OMRI Board of Directors
The OMRI Board of Directors broadly represents the constituencies of the organic industry with members selected from the community of certifiers, inspectors, farmers, suppliers, processors and handlers, and organizations serving consumer and environmental interests. The Board is the highest governing body at OMRI. It determines OMRI policy and standards and plays an active part in guiding OMRI in its public service role and in carrying out its mission.
Officers
Chair, John Ashby, California Natural Products, Lathrop, California
John has over 25 years experience developing Natural and Organic foods. He is currently the General Manager of the Ingredients Division of California Natural Products – an organic innovator that has been making Organic foods since 1985. As a food scientist and Natural and Organic Foods advocate he has lectured extensively at Universities, and has over 25 published articles. He is currently the Chair of the State of California’s Organic Products Advisory Committee and holds an Sc.B. in Cellular Physiology and Biophysics from Brown University, and an MBA From Wharton.
Vice-Chair, Eric Sideman, Ph.D., Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Unity, Maine
Eric holds a Ph.D. in botany and plant ecology from the University of New Hampshire, an M.S. in biology from Northeastern University, and a B.S. in agriculture from Cornell University. He is the Director of Technical Services for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) where he has worked since 1986. Eric served on the National Organic Standards Board between 1997 and 2002.
Secretary, Bill Stoneman, W.F. Stoneman Company LLC, McFarland, WI
Bill holds degrees in Natural Resources (B.S., 1977) and Agronomy (Masters of Agriculture, 1990) from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. His work experience includes wildlife habitat inventory, urban forest management, time as a county agent in the Minnesota Cooperative Extension Service, technical services in the liquid fertilizer industry and in non-GMO agricultural biotechnology. He is the Executive Director for the Biopesticide Industry Alliance, Inc. (BPIA). He is also active in a consulting role with several biological pesticide manufacturers’ regulatory affairs, OMRI listing and assisting biological pesticide and bio-stimulant developers sourcing manufacturing of their microbes and fungi. Bill is from a small Northern Minnesota dairy farm and is an IOIA trained independent organic inspector inspecting part-time for Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA).
Treasurer, Bob Scott, PMI Nutrition International LLC (Bradfield Organics), St Louis, Missouri.
Bob studied economics at the University of Missouri. He served for 10 years as the president of Bradfield Industries, Inc. where he developed formulations and distribution of organic fertilizers. Since 2004, Bob has worked as a consultant to Bradfield Organics providing technical know how and assistance in marketing and educational efforts to expand organic product usage worldwide.
Members
Ramkrishnan P. Balasubramanian, Quality Certification Services, Gainesville, Florida.
Ram holds an M.S. in agricultural and biological engineering from the University of Florida, an M.S. in production and sustainable agriculture from Wageningen Agricultural University, and a Bachelor’s in agriculture from Tamilnadu Agricultural University. He’s received training as an ISO 9001:200 Lead Auditor, an organic inspector, and a USDA-NRCS Nutrient Management Specialist. Ram is currently Program Director for Quality Certification Services.
Tina Ellor, Philips Mushroom Farm, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
TIna is the longtime Technical Director at Phillips Mushroom Farm. She is also a current member and former Crops Committee Chair of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
Jim Koan, Almar Orchards, Flushing, Michigan
Jim has been the owner/manager of Almar Orchards for over 35 years. The last 15 years he has been a certified organic fruit grower. An avid land steward, he strongly believes in educating consumers regarding the value of locally grown and pesticide/herbicide-free produce. Jim continues to speak publically both locally and nationally as part of a collaborative effort with Michigan State University in order to meet one primary goal: restoring the lost art of the small, diverse and sustainable farm operation.
Mary Mulry, FoodWise, Inc., Hygiene, Colorado.
Mary holds a Ph.D. in food science and human nutrition from the University of Florida and a B.S. in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin. Mary has worked in the field of product development, and technical and regulatory issues related to the food and dietary supplement industries since 1983. She is the Founder and President of FoodWise, Inc., a food consulting business. Some of Mary’s past positions include, Senior Director of Product Development and Standards for Wild Oats Markets, Inc. and Vice President of Research and Development for Celestial Seasonings.
Paul Sachs, North Country Organics, Bradford, Vermont.
Paul has studied natural soil system dynamics for close to 30 years and is considered one of the foremost authorities in the country on organic land care. He has written five books, hundreds of articles for trade journals, and speaks regularly at association conferences for professionals involved in both agriculture and horticulture. He has served as a member of the Technical Advisory Panel for the National Organics Standards Board of the USDA. Since 1993 Paul has completed work on five manuscripts that include the first and second edition of Edaphos: Dynamics of a Natural Soil System, Handbook of $uccessful Ecological Lawn Care, Ecological Golf Course Management (Co-authored with Richard Luff), and Managing Healthy Sports Fields.
Mark Whalon, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
Mark holds a Ph.D. in entomology from Pennsylvania State University, an M.S. in Plant and Soil Science and a B.S. in biology from the University of Vermont. He serves as Professor of Entomology and Director of the Pesticide Alternative Lab at Michigan State University. Mark has authored more than 100 publications and is an internationally recognized expert in IPM, resistance management, and pesticide alternatives in fruit and vegetable production.
Katherine Withey, Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program, Olympia, Washington.
Katherine holds a B.A. in sustainable agriculture from Evergreen State College where she is currently enrolled in the Masters in Environmental Studies program. She participated in the Essence of Herbalism program at Rocky Mountain Institute for Botanical Studies and is an IOIA trained livestock and processor inspector. She has four years experience as a farm manager and has served as an Environmental Specialist for the Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program since 2002.
Gwendolyn Wyard, Organic Trade Association (OTA), Corvallis, Oregon.
Gwendolyn holds a degree in Food Science with a Fermentation Science Option and a minor in Chemistry. She received her certificate as an independent farm and processing inspector through the International Organic Inspector's Association (IOIA) in 1997 and worked for multiple certifiers thereafter inspecting organic farms and processing facilities. Gwendolyn worked for many years as the Processing Program Technical Specialist for Oregon Tilth specializing in policy analysis and technical review of materials for use in organic products. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Organic Standards and Industry Outreach for the OTA.