Board of Directors
frank ashley, President
As owner and operator of Ashley Homestead, I have a producer's knowledge of livestock production. I have been in the agricultural industry since 1986. MIlitary experience provided me with leadership and attention to detail skill sets, obtaining common goals, and previously a Quality Assurance Representative for complex aeronautical equipment. Law Enforcement provided me with the understanding of policies, procedures, written law, and the complexities of public service. I am a loss adjuster and perform farm inspections for the USDA. I am currently appointed to the Agricultural Commision for the Town of Freetown advocating for farmers. I have previously fundraised for and with Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and supporter of MIssions for Humanity.
CYnthia kozakiewicz, Vice President and treasurer
Cynthia has over two decades of experience as a trusted business adviser to biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies. Cynthia advises public and private companies, including early- and mid-stage organizations, on complex intellectual property matters and market exclusivity strategies to maximize revenue and meet business objectives.
Cynthia counsels companies in a wide spectrum of technological fields, including cell-based therapeutics, nucleic acid and peptide therapeutics, stem cell therapy, gene therapy, genome editing, pharmaceutical formulations, and plant biology. Cynthia has deep experience with CAR-T and T cell receptor (TCR) cell therapies, antibody-based biologics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), molecular diagnostics, biomarker discovery, and oncology therapeutics.
Earlier in her career, Cynthia served as project manager at Strategic Diagnostics, Inc., where her responsibilities included developing immunodiagnostic reagents and managing the bioprocessing department that manufactured monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and academic organizations.
Cynthia holds a BS in Animal Science from Cornell University, a PhD in Immunology from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and a JD from Widener University.
Cynthia attended The Animal, Plant and Agriscience Institute at John Bowne High School in Queens, New York, where she proudly wore the blue and gold and worked on a dairy farm in upstate New York.
Cynthia counsels companies in a wide spectrum of technological fields, including cell-based therapeutics, nucleic acid and peptide therapeutics, stem cell therapy, gene therapy, genome editing, pharmaceutical formulations, and plant biology. Cynthia has deep experience with CAR-T and T cell receptor (TCR) cell therapies, antibody-based biologics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), molecular diagnostics, biomarker discovery, and oncology therapeutics.
Earlier in her career, Cynthia served as project manager at Strategic Diagnostics, Inc., where her responsibilities included developing immunodiagnostic reagents and managing the bioprocessing department that manufactured monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and academic organizations.
Cynthia holds a BS in Animal Science from Cornell University, a PhD in Immunology from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and a JD from Widener University.
Cynthia attended The Animal, Plant and Agriscience Institute at John Bowne High School in Queens, New York, where she proudly wore the blue and gold and worked on a dairy farm in upstate New York.
JesSE dEELO
As a sustainable supply chain consultant, I develop market opportunities for decarbonized supply chains and regenerative agriculture with food companies, suppliers, and farmers. I apply my expertise in program design and management, co-financing and incentives, and greenhouse gas emissions accounting systems to drive impact at scale.
I have sector expertise in North American dairy, grains and oilseeds, and organic and regenerative agriculture as well as experiential knowledge of small- to mid-scale organic horticultural production. We support emerging technologies and service providers to align their offering to meet the goals and needs of sustainable supply chains.
My graduate school training in International Agricultural Development shapes my approach to supply chain sustainability for global markets. I earned my MS degree from the University of California-Davis and a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
I have sector expertise in North American dairy, grains and oilseeds, and organic and regenerative agriculture as well as experiential knowledge of small- to mid-scale organic horticultural production. We support emerging technologies and service providers to align their offering to meet the goals and needs of sustainable supply chains.
My graduate school training in International Agricultural Development shapes my approach to supply chain sustainability for global markets. I earned my MS degree from the University of California-Davis and a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Rita Higgins
Rita Higgins has a diverse background in food and non-food related work ranging from forestry, to a professional career in landscape design, to local politics as a member of the Nantucket Select Board, to experience as a small food producer in Ireland and Upstate New York. Rita’s focus has been on the human connection to land through the built environment, a focus she has explored through landscape design for over 15 years.
Five years ago, the essential nature of our connection to the land, to each other, and our impact on the environment through food became a motivating inspiration for her to become more involved in the world of food. This was coupled with the opportunity to take over an Upstate NY family-owned garlic farm and kitchen operations for a winter – an opportunity which highlighted the massive systemic supply chain issues that can prohibit small, local producer success and prevent eating healthfully, seasonally, and sustainably.
She brought these experiences and observations with her back to Nantucket and founded Pip & Anchor and 100 Mile Markets – two businesses that focus on making finding and buying local food easier.
Rita is a graduate of McGill University where she studied Environment and International Development.
Five years ago, the essential nature of our connection to the land, to each other, and our impact on the environment through food became a motivating inspiration for her to become more involved in the world of food. This was coupled with the opportunity to take over an Upstate NY family-owned garlic farm and kitchen operations for a winter – an opportunity which highlighted the massive systemic supply chain issues that can prohibit small, local producer success and prevent eating healthfully, seasonally, and sustainably.
She brought these experiences and observations with her back to Nantucket and founded Pip & Anchor and 100 Mile Markets – two businesses that focus on making finding and buying local food easier.
Rita is a graduate of McGill University where she studied Environment and International Development.
mike makuch, Clerk
With an extensive foundation in community nutrition, Makuch concentrates on utilizing fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to create a unique dining experience. He believes that food is the vehicle to a journey whose story can be told on a plate.
As an educator, Makuch helps students to construct their own food philosophy. Through community outreach, he has designed nutrition programs for youngsters and senior citizens to expand their use of healthy ingredients within their reach.
As an advocate for the medicinal benefits of food, Makuch teaches the Food + Health program, a collaboration between JWU and Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School that helps medical students learn to integrate healthy eating into their future medical practice.
As an educator, Makuch helps students to construct their own food philosophy. Through community outreach, he has designed nutrition programs for youngsters and senior citizens to expand their use of healthy ingredients within their reach.
As an advocate for the medicinal benefits of food, Makuch teaches the Food + Health program, a collaboration between JWU and Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School that helps medical students learn to integrate healthy eating into their future medical practice.
Darrin Mendes
Meg Ferguson
Meg has owned and managed Broadwall Farm, an 18th-century farm purchased by her family in 1949, since 2000. Located in Greene, RI, the 240-acre farm maintains a herd of about 45 Angus/Hereford cattle, bred and raised on the farm. About 10 years ago, the farm switched its focus from a primarily cow-calf operation to also selling 100 percent grass-fed beef.
After receiving a BA in art history and English from Smith College, Meg has worked as a journalist, purchased metals for a heavy manufacturing company, and bred, raised, and trained horses. She has competed internationally and also owned and managed a Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing stable for about 15 years. She also maintains a small book business specializing in rare and out-of-print books related to food and gardening.
A longtime trustee and officer of the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, she has also served on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for many years and is currently the chairperson.
After receiving a BA in art history and English from Smith College, Meg has worked as a journalist, purchased metals for a heavy manufacturing company, and bred, raised, and trained horses. She has competed internationally and also owned and managed a Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing stable for about 15 years. She also maintains a small book business specializing in rare and out-of-print books related to food and gardening.
A longtime trustee and officer of the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, she has also served on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for many years and is currently the chairperson.
Paul Schmid, III
Meatworks Address287 STATE RD, WESTPORT, MA 02790
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