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Meet the Team

  • photo of Gary Oppenheimer in a garden

    Gary Oppenheimer

    Founder/Executive Director

    Gary Oppenheimer is our Executive Director and Founder. A self described aging geek, he worked with computers and communications going back to the 1970’s. As director of a community garden in 2009, he learned about the wasted food in many garden plots and created a local hands-on version of what would become AmpleHarvest.org to get the surplus harvests to local food pantries. Realizing this as a nationwide problem, he created a nationwide solution called AmpleHarvest.org using the Internet educate, encourage and enable millions of growers nationwide to share their surplus harvests with local food pantries in all 50 states. Gary can be reached at [email protected] and @GaryOppenheimer

  • Molly Cantrell

    INDIAN COUNTRY LIASON

    Molly is a Southern Oklahoma native and a member of the Choctaw Nation and currently resides in Asheville, NC. She grew up with many animals and venturing outdoors. She has worked as a wild horse and burro researcher, teacher, coach, and trail coordinator. Molly‘s educational background includes fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and Native Studies. She obtained a Master’s in Native American Leadership, emphasizing Grant Writing for Native Nations. She serves on the Wildlife Restoration Committee for The Wildlife Society, is a Facilitator for Building Bridges Asheville, Climate and Inclusivity Advocate for We Swim Wild, and is an American Wild Horse Campaign Ambassador. Molly is a respected conservation advocate known for proven skills in community outreach initiatives and is adamant about diversifying the outdoors and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. She is an outdoorist who enjoys backpacking with her dog Sly Stone, kayaking, climbing, biking, and occasional snow sports. In her role with AmpleHarvest.org, Molly leverages a passion for environmental sustainability, food security and a desire to contribute to a sustainable future for everyone.

  • Brian Lowell

    DEVELOPMENT-OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Brian comes to AmpleHarvest.org with a four year background in non-profit management and development. Although lacking a green thumb himself, his experience working with an adult literacy organization has left him with an appreciation of how small acts of generosity can have profound impacts on communities, and change individual lives for the better. In his spare time Brian is an active member of both the New York and national ultimate frisbee communities as both an organizer and player, and spends an unhealthy amount of energy stressing out over the fortunes of Liverpool Football Club. Brian can be reached at [email protected].

  • Leanne Mazurick

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

    Leanne has worked in higher education for the last 10 years engaging students through volunteer experiences both domestically and internationally. Through these experiences, Leanne gained valuable insight into the complexities of social justice issues that impact so many. Hunger relief and sustainable agriculture are of particular interest to Leanne and she is thrilled to be combining those two passions as Food Pantry Outreach Coordinator for AmpleHarvest.org. Leanne can be reached at [email protected].

  • Jamie McCarthy

    MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

    Jamie has been digging in the dirt since she was little, learning by following her parents around their tiny but prolific garden. Early on, she realized her eye for design was stronger than her green thumb, so she picked up a pencil and became a multimedia designer and communications specialist. Jamie is also an avid runner and outdoor enthusiast who has experienced first-hand the improvements in performance and recovery by refueling with healthy fresh food. She loves the passion in the food and gardening communities and strives to continue making the social connections that help them to grow. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].

Board of Trustees

  • Wendy Gonzalez

    CHAIR - BOARD OF TRUSTEES Read Bio
  • Martin Baumann

    VICE CHAIR - BOARD OF TRUSTEES Read Bio
  • Brian J Kirkpatrick

    TREASURER Read Bio
  • Terry L. McCrary

    SECRETARY Read Bio
  • Joanne Deignan

    Joanne Deignan

    Read Bio
  • photo of Gary Oppenheimer in a garden

    Gary Oppeneimer

    FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Read Bio
  • Beth Rosenstein

    Read Bio
  • Steve Shah

    PAST BOARD PRESIDENT Read Bio
  • Matthew Strabone

    Read Bio
  • Mike Sutterer

    Read Bio

Advisory Board

  • Stephen Beninati

    Read Bio
  • Johnathan Bloom

    Read Bio
  • Ellen S. Cola

    Read Bio
  • Rachel Dlugash

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  • Robert Egger

    Read Bio
  • David Sank

    Read Bio
  • Tristram Stuart

    Read Bio

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