ClickStanding,  Standing, left to right: Stephen Burrington, August Schumacher, Poppy Davis, Nancy Ross,Eric Becker, and Jon Jaffe. Seated, left to right: Susan McMahon and Dorothy Suput. Not shown are Neil Chrisman, Stephen Kim, and Joel Millonzi. (Spring 2009)

Eric Becker is the chief investment officer of Clean Yield Asset Management, an investment advisory firm working exclusively with social investors. He is a founding member of the Slow Money Alliance, a network of investors, farmers, and activists formed to catalyze innovation in financial markets to address sustainable agriculture. Eric is an appointed commissioner on the Somerville Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Stephen H. Burrington helps to design and implement energy, transportation, and smart growth strategies for state and local governments, developers, real estate firms, and nongovernmental organizations. A principal of Serrafix, Inc., he currently focuses on building large-scale energy efficiency and clean energy retrofit programs. Steve previously served as commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, undersecretary in the Massachusetts Office for Commonwealth Development, and vice president and general counsel of the Conservation Law Foundation.

Neil D. Chrisman is a California-born New York resident and former banker with JP Morgan (1961–1993). He has owned Pine Tree Farm in the Berkshires since 1973. In his retirement, Neil has worked on farm issues as a supporter and collaborator with many organizations, including the Sheffield Land Trust, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Berkshire Grown, the E.F. Schumacher Society (now the New Economics Institute), and Slow Food. He is a founding member of the Slow Money Alliance. 

Poppy Davis is the National Program Leader, Small Farms & Beginning Farmers & Ranchers at USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach. She is a former CPA with 20 years of experience addressing tax, accounting, and risk management education needs for non-profits, small businesses, and individuals, with an emphasis on agricultural enterprises. Prior to joining the Ecological Farming Association in 2010, Poppy spent three years at USDA in Washington, DC, where she was on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food management team and co-chaired the Women and Working Lands group. 

Patty Duffy became an Agricultural loan officer of Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation in February 2005 after working as a consultant for VACC during 2002-2004.   Her previous professional experience includes County Supervisor- Farmers Home Administration in Vermont and New York, and Adjunct Professor for Dairy and Agribusiness - Vermont Technical College.  Patty graduated with Honors from University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Animal Science.  In addition, she is a Certified Veterinary Technician with prior experience in large, small, and exotic animal medicine and practice management.

Jonathan W. Jaffe is Vice President and Farm Business Consultant/Farm Tax Specialist at Farm Credit East, ACA.  He grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, received a BS from Cornell University and then owned and operated his own dairy farm for several years.  For the past 28 years Jon has worked for Farm Credit as a loan officer, appraiser, tax specialist and business consultant. He specializes in estate planning, generational business transfer and profitability analysis.  He works with a variety of farm businesses in CT,MA, NH, NY, and RI.   

Stephen S. Kim is a managing director in the Equity Research Department of Barclays Capital. He has followed building-related sectors for two decades, and has received numerous industry awards, including accolades from Institutional Investor, the Wall Street Journal, and Forbes magazine. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and enjoys cooking, a cappella singing, and just about anything outdoors.

Susan McMahon is the associate director of the Windham Regional Commission in southeastern Vermont. She is a planner with more than 25 years of experience and extensive knowledge in land use, historic preservation, and community planning. She has helped numerous communities through innovative public involvement and consensus building techniques. Susan is the recipient of a 2003 U.S. EPA Environmental Merit Award for her work on brownfields. She holds a Master’s degree from Tufts University.

Joel C. Millonzi is a conservationist and supporter of local and sustainable agriculture. Prior to his leadership in financial services at Monster.com, and his Wall Street experience as a partner at Heidrick and Struggles in the asset management practice, Joel was a professor of economics and did research on rural economic development in Africa. He is a founding member of the Slow Money Alliance, is affiliated with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and is a member of Berkshire Grown and the New Economics Institute (formerly the E.F. Schumacher Society). 

John Moukad has worked in community development for more than 20 years, with a focus on community development finance, affordable housing, and education. Past positions include vice president at YouthBuild USA and program officer at the Enterprise Foundation. John is an independent consultant specializing in business analysis and strategy development. His clients include social investors, intermediaries, and community-based non-profit organizations.

Nancy Ross is a professor of environmental policy at Unity College. Her courses range from Environmental Advocacy, Ethics, and the Environment to World Politics. Her research and writing focus on local food enterprises in Maine and elsewhere.

August (Gus) Schumacher, Jr. is a consultant to the Food and Society Initiative at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and serves as the contributing agricultural editor of Food Arts. Gus is chairman of the Wholesome Wave Foundation of Westport, Connecticut, and serves on the boards of the Environmental Power Corporation of Tarrytown, New York, and GrainPro, LLC of Concord, Massachusetts. In 2008 he was selected for the 20^th Anniversary Food Arts award for outstanding service to the American food and farming system.

Dorothy M. Suput, founder and executive director of The Carrot Project, has worked for more than 15 years with non-profits on environmental and sustainable agriculture issues. Read More.