Food Alliance is a non-profit organization and we are motivated by our mission
Meet Our Team
Matthew Buck
Director
Matthew Buck has 20 years experience managing programs and projects related to sustainable community and business development. Matt has served as Director of Food Alliance since July 2013, and was previously Assistant Director from March 2004 to November 2011. In between, he worked as a food systems consultant providing research, planning, evaluation, and other services to clients including Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Food Bank, Ecotrust and the Oregon Community Food Systems Network. Prior to first joining Food Alliance, Matthew spent seven years with Sustainable Northwest, a regional non-profit promoting environmentally sound economic development in communities of the Pacific Northwest, where he served as Communications Director. Matthew holds a B.A. degree from Lewis and Clark College in sociology and anthropology.
Shaila Cook
Certification Manager
Shaila Cook has 17 years experience working as an Environmental Professional. She started working in Aerospace in 2001, then transitioned into Corporate Agriculture in 2005, and in 2013 started her own Environmental Consulting business. She has been a Food Alliance auditor for both Handlers and Producers since 2014. She was hired by Food Alliance to manage the certification processes in February 2018. Shaila has a BS in Geology from Central Washington University and an MS in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho.
Meet Our Board
Our Board of Directors is intended to represent a broad spectrum of interests in the food system, including: farming, ranching, food processing and manufacturing, distribution, retail, university and agency scientists, and advocates for consumer affairs, labor, animal welfare, and the environment.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the vision, strategic plans and policies that guide Food Alliance. This includes ultimate responsibility for standards, criteria, policies and procedures governing the Food Alliance certification program. They are charged to ensure that the certification standards are meaningful, practical and scientifically defensible, and to ensure that related policies and procedures support the desired social and environmental outcomes and are fairly and consistently applied. The board also has fiscal responsibility for the organization and reviews and approves all budgets and financial reports.
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Amanda Oborne is Managing Director of Ideaship, a venture fund focused on patentable innovation based in Portland, Oregon. Amanda was President and Executive Director of the nonprofit Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, where she scaled a food entrepreneurship and investment program known as Oregon Angel Food, and launched Angel Oregon Tech (AOTECH) and Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO), all during the Covid-19 pandemic. Before diving into entrepreneurship, Amanda was Vice President of Food, Farms & Fisheries at the nonprofit Ecotrust for nearly 10 years, where she published a pivotal report on food infrastructure, helped develop a $25M food and event hub known as the Redd on Salmon St., launched an Ag of the Middle Accelerator, and was instrumental in facilitating farm to school and farm to hospital connections. She was named one of Fast Company's "Most Creative People in Business" in 2017. Amanda holds a master's degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
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Annie Miller is a VP and Creative Director at FCB CURE. With more than a decade of experience at some of the largest agencies in New York, Annie brings a unique perspective to the art and science of creative direction and strategic communications. She has served on the Board of Directors for The Women's Building of San Francisco and on the communications committee supporting the Ferry Building farmer's market (a non-profit committed to food equity, education, and sustainability; formerly known as CUESA and now known as Foodwise.) Her passion projects include supporting her local Planned Parenthood affiliates, the lost art of sign painting, and morning runs in Southeast Portland, where she currently lives with her rescue dog Molly.
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Brooklyn Butler brings over a decade of experience spanning operations management, project management, change management and professional development. Her experience includes being the Senior Manager of Business Systems, Strategy, and Design at Bio-Logical Capital, focusing on the intersection of people and business systems in food and farm businesses. Previously, at Misty Artesian Water, Brooklyn spearheaded operational efficiency through supply chain planning, people management, administrative processes, and product development. She excels at building robust relationships with senior leadership and cross-functional teams. Previously Brooklyn also served as Head of Supply Chain and Logistics at Iris Nova, a direct-to-consumer beverage distribution company. Positions in both human resources and corporate training underscore her dedication to diversity and inclusion. She further demonstrates this commitment through her active membership in the NAACP and her involvement with Foodboro. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Brooklyn's deep interest in food justice has deepened her passion for food infrastructure and its vital connection to human-plant relationships. Her ultimate goal is to disrupt systems perpetuating food apartheid in underserved communities, making her a driving force in reshaping agriculture and urban landscapes for equitable food access.
