AgRefresh’s founder and executive director, Jeffrey Frost, has a long history of utilizing information technologies as tools to effect positive change. He leads AgRefresh’s research, quantification, policy analysis and consultation services for industry, NGO, and government entities.
Strengths:
Jeffrey is involved in several leading carbon reduction initiatives in the agriculture and forestry sector. He has played an active role in environmental and carbon policy research and development for over a decade, and brings a strong background of collaboration to his work with industry, non-profits, NGOs, and governmental clients. His in-depth environmental accounting experience enables him to guide AgRefresh through the rapidly evolving carbon regulatory landscape.
Education:
B.A. Economics, Cornell College, Wall Street Journal Award for Top Economics Student
M.B.A. Quantitative Finance, University of Southern California, Marshall Graduate School of Business, Magna cum Laude
Patrick Wood, Chief Environmental Accountant
Responsibilities:
As the Chief Environmental Accountant, Patrick leads the environmental accounting team quantifying the GHG emissions, energy production, and environmental impacts of agricultural and forestry activities, and developing transparent and verifiable, accounting methodologies that improve upon existing protocols and industry standards. In addition he manages the anaerobic digestion side of AgRefresh’s business and is responsible for business development.
Strengths:
Patrick’s background in sustainable agriculture and environmental studies provides him with the practical experience necessary to develop environmental accounting methodologies and mechanisms that address the economic, environmental, and energy challenges and opportunities within the agriculture and forestry sectors. Patrick has obtained Life Cycle Assessment training from Harvard University modeling the environmental impacts of corn ethanol production and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of different LCA tools. His research experience in the field of Community Development and Applied Economics includes designing state policies to provide financial incentives for provision of ecosystem services, and developing a GHG accounting protocol for dairy anaerobic digestion projects.
Education:
B.A Anthropology, Bates College
M. S. Candidate, Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont
Charles Kerchner, Senior Environmental Accountant
Responsibilities:
Charles works as an Environmental Accountant at AgRefresh and is responsible for developing appropriate environmental accounting metrics and tools related to carbon sequestration and emission reduction projects. Currently, he works on the development of GHG accounting tools that evaluate the carbon credit production and revenue generation opportunities for forestry-based carbon projects and an anaerobic digestion business model. Charles also works on climate policy issues, examining the role U.S. agriculture and forestry sectors can play in a national climate policy.
Strengths:
Having worked as a natural resource economist over the past eight years, Charles has extensive experience working on domestic and international projects that apply innovative economic policies to conservation. His main strength is evaluating the economic feasibility of forestry-based carbon offset projects. Charles also has valuable international conservation experience, having worked in Latin America on projects related to payments for environmental services.
Education:
B.A. Anthropology, Minor in Economics, Lafayette College
M.S. Applied Economics, certificate in Ecological Economics, University of Vermont
PhD student in environmental policy, University of Vermont, focusing on climate change mitigation.
Simon Bird, Environmental Accountant
Responsibilities:
Simon specializes in Agricultural Cropping Systems and Biofuel Feedstock Production. Simon is very interested in biological sequestration, including that in forests and soil, and the development of new methodologies and protocols for their measurement. Additionally, Simon tracks the development of the biofuels and biomass energy legislation at the Federal and State level for AgRefresh.
Strengths:
Simon brings a diverse skill set to AgRefresh, having worked in the soil, water, and forestry research fields. Simon’s research has focused on using the principles of ecological design for the development of alternative wastewater treatment systems for agricultural sources of water pollution. He has a long-standing interest in how market-based mechanisms can be used for the promotion of eco-system services and sustainable development.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Science, concentration in Ecological Design, University of Vermont
M.S. Soil Science, University of Vermont
Ted Auch, PhD
Responsibilities:
Ted is investigating the bioenergy potential of second growth poplar coppice on tree plantations in the Pacific Northwest. He is currently engaged in the greenhouse gas modeling of a hybrid poplar plantation in the state of Oregon. Well-equipped to perform this quantification, Ted is extensively versed in greenhouse gas accounting specific to the agricultural sector, and has long been investigating the bioenergy potential of manure and woody biomass. Additionally, Ted has performed greenhouse gas modeling and phosphorous cycling analysis for the UVM Constructed Wetland Research Center.
Strengths:
Ted’s background brings a wealth of scientific rigor to his work at AgRefresh, and a strong base upon which to base his recommendations in environmental decision-making. In addition to the quantification of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pools and fluxes within hardwood ecosystems, Ted has worked with soil-plant interfaces, and specifically biogeochemical fluxes. His graduate research focused on establishing the primary factors influencing early- and late-successional hardwood tree growth on recently reclaimed strip-mines in southern Appalachia, with an emphasis on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Ted additionally possesses considerable experience in GPS forest mapping, and wildlife migration patterns.
Education:
PhD. Soil Chemistry, University of Vermont
M.S. Forest Soil Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
B.S. Plant Physiology/Soil Science University of Vermont
Brian Colleran, M.S.
Strengths:
With a history in land use management, Brian has dealt with restoration and conservation projects in the Great Basin, the Sierra Nevada, California’s Central Valley, and the Upper Midwest. Most projects were focused on protecting and restoring wetlands and riparian habitat, reducing the threat of invasive species in sensitive habitats, improving the fire regime, and GIS data collection. With this background in evaluating and managing landscapes, Brian brings a strong understanding of project management and ecosystem function to AgRefresh. His insights on how to best manage a forest to improve ecological functions and carbon sequestration will be invaluable. Further, he is a freelance environmental journalist and through this experience has developed an excellent understanding of a wide range of environmental issues which will undoubtedly be of service.
