ANDRES GUZMAN, OREGON
Andres is currently in training to become an environmental sociologist at the University of Oregon. His research focuses on the environmental and social impacts of agriculture, in general, and on the production and export of soybeans in South America, in particular. In addition, Andres examines the importance of gender and of masculinities in both the framing of, and proposed resolutions to, environmental concerns. He is the winner of two notable awards from the University of Oregon: The Promising Scholar Award and The Dan Kimble First Year Teaching Award. Andres holds a BA in Economics, in Sociology, and in International Studies from Portland State University. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga, running, and hiking.
PAUL JEPSON, OREGON
Paul Jepson completed a B.Sc. ARCS in Zoology and Applied Entomology at Imperial College, London and a Ph.D. in Applied Insect Ecology Cambridge University before taking up a lectureship in IPM and Ecotoxicology at the University of Southampton in the UK, where he also coordinated an international M.Sc. program in IPM. He came to Oregon State University in 1995 and has been Director of the Integrated Plant Protection Center, within the College of Agricultural Sciences, State IPM Coordinator for Oregon and a Professor in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology since July, 2002. Paul is active in IPM education and outreach and has provided IPM instruction and workshops in the UK, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru and the Pacific Northwest States of the USA.
JOHN O'CONNOR, IDAHO
John O’Connor is the President/Owner of Farm Management Inc. in Buhl, Idaho where he facilitates management of a diverse array of farms. He worked previously with J.R. Simplot Company. John holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho. He served on NCAP’s board before joining the Advisory Committee.
JARED PRUCH, OREGON
Jared Pruch is the coordinator of the Berggren Demonstration Farm, a working educational farm on the McKenzie River. The farm is a partnership between the McKenzie River Trust, Eugene Water & Electric Board, and Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development group. Shared goals of the farm partnership are to demonstrate watershed-friendly farming practices, educate students and beginning farmers, and showcase ways that habitat conservation efforts can be integrated with sustainable agriculture. Jared is also the event planner for the Local Food Connection, an annual conference at Lane Community College that strengthens connections between local food producers (farmers, ranchers and fishermen) and food buyers from restaurants, grocery stores, distributors and processors. From 2007-2011, Jared served as the executive director of the School Garden Project of Lane County. He is a member of the 2012 fellow cohort of Together Green, a national conservation leadership training program of the National Audubon Society. A Eugene native, Jared holds a B.A. in Comparative Religion at Colorado College and has a diverse professional background in environmental education, nonprofit management, and sustainable agriculture. In his spare time he can be found outdoors with his dog, in search of wild mushrooms.
BETH RASGORSHEK, CANYON BOUNTY FARM, IDAHO
Operated by founder Beth Rasgorshek since 1999, Canyon Bounty Farm is a 7-acre certified organic farm producing vegetable seeds, wheat and garden starts. Beth is a fourth generation farmer who feels fortunate to have successful seed farmers within her immediate family.
While her neighboring farmers produce tens of thousands pounds of seeds, Beth raises much smaller quantities. Her seed crops are contracted with and sold to seed companies throughout the U.S. The wheat is ground into flour at the farm and sold locally to several bakeries and stores. She opens her greenhouses in the spring to sell organic vegetable, herb and flower starts.
JEFF SCHAHCZENSKI, MONTANA
Jeff Schahczenski is Agriculture Policy and Development Director with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). His expertise lies in organic and sustainable agriculture marketing and economics, conservation policy, crop insurance, transgenics in agriculture, organic horticulture, farm energy economics, cooperative development, sustainable building, intercultural communications and beekeeping. He was past Executive Director of the Big Hole River Foundation and Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (WSAWG). Jeff was an adjunct instructor for University of Montana, Western Montana College, and Montana Tech, and serves on several non-profit boards. Jeff has built his own straw bale house and greenhouse. Before moving to Montana in 1991, Jeff worked for Rutgers University, started one of the first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in New Jersey, received graduate degrees in agricultural economics and political science, served in the Peace Corps in Belize, Central America, and worked many summers on his grandfather’s dairy farm in Wisconsin.
DEANNA SIMON, OREGON
Deanna serves as the regional outreach coordinator with the Oregon Health Authority helping partner organizations and agencies across Oregon to bring health coverage to Oregon residents. Before that Deanna worked as an environmental consultant researching and creating strategies around green purchasing, integrated pest management and solid waste for government agencies. She also served as Outreach Coordinator for the city and county of San Francisco’s Zero Waste and Toxics Reduction programs. She served on NCAP’s board for three years before moving on to the Advisory Committee.
BRISE TENCER, CALIFORNIA
As Executive Director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), Brise brings 14 years of leadership experience working on organic food policy, farming, and research issues, and strong relationships across all sectors of the organic community. Ms. Tencer most recently served as Director of Policy and Programs for California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). At CCOF she managed the government affairs and grower education program, coordinated their regional chapters of members, and ran a grant-making program. Ms. Tencer has served on the boards of the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, the California Climate and Agricultural Network, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Ms. Tencer holds a B.A. in Community Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz and received both a Certificate in Conflict Resolution and a M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband and two children.