Since its formation in 2003, the Rondout Valley Growers Association (RVGA) has been providing a voice for local farming. Started as a small, farmer-led group conceived by Founding President Bruce Davenport and founding board member Fabia Wargin, RVGA has been building support for the farm community, and continues to grow. And since 2012 Deborah DeWan has served the organization as its Executive Director. After nearly six years leading RVGA, Deborah decided to step down as Executive Director this year. The RVGA Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Carol Reiser has been selected as Deborah’s successor. The transition has already begun and Carol will take the reins on August 8, 2017.
“We are very grateful for all Deborah has done, seen and unseen, for RVGA and the farm community and we are now better positioned to move forward in carrying out our mission, and we’re very excited about Carol Reiser coming on to lead the organization into this next phase,” said RVGA President Nick Cipollone. “Carol brings a unique set of skills and talents from her years of experience working with nonprofits that will help shepherd RVGA into its 15th year and beyond. While we are very sorry to be losing Deborah, we are immensely grateful to her for her years of dedicated service to RVGA and solid accomplishments. We wish Deborah the very best with her next endeavors, and we’re happy that she has agreed to stay involved in the coming weeks and months.”
“Working with RVGA and the growers has been one of the most gratifying experiences in my career,” said Deborah, “and I am very encouraged by Carol’s enthusiasm and the collaboration that has already taken place during this transition. Carol is already immersing herself in all things RVGA – from programs, to organization administration to helping plan the 2017 Harvest Hoedown on September 23rd.”
“This is a very exciting time to be joining RVGA – a dynamic organization focused on farmers, the community and a healthy food supply chain, and I look forward to contributing my knowledge and experience to help carry out its mission and support the farm community,” Carol said. Carol brings a strong background in resource development and holds a bachelor of science in Agriculture Communications from The Ohio State University.
RVGA works as a farmer-led organization bringing farmers and neighbors together to keep local farming strong and preserve active agricultural open space for future generations, and invites all to join them. For more information visit rondoutvalleygrowers.org or contact: 845-626-1532.