April Vasquez es la Jefa de Certificación y Operaciones de CCOF, aportando más de 18 años de experiencia en certificación orgánica y liderazgo organizacional. Dirige con un profundo compromiso con la integridad orgánica, la excelencia operativa y el liderazgo inclusivo. April tiene un MBA del programa de Gestión Empresarial Responsable de CSU Monterey Bay y ha desempeñado un papel fundamental en la configuración del futuro de la certificación orgánica y del cannabis.

En CCOF, April ha encabezado el lanzamiento de tres programas de certificación complementarios y ha dirigido la integración de la norma Strengthening Organic Enforcement, la actualización normativa más importante de las normas ecológicas en dos décadas.

April formó parte de la junta de la Accredited Certifiers Association durante tres años, como tesorera, contribuyendo a la coherencia e integridad de la certificación. Californiana de cuarta generación que creció en la agricultura, aporta una conexión de toda la vida con la agricultura y una pasión por apoyar a las comunidades que la sustentan. Su liderazgo se basa en el cultivo de una sólida cultura empresarial, la promoción de la equidad y la navegación por complejos entornos normativos.

Renee McKeon se unió a CCOF en 2009 como coordinadora de operaciones de certificación para dar más apoyo administrativo y operativo a los servicios de certificación orgánica del USDA de CCOF. Desde entonces, ha ayudado a ampliar el departamento de operaciones de certificación a medida que CCOF ha crecido y se ha expandido para proporcionar ofertas de certificación adicionales. McKeon y el equipo de operaciones garantizan que las funciones de certificación estén alineadas en las áreas de procesos de flujo de trabajo, desarrollo de bases de datos, sistemas de calidad y gestión de incumplimientos administrativos. Disfruta con los complejos retos y el trabajo interfuncional con los revisores, inspectores, ejecutivos y personal de CCOF.

McKeon vive y trabaja en la bahía de Monterrey desde principios de los años noventa. Es licenciada en Antropología por la Universidad de California en Santa Cruz y desde hace mucho tiempo le apasionan los entresijos de las personas y las culturas. Vive y trabaja en Santa Cruz, California, con su marido y sus dos hijos. A McKeon le encanta una buena barbacoa con la familia y los amigos y cualquier motivo de celebración.

Katie Peck joined CCOF in the summer of 2002 as a Marketing Assistant, one month before the official implementation of the USDA NOP’s organic certification standards. In 2007 she moved into the Farm Department and worked as a Certification Specialist, Supervisor, and Manager for almost a decade on that team. As CCOF continued to grow, Katie developed the position of Certification Training Manager in 2016 and has filled that role since then.  Katie works closely with all new certification staff and also works on a team that maintains internal resources and instructions for certification staff across four departments and multiple certification offerings. She loves a good spreadsheet, and planning for details.

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Sociology from St. Lawerence University. Her favorite tree is in Santa Cruz, California, and her favorite band is from Vermont. Katie enjoys making art in her free time.

Jasmine Roohani is the Certification Operations Supervisor and brings over 20 years of experience in organic agriculture and office administration to CCOF. Jasmine’s career has spanned time at the University of CA – Santa Cruz as part of the Organic Farming and Gardening Apprenticeship, farming at Everett Family Farm in Soquel, CA, Program Coordinator at the Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm) in Soquel, CA, CSA Coordinator/Office Manager/Event Coordinator at Route 1 Farms in Santa Cruz, CA and Office Manager at Wildlands Studies in Aptos, CA.

At CCOF, Jasmine manages a team of 8 Certification Operations Assistants who provide customer service and administration support to CCOF clients and staff. Her team performs a myriad of tasks that supports and assists the work of CCOF Certification staff.

Jasmine owes her passion and commitment to organic agriculture to her apprenticeship years at the University of CA – Santa Cruz and the supportive farming community in Santa Cruz County. She is excited and proud to now be working behind the scenes at CCOF supporting certified organic clients all over North America.

Liam Jamieson joined CCOF in 2024 as a member of the Certification Operations team. Liam studied at Dartmouth College, graduating with a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Geography. Now based in San Francisco, he first entered the agricultural world by working a harvest season at a winery in Napa in 2023. Outside of work, Liam enjoys playing music, surfing, running, and spending time with friends.

Renee Delaney creció en una granja del centro de Illinois donde su familia criaba ganado vacuno, cerdos, maíz y soja, y fue educada para admirar a quienes cuidaban la tierra y sabían cultivar alimentos. Delaney siguió su pasión por las plantas y se licenció en biología vegetal por la Southern Illinois University Carbondale, al tiempo que trabajaba en viveros, viñedos, operaciones de paisajismo, en invernaderos y en la cooperativa local.

