As ESMC/ESMRC Director of Partnerships & Project Development, Alana leads ESMC’s work to create meaningful partnerships to scale projects, engage farmers in conservation practices and meet corporate buyer needs for credits used in reporting. Additionally, she works with the project management team to oversee projects at large and streamline processes. She also works to target and recruit new members to ESMC’s public private partnership.

Prior to working at ESMC, Alana managed programs at a non-profit business accelerator that supported ag and food start-ups working to build a more resilient food system. There she also ran an annual conference that highlighted current issues in ag/food and promising start-ups in the space. Alana worked on a regenerative livestock operation in Connecticut to learn about alternatives to industrial operations and understand how rotational grazing can help build soil health. She has an MSc in Environmental Protection & Management from The University of Edinburgh and holds a B.A. in Economic & Social History from Barnard College.

Alice Ewen is Assistant Director for Cooperative Forestry, where she leads USDA-Forest Service programs dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of the nation’s privately owned forests. Her national portfolio includes Forest Legacy, Forest Stewardship, Community Forests and Open Space, Landscape Scale Restoration, and coordination of forestry assistance with FSA’s Conservation Reserve Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program.

Alice joined the Forest Service in 2011 as National Program Manager for the Urban and Community Forestry Program, after a 17-year career in the nonprofit sector leading urban and community forestry programs. She was honored to serve as Deputy Associate Director for Lands at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she led Federal policy formulation on climate and natural resources issues. Her accomplishments included the development of the Obama Administration’s Climate and Natural Resources Priority Agenda and advancement of the National Drought Resilience Partnership.

She is a former elected official for the Town of Riverdale Park, MD and board member of the Audubon Naturalist Society, a Washington DC area nonprofit. She holds a B.A. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellows program.

Michael Crowder, President of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is a native of southern Indiana and a Partner of his 3rd generation family farm. Since 2001, Michael has been the General Manager of the Barker Ranch, a 2,000+ acre ranch located along several miles of the Yakima River in West Richland, WA, and has been a Partner since 2013.

He received an Associate’s degree in natural resources and environmental science from Vincennes University, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental science, as well as a Master’s degree in wildlife science, from Purdue University. Crowder served eight years as an adjunct professor at Washington State University Tri-Cities teaching classes in wetland restoration, wildlife science, and ecology.

He is active in agriculture, conservation, and community issues, and serves on many local, state, and national boards and advisory committees. Michael has received both the Benton County and Washington State “Wildlife Farmer of the Year” awards and has been acknowledged by NACD as a “Soil Health Champion”.

Rhonda Kelsch serves as the President of the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA). Rhonda has been with NCDEA since 2006 and has served in various capacities representing conservation district employees within the conservation districts. Rhonda is in her final term of serving in the President capacity and resides in Linton, North Dakota where she serves as District Administration with the Emmons County Soil Conservation since 2002. Rhonda is greatly appreciative of the hard work and dedication of the conservation district employees as they deliver conservation within the landscape of their represent states and territories.

Tim Palmer, from Madison County Iowa near Truro, farms a diversified crop and livestock farm, utilizing conservation best management practices. Tim has been serving as a locally elected Soil and Water Conservation District official since 2003.

Tim has also served as the State President of the Conservation Districts of Iowa as a Governor appointed member of the Iowa State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee and as President of the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Tim is currently the Immediate Past President of NACD, on the National Conservation Foundation Board of Directors and Chair of the NACD Climate Action Task Force. Tim was a member of the Ecosystems Services Market Coalition interim board and is founder of Regenerative Environmental Strategies, LLC.

Tim is currently engaged on a review committee for Madison County’s Comprehensive plan and working with NCF and NACD to provide options to high school students for environment and stewardship classroom college credit.

William A Hodge serves as the President of the National Association of RC&D Councils. Now serving his second term, William joined the National Board of Directors as a Member at Large, representing Underserved Communities. Previously, he has served as 1st Vice-President and supported National as a member of the NCPP Leadership Committee. Introduced to the world of RC&D as a work assignment, William quickly developed a passion for the mission of RC&D. In his local council, Mid-South RC&D, he has served as Chair, Vice-Chair, and currently retains his local council membership as a Member At-Large for Partnerships and Resources.