Staff

Email: csolt@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 158

Chris Solt is a mission-driven leader with over two decades of experience in the fair trade, cooperative, and sustainable agriculture sectors. His career has focused on building ethical, transparent systems that support farmers, producers, and workers through values-based verification and alternative economic models rooted in restorative justice.

Chris most recently served as Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), a North American network of fully committed fair trade businesses. In this role, he led the strategic, administrative, and programmatic direction of the organization, helping strengthen the fair trade movement and supporting member enterprises across the U.S. and Canada.

Prior to joining the FTF in 2016, Chris spent a decade with Ten Thousand Villages US, where he held a range of leadership roles, including Regional Director, Training Manager, and Director of Training and Development. His work focused on sales training, capacity building, and board development to enhance the impact of one of the oldest fair trade organizations in North America.

Since 2019, Chris has served on the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) Global Board of Directors as the Pacific Region Representative. He was re-elected to a second term in 2024 and elected Vice President of the global board, contributing to international efforts to advance inclusive and sustainable economies.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Science from Cleveland State University and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, along with a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources, from Southern New Hampshire University.

Chris's passion for alternative, justice-rooted economies began during a 1998 trip through Canada, where he was first introduced to Ten Thousand Villages. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to fair trade and cooperative values, which continues to shape his leadership philosophy today.

Outside of work, Chris is a lifelong musician and multi-instrumentalist. He enjoys tennis, kayaking, hiking, bicycling, gardening, cooking, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Rebekah, and their dog, Teddy. Now based in Pennsylvania, Chris is thrilled to join the PCO team and community. He brings with him a strong alignment with PCO’s mission and looks forward to advancing the organization’s work in support of organic integrity, resilient food systems, and thriving farm communities.

Email: diana@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 215

Diana Underwood joined the PCO team as Director of Operations in Fall of 2012. She is a multidisciplinary thought leader with experience in overseeing finance, operations, board relations, alongside human resources, technology, quality and risk management. In her role at PCO, she leads PCO's Finance and Administrative functions and serves as a member of the PCO Leadership Team. With close to 20 years of business management experience and the last 10 years in organic certification, she is passionate about collaborating with teams to support mission-driven work. In addition to leading business operations, Diana has experience launching special project initiatives, implementing organizational core values, and overseeing new technology platforms. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from North Carolina State University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, collecting houseplants, and enjoying the outdoors with her husband and their two dogs.

Email: epenn@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 123

Edy joined the PCO team as the HR Director in July 2024. With over two decades in the People space, she brings extensive knowledge and expertise in all things HR. Edy holds a J.D. and a B.A. both from Temple University. In her spare time, Edy is a fierce community advocate, a mom, and a budding author.

Email: agarber@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 205

Alison Garber grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where her early connection to farmland sparked a lasting interest in food systems. Before joining PCO in 2022, she spent sixteen years with Whole Foods Market, gaining extensive experience in communications, marketing, and organizational leadership. As PCO’s Communications Manager, Alison leads efforts to strengthen the organization’s voice, expand its reach, and support meaningful connections with members and stakeholders. She lives in Western Pennsylvania, where she enjoys foraging with her partner and their dog, Samwise.

Email: wbrudon@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 120

Wren joined PCO in March 2024 temporarily to help with the re-certification process but has been in the role of Administrative Coordinator since December 2024. She graduated from Pratt Institute in 2023, and channels that unorthodox background into new and creative solutions for the organic world. She loves animals, the environment, and people, and desires to contribute to a better world for us all, both professionally and personally.

Email: elizabeth@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 217

Elizabeth joined PCO in 2014 as a staff accountant and has since advanced to the role of Deputy Finance Director. A proud Penn State graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, she’s also a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Elizabeth calls Central PA home, where she lives with her husband Matt and their adventurous kids, Blake and Bridger.

Beyond the numbers, Elizabeth finds joy in creating lasting memories with her loved ones, jet-setting to new destinations, and immersing herself in the great outdoors. Whether it's embarking on a family hike or basking in the sun at a serene beach, she's always eager for the next thrilling escapade!

Email: shawnee@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 218

Shawnee joined the PCO Team as a Staff Accountant in November of 2016. Shawnee was born and raised in Pleasant Gap, PA, and currently resides in Clarence with her husband, Andy. Shawnee received her degree in Accounting from South Hills School of Business and Technology. Shawnee enjoys traveling the Caribbean with her husband, spending time with family and friends, riding her motorcycle, and going for walks in the mountain with her dogs, Nyla and Zara.

