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Meet Our Staff
KATHLYN TERRY BAKER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kathlyn became Chief Executive Officer of Appalachian Sustainable Development in 2011 after serving for 5 years as its first Business Operations Manager.
She uses her strong background in large national project implementations and her experience with food systems development to identify and implement collaborative, cross-sector opportunities to increase the health of the region and to promote collaborative methodologies and approaches. Kathlyn has served on the VA Governor’s Council on Bridging the Nutritional Divide and serves on numerous steering committees and advisory boards including the Central Appalachian Network and The Appalachian Funders Network. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Texas A&M University. Like many at ASD, she is an avid lover of her furry canine children along with her not quite as furry son and daughter-in-law.
MORGAN BRADLEY, AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER
Morgan manages the Grow Your Own beginning farmer program and the Learning Landscapes school/after school garden program. She is an Iowa native and has worked in food and agriculture related ventures her entire life.
She obtained her Bachelors in Horticulture from Iowa State University and continued on to her Masters in Community and Regional Planning and Sustainable Agriculture. With a focus on sustainability and equity, Morgan has a passion for building resilient, close-knit communities. When she is not playing with bugs, plants, and kids in the garden, Morgan spends her time creating art with nature, exploring new places and hobbies, and petting every dog she can.
DEBBIE BROWNING, MARKETING MANAGER
Debbie joined ASD in March 2020 to launch the new workforce development program. Prior to joining ASD, she spent almost 20 years as a writer and project manager for ad agencies and in corporate communications, including a Fortune 500.
Most recently, she spent five years learning how to be unflappable as a middle-school and high-school Career and Technical Education teacher, and manager of a high school service learning program. Although she loves to travel and see the wonders of the world, she’s always very happy to come home to beautiful Southwest Virginia.
KATIE COMMENDER, AGROFORESTRY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Katie started her agroforestry career in 2012 as ASD’s Agroforestry AmeriCorps VISTA, where she trained hundreds of beginning forest farmers and developed a multifunctional riparian forest buffer program with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2016, Katie received her Master’s in Forestry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she served as the graduate teaching assistant for the agroforestry class and researched preferences and intentions for riparian buffer adoption and retention. Today, Katie continues to teach the next generation of forest farmers as a founding member of the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition. In 2017, she founded the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub to help medicinal herb farmers sustainably produce, process, and market herbs grown in agroforestry systems to premium markets. With Katie’s support, ASD’s Agroforestry program continues to expand, with an agroforestry train the trainer model for natural resource professionals and farmer technical and financial assistance for forest farming, alley cropping and silvopasture. When not whipping up foraged ramp biscuits and pawpaw ice cream, Katie is gardening, hiking, paddling, and skiing her way through the Appalachians. Prior to an unfortunate series of events with a stingray, her first career aspirations were to be Steve Erwin’s apprentice on Animal Planet.
SYLVIA CRUM, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
Originally from Chicago, Sylvia moved to the region in 1994. Over the years, she has been involved with ASD in a variety of ways. She has been a board member, donor and an ASD volunteer. In her current position since 2013, Sylvia is responsible for ASD’s development and communication’s efforts.
She works to create mutually beneficial sponsorship opportunities for corporate clients interested in investing in ASD while also managing major donor campaigns, community outreach events and social media efforts. Sylvia also works with local and regional media partners to ensure that progress and news about ASD is heard far and wide. Sylvia has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Columbia College, Chicago and has worked in for-profit marketing/advertising, sales and management roles for several small to mid-size companies. Sylvia has 2 adult children and lives on a 15-acre farm in Washington County, VA.
LINDSEY FELTY, OUTREACH MANAGER
Lindsey is the Outreach Manager who manages work in Buchanan County, VA and Tazewell County, VA. She also manages the Virginia Fresh Match Program and the Local Food Guide. Her work touches all programs across ASD.
Lindsey was born and raised in Buchanan County, VA, she is thrilled to be able to work “back home” and increase awareness of ASD’s resources. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management from Eastern Kentucky University. Lindsey currently resides in Abingdon, VA with her husband, Matt and their three furry canine children, Tucker, Annabelle, and Oliver.
HANNAH G., WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER
Hannah is the Workforce Development Program Manager. She joined ASD as an Americorp VISTA in 2021 and has continued as part of the Groundwork staff ever since.
She has a genuine love for farming, gardening, and the loved centered community-ethic of Appalachia and its people.
D. GABBERT, TAZEWELLL GROUNDWORK FARM SUPERVISOR/MENTOR
David joined ASD in December 2021 as the Tazewell Groundwork Farm Supervisor & Mentor. He has a green thumb and a passion for growing. He enjoys being outdoors and has interests in sustainable farming and good stewardship practices.