En 2005, comenzó su carrera en el Departamento de Agricultura del Estado de Washington (WSDA). Mientras estuvo en el WSDA, Delaney verificó diferentes normativas agrícolas estatales y federales realizando encuestas, inspeccionando viveros/granjas de árboles/campos de bulbos, verificando certificados fitosanitarios, revisando normativas de viveros de plantas y, a partir de 2008, trabajando con el Programa de Alimentos Orgánicos del WSDA. Delaney se unió a CCOF en 2016 y ahora se desempeña como directora de programas agrícolas de CCOF. Más allá de su interés personal en la agricultura orgánica, Delaney completa su satisfacción explicando, implementando y verificando el cumplimiento de las Normas Orgánicas Nacionales del USDA.

Caitlin Slay brings over a decade of experience in organic research and certification to CCOF. While studying Environmental Studies at UCSC, she performed numerous internships conducting integrated pest management research and assisting in farm production throughout the Greater Bay area. In addition to her tenure at CCOF, Caitlin also has worked as a Staff Research Associate in the UCSC Environmental Studies Department and an Investigative Analyst with the National Organic Program. Caitlin is passionate about organic and regenerative farming, social justice, and animal welfare, and believes that these practices and principles will ensure not only proper stewardship of our ecosystems but care and respect for the people and animals that rely on them.

In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys hiking and kayaking on the CA central coast, hanging with her family and pets, cooking, gardening and relishing in as many artistic endeavors as possible.

Kelly Korman joined CCOF in 2016 as the Livestock Certification Service Specialist and has served as the Livestock Certification Supervisor since 2021. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Master of Arts in Women’s Studies, with her research focusing on the significance of school and community gardens, particularly as social movements and spaces for personal autonomy in growing one’s own food. During her time at the University of Florida, Kelly also managed the student agricultural gardens for several years, worked for UF/IFAS Extension establishing gardening programs throughout Northeast Florida, and earned certificates as a Florida Master Gardener and Master Herdsman.

At CCOF, Kelly deeply appreciates the longstanding relationships and conversations she has with our livestock producers, inspectors, and review staff. She has implemented multiple regulatory updates, including Origin of Livestock and the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards and is IOIA trained as a Crop and Livestock Inspector. Kelly’s work is rooted in great respect for our livestock producers, who serve as stewards of their land and animals with intergenerational wisdom and care.

In her spare time, Kelly enjoys piecing together quilts from bits of fabric, playing a weekly mahjong game, and curling up with some (organic) macaroni and cheese. She lives in sunny Boca Raton, FL and is always grateful when she can take in an ocean sunrise.

Caroline’s interest in farming began as a kid in 4H and eventually led her to working as an organic inspector. Prior to that, she worked for several seasons on the field crews of organic farms in Washington State. She completed a BA in Environmental Studies at Western Washington University. Some hobbies Caroline enjoys include knitting (especially with wool from local farmers), gardening, cooking, and baking.

Dana Ford has plants in her blood. From an early age, she worked at her family’s retail nursery then continued employment at various wholesale and retail nurseries for 30 years. Her most unique position was Horticulture Curator at Cheyene Mountain Zoo where daily challenges included giraffes browsing on their habitat and lion cubs chomping through the irrigation heads.

Dana F. has been working in the organic industry since 2014 as an inspector, reviewer and consultant to the Crops, Wild Crops and Handler scopes. She attended Colorado State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and a Master of Business degree. Dana F. began working for CCOF in 2017 as a Farm Certification Specialist. She currently serves as the Farm Certification Service Specialist to over 500 members across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada plus the Big Valley and Yolo CCOF Chapters in California.

Colleen has spent more than two decades in the organic sector, working with organic certifiers, food cooperatives, and on both her own certified farm and other farming operations. This range of experience has given her a strong, hands‑on understanding of organic production from the field to the marketplace. She enjoys spending time outdoors, reading nonfiction, observing plants wherever she goes, and cooking with seasonal foods and herbs. Colleen is a graduate of Oregon State University, where she studied environmental health and humanities.

April joined CCOF in 2014 and has served as a Farm Certification Service Specialist ever since. Her roots run deep in 4‑H, where she grew from an enthusiastic member into club president—raising show rabbits, sewing dresses, and discovering a love for conservation through hands‑on natural resource projects.

Before coming to CCOF, April coordinated the Food Coalition of Central Indiana and supported statewide wellness efforts through the Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Communications and Management from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and a B.S. in International, Consumer, and Resource Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign (UIUC).

Among her most treasured experiences is co‑creating a community garden alongside youth at the Boys & Girls Club in Zionsville, Indiana—a project designed to get children growing and eating fruits and vegetables while also donating fresh produce to the local food pantry. In her free time, April enjoys reading fantasy novels, dancing to groovy music, and hiking with her family.

