Staff & Board
PCO Staff
Leslie Zuck
Executive Director
Lee Rinehart
Director of Education and Outreach
Mabell Rivas
Certification Program Director
Kyla Smith
Policy Director and Certification Specialist
Leanne Lenz
Managing Assistant
Robert Yang
Quality Systems Manager
Marissa Pyle
Compliance Manager and Certification Specialist
Penny Sandoval
Certification Specialist
Adam Seitz
Certification Specialist
Heather Hunt
Certification Specialist
Heather Donald
Assistant Certification Specialist
Johanna Mirenda
Materials Specialist and Inspections Coordinator
Sabine Carey
Materials Specialist
Stephanie Bailey
Certification Staff Assistant
Sandie Elder
Office Manager
Joshua Brock
Technology Coordinator
Kathryn Tokarz
Administrative Staff Assistant
April Fix
PR Coordinator
Advisory Board
Back Row (left to right) – Tony Marzolino, Phil Coles, Ken Rice, Elizabeth Amos, Forrest Stricker, Patty Lovera, Dave Wilson
Front Row (left to right) – Melanie Wertz, Debra Deis, Paul Hartz, Charlie White
Debra Deis, Vice President
Seedway, PCO Certified Seeds
Kathy Soder, Secretary
United States Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service
Tom Murphy, Treasurer
Lycoming Cooperative Extension
Elizabeth Amos
Phil Coles
Giorgio Foods, Giorgi Mushroom
PCO Certified Crops, processing
Paul Hartz
B&H Organic Produce
PCO Certified Crops
Julie Hurst
Blue Rooster Farm
PCO Certified Livestock
Patty Lovera
Food and Water Watch
Tony Marzolino
Center State CEO, Marz Farm
Ken Rice
Organic Unlimited
PCO Certified Livestock Feed
Forrest Stricker
Spring Creek Farms
PCO Certified Crops, Livestock
Melanie Wertz
Independent Inspector
Charlie White
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Dave Wilson
King’s Agriseeds, Inc.
Managing Board Members
Charlie White, Managing Board Chair
Elizabeth Amos
Patty Lovera
Tony Marzolino
Tom Murphy
Charlie White
Dave Wilson
Board Term and Elections
Advisory board members serve a 1-year term, with a limit of 5 consecutive terms.
Our policies require that no more than half the board members can be PCO-certified (or related in a way that violates the conflict of interest provision in te NOP regulations). That allows us to have a maximum of 7 certified producers on the board, plus a minimum of 8 others who are independent.
For the non-certified seats, we can invite organic producers who are certified by another agency, someone from Penn State Ag Extension or NRCS, another non-profit ag organization, consumer or environmental group, a college, ag supply company, consumer, veterinarian, inspector, etc.
Nominations can also be made by PCO members and PCO advisory board members. PCO will accept nominations via mail, email and phone.
Board members are selected by the membership at the Annual Meeting in February.
Qualifications
Generally, members should live in PCO’s certification region: Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, District of Columbia.
Advisory board members should be good communications and be willing to contribute to the organization, chair committees, help at events, etc.
Advisory board nominees must submit and advisory board application by December 1st prior to the next election.
Meetings and Events
The next advisory board term begins on the first board meeting following the election.
The advisory board meets quarterly. Typically, 3 meetings take place at the PCO office in Spring Mills, PA and one is held in the Lancaster County, PA area. Members may attend by phone or web connection. (Travel expenses are reimbursed upon request.)
PCO typically holds a strategic planning event in the spring which is attended by the advisory board and staff members.
PCO participates in training events, field days, trade shows, and other events. PCO expects advisory board members to participate in events when possible.