Raised in Greenbrier County, WV he completed an A.S. in General Studies at NRCTC. He is now living in Mercer County, WV with his wonderful wife and kitty companions.
RANDI G., GROUNDWORK VISTA
Randi joins Appalachian Sustainable Development through the Americorps VISTA program. She has an extensive background volunteering and work experience in the environmental field. As an Appalachian native, she is committed to the region and excited to work with ASD in an effort to elevate the region through her service.
ROGER GARRETT, FACILITY MANAGER
Roger joined the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub team as Facility Manager in February of 2021. Roger is no stranger to the Appalachian Sustainable Development family. Before earning a bachelor’s degree in business from Lincoln Memorial University and joining the Appalachian Harvest team;
he spent seven years as a Farm Manager. During his time as a farm manager, he worked closely with Appalachian Harvest as a grower, forming strong relationships with many of the staff and growers.
As an Appalachian native, he feels deeply connected to the region and its people. Roger will be using his talents to further the economic and environmental wellbeing of those who are fortunate enough to call this region home. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his numerous pets, traveling with his fiancé Logan, fishing and farming.
TISHA GRIFFIS, GRANT ACCOUNTANT
Tisha joined ASD in Jan 2022 as the Grant Accountant. She holds a B.B.A. from East Tennessee State University with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. She comes to ASD with over 15 years of accounting and finance experience throughout multiple business industries.
She has worked for multiple non-profit organizations over the years and always seems to find her way back to the non-profit sector, because organizations such as ASD is where her heart is. She is a Scott County native and after living in other areas of the country realized just how special this area truly is. She wanted to raise her kids in this close-knit community and honored to call Scott County HOME. She is raising two beautiful daughters with her husband of over 20 years. Outside of work you will more than likely see Tisha cheering her daughters on at the local high school.
TORI JESSEE, GROUNDWORK PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Tori joined ASD in March 2023 as the Groundwork Personal and Professional Development Manager. Tori resides in Wise, VA with her small family.
She joins the team with a genuine passion and commitment for helping people and her community! When she is not working, she is volunteering and helping with local animal rescues, as well as, helping in the community.
DYLAN JOHNSON, APPALACHIAN HARVEST BOX TRUCK DRIVER
Dylan Johnson is a member of the Groundwork team and has completed programs in Warehouse Distribution and Sustainable Agriculture.
Dylan has completed his third groundwork term, and is now a full time employee with Appalachian Harvest. Dylan was excepted into the career works program and received a grant through them to attend the Class A CDL truck driving program. Which he completed and now is a Class A CDL driver. He will continue his driving career with with Appalachian Harvest in the Box truck and Tractor Trailer doing local and regional runs. Outside of work, Dylan spends his time being a great dad to his daughter, Paisley, and on his motorcycle.
SHANNON JOYCE, HERB HUB ASSOCIATE
Originally from Northern California, Shannon grew up raising poultry, gardening, and working with horses. In 2021, Shannon went to Oklahoma State Horse Shoeing School and works as a farrier in her free time.
In 2022, Shannon graduated from the University of Tennessee with degrees in Animal Science and Plant Science. At ASD, Shannon will help oversee day to day operations at the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub, and assist with herb farmer outreach and support.
MICHAEL KLARMAN, PRODUCER PATHWAY MANAGER
Michael joined ASD in November of 2021. Michael served in the United States Marine Corps and was retired in 2015. He has continued serving veterans through various organizations and is excited and eager to watch the veteran program with ASD grow!
Originally from Alabama, Michael has now laid his roots in Johnson City, tn. Michaels favorite pastimes include fly-fishing and hanging out with his two Labrador retrievers, Macy and Molly.
CHELSEA LEE, OPERATIONS MANAGER
Chelsea is the Operations Manager for ASD who started out as a volunteer in 2017 after relocating from Austin, TX. She attended the University of Texas and earned a Bachelor’s degree of Natural Science.
Chelsea lives in Bristol, VA with her dog Maisie and an excessive amount of baby succulents she brought with her from Texas.
DELLA MCGUIRE, GRANT WRITER
Della was a lifelong nomad until setting down roots in downtown Bristol when her son started school. The transition from migratory living to home ownership sprouted her obsession with gardening.
