Staff Bios

STAFF BIOS

David Bauermeister, Executive Director
Prior to joining NABC in 2006 as its first Executive Director, David Bauermeister served as Director of the Agricultural and Natural Resources division for the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of Northwest Natural Resources Institute. His agriculture background includes experience as the head of the Spokane Ag Expo, General Manager of Pacific Northwest Fiber LLC, and Assistant Manager and Shareholder of the Northwest Pea and Bean Company. David enjoys hiking and cycling and is the former head of the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition of Spokane, WA. David is a graduate of Washington State University.
 
Gary Merritt, Director, Marketing
Gary recently joined the center as Director of Marketing. Before coming to NABC, he was Director of Marketing at Tai Foong USA, a large seafood importer selling to both retail and foodservice customers throughout the US. Prior to this, Gary worked as Director of Marketing for Stockpot Soups and for the well-known retail bakery chain, Cinnabon. Gary enjoys power boating in Lake Washington and Puget Sound, travel, and downhill skiing at Stevens Pass or Whistler. He has many fond memories of spending time with his grandparents on their Guernsey dairy farm near Oakdale, California. Gary holds a Master of Science in business administration from the University of California, Irvine.

Jake Fowler, Project Manager
Jake Fowler is NABC's Project Manager and oversees the client services provided by the Center. Before joining NABC, he was the assistant area sales manager for Alf Christianson Seed Co. focusing on domestic and international trade. During his time in the vegetable seed trade he was involved with the National Garden Bureau, American Seed Trade Association and Future Seed Executives of America. He currently resides in Bellingham and enjoys all things outdoors. Football season is one of his favorite times of year. Jake earned a BS in horticulture at Washington State University.    

Sera Hartman, NABC’s Office Administrator, came to NABC in 2006.  She has been Superintendent of the Evergreen State Fair's Agriculture Education Display and the Marketing and Administrative Manager for the Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins. She is a life-long horsewoman, animal lover and leathercrafter. She has served as head of the Northwestern region of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and enjoys researching ancient livestock breeds and animal husbandry.  Sera graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in environmental sciences with an emphasis in agroecology and biology. 

Maryon Attwood, Special Projects. 

Regional Food System Project Staff

Mary Embleton
Cascade Harvest Coalition
(206) 632-0606
4649 Sunnyside Ave N., Rm 123
Seattle, WA 98103