Aliza Wasserman-Drewes
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.
Trey Cooke
Policy Director
Policy Director Trey Cooke comes to RIPE with over two decades of experience serving as the Executive Director of both Delta Farmers Advocating Resource Management (Delta F.A.R.M.) and Delta Wildlife. There, Trey worked extensively with farmers, commodity groups, and other NGOs to develop and advance conservation policy changes at the national level. Trey comes from a multi-generational farm family in Mississippi and secured a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and chemistry before earning a graduate degree in biology from Sam Houston State University.
Brian Skretny
Government Affairs Director
Government Affairs Director Brian Skretny is a lawyer and policy expert with 15 years of experience in energy and climate policy. Before joining RIPE, Brian served as Senior Professional Staff and Global Energy Advisor to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senior Advisor to Representative Eliot Engel (NY), and Policy Director at the American Clean Skies Foundation. Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from SUNY Geneseo, a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, and a Master of Laws from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Jamie Powers
Agricultural Outreach Director
Outreach Director Jamie Powers comes to RIPE after three years of project management with Environmental Defense Fund, where he led EDF’s engagement of private sector farm advisors. 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.
Additional Support
Danica MacAvoy
Partnership and Strategy Advisor
Emily Robison
Grant Writer and Compliance Consultant
CEA Consulting
Outreach Strategy Consultants
Trust In Food
Communications & Marketing Strategy Consultants
RIPE is a small and nimble organization guided by talented advisors, ad-hoc advisors, and supported by a team of seasoned consultants and volunteers, including economic consulting firm World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services, Agricultural Consultant Doug Peterson of UnderstandingAG, law firm Dechert LLP, nonprofit consultant Nonprofit Engagement Advisors, public relations firm LookEast, nonprofit fiscal sponsor Multiplier, and communications and policy support from GreenLight Consulting.