Aliza Wasserman-Drewes
Executive Director
RIPE is directed by Aliza Wasserman-Drewes, a seasoned non-profit program director and policy expert, with a focus on facilitating consensus-based policy recommendations. She previously worked at the National Governors Association as director of energy and environment, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, and Business for Social Responsibility. Wasserman-Drewes received her master’s degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University with a concentration in domestic politics and environmental policy through the Science, Technology and Environmental Policy program. Contact Aliza at awasserman@RIPEroadmap.org.
Janet Cassidy
Communications Director
Janet joins RIPE with over 20 years marketing communication leadership experience. Throughout her career she has developed communication strategies for corporations, non-profits, and start-ups including serving as the Senior Director of Marketing Communications for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Janet comes from a multi-generational farm family and attended The Ohio State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture communications. Contact her at jcassidy@RIPEroadmap.org.
Danica MacAvoy
Special Projects Advisor
Special Projects Advisor Danica MacAvoy comes to RIPE with more than 20 years of experience in sustainability, corporate responsibility, and national and international development. She brings a depth of experience in strategy development and execution, project management, and building and supporting high-functioning teams, having done this work with corporations, nonprofits and other NGOs, and social enterprises. Danica resides in Northern California, surrounded by dairy cows and vineyards.
Jamie Powers
Agricultural Outreach Director
Outreach Director Jamie Powers comes to RIPE with extensive experience engaging private sector farm advisors on working lands stewardship. Additionally, Jamie worked for nine years as a social network analyst, first as an intelligence collector with the U.S. Army and then as a senior and principal analyst in support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. With a bachelor’s degree in political science, Jamie went on to earn a graduate degree in both negotiation and conflict resolution, as well as environment and resource policy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Matt Ohloff
Midwest Agricultural Organizer
Midwest Agricultural Organizer Matt Ohloff comes to RIPE with over a dozen years of grassroots organizing experience on issues related to agriculture, climate, and the environment. In that time, he has worked for state and national organizations focused on fair farm prices, equity, and sustainability. Matt graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Political Science and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree from Drake University.
Clara Greider
Policy Analyst
Policy Analyst Clara Greider joins RIPE with over two years of policy research experience. Prior to this role, she worked with RIPE as a research fellow, providing policy insight, recommendations and environmental impact assessments. Clara received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on land, water and food security from Brown University.
Jacquelyn Gutc
Communications Associate
Jacquelyn joins RIPE with nearly 15 years of experience in sharing compelling stories and helping organizations strategically connect with their audiences. After working as a reporter and editor at a daily newspaper and business magazine, Jacquelyn went on to provide various public relations and marketing services to small businesses, nonprofits and professionals across the country. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University and lives in Southeastern Michigan.
Interested in working for RIPE? View our openings.
Consultants
Bradley Karmen
41 years with USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Washington, D.C.
Emily Robison
Grant writer and compliance consultant