In this popular and free webinar series, NAFSN provides participants with connections and insights to help them identify next steps for their careers. This four-part series for Fall 2023 highlights job creators across the food systems profession.
 

In this episode, we feature:

Duane Stanton, Business Services Coordinator for the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Originally from the heavily industrialized suburbs of Philadelphia, Duane grew up far removed from where his food was produced. Still, he was able to cultivate a love for food and the planet through shared experiences with family members in the kitchen. In 2021, Duane traveled across the country exploring over 20 national parks. While on this journey, he was introduced to a range of agricultural production methods, which catalyzed his obsession with sustainable agriculture. After returning to the northeast, he began to research sustainable methods of food production and community distribution, an interest which soon brought him to HVADC as Business Services Coordinator. At HVADC, Duane focuses on the Incubator Without Walls program, providing business technical assistance to the farms and agribusinesses that support Hudson Valley communities. He is a graduate of the Silbermann College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Elyse Perambo, Farm-to-School Program Manager for Green Mountain Farm-to-School

Elyse Perambo joined GMFTS in December 2021. As the Farm-to-School Manager, Elyse supports the growth of the Farm-to-School program and AmeriCorps team. She graduated from Antioch University New England with a Master’s degree in Environmental Education and received her undergraduate degree from Unity College in Biology. Elyse has been in Vermont since 2013, running a small farm and teaching fiber arts and garden classes to youth. Before moving to Vermont she managed a farm in CA, was the Education Coordinator at Nearby Nature in Eugene, OR and the Youth Education Coordinator at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, CO. In her free time, you can find Elyse in the garden, working with her goats and sheep, or spending time with her family. Elyse is delighted to be connecting youth to their local food systems and the educational opportunities found at the school gardens.

Sammie Paul, Executive Director for MEANS Database

Sammie is the Executive Director at MEANS Database, a nation-wide communications platform to reroute excess food from restaurants & grocery stores to local food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers. With a BA in public health from American University, Sammie is passionate about food security, community engagement, and public health policy.