Organic Materials Review Institute Announces Promotions, New Staff Members December 16, 1999 For immediate release Contact: Kathleen Downey OMRI Executive Director 541-343-7600 541-343-8971 fax EUGENE, ORE.-The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) announces staff promotions and the addition of new staff members to help manage the organization's growth of more than 65 percent each year since its founding in 1997. Brian Baker, Ph.D., has been promoted to policy director after serving as OMRI's technical director since 1997. Emily Brown Rosen has also joined the OMRI staff as policy director. Brown Rosen served as technical director for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ) from 1992 to 1999. "Both Brian and Emily have made tremendous contributions to the organic community throughout their careers," says Kathleen Downey, OMRI's executive director. "OMRI is extremely fortunate to have their expertise and background as policy directors during our rapid growth." Baker and Brown Rosen will share the policy director work of developing and implementing policies and decision processes directly related to the review of generic materials and brand name products. Cindy Douglas, OMRI's Projects Coordinator for the last year, will now oversee the organization's brand name products review. Scott Rice has joined OMRI as Projects Coordinator. "I am very excited about this direction for OMRI," Downey says. "The new structure and staffing additions will enable us to continue to develop as we take on significant new projects in service to the organic agriculture industry." The Organic Materials Review Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides professional, independent, and transparent review of materials and compatible processes allowed to produce, process, and handle organic food and fiber.