With a background in trauma mitigation, crisis intervention and adult education; gardening had always been Della’s favorite self care practice and a means of decompressing after a difficult day. This passion planted the seed that led her to some of the classes offered at ASD and their partner agencies in the region, which have helped her grow into an urban nanofarmer. After a few years of acclimating to this new environment, Della is ready to graft on a new career. Gardening professionally is an exercise in ecological love, personal preservation and sustainable living that she hopes to cultivate into an invasive philosophy that will spread to everyone she encounters.
ADAM PENDLETON, APPALACHIAN HARVEST GENERAL MANAGER
Adam is a Lee County, Virginia native and began working at the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub in 2014. He ensures that the facility is running efficiently, orders are processed correctly and trucks loaded accurately while also providing technical assistance to farmers and helping supervise support staff and volunteers.
Adam has his own farm, Pendleton Farms and raises registered Simmentals. He also grows a variety of produce for Appalachian Harvest. Adam enjoys boating, fishing, hunting and spending time with his two nieces.
KEVIN MCNEW, APPALACHIAN HARVEST FOOD HUB ASSISTANT
Kevin has been the “guru” at the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub since 2014 and he is always eager to lend a hand. He does a little of everything, helping things run smoothly and efficiently.
He resides in Scott County, VA where he operates his own farm, raising Ankole-Watusi cattle. Olé Kev loves his gentle giants. Outside of working, Kevin enjoys anything outdoors.
ROBIN ROBBINS, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FOOD SAFETY & SECURITY
Robin joined ASD as the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub Marketer in September 2005. Prior to joining ASD, she was a public school teacher in the Lee Countypublic school system, as well as an advocate for children with special needs.
Raised on a tobacco farm, Robin joined the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub network as a certified advocate for health, nutrition and building local community, and has many years of experience organizing events and special campaigns. After being promoted to General Manager in 2011, she drafted the Appalachian Harvest GAP Mirror Program and merged the USDA National Organic Program rules with GAP practice language into one farmer-friendly document. She also trains farmers on GAP procedures and processes. Robin and her husband Dave own and operate their own farm, Robbins Family Farm. They have 3 daughters. Outside of work she absolutely loves anything outside, working with children and helping othe
JENNI ROOP, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Jenni joined ASD in 2017 and became the Director of Agriculture Education in 2022. She has performed various job duties in her time at ASD to include website management, marketing and communications, and program management.
Prior to working at ASD, Jenni was the Dietary Manager for an Assisted Living Community chain following several years of training and employment in the Culinary Arts field. A self proclaimed “jack of all trades, master of none”, she also works as a local Real Estate Agent with BHHS Jones Property Group and is a Virginia Notary Public. Jenni was born and raised in Abingdon, VA and continues to bury her roots there with husband and partner in crime, Brad; her beautiful and crazy smart daughter, Annabel (ASD’s youngest volunteer) and two perfect dogs, Zoey and Hank. When she is not working, she enjoys bike riding on the Creeper Trail or Kayaking on South Holston Lake in the summer and curling up by the fire with her family (or hibernating) in the winter. More often than not, you will find her in the gym lifting lots of heavy objects.
ROBIN SUGGS, PROCUREMENT MANAGER
Robin joined the ASD’s Agroforestry Program as Procurement Manager in the Spring of 2020. With a rather diverse set of skills in horticulture, community development and the production of non-timber forest products, he hopes to apply his life’s experiences in growing relationships with both beginning and seasoned producers of medicinal plant species.
The outcome of his work will ensure a sustainable, high quality supply chain for the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub. Robin was raised in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Heavily influenced by avid gardeners from both his maternal and paternal lineages, he started tending plants at the ripe old age of 8. Robin went on to receive a degree in Flower and Nursey Crops Technology from the North Carolina State University Agricultural Institute. After pursuing an early life career mostly in ornamental horticulture, Robin relocated from the Piedmont to the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. It was there where he developed an appreciation and respect of the forest, and all its inhabitants, especially those with a tradition of harvest for medicinal use. Just prior to coming onboard with ASD, Robin created, owned and operated MoonBranch Botanicals, a small business dedicated to the production of medical plants native to the region supplying the highest quality bulk botanicals to medicine makers across the US.
JOSH THOMPSON, MANAGER OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Josh resides in Tazewell, VA and joined ASD in 2021 as the Manager of Social Enterprise. Josh studied Political Science at the University of Tennessee and is a certified Peer Recovery Specialist.
Prior to joining ASD he worked as a Project Manager for Thompson and Litton. He then went on to cofound Project 13:3 a nonprofit reentry program for men coming out of jail. He has a true passion for Southwest Virginia and enjoys staying active in the community by coaching football, umpiring baseball, refereeing basketball, and volunteering in the community garden. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting/fishing and spending time with his wife Lura, daughter Huntley and Scotch, his Yellow Lab.
