Meet Our Team

Liz Whiteman

Operations Director, Co-Director
​liz@brwia.org

Liz grew up in northern Minnesota, spending summers helping her parents dig potatoes and carrots in their backyard gardens. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of  Wisconsin-Madison, Liz followed her passion for regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty to urban gardens in New Orleans and tropical farms in rural Ecuador.

She spent 5 years in Washington DC working on federal farm policy, focusing on increased funding for sustainable agriculture and strengthening nutrition programs such as WIC and SNAP. In 2019, Liz found her way to Western North Carolina, spending a season working for Tumbling Shoals Farm in Wilkes County. 

Drawn to the High Country by the impressive local food economy, Liz is excited to work with local farmers and community members to continue striving for a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable food system. 

Liz works to direct BRWIA's programming and staff with a focus on strategic expansion and reach and the impact of BRWIA's programming.

Contact Liz for any of the following:

• Selling Products on the Food Hub
• Collaborating with BRWIA through the Food Hub or Farmers' Markets

Dave Walker

Development Director, Co-Director
​dave@brwia.org

Dave grew up in the North Carolina Piedmont and would visit his grandparents' home places in Watauga County each summer to camp and hike. Dave joined BRWIA in 2015 as the CRAFT Program Manager and has served as the Programs Director and Interim Executive Director.

​He holds a MA in Appalachian Studies and Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences from AppState and a BA in American Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Dave's Masters Thesis concerned how first-generation farmers become successful in Blue Ridge Appalachia, and he counts himself amongst them as he started Daffodil Spring Farm in the spring of 2017, raising Certified Animal Welfare pigs on pasture and delicious vegetables. Dave also held an internship with AppState's Edible Schoolyard where, he mapped Watauga County's community gardens and encouraged a network amongst the shared growing spaces.

When he is not working with BRWIA, you may find him in his garden with his dog Fred, fly fishing in Wilson's Creek, or spinning really, really fast at a contra dance.

Dave works to expand BRWIA’s financial capacity and raise its public profile.

Contact Dave for any of the following:

• To make a donation or fundraising opportunities
• Strategic Partnerships

Haley Riordan

Food Hub Manager
​haley@brwia.org

Haley was raised on family farmland in Hickory, NC where she was taught familial homesteading practices by her Granny. She then made her way to Boone for school and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a concentration in Natural Science from Appalachian State University, making her a first generation college graduate. During her time in Boone, she became exposed to the organic grassroot culture of Southern Appalachia and decided that this was home. 

Since then, Haley has worked for two small business owners, Andy Long of Over Yonder and Madelyn George of the Valle Crucis Lavender House. Both graciously taught the importance of supporting local and the impact that “acting small” has on our rural economy. While working for Andy, Haley was able to see how the food industry can support farmers, as he chooses to source local, even sometimes from Yonder’s garden! Haley learned how to run a multifaceted business as the manager of The Lavender House and from the coaching of Madelyn. While managing the Lavender House, Haley was able to build confident relationships with members of our community.

She loves: making and experiencing irreverent art, desert trips, laughing, and her cat Mr. Spaghetti.

Contact Haley for any of the following:

• If you're a producer and are ready to drop off goods
• Questions about your inventory

Ellie Mullis

Double Up Food Bucks & Farmers' Market Manager
ellie@brwia.org

Ellie grew up on an organic vegetable farm in the Piedmont of North Carolina where she gained a deep appreciation for nature and local food. With a desire to pursue social change and equitable environmentalism, she obtained a BS in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University in Spring of 2020. Throughout her sustainability studies at App, she has become specifically passionate about working on strengthening local food systems and reducing waste.

Ellie previously worked with BRWIA as a Double Up Food Bucks Ambassador where she raised awareness of the program throughout App's campus. She later worked as the Double Up Food Bucks Summer Associate VISTA where she developed a closer relationship with the Boone community. Her work as an Americorps VISTA member inspired her senior thesis in which she explored various barriers and solutions for increasing participation in local food equity programs.

In her free time, she loves cooking, going on nature walks, and gardening. Ellie is very excited for her new role and is looking forward to a career in sustainable food systems.​

Contact Ellie for the following:

• More information on the Double Up Food Bucks Program​

Shannon ​Carroll

Finance Coordinator
shannon@brwia.org

Shannon grew up in the Piedmont area of NC and moved to Boone in 1983 after spending a year teaching Biology on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

​She has 30+ years of experience providing leadership and support for instructional technology for Watauga County Schools. She retired from Watauga County Schools in 2013 and is currently dividing her time between three part-time positions - being the Finance Coordinator for BRWIA, helping with the Lettuce Learn at Parkway School, and helping her husband, Terry, with his SunCatcher Passive Solar Greenhouse business.

She also recently earned her Master Gardener certification. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, traveling to visit her sons, and going for long walks.​

Contact Shannon for any of the following:

• Payments and credit regarding Food Hub orders
• Invoices and payments regarding Food Hub storage and services
• Payments to producers for Food Hub sales
• Invoices and payments for Market fees and booth rental and market token reimbursements​

Taylor Griffis

Food Hub Assistant
taylor@brwia.org

Taylor grew up in Jacksonville, FL where she gained a deep appreciation for the diversity of the Florida landscape. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's degree in English and Education, she moved to Atlanta to pursue a career in the Arts where she worked as a Gallery Administrative Assistant for ABV Agency and Art Gallery. 

