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.
Janet Cassidy
Communications Director
Communications Director Janet Cassidy 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.
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.
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