching climate change and sustainability advocate at Wenatchee Valley College for the last 25 years. She has a Ph.D. from University of Washington with a dissertation focused on women’s work in Washington’s apple industry.