Over the Summer of 2020, she took her first trip to the Mountains of NC and was captivated by the magic of the mountains in every sense. Since settling here, she has gained a deep appreciation for organic and sustainable agriculture through her work as a Biodynamic Gardener and as an assistant at the Food Hub.

She strives to be part of an agriculture renaissance, where younger generations are encouraged to move back into more rural and underdeveloped areas to cultivate the land left by their ancestors. She believes that through access to fresh organic food and a love for the land, a community can withstand anything.

In her free time, you can catch Taylor sculpting at her new studio at High Country Clay, experimenting with nature photography on her long hikes throughout the mountains, and dancing any chance she gets. 

AmeriCorps VISTA Service Members

Megann Southworth

Local Food Markets & Community Connections Designer
AmeriCorps VISTA
megann@brwia.org

Megann is from Greensboro, NC, and spent much of her childhood either outside or with her nose in a book. Not too much has changed since then, and she can often be found exploring the trails around Boone, gardening, or reading.

When she arrived in Boone in 2016 to pursue a degree in Sustainable Development at App State, she wasn't sure where her journey as an environmentalist would take her. Fortunately, she discovered the local food movement after interning with the King Street Market in 2019 and is so excited to continue increasing access to all the amazing local products the High Country has to offer.

​Megann considers the local food movement to be about way more than just getting delicious meats and produce from local sources (although that's definitely a positive!) and she can't wait to learn more about how environmental justice, sustainability, and community can all connect to create a vibrant and equitable food system for all.

Contact Megann for any of the following:

• For potential Food Hub/BRWIA outreach initiatives
• Volunteering opportunities ​

Taylor Hochwarth

Local Food Markets & Equitable Food Systems Designer
AmeriCorps VISTA
taylorh@brwia.org

Taylor grew up in the Piedmont of North Carolina where they spent a lot of time taking walks and playing in the woods.  They joined BRWIA as an AmeriCorps VISTA Local Food Markets & Equitable Food Systems Designer after working on community organizing projects, and working as a cook at Proper. 

Taylor graduated from Appalachian State University with a BA in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies and Sustainable Development.  Their education in these areas shaped their understanding of equity and access, and how social, economic, and environmental issues are inherently enmeshed.  They found that to address one issue, we must address them all.

In their free time they can be found working on creative community projects with friends from a space of play and mutual care, imagining and practicing worlds they want to see.  They also like to hang out with their little dog, Oatmeal.

Contact Taylor for any of the following: 

• Double Up Food Bucks & Ambassadors information
• Farmers' markets information
• ​Equity and accessibility of our programs & local food systems (collaborations, concerns, and questions)

Jessica McClelland

High Country Food Hub 
AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate
mcclellandjr@appstate.edu

Jess is originally from Spokane, Washington, but now calls Boone home! She just graduated from Appalachian
State with a degree in Sustainable Development. She has spent the last four years working in the outdoor industry as a guide and photographer, and her passion for nature has fueled her interest in sustainability and environmentalism. Conducting research into the High-Country food system’s responses to COVID-19 sparked her interest in becoming directly involved with building
local food systems. She was one of the Food Hub's spring 2021 interns and is excited to be part of the BRWIA team for another season as an AmeriCorps Summer Associate!

​In her free time, she can be found cooking, climbing, or running with her dog. She looks forward to a
career working with non-profits and community development.

Mailyn Greig-Ratz

King Street Market
AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate
mailyngreig17@gmail.com

Mailyn moved around a lot growing up and eventually ended up in Boone to study at Appalachian State University. Before transferring, she attended Culinary school and became aware of unnecessary food waste in the fine dining industry. That experience fueled her passion for zero waste in the kitchen and affordable food access. She is currently a senior majoring in Food Outreach Studies, created through the Interdisciplinary program where she combined Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture, and Education. She is also minoring in Public Health, American Sign Language, and Photography which all relate to the outreach work she wants to pursue after graduation.

During the semester, she works with the Office of Sustainability at App State as a Sustainability Ambassador and recently joined the ACT team to further her outreach skills.

​In her free time, Mailyn loves to go thrifting, paint, and spend time outdoors, whether it be gardening, go kayaking, or hiking. She is excited to be part of the BRWIA team as an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, and you can find her doing the kid’s activity weekly on Tuesdays at the King Street Farmers’ Market.

Interns

Kendyl Bass

Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
​Summer Intern

Kendyl is originally from Concord, North Carolina and will be a senior at Appalachian State University this fall, majoring in Social Work. Her interest in working in the nonprofit sector is what led her to the Z. Smith Reynolds nonprofit internship program and then to BRWIA. She is excited to be involved with the BRWIA team this Summer and to expand her agricultural and local food systems knowledge.

Her favorite thing about local food is all of the fresh, healthy options it offers. She loves to cook and try new recipes, and local food allows her to support her community along the way! 

When Kendyl's not busy with work or school, she can be found hiking and running trails in the area, taking photographs, or reading on her back porch.