Small business owner and farmer
EDUCATION
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Bachelors of Science - Dual Degrees in Human Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise and Agricultural Sciences
Concentration: Civic Agriculture and Community Food Systems
May 2012, GPA 4.0
SUMMARY
Local food systems development professional with hands-on experience in intensive organic vegetable
farming, bakery and commercial kitchen start up and management, educational program development, and
small business ownership. Article on career in SW Virginia: http://bit.ly/VirginiaTechArticle.
RELEVANT SKILLS
Written and Verbal Communication Skills
? Organize and facilitate educational workshops and presentations
? Manage employees and volunteers
? Writing, application, and reporting of local, regional, and national grant programs
? Develop small business plans
? Develop nutrition, baking, and gardening curriculum
? Cultivate nonprofit and business relationships
Technical Skills
? Food Safety: ServSafe Manager Certification, Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) Certification, Better
Process Control School Certification (canning)
? Commercial kitchen set up and management
? Bakery recipe development and scaling
? Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Quickbooks
Knowledge of Food Systems
? Participation in local, regional, and statewide food system conversations, resource sharing, and project
development
? Research and reporting on local food systems best practices
? Development and promotion of place-based agricultural products for direct and wholesale
? Experience in small scale, intensive organic farming in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, and Virginia
? Local Food Systems Development Training (North Carolina State University and Virginia Cooperative
Extension)
EXPERIENCE
Majestic Baking Company LLC - Head of Operations, April 2020 - Present
A century-old brick oven bakery located in Historic Little Italy.
? Coordinates all aspects of kitchen operations including regulatory compliance, recipe development,
employee scheduling, and marketing
? Standardized and priced all recipes and added 4 new products, 2 of which are in top 5 sales by item
? Developed and executed online ordering system which currently accounts for 53% of all sales
? Saw 98% average increase in sales May-Aug compared to pre-covid sales average
Sisters of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Network - Youth Landscaping Crew Supervisor,
June 2020 - Present
A nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Historic Little Italy.
? Supervises a youth crew responsible for landscaping of properties around HLI as part of their job skills
training program.
Live Work Eat Gather, Inc - Shared Use Kitchen Manager, Jan 2019 – April 2020
A shared use culinary incubator kitchen in a renovated, historic school building in Blacksburg, Virginia.
? Developed operating procedures and implemented business plan for shared used commercial kitchen
? Coordinates all aspects of kitchen including regulatory compliance, recruitment, training, scheduling,
equipment installation/maintenance, marketing, and fundraising/grant writing
? Provides business consulting services and referrals for small start-up or existing food businesses
? Developed, organized, and executes 6 week workshop series and business plan competition for new
and existing food businesses
Glade Road Growing - Farmer, Apr 2018 – Jan 2019
A small farm in Blacksburg, Virginia, specializing in vegetables and meats for sale on farm, CSA, farmers
markets, and wholesale.
? Participated in all aspects of intensive organic production of vegetables
? Organized and executed CSA harvest, packing, and delivery
? Managed on-site farm stand, produce inventory, and wholesale relationships
? Assisted in high tunnel grant application with NRCS High Tunnel Initiative
The Retro Rosette - Owner, Grower, Sept 2017 – December 2019
Small succulent nursery in Blacksburg, Virginia, offering plants, arrangements, and classes on care and
propagation.
? Founded and operates a small succulent nursery, vending through farmers market and local co-op
? Hosts “Plant Your Own” station at farmers market stand for children and adults to plant their own
arrangements
? Designed and constructed greenhouse for business use
Blacksburg Bagels - Founder, Baker, and Co-Owner, May 2011 – Mar 2018
A farmers market-based and wholesale bakery specializing in yeasted baked goods and utilizing locally-sourced
and seasonal ingredients.
? Participated in daily bakery tasks including creating doughs, shaping, baking, boiling, and packaging
? Managed farmers market stand twice a week
? Specialized in yeasted products and sourcing ingredients from local farmers and other small businesses
? Trained, managed, and motivated employees
? Cultivated wholesale relationships with >15 businesses and institutions
? Founded business in college apartment kitchen
? Sold business in 2019
New River Planning District Commission - Local Food Systems Consultant, Dec 2014 - Sept 2015
A collaborative organization made up of government and institutional leaders with the purpose of
supporting community and economic development, housing, and transportation programs.
? Applied and won funding to research culinary incubator best practices on behalf of NRVPDC
? Completed required reporting to funding agency
? Best practice report assisted in developing standard operating procedures for current position as
kitchen manager with Live Work Eat Gather, Inc
Friends of the Farmers Market - Assistant Project Coordinator, Nov 2013 – Nov 2014
A nonprofit organization supporting the mission and work of the Blacksburg Farmers Market.
? Leveraged institutional and community partners in a collaborative, county-wide food system
assessment
? Drafted a written report and organized community forum for dissemination of findings
? Utilized results to organize theme-based task forces
? Completed required reporting to USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program
? Published report: ------------/sare_project/cs12-090/
Friends of the Farmers Market - Americorps VISTA, Nov 2012 – Nov 2013
? Developed curriculum and executed season-long children’s market gardening education program
? Recruited, trained, and managed 60+ student and community member volunteers
? Marketed farmers market “double value” program to SNAP beneficiaries
EDUCATION
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Bachelors of Science - Dual Degrees in Human Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise and Agricultural Sciences
Concentration: Civic Agriculture and Community Food Systems
May 2012, GPA 4.0
SUMMARY
Local food systems development professional with hands-on experience in intensive organic vegetable
farming, bakery and commercial kitchen start up and management, educational program development, and
small business ownership. Article on career in SW Virginia: http://bit.ly/VirginiaTechArticle.