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Chuck Perry is a veteran rangeland ecologist and founder of Rangelands Northwest, a consultancy devoted to promoting sustainable rangeland management and wildlife habitat improvement. Chuck’s nearly 50 years of experience as a rangeland ecology expert include over three decades at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he served as an expert advisor on rangeland ecology and led a land management consulting team comprised of foresters, agronomists, and revegetation and weed management experts. He holds degrees in Forestry/Botany and Rangeland Management and Ecology and is a longtime member and Certified Rangeland Consultant of the Society for Range Management (SRM), from whom he received an Outstanding Achievement Award for Stewardship in 2014. Throughout his long career, which includes time as a third-party field evaluator for Food Alliance, Chuck has championed field-based work and nurtured collaborative relationships with private landowners to encourage responsible land management and wildlife habitat preservation.
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John Boyle is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in the retail food and drug industry, making him a valuable addition to the board of directors. His extensive background in procurement, sourcing, supply chain management, brand development, and marketing has been instrumental in driving growth and innovation in the sector.
John currently serves as the Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at Market of Choice, helping curate the company’s go-forward product, brand and sourcing strategies. Market of Choice is a family owned retail grocer with 11 stores across Oregon, known for its commitment to amplify local makers, ranchers, fisher-folk and farmers. Market of Choice is proud to carry over 5000 local products, with even more offerings during the growing season.
Before joining Market of Choice, John held senior positions at several industry-leading organizations, including New Seasons Market in Oregon, the Natural Food Group in New York, Haggen in Washington, and Albertsons in Idaho. His extensive experience across different regions and markets has provided him with a deep understanding of the industry's nuances.
One of John's notable achievements is launch of the MOJO program. MOJO is a groundbreaking initiative that offers local makers free distribution and selling tools, helping them reach a broader customer base and grow their businesses.
John and his team have also introduced the Dig Local program, which focuses on supporting Oregon's small family farms. This initiative aligns with his passion for sustainable practices and sourcing. He firmly believes that bold ideas and innovative solutions can create a ripple effect that can create momentum for farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs.
His vision for the future is centered on sustainable practices, community engagement, and innovative solutions. With his leadership and dedication, he has consistently shown that he believes in making a difference that goes beyond the bottom line, creating a lasting impact on the community and the environment.
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As Executive Director of the American Cider Association, Michelle McGrath has cultivated growth in membership and the industry, overseeing development of a Cider Style Guide and Cider Certification Program, and leading national conversations on legislative and regulatory issues. Michelle has a long history of commitment to local food, sustainability and the environment. She previously served as community engagement director for Oregon Environmental Council, and as the executive director for the Gorge Grown Food Network. Michelle has BS and MS degrees in Biology (emphasis in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior) from UC San Diego, and a graduate certificate in Sustainable Business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute.
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Sam Currie is a career food service professional with significant experience in on-site restaurants, board and corporate dining, catering, vending, beverage programs and multi-unit food service operations, including developing and implementing innovative local and sustainable food sourcing programs. As Director of Culinary Services at The Springs Living, Sam is ushering in a new era of food service delivery with scratch cooking, seasonal menus and thoughtful sourcing in 17 senior living communities in Oregon and Montana. Sam previously was a district manager for Bon Appetit Management Company, responsible for advancing a sustainability culture and regional sourcing network in 13 venues in 3 states. Sam holds a BS in Fish and Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. He has served on the advisory boards of Chefs Collaborative (Portland Chapter) and the Seafood Consumer Center (Astoria), and the Oregon Governor’s Committee on Food Sustainability.