Email: jcasteel@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 125

Jana was born and raised in the small, rural west Texas town of Seymour (pop. 3,500), where we spent our time riding our bikes along country roads for miles, swimming anywhere there was a body of water, playing pickup games of basketball in the high school gym as often as we could, roller skating in the church gymnasium every Saturday afternoon, and watching movies at the local drive-in movie theater.

Jana currently resides in Tontitown, Arkansas, with her Shih Tzu (Gypsy). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from the University of Central Arkansas and a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. She has worked in healthcare finance in various capacities for 23+ years.

Her passions are spending time with her family and friends, traveling to warm and sunny places, and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks in any and all things. Woo Pig Sooie!

Email: craig@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 219

Craig joined PCO in January 2018 as a Certification Specialist. Prior to joining PCO, Craig was a farm inspector for PCO and Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. He is the 2017 recipient of the International Organic Inspectors Association Andrew Rutherford Scholarship. Originally from Indiana, Craig spent 12 years living in Asheville, North Carolina where he worked on a Boer goat farm and for Organic Pharmacy & Wild Earth Market. In 2011 Craig married and moved to Penns Valley, where he and his wife live with their two children and dog. In his free time he enjoys fly fishing, gardening, and spending time with his family.

Email: lspicka@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 159

Lisa Spicka de Bevacqua has worked in and with the organic industry since 1997. Originally from rural Nebraska and surrounded by the seasonal chemical colognes of conventional soy and corn, her deep belief in the wisdom of organic production was sparked while working in various certification roles at PCO’s cousin: the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA).

After OCIA, Lisa’s ceaseless commitment to supporting global organic and sustainable business models led Lisa to leadership roles in organic farming and manufacturing (Trout Lake Farm/Amway), and sustainability (Sustainable Food Trade Association, Climate Collaborative, NSF). She is well-versed in the dairy industry, having led Operations for Cypress Grove, and keeps strong ties with the organic community, including independent work supporting the integrity and growth of organizations such as the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA).

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Global Masters of Business (MBA) with a Sustainable Supply Chain focus. She has lived and worked for many years in Latin America, is fluent in Spanish, and looks forward to supporting PCO’s growth and integrity. In her spare time, you can find Lisa playing pinball, baking the world’s best biscuit, and living in a constant state of gratitude for her amazing husband and family.

Email: cwesh@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 253

Corinne joined PCO in 2021. Originally from southern NJ, she now lives on a farm in Maine with her family where they produce organic seed from native and perennial plants. She holds a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania, and has worn may professional hats, including bicycle mechanic and organic inspector. Most recently, she worked in organic compliance and quality systems. In her free time, she enjoys camping, coffee, kayaking, and kestrels.

Email: nstoner@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 280

Nancy has a diverse administration and project management background, both in the public sector and private construction industry. She grew up on what was her Grandparents farm in the heart of the Hudson Valley. After receiving a Masters in Public Administration from Marist College, she moved to Pennsylvania. Nancy currently splits her time between Central PA and Southeastern Georgia with her husband. When not traveling, she spends her time hiking, reading and gardening.

Email: pine@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 113

Carley joined PCO in 2025. She has worked in organic certification for 3+ years, particularly around organic crop certification. She conducted her Masters in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida where she did her thesis research on the effects of grafting on organic watermelons. She currently resides in Tampa, Florida with her cat where she enjoys shelling on the beach, reading, cooking, and spending time with family.

Email: pine@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 113

Alex joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in October 2021. Alex worked as an organic farm inspector traveling up and down the east coast since spring 2018. Prior to inspecting, Alex worked as a farm manager for an organic CSA produce and poultry operation in Northern VA.He has a B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Baldwin Wallace University. In his spare time, Alex enjoys soccer, camping, hiking, fly fishing, and exploring nature with friends and family.

Email: pine@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 113

Alexis has been an organic inspector since 2020, conducting inspections across Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Based in Northeast Ohio, she co-operates her family’s certified organic farm—raising cereal grains, chickens, and goats—and runs a small on-site flour mill. Each week, Alexis participates in farmers markets, where she loves talking about local food systems and supporting the growers and producers who make them possible.

Outside of work, she loves ALL dogs, swimming, kayaking, and trying new foods.

Email: pine@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 113

Christie joined PCO in 2025 as a Certification Specialist. Prior to joining PCO, she worked as an organic inspector for the past ten years, as well as an NOSB Specialist with the National Organic Coalition for eight of those years. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, preserving food, reading, camping, boating, and hanging out with her husband, son, family, and dogs. Christie is a member of the Evangelical Friends Church and strives to share Christ's love in all that she does. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania.