RELEVANT SKILLS
Written and Verbal Communication Skills
? Organize and facilitate educational workshops and presentations
? Manage employees and volunteers
? Writing, application, and reporting of local, regional, and national grant programs
? Develop small business plans
? Develop nutrition, baking, and gardening curriculum
? Cultivate nonprofit and business relationships
Technical Skills
? Food Safety: ServSafe Manager Certification, Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) Certification, Better
Process Control School Certification (canning)
? Commercial kitchen set up and management
? Bakery recipe development and scaling
? Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Quickbooks
Knowledge of Food Systems
? Participation in local, regional, and statewide food system conversations, resource sharing, and project
development
? Research and reporting on local food systems best practices
? Development and promotion of place-based agricultural products for direct and wholesale
? Experience in small scale, intensive organic farming in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, and Virginia
? Local Food Systems Development Training (North Carolina State University and Virginia Cooperative
Extension)
EXPERIENCE
Majestic Baking Company LLC - Head of Operations, April 2020 - Present
A century-old brick oven bakery located in Historic Little Italy.
? Coordinates all aspects of kitchen operations including regulatory compliance, recipe development,
employee scheduling, and marketing
? Standardized and priced all recipes and added 4 new products, 2 of which are in top 5 sales by item
? Developed and executed online ordering system which currently accounts for 53% of all sales
? Saw 98% average increase in sales May-Aug compared to pre-covid sales average
Sisters of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Network - Youth Landscaping Crew Supervisor,
June 2020 - Present
A nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Historic Little Italy.
? Supervises a youth crew responsible for landscaping of properties around HLI as part of their job skills
training program.
Live Work Eat Gather, Inc - Shared Use Kitchen Manager, Jan 2019 – April 2020
A shared use culinary incubator kitchen in a renovated, historic school building in Blacksburg, Virginia.
? Developed operating procedures and implemented business plan for shared used commercial kitchen
? Coordinates all aspects of kitchen including regulatory compliance, recruitment, training, scheduling,
equipment installation/maintenance, marketing, and fundraising/grant writing
? Provides business consulting services and referrals for small start-up or existing food businesses
? Developed, organized, and executes 6 week workshop series and business plan competition for new
and existing food businesses
Glade Road Growing - Farmer, Apr 2018 – Jan 2019
A small farm in Blacksburg, Virginia, specializing in vegetables and meats for sale on farm, CSA, farmers
markets, and wholesale.
? Participated in all aspects of intensive organic production of vegetables
? Organized and executed CSA harvest, packing, and delivery
? Managed on-site farm stand, produce inventory, and wholesale relationships
? Assisted in high tunnel grant application with NRCS High Tunnel Initiative
The Retro Rosette - Owner, Grower, Sept 2017 – December 2019
Small succulent nursery in Blacksburg, Virginia, offering plants, arrangements, and classes on care and
propagation.
? Founded and operates a small succulent nursery, vending through farmers market and local co-op
? Hosts “Plant Your Own” station at farmers market stand for children and adults to plant their own
arrangements
? Designed and constructed greenhouse for business use
Blacksburg Bagels - Founder, Baker, and Co-Owner, May 2011 – Mar 2018
A farmers market-based and wholesale bakery specializing in yeasted baked goods and utilizing locally-sourced
and seasonal ingredients.
? Participated in daily bakery tasks including creating doughs, shaping, baking, boiling, and packaging
? Managed farmers market stand twice a week
? Specialized in yeasted products and sourcing ingredients from local farmers and other small businesses
? Trained, managed, and motivated employees
? Cultivated wholesale relationships with >15 businesses and institutions
? Founded business in college apartment kitchen
? Sold business in 2019
New River Planning District Commission - Local Food Systems Consultant, Dec 2014 - Sept 2015
A collaborative organization made up of government and institutional leaders with the purpose of
supporting community and economic development, housing, and transportation programs.
? Applied and won funding to research culinary incubator best practices on behalf of NRVPDC
? Completed required reporting to funding agency
? Best practice report assisted in developing standard operating procedures for current position as
kitchen manager with Live Work Eat Gather, Inc
Friends of the Farmers Market - Assistant Project Coordinator, Nov 2013 – Nov 2014
A nonprofit organization supporting the mission and work of the Blacksburg Farmers Market.
? Leveraged institutional and community partners in a collaborative, county-wide food system
assessment
? Drafted a written report and organized community forum for dissemination of findings
? Utilized results to organize theme-based task forces
? Completed required reporting to USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program
? Published report: ------------/sare_project/cs12-090/
Friends of the Farmers Market - Americorps VISTA, Nov 2012 – Nov 2013
? Developed curriculum and executed season-long children’s market gardening education program
? Recruited, trained, and managed 60+ student and community member volunteers
? Marketed farmers market “double value” program to SNAP beneficiaries