Staff

Aliza Drewes
Aliza is a seasoned nonprofit 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. Aliza 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 adrewes@RIPEroadmap.org.

Trey Cooke
Trey is a product of multi-generational farm families in Mississippi with over 20 years’ experience in the agricultural conservation space. He has held senior leadership roles in regional and national conservation organizations, including director of The Nature Conservancy’s Mississippi River Basin Program. With a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and master’s in biology, Trey leverages his trust in science with his experience in the agriculture sector to advance meaningful conservation outcomes for the benefit of the environment, people and our economy.
Contact him at tcooke@RIPEroadmap.org.

Andre Carter
Andre is passionate about agriculture and the culturally significant practices that come with it. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, listening to his great grandmother’s stories about picking cotton and living as a sharecropper in the early 1930s. He found a passion for agriculture and farming while working at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives as a cooperative development specialist. Andre holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Faulkner University and a master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics from Tuskegee University. He has been dedicated to service since serving more than four years in the United States Navy.
Contact him at acarter@RIPEroadmap.org.

Donna Main
Donna joins RIPE with expertise in fundraising backed by deep knowledge of ecological and social sciences. She has raised millions of dollars from foundations and government agencies in support of habitat management, environmental education and land protection. She holds a doctorate in human dimensions of wildlife management and a master’s degree in wildlife management from Michigan State University as well as a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from West Virginia University. Donna resides in Massachusetts.
Contact her at dmain@RIPEroadmap.org.

Danica MacAvoy
Danica 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.
Contact her at dmacavoy@RIPEroadmap.org.

Clara Greider
Clara 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.
Contact her at cgreider@RIPEroadmap.org.

Jacquelyn Gutc
Jacquelyn joins RIPE with nearly 15 years of experience in journalism, PR and marketing, sharing compelling stories and helping organizations strategically connect with their audiences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University and lives in Southeastern Michigan.
Contact Jacquelyn at jgutc@RIPEroadmap.org.
Consultants

Martin R. Barbre
Outreach consultant, former USDA Risk Management Agency administrator, past president of the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board, member of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

Janet Cassidy
Communications consultant with over 25 years of experience providing marketing communications strategy to food and agricultural brands.

Bradley Karmen
Former USDA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs with 41 years at USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

Kevin Norton
Former USDA associate chief for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with 39 years at NRCS.