Staff

 



David Bauermeister, Project Manager

As current Executive Director of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center, David is the PSFN Project Manager. Prior to his work with NABC and PSFN, David served as Director of the Agricultural and Natural Resources division for the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of Northwest Natural Resources Institute. His agriculture background includes experience as the head of the Spokane Ag Expo, General Manager of Pacific Northwest Fiber LLC, and Assistant Manager and Shareholder of the Northwest Pea and Bean Company. David enjoys hiking and cycling and is the former head of the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition of Spokane, WA. David is a graduate of Washington State University.

 

Tim Crosby, Network Coordinator

As Network Coordinator for the Puget Sound Food Network, Tim is focused on building the relational, logistical, and technical networks. Tim has years of experience working within the Puget Sound's regional food system, and is currently the Farm and Food Systems Director for Growing Washington. Tim is focused on the supply, logistics, and policy innovations involving regional food and is engaged in a national network focused on food, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions. Tim has been assisting the development of the Good Food Coalition that brings various issue-based organizations together to develop common state policy goals, and helped draft and pass WA State's Local Farms Healthy Kids Act. He lives in Edmonds with his wife and two daughters, and coaches two soccer teams in his spare time. He attended Kenyon College and holds an MBA in Sustainable Business from Bainbridge Graduate Institute.
 

Lucy Norris, Regional Food System Developer

As Regional Food System Developer, Lucy establishes strong relationships with potential and current PSFN members and works to ensure a quality service that helps connect a region of good food production. Lucy brings to PSFN a unique professional background. For the past three years, she worked with some of the largest food companies in the world, helping them to understand The Hartman Group’s consumer insights and food and beverage trends, including health and wellness, sustainability and organics.  Lucy served on the technical services team at the Portland, OR based Food Innovation Center, was interim editor of “The Guide to Local Seasonal Products for Oregon and Washington 2006.” She studied the Farmer Chef Connection program’s economic impact on Northwest food producers and buyers; managed a shared-use commercial kitchen; and worked with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to develop products for international trade initiatives and showcase events. Author of “Pickled: Preserving a World of Tastes and Traditions,” Lucy writes, teaches, and conducts lectures across the country.  She was co-leader of Slow Food Seattle from 2007-2009, helped create the first annual New York City International Pickle Day with the New York Food Museum, and holds a MA in Food Studies from New York University. 

 

Gary Merritt, Director of Marketing

Gary Merritt acts Director of Marketing for the PSFN. Before coming to PSFN, he was Director of Marketing at Tai Foong USA, a large seafood importer selling to both retail and foodservice customers throughout the US. Prior to this, Gary worked as Director of Marketing for Stockpot Soups and for the well-known retail bakery chain, Cinnabon. Gary enjoys power boating in Lake Washington and Puget Sound, travel, and downhill skiing at Stevens Pass or Whistler. He has many fond memories of spending time with his grandparents on their Guernsey dairy farm near Oakdale, California. Gary holds a Master of Science in business administration from the University of California, Irvine and also currently serves as Marketing Director for the Northwest Agricultural business center.

 

Jeff Voltz, Regional Food System Developer

With more than 20 years of experience in retail grocery, urban and rural community development, and sustainable agricultre, Jeff Voltz is excited to be working for the Puget Sound Food Network. Jeff's retail experience includes working for PCC Natural Markets, Trader Joe's, and Community Food Co-op in Bellingham. His nonprofit community and rural business development experience includes working for the Snohomish Private Industry Council/DownHome Washington and Farming & the Environment. Along with working for the Puget Sound Food Network, Jeff serves as the Whatcom County Project Manager for the Northwest Agriculture Business Center.
 

Elliot Trotter, Content Manager

As Content Manager, Elliot is responsible for developing and managing the PSFN website and blog as well as creating rich media content. Elliot joins PSFN from work promoting, designing and managing content with Terra Organics, a Tacoma-based organic produce home delivery service.  Prior to and in working with Terra Organics, Elliot has developed a keen sense of the value of good food and maintaining healthy agricultural systems. As the founder and Creative Director of The Melon, a community-focused online magazine which features, essays,  audio interviews and video coverage of Northwest events and organizations, and lead developer of Minutaur, an online social network unified on the theme of time,  Elliot brings a wide-array of media expertise to PSFN.

Elliot is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and was born in the greater Chicago area.

 

Ann Leason, Farm to Market Coordinator

As NABC’s Farm to Market Coordinator, Ann's focus will be to work with producers to market agricultural products like Skagit Fresh Beverages. She will also promote the new “Whidbey Island Grown” brand and logo, as well as, assist with other on-going projects like the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project to train new farmers.

Ann is passionate about Agriculture and the importance of local farming. She has spent the last three years as a volunteer for Cardo’s Sprout Farm in Ponder, Texas. She was also part of the operations team of a newly opened CSA, also in the North Texas Area. She is a member of the 2009 WSU Master Gardeners of Skagit County. She hopes this love of producing healthy and local food will translate well into her new role as Farm to Market Coordinator 1 with the NABC.

Ann comes to the NABC through the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Her focus as Farm to Market Coordinator 1 will be to work with producers to market agricultural products, promote the new “Whidbey Island Grown” brand and logo, and develop a Culinary Tour of Western Washington as well as, assisting with the Community Supported Agriculture projects to train new farmers and assisting the Puget Sound Food Network in recruiting farmers and buyers.