Country: U.S.

James grew up dividing his time between small towns in both Ohio and Oklahoma, but he always dreamed of exploring the world and understanding it better. After he graduated Cum Laude from Southern Nazarene University, James went to work in the US, but knew he wanted to make a bigger impact. In 2014 he moved to … Continued

Caroline grew up in the Philadelphia area, went to college in the Hudson Valley, and has been raising her family in the Philly suburbs. Having studied Art History and Museum Communication, she spent most of her professional career working with artists and in museums. Some of her favorite things to do are cook, try new … Continued

Gabe Buttram has always had a passion for nature, travel, and new experiences. This led him to join the Peace Corps, where he first developed an interest in sustainable agriculture, agroforestry and community development. Gabe holds a Master’s degree from American University in International Affairs, and a second Master’s from the UN University for Peace … Continued

Growing up in Ethiopia, Ephrem has seen the struggle for smallholder farmers to become self-sufficient through rainfed agriculture. Ephrem believes Africa’s development potential can only be sustainably realized through meaningful agricultural and rural development efforts that place smallholder farmers at the epicenter. His entire professional experience has been committed to supporting the efforts of African … Continued

Nicole graduated from American University in 2020 where she majored in International Studies with a thematic focus in Environmental Sustainability. During her time in college, she studied abroad in Kenya and became interested in international development in Africa. Nicole interned for TREES in the past as an Individual Giving and Brand Partnerships Intern. Her interest … Continued

With personal roots spreading from rural Tennessee to some of the world’s most diverse cities, Junior is passionate about sustainable development through agroforestry on an international scale. Junior holds a B.A. with Honors in History from Rhodes College, where his research focused on agricultural cooperatives and activism in the Mississippi Delta. His interest in agriculture … Continued

Lisa’s love of learning from agricultural communities around the world began when she was an undergraduate student introduced to principles of sustainable tropical agriculture. Her passion for finding sustainable solutions, informed by farmers’ expertise and experience, has led her across Africa, Asia, and Central America. Lisa has previously worked as a Project Manager for Creative … Continued

Florence grew up in southern France and came to the US in 2002 to start her professional career in the food industry. She developed wonderful relations with buyers, manufacturers, distributors, chefs, hospitality professionals and retailers. While she enjoyed her experience, she always wanted to work for an organization that was doing something close to her heart. Having a … Continued