Steering Team

“The deep changes necessary to accelerate progress against society’s most intractable problems require a unique type of leader-the system leader, a person who catalyzes collective leadership.”

– The Dawn of System Leadership

The Steering Team guides the strategic direction of the Network.

Team members include a representative from each CFN Work Group as well as food system leaders and stakeholders who represent diverse demographics, geographies, sectors, and communities throughout the region. Examples of Steering Team members include representatives from other networks (e.g. environment, economics, and health), state food council/organization leaders, funders, decision makers, equity consultants, and other process-oriented and system-level thought leaders.

Current CFN Co-Chairs

Co-Chair, Lindsay Gilmour, is the owner of Organic Planet LLC and plays two roles: as a personal chef, and as a food systems consultant. Gilmour has over 35 years experience in the food industry as a chef and adult educator specializing in healing foods, and 15 years in Value Chain Coordination working with farmers to develop efficiencies and systems to meet the demands of the wholesale marketplace. Her current focus is assisting farmers with food safety compliance with a particular interest and expertise in helping small-scale growers work together to achieve food safety certification as a group.

Nancy Nunn recently stepped down from her role as CFN Co-Chair. We want to thank her for her deep commitment.

Nancy’s passion for the Chesapeake Foodshed Network (CFN) started in 2012 when it was merely an idea being kicked around needing lots of leadership, strategic thinking, and support. Between 2012-2018, Nancy provided just that – leadership, daily support, and passion – to just about ever facet of the CFN. She led the initial interview process and served as co-chair of the initial Leadership Committee and the inaugural Steering Team. She co-chaired the Food & Resource Recovery Work Group, provided leadership to the policy and data initiatives, helped to create the Community Ownership, Empowerment and Prosperity Action Team, and the list goes on and on. It did not matter what it was, Nancy always volunteered her time (and lots of it) and stepped up to lead.

The CFN is where it is today, reaching nearly 2000 people with an active Steering Team and functioning work groups, because of her leadership, unique perspective, innumerable hours of support, and tons of passion for the farming community and the Chesapeake Bay. Thank you, Nancy, for all you did for the CFN and for all you continue to do to make our world better.

Stay connected to Nancy at the University of Maryland’s Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology where she is the Assistant Director. And visit her on Saturdays at Maryland’s Chestertown Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market where she sells Eve’s Cheese made with milk from third generation family farm, Fawnwood Farms, located in Kent County Maryland.

Current Steering Team Members

View Press Release Announcing Inaugural Steering Team HERE

Elizabeth Atwell, The Wallace Center

Jessica Culley, El Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA)

Alicia LaPorte, Fair Farms

Kamaryn Norris, The Food Trust

Rodney Taylor, Fairfax County Public Schools

Gary Bloss, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group & Josie Porter Farm

Susan Dalandan, Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council

Dena Leibman, Future Harvest CASA

Curtis Ogden, Interaction Institute for Social Change

Ruth Tyson, Union of Concerned Scientists

Asha Carter, DC Greens

Meredith Lathbury Girard, Town Creek Foundation

Kristen Markley, Healthcare Without Harm

Molly Riordan, City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health; Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council