Expert Resource Directory

at Michigan State University, Cheryl Danley engages with communities to strengthen their access to fresh, locally grown, healthy and affordable food. Previously Cheryl served as the technical assistance liaison to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Food and Fitness Initiative aimed at creating healthy community environments for children, youth and families. Currently she provides outreach as part of the Food and Community Connections program. Cheryl has worked in academia, philanthropy, and the non-profit sector for more than 20 years on issues of environment and sustainable development, both in the US and abroad. Trained as an agricultural economist, Cheryl has broad international experience in community development, agricultural marketing, natural resource management and policy. She has been involved in teaching and research in a number of African countries. Prior to her current position at MSU, Cheryl served as Country Representative for Africare in Tanzania and South Africa, managing a diverse portfolio of health and agriculture programs, including projects in primary health care, HIV/AIDS, food security, natural resources, social infrastructure development, and refugee relief. Prior to that she was the Assistant Director for MSU's Partnerships for Food Industry Development (Fruits & Vegetables) -- program of the U.S. Agency for International Development designed to strengthen supply chains and improve incomes and retail linkages for farmers in developing countries. Cheryl received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her M.S. in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida. She is a member of the 2011-2013 class of IATP Food and Community Fellows.

specializes in commodity program reform, rural development policy, research and extension, rural revitalization, and higher education. Hassebrook has been with the Center for 30 years, developing strategies for rural revitalization, devising farm program payment limitations and enhancing federal funding for rural programs. The Center for Rural Affairs has helped nearly 5,000 small businesses get started or survive, and has assisted in the development of nearly one dozen cooperatives.

fellowship from Ashoka – Innovators for the Public Good. As VP of Business Development of Wholesome Wave, Ross is supporting the development of healthy food hubs and enterprises throughout the country with technical assistance and access to innovative financing. He is also acting CFO of Wholesome Wave, ensuring that financial systems are in step with this fast growing organization dedicated to national healthy food systems change. He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan, and has been an MIT Sloan Fellow for Innovation and Global Leadership, MIT Legatum Fellow for Development and Entrepreneurship, founder and principal of DAISA Enterprises LLC conducting business planning and consulting. He spent 16 years as Executive Director of Nuestras Raíces, a grass-roots organization that promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke, Massachusetts through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment, nationally recognized for innovation. He has helped community members start over a dozen small food and agriculture businesses, launched Energía for-profit social enterprise energy-efficiency services company. Founding leader of various local and state-wide food systems and environmental policy coalitions.

Director of Meridian’s AGree: Transforming Food and Ag Policy. Ms. Atwood has more than 30 years of experience in policy and legislative matters regarding food, agriculture, the environment, research, and risk management, including extensive experience working with executives in the private sector, federal government, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Meridian, Ms. Atwood was an Associate for Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at Mars, Incorporated. In this role, she worked closely with lawmakers in Congress and senior officials in the White House, and federal agencies. Previously, she was a Senior Policy Advisor with Crowell & Moring, on behalf of clients in the agricultural, food, environmental, mining, and chemical industries. She served from 2001 to 2003 as a Special Assistant to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley. From 1995 until 1999 she was Assistant Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council, and from 1992 until 1995 served as Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the American Meat Institute. Atwood served from 1989 to 1992 as Deputy Associate Administrator for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She served as head of the Congressional Affairs Office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prior to taking the EPA position. Atwood also has U.S. Capitol experience: From 1981 to 1984, she was Professional Staff for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and from 1984 to 1987 was Professional Staff for U.S. Senator Slade Gorton (Wash.). Ms. Atwood serves on the board of ACDI-VOCA, an agriculture development nonprofit organization with many years of experience working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She is a marine resource scientist by training.

about connecting sustainable food- and ag-based businesses with capital. She is currently authoring the Finance for Food book, a guide designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the complex and ever-evolving world of financing options, from traditional debt and venture capital, to community-supported models, non-voting preferred stock, private-label CDs, crowd-funding . . . and the list goes on! She was also a member of the 2009-2010 class of IATP Food and Society Fellows.

He oversees all of NSAC’s federal policy work and has been involved in nearly every federal agricultural budget and appropriations bills as well as each of the omnibus farm bills since 1977.

program implementation consultation for philanthropy. Previously, she was the program director of Food Systems and Rural Development at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she developed and reviewed programming priorities, evaluated and recommended funding proposals, and administered projects. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Imig served as associate vice provost of Michigan State University and as director of the Michigan State University Extension. In these roles, she chaired the National Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, and served on the National Association of State Universities and the Land-Grant College Commission on Outreach and Technology Transfer. Dr. Imig earned a doctoral degree in family ecology and administration from Michigan State University.

Generation, is a national expert on childhood obesity, committed to increasing access to healthy foods and physical activity through sustainable changes in schools and communities across the country. Prior to taking on the role of CEO, Ginny served as the National Schools Director of the Alliance from 2006 through 2008. Ginny led the program from its inception to now supporting schools in all 50 states. Before joining the Alliance, Ginny served as a Project Director to the Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion & Education where she directed a national training project and served as a strategic consultant to national organizations and state departments of health and education. In 1999, Ginny founded Oregon's Healthy Kids Learn Better Partnership, a public-private partnership comprised of several state agencies and more than forty non-governmental organizations that now work together to address the physical, social, and emotional health needs of Oregon students. In total, Ginny has spent 20 years as a public health and education professional in a number of capacities ranging from the classroom to national levels. Ginny holds Master Degrees in both Public Health and in Special Education. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Policy & Leadership at the University of Oregon.