Meet Our Board of Directors & Staff

Chair

Originally from Minnesota, Jada grew up in a family of cooks who inspired her to see
food as a way to connect people. From farm camps to food trucks to classrooms, she
has investigated the ways we nourish our communities and ourselves. Baking is
both a professional endeavor and a personal joy that keeps her learning every day.
Jada finds inspiration in the diversity and vitality of Maine’s food economy, not least
of all the amazing growers, millers, and bakers who make up the Maine Grain
Alliance.

She first volunteered with MGA as a work-study participant at the 2017 Kneading
Conference. Awed by the incredible talent and big hearts of everyone involved, she
has returned each year, and looks forward to supporting MGA as a member of the
board.

Vice Chair

Following a career in the paper business and education, Debbie joined MGA in 2011, inspired by the Kneading Conference.  While she has organized the Kneading Conference Work Study program since 2012, been a member of the Budget Committee, and then the Executive Committee, her true passion is in helping local grain economies thrive.  She believes that Maine is a wonderful place to live, Skowhegan is truly “a place to watch”, and a return to being the “bread basket of New England” and a thriving economy are the exciting goals of this amazing team of people

Secretary

A move to Skowhegan after marrying opened Amber’s eyes to the joys and challenges of rural living. Rich with outdoor recreation, u-pick orchards, contra dances and affordable farmland, rural towns like Skowhegan have also been hurt by the loss of natural resource-based jobs. Motivated to help, Amber volunteered with the Main Street program and later co-founded the first conversation about revitalizing regional grain economies at the 2007 Kneading Conference. The Conference motivated Amber to find solutions and in 2012 she launched Maine Grains, Inc., a gristmill and local food hub in a renovated jailhouse, which has inspired positive ripple effects worldwide.

Board of Directors

Nancy, a native of Skowhegan, believes in acting locally and globally. Volunteering in state and local events is critical to the well-being of the area and its people.  Nancy is inspired by the growth and renewed enthusiasm of the farmers and millers in the central Maine area. They bring passion and knowledge to the table along with their outstanding products!  Nancy brings a sense of community, consistency, and is a reliable and active participant in a variety of events that celebrate Maine and rural living. 

Board of Directors

After being recruited by her husband and board member, Dusty Dowse, to help organize the annual Bread Fair, she was asked to serve as a Maine Grain Alliance Board member as well. While Patti neither bakes nor farms, she enjoys the results of both, and likes to share her enthusiasm with the rest of the eaters out there. After a lengthy career in small business as a handbag designer and manufacturer, Patti brings marketing and promotion skills to the work of the Maine Grain Alliance.

Board of Directors

Susan’s love of growing food deepened when she and her husband moved to Maine in 1972 and joined the back to the land movement and MOFGA, in addition to pursuing their own academic work. Susan’s conviction about the connection between food and health and a passion for prevention of disease led her to medical school where she convinced the faculty to teach a course in nutrition. As a supporter of Amber and Albie’s initial vision of the Kneading Conference, Susan became an awed observer of the extraordinary expansion of the local grain and food economy with the multifaceted social, economic and health benefits it brings to our town and state. Susan works to connect with others through MGA’s various venues, helping to explain some of the science behind grain, nutrition and health issues.

Board of Directors

After studying biochemistry in Colorado, Jon moved to Maine in 2014, where he lives in downtown Ellsworth and owns & operates Fogtown Brewing Company. Some notable stops along the way include a stint working in healthcare education & advocacy abroad, building with timberframing crews in Montana, and teaching brewing & business at College of the Atlantic. Jon served as vice president of Heart of Ellsworth downtown organization, a grant advisor for Maine Community Foundation’s Hancock County Fund, and is currently serving as an Ellsworth City Councilor. He is passionate about the dynamic food systems in Maine, and incorporating our rich local and heritage grains into craft food & beverages. 

Board of Directors

Dusty has been a lifelong advocate for Real Bread.  He presented at the first Kneading Conference and then subsequently helped found the Maine Grain Alliance.  Dusty is a recently retired professor from UMO where he earned the College Distinguished Teacher award. As a scientist, he keeps up with and shares research underlying baking and grain agriculture.  He opened a bakery out of his home and he shares what he learns as MGA’s Grain Education Director. Dusty is also the director of the Artisan Bread Fair and the Big Bake at the Common Ground Country Fair, where he is on the board of MOFGA.  As MGA continues to evolve, Dusty finds the talent and devotion of the Board members inspiring.

Board of Directors

Caitlin first heard of the MGA through her work at the University of Maine in Orono,
where she is a graduate student in the Food Science program, having studied food
science and sustainable food systems in undergrad. She works in food product
development at the Matthew Highlands Pilot Plant, partnering with Maine companies
and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas for new food products to life! She grew up in the
Bangor area, has been an avid baker since high school, and is excited by the prospect
of the rapidly growing local grain economy in Maine. She is so inspired by everyone
who has come together to work toward the shared goal of rebuilding that economy,
from the amazing farmers and growers to the consumers who consciously choose local grains, and everyone in between!

Executive Director

Raised by a farming family in northern Maine, Tristan developed an early passion for supporting agricultural communities. While a student, Tristan’s interest in organic practices led to him co-founding the Bowdoin Organic Garden. After a short spell hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail, he settled in Boston and built a career in global education. Tristan’s love for education took him around the world and ultimately back to Maine, where he and his brother started Gromaine Organic Farm.  Tristan soon sought knowledge about growing local grains. Inspired by meeting the incredible members of the Maine Grain Alliance, Tristan joined the organization as its Executive Director in 2016.