PERRY E. THOMPSON, GROUNDWORK COMMERCIAL KITCHEN MANAGER & COHORT SUPERVISOR
Perry E. Thompson grew up on a dairy farm in Franklin County, PA. Many of his childhood weekends were spent with his Grandparents whom lived and worked in the State Capitol—Harrisburg.
Perry is the eldest of four female and three male two legged children & many four-legged children including several dogs, cats, goats, rabbits and a pony.
During the past eight years he has been a Farmers Market Vendor with his Grandmother at some of the regional markets including: Boone, North Carolina; Jonesborough, TN; and Abingdon, VA (& many more).
Perry has a love of food and continues his “food research” with his Grandmother by visiting a wide array of regional establishments. Some of his interest include Herbal Medicine, Traditional Medicine (i.e. Acupuncture & Ayurvedic), Agriculture, and languages.
“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.” ― Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution
EMILIE TWEARDY, AGROFORESTER
Emilie comes to ASD with a background of farming, teaching, and adventuring. She grew up in Northern Minnesota, and moved with her family to Virginia in 2015.
In the interim, she’s lived and worked all over the country, including stints as a Massage Therapist in Northern California, Whitewater Rafting Guide in Colorado, and Food Fermenter in Rochester, NY. She’s a creative at heart who loves to problem solve and brainstorm, especially through the lens of Permaculture Design which is fundamental to her life as both a teacher and practitioner. She’s excited to be joining the Agroforestry team to help demystify practices and techniques, revitalize our communities’ connections to each other and the Earth, and empower individuals to see the exciting possibilities in their woodlands.
ANGIE VANOVER, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Angie spent most of her career in telecommunications and the call center industry as a Director – specializing in leadership, financial management and reporting, operations, business analysis and human resources.
Angie holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree from King College and Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from East Tennessee State University. She lives in Wise, VA with her husband, Coy and daughter, LeeAnn.
STESHA WARREN, AGROFORESTER
Stesha joined ASD in 2022 as our Agroforester to provide technical assistance to landowners and assist in developing the Train the Trainer (TtT) program.
Stesha fell in love with the forest as a child growing up in the rural North Carolina Appalachian mountains by homesteading parents who took every opportunity to infuse nature into her life. Raised with a horticultural & agricultural background, she has studied plants, primitive living, foraging and herbalism for over 25 years. Stesha has lived, gardened and farmed in many regions in the U.S. in addition to spending a year in Indonesia independently studying agriculture and sociology. She received her B.S. in Agricultural Education from NCA&T in 2010 and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Natural Resources with an emphasis on Agroforestry with University of Missouri. Stesha spent over a decade teaching foraging skills, primitive living techniques, forest farming, wild mushroom identification, etc for local colleges/universities, contract organizations and independently. Stesha has a passion for family, forests, fungi, sustainable/regenerative agriculture and community. She currently resides with her husband, two young children and tons of furry, feathered and winged companions on their farm in the Piedmont of NC. In her spare time she enjoys spending time in the forest & working the farm with her husband and two young children, creating wild crafted culinary delights, exploring fiber arts and researching fungi, native medicinal botanicals and sustainable systems within agroforestry.
BRITTANY WOODBY, REGIONAL SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER
Brittany joined the Appalachian Sustainable Development family in July of 2021 as an Account Manager for our Appalachian Harvest Farm to School program. Her focused efforts will be increasing purchases from schools, child care centers, and community kitchens.
Bringing with her 14+ years of sales and operational business experience in the Wellness Industry, in addition to working with Virginia State Agency Purchasers, she has a unique perspective on the vendor and customer distribution chain. She has lived and worked the majority of her life in Washington County, Virginia, where she and her husband currently raise their three school-aged children on their family homestead. They are passionate about their heritage breed chickens, heirloom tomatoes, and their family dog, Dandy (short for Dandelion)
LISA WORLEY, GROUNDWORK GARDEN SUPERVISOR/MENTOR
Lisa Worley joined ASD in February as the Abingdon Groundwork GardenSupervisor/Mentor. Lisa was first introduced to ASD when she joined our Grow Your Own (GYO) program working to help till GYO participant gardens.
She also worked with the ASD school garden program building raised beds in SWVA schools communities. Lisa was born and raised in Eastern Tennessee, and still lives and farms there now. Growing up, Lisa’s family traveled all over southern Appalachia, sparking Lisa’s lifelong passion for tempered rain forests and for mountain walking, foraging, studying, and protecting the natural bounty and beauty of this region.