Drake Bialecki brings a lifelong passion for the natural world to his work in organic agriculture. He studied Environmental Studies and Organic Farming at the University of California, Santa Cruz, laying the foundation for hands-on roles in production farming and as a cellar hand at Bonny Doon Vineyard. In 2015, he joined CCOF, where the organization’s culture and membership aligned strongly with his strengths in organization, teamwork, and critical thinking.

For the past decade, Drake has served as a Senior Farm Certification Service Specialist at CCOF, applying his deep enthusiasm for organic food systems and his practical farming experience to support farmers across the Westcoast. He is committed to upholding organic integrity, advancing operational excellence, and fostering inclusive, collaborative relationships.

Outside of work, Drake is an avid adventurer who enjoys surfing and snowboarding around the world. At home, he stays connected to the land through a thriving garden, greenhouse, and beehives.

Sarah Reed siempre ha amado el mundo natural y siguió esta pasión para estudiar ecología y biología evolutiva en la Universidad de California, Santa Cruz. Tras licenciarse, trabajó en las industrias biotecnológica y farmacéutica durante varios años antes de incorporarse al CCOF como especialista en certificación de manipuladores en 2008. El puesto aprovechaba los puntos fuertes de Reed en organización, desarrollo de procesos y pensamiento crítico.

El entusiasmo de Reed por los alimentos orgánicos y su formación en ciencias duras han seguido sirviéndole en su actual puesto de directora de certificación de manipuladores. Es experta en materiales y normas de elaboración orgánicos, especialmente en vinificación y en el creciente ámbito de la certificación de minoristas y restaurantes.

Reed es una ecologista de toda la vida que va en bicicleta al trabajo, siempre lleva una botella de agua reutilizable y un recipiente para llevar, y se esfuerza por crear cero residuos. Reed es vegetariana desde los 11 años y disfruta organizando y asistiendo a cenas, haciendo kickboxing, catando vinos y cervezas locales, caminando por todas partes y jugando con su gato.

Jessie has been part of CCOF since 2014, bringing over a decade of experience in organic certification and compliance. She specializes in international trade arrangements and Mexico’s organic regulations, helping handlers understand international requirements and navigate the challenges of global organic trade.

Her commitment to organic agriculture began with a love for the outdoors and a degree in Environmental Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill. After college, Jessie spent two years with AmeriCorps, leading a youth program at Veggielution, an innovative urban farm in San Jose that connects communities through food and education. She later deepened her expertise by studying Ecological Horticulture at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable farming practices.

Fluent in Spanish, Jessie studied abroad in Argentina and travels throughout Latin America whenever possible. Jessie lives in North Carolina and enjoys spending time at the ocean.

Patrick Arndt has worked in the organic certification field for over 15 years. After initially working as a Handler reviewer with Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO), Patrick moved to CCOF where he continued review work and added inspections to the mix. Serving in a managerial role for the last several years has allowed Patrick to focus on improving systems and helping staff achieve our end goal: a world where organic is the norm. As a previous chef, one of his core principles is quality food prepared in a thoughtful way. Outside of work, Patrick goes mountain biking or hiking to recharge and spends time with his two daughters. Patrick holds a BA in Psychology from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

Leslie Claypool is an Investigations Supervisor at CCOF, where she leads a team dedicated to compliance, fraud detection, and regulatory enforcement under the USDA National Organic Program. With over a decade of experience in organic certification and verifying supply chain integrity, Leslie specializes in complex investigations, traceability audits, and developing tools to uphold industry standards. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and a B.S. in Business Administration, blending legal expertise with operational leadership to uphold the integrity of organic markets.

I’ve been working on small organic farms since I was 17 and earned my degree in Human Ecology & Sustainable Agriculture from the College of the Atlantic. I later transitioned into the Organic Certification industry, starting as an inspector and then becoming a reviewer, working across both crop and handler scopes. I grew up on a beautiful little island off the coast of Maine, with a graduating high school class of 6! I have studied herbalism, began volunteering for a wild bird rescue center this year, and am currently working my way through a 4-year astrology certification program. I love owls, swimming, knitting, relief printmaking, creating flower art, and hiking!

Diana Chamot joined CCOF in 2015 as part of the Handler Department. Originally from Michigan, she holds degrees in biology and psychology from Hope College in Holland, MI. Her passion for the environment, food, and animals inspired her transition to organic agriculture after several years in clinical research and laboratory work. With nearly a decade of experience in the organic industry – including roles at another certifier and as a compliance coordinator for a major organic distributor – Diana brought a wealth of expertise to CCOF. Today, she serves as a Senior Handler Certification Specialist, supporting the retail/restaurant program and serving on CCOF’s Canada Organic Regime (COR) review team.

Based in Jacksonville, FL, Diana enjoys exploring the state’s natural beauty and spending time outdoors with her partner, Matt, and their two Labrador Retrievers.