Email: pine@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 113

Dara joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in 2020. Dara is originally from Columbus, Ohio, and grew up spending weekends on her dad's conventional farm, where she learned about running tractors and growing quality forage crops. She earned a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from Cornell University and, after graduation, spent 5 years working on an organic produce farm just outside of her hometown. Dara and her husband Luke are dedicated members of their church community and enjoy spending time with friends and family, visiting national parks, and going on walks around the neighborhood with their two kids.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Matt grew up in San Diego, CA where he enjoys the perfect weather, beautiful beaches and the best Mexican food. He started his organic career at QAI and developed his passion for organics working in multiple positions. After more than a decade at QAI, Matt moved to OTCO as a Senior Certification Officer and was promoted to the role of Team Supervisor. After another decade at OTCO, Matt’s dedication to organics eventually led him to PCO in 2025, where he started as the Certification Program Manager for the Cedar Team.

When I am not at work, you can find me spending time with my family and appreciating the outdoors. I enjoy snorkeling at the beach, mountain biking in the canyons, camping/fishing in the mountains, exploring the deserts, and maintaining my backyard “salsa garden”.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Caitlan joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in October 2021. Caitlan grew up in Binghamton, NY and has also spent time living in New York City. She graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies and earned a MS in International Transportation Management from SUNY Maritime College. Prior to PCO, Caitlan has worked as a certification coordinator for NOFA-NY and in the international dry bulk shipping industry. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, fishing, bird watching and skiing.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Abbey joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in October 2021. Abbey grew up in Michigan spending evenings, weekends and summers working on her dad's organic farm. She earned a Bachelor’s in Public Policy and Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Environmental and Geographical Sciences from the University of Cape Town. Abbey now lives with her partner, Moeti, and her cat, Moo, in South Florida and enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, hiking, and baking.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Gail grew up in Colorado at the juncture of mountains and plains. She has always loved wide open blue skies and the sound of the Western Meadowlark. Gail got her bachelor’s degree in Soil and Crop Science with a Concentration in Organic Agriculture at Colorado State University and has since travelled and lived across the US, Canada, and Europe where she has worked on farms, food enterprises, and farm-based education and therapeutic programs.

Prior to joining PCO in 2025, Gail worked as a Certification Specialist at Oregon Tilth, and an Organic Inspector and Certification Specialist at NICS.

In her free time Gail loves hanging out with her teenage son (when he lets her), walking her dog (barefoot when possible), getting her hands muddy (gardening and pottery), and laughing with good friends.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: 814-422-0251, ext. 118

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Lou joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in July 2021. They previously worked for three years as the Materials Specialist at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. Lou currently lives in Central Ohio and spends their off-time exploring the Ohio wilderness.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Patti joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in May 2025. Patti came to PCO after 5 years at the National Organic Program (NOP) as an Accreditation Auditor. Prior to working at the NOP, she spent more than 25 years as an independent organic inspector, reviewer, and consultant. A new transplant to Vermont, Patti lived most of her life in Wisconsin, where she was co-owner of a certified organic dairy farm. Patti graduated from The Evergreen State College, where she was the college's first full-time intern on their organic farm.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Rebekah joined PCO in 2025. Her background includes regulatory compliance, organic food systems, and organic certification. She loves wild plants, world history, and serves as treasurer of a radical school for self-directed education. Her personal and professional commitments are to building community and ethical food systems.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Rose joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in May 2025. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Animal Science and a Minor in Poultry Management. Prior to working at PCO, Rose was a Certification Officer at OTCO and worked in the nut processing industry as a Food Safety Supervisor. Based in Northern California, Rose enjoys exploring the area with her husband and their dog.

Email: cedar@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 118

Wade holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota. As a student, he spent two field seasons in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, excavating its Hieroglyphic Stairway while a member of the Copan Mosaics Project. He has (unintentionally) swum with sharks, and can be seen acting, as an extra, alongside Nichols Cage in ‘The Weather Man’. Before joining PCO, Wade worked for four years at OMRI as a Product Review Coordinator. He and his family currently live in Minnesota, where they share a house with their rescued pets.

Email: oak@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 115

Jordon joined PCO in June of 2021 as a Certification Specialist. Jordon was an Organic Certification Inspector for PCO, NOFA-NY, MOSA, and OEFFA before joining the PCO team. Residing in Starrucca, PA his entire life, Jordon has worked on his family’s dairy farm which has been certified organic since 2007. In his free time, Jordon enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and just being outdoors enjoying nature.

