Staff Bios
Darwin Kelsey, Executive Director
dkelsey@cvcountryside.org
330.657.2542, x221
Darwin Kelsey is the Incorporator and Executive Director of the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy. Prior to this position, he developed and managed Lake Farmpark, an innovative science and cultural center devoted to agricultural and environmental education. Kelsey served as Director of the National Museum of the Boy Scouts of America, and was Vice President and Senior Vice President of Old Sturbridge Village, the third largest outdoor museum in the United States. Mr. Kelsey is a graduate of Seattle Pacific College (history) and holds a master’s degree from the State University of New York, Cooperstown (American Folk Culture). He completed two years of course work toward a doctorate in historical cultural geography, specializing in rural settlement and agricultural field systems. Kelsey grew up on a dairy farm in New York and owned his own small livestock farm in Connecticut. He was a founder, board member, and officer of both the Association of Living Historical Farms and Agricultural Museums and the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. He has served in many community organizations and has authored numerous articles and papers on agriculture and living history. His interests include reading, agriculture, horticulture, science and religion, athletic sports, hunting, fishing, and camping. Darwin lives in Boston Heights with his wife Chris. He has five children and seven grandchildren.
Rebecca Cole, Special Projects Coordinator
rcolecvcountryside.org
330.657.2542, x228
Bio - coming soon
Julie Gabelman, Administrative Coordinator
jgabelman@cvcountryside.org
330.657.2542, x227
Julie joined the Countryside Conservancy in July 2011 as the administrative coordinator, where her duties include office management, financial record keeping, administrative assistant to the executive director and I.T. issue resolution. Her prior experience includes nearly 25 years working at a local law firm, initially as a legal assistant and later in their I.S. Department. Most recently, she was a PC technician for an I.T. consultant. Julie says that one of the main reasons she was drawn to working at the Countryside Conservancy is that she believes strongly in the Countryside’s mission of connecting the region's local food supply to the community. A lifelong Summit County resident, Julie and her husband, Brian, live in Green and have two sons, Jacob and Bill.
Beth Knorr, Local Food Programs Coordinator/Markets Manager
farmersmarket@cvcountryside.org
330.657.2542, x224
Beth is the market manager for the Countryside Conservancy, overseeing the operations of two successful markets in Akron and Peninsula. She coordinates 70 + vendors as well as chefs, speakers, volunteers and events to enhance the market experience for the customers and vendors alike. She spends her time recruiting farmers, spearheading local foods education programs for both consumers and farmers, and making recommendations on policies to benefit small and medium sized farms. In 2006, Beth and her husband Tim were delegates to Slow Food’s Terra Madre gathering in Turin, Italy. Her 9 years of experience as an organic CSA farmer enables her to lead workshops on organic gardening, CSAs, marketing at farmers’ markets and record keeping. Beth currently serves as Vice President of the Farmers' Market Management Network, is a co-convener of the Summit Food Policy Coalition, and was recently appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak to sit on the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. In September of 2009, she was honored with the first ever Local Food Hero Award from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and in January 2010 was named one of Cleveland's 32 most interesting people by Cleveland Magazine. She lives in Cuyahoga Falls with her farmer husband, and their two children, Maggie and Gus.
Katie Myers-Griffith, Farmland Programs Coordinator
kmyers@cvcountryside.org
330.657.2542, x222
Katie is the Farmland Programs Coordinator and joined the Countryside Conservancy in September of 2008. She received her B.A. in Planning from Cleveland State University. Her duties include public policy advocacy, community outreach and education, and coordinating various farmland use programs and projects. Kate represents the Conservancy on the Ohio Food Policy Council, the Ag Viability Task Force, the Farmland Summit Planning Committee and as an advisor to the Farm Business and Planning Analysis Program at the Wayne County Career Center. Before working at the Conservancy, Katie was a conservation planner for the Wayne County Commissioners in Wooster, Ohio. She worked with rural townships on comprehensive plans, assisted farmers in applying for State funded land programs, administered the local trail enhancement projects, served on the Wayne County AG Success Team, and worked with the Wayne Economic Development Center to secure the first tax abatement for an agricultural operation in the State. Katie grew up on a jersey dairy and produce farm in Lorain County and now resides on the family farm in Wooster with her husband Chad, and sons, Isaac 16, Jacob 14, and Gavin 7.
Heather Roszczyk, Market Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator
marketassistant @cvcountryside.org
330.657.2542, x225
Heather Roszczyk is the Countryside Farmers’ Market Assistant, as well as the Volunteer Coordinator for the markets. While this is Heather’s first professional foray into the non-profit world, she has a strong business background, most recently managing a large footwear line for Nike in Portland, Oregon. With a degree in vocal performance from Indiana University, Heather is also an accomplished musician, and has performed and recorded with internationally-recognized ensembles such as Cappella Romana and In Mulieribus. In Portland, Heather was introduced to the concept of eating seasonally and locally, and has never looked back. She is thrilled to be a part of the Countryside Conservancy and working to support these values. Heather lives in Hudson with her husband, John, their son, Henry, and an ever-expanding vegetable garden.