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.
Jeff Voltz, Project Manager
With more than 20 years of experience in retail grocery, urban and rural community development, and sustainable agricultre, Jeff Voltz is excited to be NABC's Whatcom County Project Manager, and Regional Food System Developer for the Puget Sound Food Network. Jeff's retail experience includes working for PCC Natural Markets, Trader Joe's, and Community Food Co-op in Bellingham. His nonprofit community and rural business development experience includes working for the Snohomish Private Industry Council/DownHome Washington and Farming & the Environment.
Sera Hartman, NABC’s Office Administrator, came to NABC in 2006. She supervises office functions, writes grants, and contributes to client projects. Her current work responsibilities include producing the Skagit Valley Farm Map, Whidbey Island Farm Map, and Red Rooster Route Map & Guide. Sera has served as Superintendent of the Evergreen State Fair's Agriculture Education Display, Marketing and Administrative Manager for the Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins, and head of the Northwestern division of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Sera graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. degree in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in agroecology and biology. She has 20 years' small business experience as a self-employed craftsman. Sera enjoys micro-farming, archery, competitive running and horse gaming.
Maryon Attwood is one of NABC's Special Projects managers. Maryon oversees special value-added projects at NABC like artisan distilling, meat processing and agricultural branding and marketing. As part of the NABC Team, she also works on grants and business plans for various projects. Maryon has served on the Whidbey Island Sustainable Agriculture Committee for three years and was the Director of the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network. Her past roles in non-profit administration provide Maryon with a unique blend of experience needed to organize and facilitate collaboration among producers, their supporters and the consumer public. Maryon’s degree in Art and Biology has served her well in her community-building projects on both the east and west coasts. She raises the critically endangered Poitou donkey on her ten acre farm (atthewoodfarm.com) in Coupeville, WA.
Tim Crosby is Network Coordinator for NABC and is focused on building the relational, logistical, and technical networks for the Puget Sound Food Network. Tim has years of experience working within the Puget Sound's regional food system, and is currently the Farm and Food Systems Director for Growing Washington. Tim is focused on the supply, logistics, and policy innovations involving regional food and is engaged in a national network focused on food, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions. Tim has been assisting the development of the Good Food Coalition that brings various issue-based organizations together to develop common state policy goals. He lives in Edmonds with his wife and two daughters, and coaches two soccer teams in his spare time. He attended Kenyon College and holds an MBA in Sustainable Business from Bainbridge Graduate Institute.