Email: oak@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 115

Andrea joined the PCO team in February 2025. She has a passion for organic agriculture spanning a quarter-century including organic agriculture research at Iowa State University and organic crops and livestock certification with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. She has a bachelor’s degree from ISU and a master’s degree in Entomology from UNL. She enjoys being the “good idea fairy” in most aspects of her life, the satisfaction of a self-calculating Excel spreadsheet, and exploring science and nature with her husband and daughter. When she has free time beyond that, she can be found fixing up her craftsman home or tinkering in her craft room with one of her granny hobbies — knitting, quilting, sewing, crocheting, wood burning, glass etching, beadwork, embroidery, costuming, etc. Controversial opinion: pineapple DOES belong on pizza.

Email: oak@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 115

Jenny has been an IOIA organic inspector since 2006, mainly working in the mid-Atlantic and mid-west areas. She has enjoyed working on projects such as OSP development and several ACA working groups. A native of northern Ohio, she attended The Ohio State University earning a BS in horticulture. Along with her husband Courtland she operates their certified organic farm- BlueLoon Farm-raising Jersey dairy cows, Tunis sheep and a variety of heritage breed chickens. Hobbies include chasing her sheep out of the herb garden and fixing fences as well as collecting rescue dogs.

Email: oak@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 115

Sophie joined the PCO team as a Certification Specialist in May 2025. Prior to joining PCO, she worked for another certifier, OTCO.

Sophie immigrated to NYC from eastern Europe when she was young. She attended Binghamton University and there, regained her love for all things outdoors. She attained a horticulture certificate and worked for a hydroponics startup. From there, she pivoted to working on organic veggie farms in PA and then MT, where she currently resides.

Sophie enjoys living seasonally. She gardens, backpacks, and floats the river in the summer and turns to pottery and curling (the world's silliest sport) in the winter.

Email: oak@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 115

Tanay began working for PCO as an Organic Inspector in 2019 and joined the team as a Certification Specialist in January of 2023. Prior to joining PCO she worked for two years as a Certification Specialist with Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. In her free time she enjoys hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, and showing her kids the wonders of nature.

Email: lwies@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 122

Over the past twenty years, Laura has been dedicated to promoting sustainable food and farming practices. Her experience includes roles such as Education Director at OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association), Preservation Farmer with Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa, and manager of the farm business incubator for the Lansing Michigan Food Bank. With a decade-long background in organic inspections, she is deeply committed to upholding integrity, quality, and inclusion in the organic and sustainable food movement. For the past seven years, she has been managing inspections and overseeing inspectors at CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). Beyond work, she finds joy in gardening, tending to her chickens, and collaborating with her local land preservation group on biodiversity and conservation efforts in Columbus, Ohio.

Email: lblahato@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 271

Lee joined PCO in 2022 and lives in southwestern Idaho. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science with a focus on regenerative agriculture. With a background in conservation biology and nature interpretation, she brings a love of ecosystems into her work, supporting farmer and inspector education. Driven by curiosity and a passion for reconnecting people with the natural world, Lee enjoys gardening, snorkeling, hiking, and crafting—often with her husband, dog, and cat in tow.

Email: rmyers@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 156

Rachel Cherry Myers has been working in organic farming in various capacities since before the NOP. She started out on the first organic vegetable CSA in Western NY while attending the University of Buffalo. She later graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major she created, “Sustainable Community”. She has continued working in the food system around the world. Her experiences include managing the organic compliance for a large, fully integrated organic dairy start-up in the Midwest, inspecting and reviewing thousands of farms and processing facilities around the world, and policy and compliance work in the organic industry. She has served on the IOIA Board of Directors for 3 years, including the last year as Chair

Photo credit: Amish Farmer

Email: cathy@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 261

Cathy joined PCO in 2016. As Quality Deputy Director, she oversees PCO’s Quality Team which is responsible for PCO's accreditations, investigations, internal training and quality systems, database management, and material review program. During her tenure at PCO, she has also worked as a Certification Program Manager overseeing PCO's review team, Certification Program Assistant Manager for the Handling team, and Certification Specialist for all scopes of organic certification. She previously worked as a Certification Specialist and Organic Inspector for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. Prior to working in certification, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Ohio University and an associate’s degree in Eco-Tourism and Adventure Travel from Hocking College. She has several years of experience working on organic produce farms and enjoys all things outdoors in her free time.

Email: gayres@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 256

Gwen joined PCO in 2022. She started working in organic agriculture in 2002 and has spent her career intertwining organic production and natural resources with education. Prior to PCO, Gwen spent six years working for the Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture, most recently as the Organic Program Manager. She has also spent several years working for the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), several seasons with U.S. federal land management agencies doing conservation work, and a few years leading international study abroad trips. Her great passions are backpacking, cross-country skiing, organic gardening, and international travel where she has been able to work and learn on a variety of organic farms on five separate continents!

