Current Class

Our Current LeadNY Class

The men and women of LeadNY Class 18 and 19 come from diverse backgrounds and regions, but all have a common commitment to the future of the food and agricultural system. Upon graduation, they will join the ranks of nearly 500 alumni who are currently making a difference locally, regionally, and nationally. This network of graduates provides leadership to a wide range of organizations and industries.

Resources for current cohort

Class 19

John Auwaerter (Bayport Flower Houses)
Diana Baquero (Enveritas)
Karl Bitz (Central New York Feeds)
David Chan (FarmTogether)
Shannon Crow (Bowery Farming)
Lars Demander (Clover Nook Farm)
Kim Feeney London (SUNY Adirondack)
Victoria Giarratano (Cornell Cooperative Extension
Jessica Henesy (NYS Department of Ag & Markets)
Colleen Klein (NY Corn & Soybean Growers Association)
David Patterson (Foodbank of the Southern Tier)
Julie Raway (Broome-Tioga BOCES)
Olu Roberts (Hello Agriculture)
Steven Schiano (S.E. Schiano Logging)
Madeline Skellie (Farm Journal Foundation)
Callan Space (Millbrook Farms)
Shirley Spencer (Farm Credit East Batavia)
Jolie Spiers (CCE Livingston County)
Renée St. Jacques (New York Farm Bureau)
James Williams (Intergrow Greenhouses)
Bruno Xavier (Cornell Food Venture Center/Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture)

Class 18

Currently on pause until Fall 2022

Emma Andrew-Swarthout

Dir. of dairy Industry Image
American dairy Assoc.
North East North Syracuse, NY

Trevor Bathel

Relationship Manager
CoBank
Enfield, CT

Whitney Beaman

Program Manager / Dir. of Brand Strategy
Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing / Bedell Cellars
Cutchogue, NY

David Bittner

Orchard Manager
Bittnery-Singer Orchards
Appleton, NY

Mark Bordeau, SNS

Senior Director of Food Service
Broome-Tioga BOCES
Endicott, NY

Renee Ciardi

Field Advisor
New York Farm Bureau
Albany, NY

Jessica Decker

Quality Systems Manager
Bonduelle USA
Brockport, NY

Kate Downes

Outreach Director
NY FarmNet
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Christina Hall

Ag Safety Educator
NYCAMH
Cooperstown, NY

Leslie Hamilton

Production Manager
Triple H Farms
Leicester, NY

James Harris

Forester
Wagner Hardwoods LLC
Cayuta, NY

Lucas Irwin

Crop Adviser
CaroVail, Inc.
Salem, NY

John Kelder

Partner
Kelder's Farm LLC
Kerhonkson, NY

Richard Kimmich

Credit Manager
Dairy Farmers of America Financing
East Syracuse, NY

Jerome Kingston

Ag Manager
Seneca Foods
Geneva, NY

Samantha Levy

New York Policy Manager
American Farmland Trust
Saratoga Springs, NY

Heather Meehan

Program Coordinator
EastEnd Food Institute
Southampton, NY

Kathleen Noble Wolfley

St. Economist & Research Specialist
Bliming and Associates
Madison, WI

Mathew Pinckney

Branch Manager
Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC
Genoa, NY

Nolan Reeves

Crop Production Manager
Reeves Farms
Baldwinsville, NY

Emily Robertson

Senior Loan Officer
Farm Credit East, ACA
Phelps, NY

Adam H. Seybolt

Director of Manufacturing
Stewart's Shops Corp.
Saratoga Springs, NY

Martin Slade

Service Manager of Anatomic Pathology
Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Matthew Toussaint

Partner/Manager
Toussaint Farms LLC
Medina, NY

Kimberly Trombly

Field Advisor
New York Farm Bureau
Albany, NY

Chad Wall

Veterinarian 2
New York State Dept of Agriculture & Markets
Albany, NY

Matt Wells

Director of Field Services
NY Apple Sales, Inc.
Glenmont, NY

Hannah Worden

Sales Team Leader
ABS Global
Clifton Springs, NY