Our Council Members
2023 Cohort
Our Council Members facilitate Committees and vote on Council decisions.
They live and work across our ten-county region and bring experience and expertise from across the food system.

a "resilient regional food system" means
nutritious food for all
Access & Education,
Co-Facilitator
Rosie Allen
Nutrition Education Program, Special Projects, University of Kentucky
Rosie is a veteran member of the Food Policy Council and a Steering Committee member for the Kentucky Food Action Network. She has worked in northern and central Kentucky urban and rural communities for over 30 years. She now uses her expertise and experience in the Special Projects of the Nutrition Education Program at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. In addition to her content knowledge, Rosie brings talents in administration and organization to our work together.

a "resilient regional food system" means
recover from a damaged food system
Infrastructure,
Communicator
Garland Butts
Chef at Our Daily Bread
Chef G is the Chef at Our Daily Bread. He is new to being a Council member and is excited to interact with others in the community to improve his work at Our Daily Bread. Through our work, he wants to gain more knowledge to help save food from waste and provide meals for needy people. He hopes to support our regional food system to recover from a damaged supply chain.

a "resilient regional food system" means
healthy food raised and produced locally
Steering: Communications & Outreach,
Communicator
Polly Campbell
Food Writer
Polly wrote articles storytelling elements of the local food system for years at Cincinnati Enquirer. She sees the fundamental importance of a cohesive, area-wide approach that supports and connects the people and projects working to build a food system that is an alternative to the mainstream industrial agriculture approach. She advocates for a food system that produces locally-raised food that is healthy.

a "resilient regional food system" means
quick recovery, repurposing of food
Access & Education,
Co-Facilitator
Shannon Carr
Founder/CEO, Isaiah 55, Inc.
Shannon has worked in the food service field for over 20 years, and she is the Founder and CEO of Isaiah 55, Inc., based in Cincinnati, OH. She calls herself an interior decorator of repurposed gardens and is passionate about educating youth in gardening, nutrition, food services, and the importance of eating balanced meals.

a "resilient regional food system" means
hyperlocal & sustainable healthy food access
Institutions
Facilitator
Amanda Changet
Community Impact Director, American Heart Association
Amanda has been involved in the GCFPC for a few years with previous participation in access and education. As the Community Impact Director for the Greater Cincinnati American Heart Association, Amanda is able to support the Council's goals on improving access to healthy food through policy, system, and environmental change.

a "resilient regional food system" means
locally grown food for everyone
Infrastructure, Facilitator
Erin Dance
Manager, Madeira Farmers Market
Erin is the new Farmers Market Manager at the Madeira Farmers Market and has also been active in the City of Madeira's food scene for several years. She is passionate about encouraging the community members to purchase locally as much as possible and making that local food accessible to everyone! As a Council Member, she hopes to educate people (including kids) about where and how their food is grown.

a "resilient regional food system" means
[coming soon]
Steering: Equity
Daronce Daniels
[coming soon]

a "resilient regional food system" means
food sovereignty and community empowerment
Access & Education,
Communicator
Maria Gulley
Program Coordinator, 4-H and Agriculture and Natural Resources, OSU Extension Hamilton County
Maria works as a Program Coordinator for the Ohio State University Extension Office in Hamilton County for 4-H and Agriculture & Natural Resource programs focusing on horticulture programs. Her work shows that something as simple as a school garden can tie into more significant issues of food sovereignty, educational outcomes, student empowerment, community building, nutrition education, career readiness, and sustainability.

a "resilient regional food system" means
accessible, equitable, sustainable food for families
Steering: Equity,
Facilitator
Fran Knox Kazimierczuk
Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati, and Founder & CEO, WiseWoman Health Collective
Dr. Fran Knox Kazimierczuk is both an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati and the Founder & CEO of WiseWoman Health Collective. Fran has collaborated with community activists and agencies focused on developing a just food ecosystem. In addition, she worked as a dietitian, developing nutrition education programs for over two decades in Cincinnati. She believes in an accessible, equitable, and sustainable food system for all families.

a "resilient regional food system" means
equitable food access to all communities
Steering: Equity
Michelle Merrett
Community Food Advocate, Butler County
Michelle is a Community Food Advocate and serves as Board Chair for Hamilton Urban Garden Systems (HUGS), which operates a community garden that grows produce organically and donates to local food pantries, community meal centers and residents. Michelle is a huge proponent of equity and access to fresh produce in underserved communities. She also aspires to educate youth on the benefits of healthy eating and sustainability.

a "resilient regional food system" means
efficient production, transport, waste use
Farms & Land Use
Mark Mitchell
Co-Owner/Operator, Intersect Agriculture
Mark is the co-owner and operator at Intersect Agriculture. Mark’s goals for the FPC involve access for farmers to clean water and better food waste management systems. He is a food producer and environmental scientist who believes a resilient regional food system demonstrates efficiency in production, transportation, and waste usage within the food system.

a "resilient regional food system" means
culturally responsive, environmental focused security
Farms & Land Use,
Communicator
Aaron Parker
Agriculture Career Tech Pathway Educator, Aiken High School
Mr. Parker is the Agriculture Career Tech Pathway Educator at Aiken High School. He established the Agriculture Career Tech Pathway at Aiken High School by developing an after-school Garden Club that has evolved into a robust program. To Aaron, a resilient food system is culturally responsive and focused on environmental security.

a "resilient regional food system" means
decentralization, local, thriving family farms
Farms & Land Use,
Facilitator
Morgan Phelps
Local Business Owner, Health Advocate, Herbal Practitioner, and Farmer Advocate
Morgan is a farmer, local business owner, and farmer advocate. Morgan owns and operates Bounty of Eden and is the coordinator at Highland Haven Farms. Morgan's goal is to create a resilient food system that is decentralized, local, and supports thriving family farms.

a "resilient regional food system" means
accessible, strong local food system
Steering: Governance & Membership
Emalee Richman
Co-Owner, Rich Life Farm & Fungi
Emalee is the co-owner of Rich Life Farm & Fungi. Her farm is expanding its business by opening up a storefront offering its farm products, other local farm products, light bites and drinks, and wholesale distribution. She believes a resilient food system is accessible and focuses strongly on local production.

a "resilient regional food system" means
safe, nutritious, affordable
food for all
Steering: Communications & Outreach
Tonia Smith
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Community Health
Advocate in Cincinnati
Tonia is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Community Health Advocate in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has recently taken on the role of the Chief Advocacy Officer for Aging and Accessibility in the Office of the City Manager after serving as the Healthy Communities Program Manager for the Cincinnati Health Department. She believes that a resilient regional food system provides safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all.

a "resilient regional food system" means
everyone thrives
Steering: Governance & Membership
Tony Staubach
Food Waste Diversion Coordinator, Hamilton County R3Source
Tony is the Food Waste Diversion Coordinator at the Hamilton County R3Source. He is passionate about limiting food waste by supporting food rescue and compost organizations. He is a founding member of the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council. To Tony, a resilient regional food system will help everyone thrive.

a "resilient regional food system" means
can withstand regional disruptions
Institutions,
Communicator
Ellen Sundermeyer
Business Development Manager, Trifecta Food Brands
Ellen is the Business Development Manager at Trifecta Food Brands. She helps develop and manage food distribution supply chains in Northern Kentucky and other parts of the state. Ellen’s role includes supporting local farms in their relationship with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to produce harvested tomatoes into various sauces, among other responsibilities. Ellen wants to create a resilient regional system that can withstand regional disruptions.