Email: nicole@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7155

Nicole began working for VOF in 2003, the year after the National Organic Program regulations went into effect. Since that time, Nicole has worked to represent the views of Vermont organic producers at the National Organic Standards Board meetings and as a member of the Accredited Certifiers Association. She has served on the boards of OMRI and the Real Organic Project. Nicole has a BA from the University of Montana and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Education from the University of Vermont. In her past life, Nicole spent less time in front of a computer and more time wrangling poultry, grading apples with seconds to spare, and teaching people how to milk cows.

Email: bay@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7156

Bay joined the VOF team in July of 2019 after a 6-year stint as manager of Green Mountain College Farm and 25 years as founder and manager of Doolittle Farm. This 30 plus years of farming experience included diversified organic livestock, organic vegetables, berries, and maple with retail, wholesale and online distribution. Bay has served on various market and local community boards; she is currently on the Vermont Sheep and Goat Association Board. She holds an AS in Dietetics from Broward College and a BS in Holistic Health from Johnson State College. After hours she enjoys her garden, helps her kids with their farms, and entertains her 5 grandchildren.

Email: laura@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7163

Laura joined VOF in 2010 and quickly realized that her tendency toward rule following would finally be considered an asset. She's originally from Vermont and has been surrounded by and involved in the agricultural community for much of her life. When her childhood friend introduced her to their family cow, their flock of layers, and the sweet scent of maple steam she became hooked for life. She successfully convinced her own family to dabble in homesteading and once she was old enough, began working on farms ranging from dairies to maple sugar operations to fruit, vegetable, and flower farms. Nowadays she enjoys keeping a small flock of her own, tending her vegetable gardens, and experiencing life with her husband and two children.

Email: kyla@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7150

Kyla graduated from UVM in 2008 with a B.S in Environmental Science. After graduating she apprenticed on an organic vegetable farm which sparked her passion for sustainable agriculture. Afterward, she worked for an organic dairy in Addison County and fell in love with cows and dairying. Having spent her whole life in Vermont, Kyla decided to change scenery (& climates), living in California for 5 years working for a large organic dairy and family-owned farms as a farmer, administrative assistant, and organizer. Kyla returned to Vermont in 2017 for a position at NOFA-VT. She currently serves on the boards of the Vermont Farm Show and VDIA (Vermont Dairy Industry Association). In her free time, Kyla enjoys spending time outdoors adventuring with her dog and growing & raising food in Randolph Center with her partner.

Email: winston@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7167

Winston graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina, a long time ago. He came back to Vermont and worked at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters / Keurig for 24 years, starting out as a part-time barista in the Factory Outlet in Waterbury, VT and ending as the Farmer Relations Manager, working with coffee farmers all over the world. When he’s not wishing the pandemic was over so he could get back to playing ice hockey, he dreams of tapping the stand of sugar maples in the backwoods. For fun, he plays in a rock band with fellow certification specialist Gregg “I wanna rock” Stevens called Prohibited Substances. They were on their “Integrity Tour” in suburban Columbus, Ohio when the pandemic cut things short. Their big hits like “ I wanna commingle (with you)”, “Slap on a 272” and “I’m touching Gregg’s Maple OSP button!” can all be enjoyed on Spotify.

Email: alice@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7173

Alice grew up in northern Vermont and graduated from Green Mountain College with a BA in environmental studies focusing on environmental education. After working at various nature camps, she worked at Vermont Soap where she did everything from inventory management to formulations to shipping. She also managed Vermont Soap’s organic certification and emailed Winston weekly. When she isn’t helping producers or improving the database at VOF she likes to walk around looking at other people’s flower gardens, knit, and play board games.  Alice is an avid contra dancer and is learning how to call contra and family dances.

Email: gregg@vermontorganic.org

Extension: 7175

Gregg earned a BS in Biology from the University of New Hampshire and earned his teaching certificate after completing a post-baccalaureate program at Rhode Island College. He survived teaching high school science in Rhode Island for eight years before moving to Vermont in 2003 and was once a green party candidate for Rhode Island Lt Governor. Based on his love of marine biology, he likens himself most to the Gumboot Chiton, the “Wandering Meatloaf”, which has been the hot mollusk of late. Gregg’s special ability is listening to Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Glee Episodes on YouTube while navigating complicated certification files. Without realizing it, he will hum or sing along, not realizing his coworkers are chuckling or taping him in the hopes of future blackmail. He plays drums in the rock band “Prohibited Substances” with fellow certification specialist Winston “I wanna rock” Rost. He penned the hit single “Where is the anti-caking agent?”, which is a perennial top 10 hit in suburban Toledo OH, where the band is very popular.