Email: kyla@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 216

Kyla Smith has worked with PCO since 2003 in many roles including Organic Inspector, Certification Specialist, Policy Director, Certification Director, and now as Certification Policy Advisor. In her current role, Kyla is responsible for performing certification policy analysis and development, compliance, and program training. Kyla also serves as the certifier representative on the National Organic Standards Board. Kyla received her Masters degree in Transformative Leadership and Social Change from the Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Tai Sophia Institute) in Laurel, Maryland. She is also an Environmental Leadership Program Fellow and graduate of the Leadership Centre County program. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, fishing, gardening, boating and most importantly spending time with her husband Ben and their two beautiful little girls, Stella Rae and Hazel Johna!!

Email: nlehrman@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 285

Nathan joined PCO in 2022. He is originally from Central Washington, where he spent his summers working in various agriculture positions, including for crop consulting companies. He holds a B.A. and M.S. in Biology from Central Washington University. His Master Thesis was a collaborative research project, with USDA ARS, on the apple maggot. While working on his Master’s degree, he conducted research at a USDA lab on various tree fruit pest insects. He spent the last ~7 ½ years at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. First working in the Division of Plant Industries, and was then the Organic Program Specialist since 2018, where he was involved with every facet of organic certification. He is an avid gardener, including seed saving, and always looks for odd fruits and vegetables to grow. He also enjoys hiking, playing piano, collecting insects, and spending time outdoors with his wife and two children.

Email: april@paorganic.org
Phone: (814) 422-0251, ext. 252

April grew up in the small town of Emmaus, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with an Environmental Studies degree in 2002, April spent the next few years apprenticing on diversified family farms in Vermont, Virginia, and Massachusetts, coming to love many facets of farming from maple sugaring and making herbal preparations to weeding long rows of veggies and collecting eggs. April is passionate about organic food and farming and is thankful for her small role in the movement from PCO staff member and organic CSA supporter to committed organic mama. April lives in Lehigh County with her two lovely daughters, Tessa and Althea. When April isn’t busy working for PCO, you may find her country-road bike riding, reading, or planting flowers!

Email: ldurand@paorganic.org
Phone: 814-422-0251, ext. 116

Leilani joined the PCO team as the TOPP Program Director in June,
2023. Leilani grew up on an organic farm in southwestern Wisconsin and
has over 18 years’ experience in biological and organic farming. She is
the former Vice President of Research and Development at Midwestern
BioAg where she developed and tested new fertilizers, conducted
consultant and farmer trainings on biological farming practices, and
consulted on soil health and fertility on organic and transitioning
farms. Leilani has authored numerous articles and co-wrote a biological
farming book together with her father, Gary Zimmer. Leilani has a
master’s degree in Plant Ecophysiology from the University of Hawaii at
Manoa, and started her career as a natural resources manager in Hawaii.
In her spare time, she enjoys cycling in the beautiful Wisconsin hills,
hiking with her family, and watching her children perform music.

Email: wfrueh@paorganic.org
Phone: 814-422-0251, ext. 119

Wren Frueh joined PCO in 2023 as the TOPP Mentorship Program Coordinator. They grew
up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where they still live today.
Wren graduated from Grinnell College with a BA in Agriculture and
Sustainable Development. As a senior capstone, they conducted an
ethnography of farmers in central Iowa and their relationships to local
food. They also had the opportunity to travel the world and learn from
sustainability activists and smallholder farmers in Ecuador, Malawi, and
Italy. Before PCO, Wren worked for a land trust dedicated to protecting
the natural and working landscapes of the Shenandoah Valley and helped
protect over 2000 acres of Virginia farmland.
Wren loves being able to call the Blue Ridge Mountains home and loves
exploring Shenandoah National Park, enjoying local live music, and
cooking for friends and family.

Email: msaska@paorganic.org
Phone: 814-422-0251, ext. 273

Maggie joined PCO in January of 2023 and comes with a diverse background in agriculture. She holds a B.S. in horticulture and M.S. in plant science both from the University of Connecticut. Prior to PCO she most recently held positions as operations manager at a certified organic greenhouse and in field vegetable production. Her experience has deep roots, beginning young with her first summer job working on an organic small fruit farm as a summer harvester and selling at farmers markets. Maggie’s love of botany and plant production extends to outreach work, and teaching college level organic agriculture courses. When not working Maggie can be found with her daughter, two dogs and partner outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania.