Alana Petersen
Interim Executive Director
Alana moved from RIPE’s Board of Directors to Interim Executive Director in March 2023. She joins RIPE with 20 years of Congressional experience and is principal at Petersen Group/Canary Consulting. Alana’s political career includes services as deputy chief of staff and state advisor, campaign manager, deputy chief of staff, state director, director of field operations and staffer for various U.S. representatives and senators. Previously, she served as managing director of federal government relations for the law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. and also worked for the political consulting firm Grassroots Solutions. Alana and her family reside in Pine City, Minnesota, where they raise and show horses across the state. Alana is active in her local farmers union and serves as the county treasurer.
Contact Alana at apetersen@RIPEroadmap.org.
Trey Cooke
Coalition Director
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.
Danica MacAvoy
RIPE Partnership Pilot Director
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.
Jacquelyn Gutc
Communications Manager
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.
Martin Barbre
Outreach Consultant
Martin is former USDA Risk Management Agency administrator, past president of the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board, and a member of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.
Doyle Karr
Corporate Engagement Consultant
Doyle brings more than 30 years of professional experience in agriculture and food industry to his consultancy. Doyle grew up on a small, diversified farm in Illinois and began his career as a farm journalist in the Midwest. Prior to creating his own business, Doyle led global consumer insights and food system engagement for a multi-national agriculture powerhouse.
Bradley Karmen
Program Design Consultant
Brad is a former USDA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs and retired from USDA’s Farm Service Agency after 41 years.
Reece Langley
Policy Consultant
Reece is a consultant in bipartisan government relations, public policy and industry relations focused on agriculture and food policy. He was formerly vice president of Washington Operations at National Cotton Council and vice president of government affairs at USA Rice Federation.
Kevin Norton
Program Design Consultant
Kevin is a consultant on federal conservation policy and USDA program implementation. He is former USDA associate chief for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and spent 39 years at the Soil Conservation Service and NRCS in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Washington, D.C. He also served on farm bill development details to the House and Senate agriculture committees from 2011 to 2018.