Post college, I found myself farming – on my own and for other organic farms – from Indiana to California’s Sacramento Valley and Central Coast. I was a Jill of all trades, planting and harvesting, managing greenhouse transplants, working farmers markets and delivering CSA boxes throughout San Francisco and the Central Coast. Fifteen years later, I left the physical labor behind but stayed active in organic agriculture, landing at CCOF in 2014. In my free time, I love to volunteer at a local native plant nursery, puttering in my yard and hiking with my dogs.

Jordan joined CCOF’s Handler Department several years ago. Before that, she spent a decade in the craft beer and beverage alcohol industry, specializing in microbial propagation, quality assurance, and food safety within midsize manufacturing facilities. During her tenure as a Quality Manager, one of her key responsibilities was developing and managing the Organic System Plan and ensuring organic compliance for a certified organic processor.

Jordan graduated from Colorado State University, originally known as Colorado Agricultural College, which continues its strong agricultural heritage by emphasizing agricultural sciences. She earned a degree in Biology with a minor in Food Science and Safety.

As an overall lover of plants, ardent gardener, herbalist, floral artist, forager, hobby mushroom grower, and novice birder, Jordan cultivates deep ties to flora, fauna, and land. Outside of work and her cultivation practices, Jordan is an avid outdoorswomen and enthusiastic recreator of public lands. She loves to backcountry ski, mountain bike, whitewater raft, backpack, and run trails.

Jamie comenzó a trabajar para CCOF en 2007 y ha ocupado varios puestos en el departamento de Operaciones de Inspección, incluyendo inspector, supervisor, gerente y director. Jamie es licenciada en Ciencias Vegetales por la Universidad Estatal de California en Fresno y siempre ha sentido pasión por la agricultura orgánica. Antes de trabajar para CCOF, fue copropietaria de una granja de verduras orgánicas en las estribaciones de California. En su tiempo libre, Jamie disfruta horneando, cultivando su huerto y haciendo senderismo en las montañas de Sierra Nevada con su familia y sus perros.

Kari’s journey with organics began in the kitchen. As a chef and Operations Manager at the third certified organic kitchen in the nation, she was introduced to organic regulations shortly after the National Organic Program (NOP) was established. She joined CCOF in 2006 as a Handler Certification Specialist and Inspector, then moved into Inspection Operations in 2009 as the Inspection Services Representative for all CCOF processors as well as all North America clients outside California. Today, Kari serves as Assistant Director, maintaining systems, policies, and processes that support a team of 12 and nearly 80 inspectors.

Beyond her professional role, Kari continues to nurture her culinary roots by developing recipes and cooking for friends and family. She also enjoys lending a hand at her husband’s thriving gastro brewpub, catching live music, and traveling far and wide to see her favorite bands. When she’s home, you’ll often find her walking her dog along the rugged coastline, on forest trails, or out and about in her community on the Monterey Peninsula.

I have been in the organic and Biodynamic fields for over 11 years as both an inspector and Inspection Supervisor. My husband and I have two small farms on the Luckiamute river in Oregon where we raise orchard fruit and Scottish Highland cattle. My life has had many journeys, I am a tuba major who played many years for the Spokane Symphony and spent 19 years in law enforcement, both for the Sheriff’s Office and National Park Service.

Laura is a dedicated professional with over 15 years of experience in organic certification and sustainable agriculture, beginning her career in the field in 2009. Her passion for organic living took root in college, inspired by her local grocery co-op and her mother—a clinical nutritionist, health educator, and holistic health practitioner. She studied science and health but found her path eventually led her into technology and small business ownership.

While expecting her first child in 2009, Laura channeled her entrepreneurial spirit and launched an organic children’s retail boutique and education program for parents.  Drawing on her diverse background in business, leadership, science, nutrition, and farm management, she later transitioned into organic certification in 2013. She began as a farm and handler inspector with CCOF, conducting more than 950 inspections for CCOF and other certifiers. Her career progressed to include two years as an organic farm certification reviewer, founder of a consulting firm that successfully guided dozens of clients through the certification process, and adjunct faculty member in a university program focused on sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship.

Since 2024, Laura has served as Inspection Operations Supervisor with CCOF, where she promotes excellence in organic and regenerative practices and advances in environmental health. Based in San Diego County, she balances her professional mission with family life as a proud mother of two boys.

Aspen is a dedicated Organic Inspector with CCOF, bringing hands-on experience and a lifelong passion for sustainable agriculture. A Northern California native, she grew up immersed in the region’s farming community through family ties to logging and equine industries.

She is a proud graduate of California State University, Chico, holding dual degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Business. While at Chico State, she worked directly at the university’s certified Organic Dairy Unit, deepening her expertise in USDA National Organic Program standards, animal welfare, and regenerative practices.

Committed to supporting farmers who feed the world responsibly, Aspen delivers thorough, clear, and encouraging inspections. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, rock crawling and tending her own flower and vegetable garden