KAITLYN'S BIO

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) | Grant Administrator 2024-Present

Facilitates the recruitment, review, award, and implementation processes for Northeast SARE’s grant programs, ensuring alignment with USDA & NIFA policies and procedures, and University of Vermont’s host organization requirements
Manages the review process by standardizing criteria, training reviewers, implementing implicit bias training & consensus decision making, and facilitating comment and deliberation meetings resulting in the successful funding of approximately $9 million annually supporting sustainable agriculture
Provides technical assistance to prospective grantees and awarded applicants and farmers, providing in-depth subject matter expertise and delivering educational programs and materials
Oversight of over 100 grantees with report and budget review, site visits, research methods, and outreach to ensure monitor and evaluation meets or exceeds organizational goals and requirements

CADE | Senior Program Manager (specialization in marketing & value chain) 2019-2024

Provided transformative programming and 1:1 consultation to approximately 60 clients annually resulting in 72% increased business acumen, 77% increased marketing acumen, and 51% increased financial acumen
On average clients receiving services experience 10% increase in sales, 8% increase in total revenue, 35% increased profitability, 77% sustain or increase jobs
Led program team lead through development of new curriculum and programming strategy
Thought leader for organizational strategic planning including with a successful increase in community partnerships, fund development and (grant) management, and standardizing organizational operations

VINES | Community Garden & Youth Program Manager 2017-2019

Grew youth programming by 30% with successful fund development and development of expanded curriculum
Expanded community garden network by 50% and implemented procedures to streamline application review, communication and maintenance of 250+ community gardens
Trained and supervised staff, program participants, AmeriCorps, and a network of 100 volunteers

Cornell Cooperative Extension | Agriculture Development Specialist; Taste NY Market Manager 2015-2017

Spearheaded the launch of Taste NY Broome in partnership with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
Managed store operations including budget, staffing, database creation and management, product procurement, SOPs, and marketing; Contract and grant management for Taste NY
Provided product development training and direct support to launch over 50 New York products for sales across New York state through Taste NY stores – now a 68-store network

Terrapin Consulting, LLC | Founder 2018-Present

Consultation, coaching calls, business and marketing strategy development, and asset creation for small businesses with a specialization in farm and food, hospitality, and non-profit businesses
Project and Grant Management from inception (technical writing and grant writing) through research and development, to assessment with monitor and evaluation, and implementing standard operating procedure

Sirna’s Enterprise | Director of Operations & Communications and Founder / Co-Owner 2009-Present

Responsible for all facets of Sirna’s Farm & Market’s (2009) communications, marketing & advertising, and community outreach; Founder and Co-Owner (2013) of Sirna’s a locally sourced “farm to table” restaurant
Led business development through purchasing, opening, and management of enterprise with complete return on investment achieved in less than 18 months; 2019 expansion increased revenue by 40%, with continued growth current to 2024
Responsible for all facets of business development, planning and finances, communications, marketing and advertising, and HR & payroll for a 1+ million-dollar enterprise, and a diverse team of 35

Academic Education

Masters of Science: Sustainable Communities
Binghamton University | 2016 - 2020
THESIS: "Food Gentrification: An Examination of Food and Culture as it Relates to Food Security"

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: The master’s program in Sustainable Communities at Binghamton University is one of the only master’s programs of its kind in the United States. The degree integrates the three pillars of sustainability – environmental protection, economic vitality and social equity – to provide a balanced, holistic perspective on sustainability. Collaboration is at the heart of the Sustainable Communities program, which draws upon several academic disciplines, including: anthropology, economics, environmental science, geography, geology, philosophy, political science, public administration, and sociology.

Bachelors of Art | English Literature, Minor in Philosophy
DePaul University, Chicago IL | 2010 - 2013

Since moving to upstate New York -- where Kaitlyn currently lives with her partner, Jeff -- K has worked professionally in the

small business, agriculture, and non-profit sectors for over a decade.

Kaitlyn continues to be instrumental to the development of small businesses from her role in opening and managing projects like Taste NY Broome County, a New York State Agriculture & Markets initiative, hosting workshops and providing technical assistance for product development with Cornell Cooperative Extension, and teaching food systems and agriculture to youth and community garden members, as they led VINES through its expansion of programming and services.

Kaitlyn continues to be an active partner in the development, marketing and communications of Sirna’s family enterprises, including the farm and a successful farm to table restaurant, which they founded. Currently Kaitlyn works for the Center For Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship, or CADE, a Farm & Food Business Incubator established in 1991.

They are also involved in numerous community and food system projects - often through an extension of her board roles. Kaitlyn is President of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY (NOFA-NY) board and acting as Interim Director at NOFA-NY during its Executive Director search.

With over a decade working in business development, and a Masters of Science in Sustainable Communities, Kaitlyn passionately advocates for small businesses and local farms, and has first hand experience working in these (literal & professional) fields across the Midwest and Eastern US.