Staff Members
Richard Olson
Director, Berea Urban Farm
responsible for planning, production and educational activities of the Berea Urban Farm, and overall coordination of Sustainable Berea
Cheyenne Olson
Director of Fundraising
oversees identification of funding sources, preparation and submission of grant proposals and other requests for funding
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Ryan Sartor
Financial Manager
responsible for generating financial reports, creating and managing budgets, monitoring accounts, and evaluating the overall financial health of the organization
Caitlin Carter
Director of Social Media and Event Planning
oversees Sustainable Berea’s social media presence and event planning and assists with fundraising.
Therese Hildebrand
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
manages Sustainable Berea’s volunteer program and serves as a liaison to related organizations in Berea and Madison County.
Betty Brinegar
Assistant, Berea Urban Farm
helps with production, sales, events, and tackling the pesky invasives at the back of the property
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Mr. Z
Assistant, Berea Urban Farm
Visitor greeting and vole and mole control
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Board Members
Ethan Connelly
from Berea, Kentucky and a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University & holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health Science and works as an industrial hygiene consultant
Terry Fields
is co-owner of Top Drawer Gallery, a master woodworker, and an avid gardener
David Kennedy
was the founder and director of Leaf for Life, a nonprofit organization working to reduce micro-nutrient malnutrition through the optimum use of leaf crops. For 40 years, he initiated projects that combined small-scale agriculture and simple food processing in 13 countries. He led an environmental program at the Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center in Berea for three years. Dave is the author of four books on integrating green leaves into our food systems
Janet Meyer
is Director of Farm Enterprises at Berea College. Previously, she worked with Berea College students and staff to produce and market certified organic plants, seeds, fruit, and vegetables. She graduated from Berea College with a B.S. in Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2005 and has more than 35 years of agricultural experience
Daniel Nerenberg
is the Education and Communications Specialist for Just Vision, an organization that fills a media gap on Israel-Palestine through independent storytelling and strategic audience engagement. He is also an occasional adjunct professor at Berea College where he teaches on social movements and nationalism. Growing up on a small organic farm in southern Québec, Daniel has always had a passion for small-scale, sustainable gardening, and maintains a small vegetable, fruit and mushroom garden with his family in Berea
Richard Olson
a Ph.D. agronomist who recently retired from the Environmental Studies faculty at Berea College & has experience in ecological design, ecological restoration, small-scale farming, and horse logging
Kayla Preston
moved to Berea in 2012 after graduating from the University of Kentucky and found passion and love for sustainable farming after interning on a nearby Permaculture farm, and ever since she has been involved in the local foods movement in the Berea area. She has worked with Grow Appalachia as their Social Enterprise Manager since 2016 supporting and educating farmers on season extension specifically high tunnel greenhouses. She has a love for growing flowers, making bouquets and enjoys cultivating vegetables for herself, friends and her neighbors.
George Schloemer
a local physician, bicyclist, gardener, and practitioner and advocate of the health and environmental benefits of a vegan diet
Randy Stone
is the retired city administrator of Berea KY, and a life-long gardener with a particular affection for cabbage and sauerkraut.