Education:
B.S. Biology and B.A. Sociology, Providence College, Providence RI
M.S. Resource Ecology Management, University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment
Erin Cleere, Business Manager
Responsibilities:
Erin is responsible for the financial operations of AgRefresh, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, and cash flow management. Responsible for AgRefresh’s office organization, Erin maintains electronic and hard copy files of business information, the AgRefresh digital library, and facilitates the day-to-day operations of AgRefresh ensuring that all runs smoothly. She manages AgRefresh’s sales database, and additionally assists the team with a host of support activities, including copy-editing, marketing outreach, and client contact.
Education:
M.S., Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University
B.S., Wildlife Biology, University of Vermont
AgRefresh Partners
Agrefresh is majority owned by two Vermont dairy farms: Jasper Hill Farms and Fosters Brothers Farm.
Jasper Hill Farms
Jasper Hill Farm is an award winning cheese farm located in northern Vermont and a part-owner of AgRefresh.
Foster Brothers Farms
The Foster Brothers Farms in Addison County produces Vermont Natural Ag Products and is also a part-owner of AgRefresh.
AgRefresh Strategic Collaborators
Dr. Leonard Bull, Ph.D., PAS, Senior Scientist
Responsibilities:
Len provides guidance on scientific research and information resources, as well as guidance on the relationship of latest science developments to policy. He provides in-depth understanding of waste management and environmental quality matters, including those associated with anaerobic digester projects, and he advises on scientific, policy and technical issues which inform our consultation services.
Strengths:
Combining a wide and deep academic research background with institutional leadership, possessing national and international experience of more than 40 years, Len provides valuable perspective in policy and practical arenas. His experience, knowledge, and academic connections enable him to provide perspective and a valuable flow of current information regarding scientific and policy developments.
Education:
B.S. with Honors, Oklahoma State University, Dairy Science
M.S., with Honors, Oklahoma State University, Dairy Cattle Nutrition
Ph.D., with Honors, Cornell University, Animal Nutrition
R. Bruce Arnold, M.S., MBA, Forestry Industry Advisor
Responsibilities:
Bruce Arnold delivers a deeper understanding of the forestry and forest products industry on behalf of specific client assignments. His decades of executive leadership in the North American and international pulp & paper, wood products and forest industries integrate within AgRefresh on the intricacies carbon, energy and biomass policies.
Strengths:
Bruce’s background includes in-depth experience in forestry industry technological research and development. With practical knowledge of the dynamics of capital project development, and experience in guiding scientific research for the paper industry, he guides AgRefresh’s assignments with forestry-related clients. He provided counsel to a major Canadian pulp manufacturer on the potential to create and utilize fast growing forestry feedstocks. He also provided leadership to the U.S. Department of Energy Biofuels Feedstock Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratories. He was a founder of “Fiber Farms for the Future”, an alliance providing strategic and tactical services in the creation and management of short rotation tree crops.
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine, Magna cum Laude
M.S. Pulp & Paper Technology, University of Maine
Jan Schultz, M.S. , Chief Technology Officer
Responsibilities:
Jan is responsible for all software tools development and IT planning and support. The development of environmental accounting and financial analysis tools is a key aspect of the manner in which AgRefresh builds a knowledge base benefiting each successive customer based upon accumulated prior experience. Environmental accounting is fundamentally about maintenance of sophisticated data banks and computational engines. Jan allows AgRefresh to excel in this realm.
Strengths:
Jan is a career software developer who innovates on the leading edge of technologies and implementation strategies, while pursuing his dual passions: Positive environmental change and the development of cost-effective, user friendly means by which such change can be tracked, documented, and communicated to wider communities. Jan is an executive, software entrepreneur, designer and engineer. He has had extensive experience in all aspects of business planning and execution as well as software analysis, design and programming. He has started two software businesses, a consulting business, and was a medical informatics pioneer at the University of Vermont.
Education:
B.S. Mathematics and Physics, University of Illinois
M.S. Mathematics, University of Illinois
Damon Lane, Sustainable Energy Engineer
Responsibilities:
With several years of experience in the engineering field, coupled with a long-standing role in environmental issues, Damon Lane brings invaluable technical expertise to his consulting work for AgRefresh. Possessing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering/Sustainable Energy Engineering, Damon has a long record of work with clean energy and sustainability initiatives in Vermont. His work with the Transportation Research Center at the University of Vermont has focused on improving transportation efficiency through research and data analysis. Specifically, Damon has been engaged in extensive instrumentation and vehicle work, involving equipment selection and procurement, instrument calibration, installation, and testing. Damon also possesses a strong background in engineering consulting, and has worked at assessing and evaluating potential hydropower sites. In this capacity, Damon has garnered experience in permitting requirements and application processes, in addition to gaining extensive management skills. Recently, Damon has been working on a feasibility study for on-farm renewable energy at 5 farms in the Champlain Islands.
Strengths:
Along with his engineering background, Damon brings expertise in Energy Systems Analysis, energy usage calculations, and a pervasive interest in the clean energy sector and working toward mitigating climate change. Armed with spatial and data analysis skills, GIS experience, and strategic planning skills, Damon is adept at identifying efficiency and process improvement opportunities. In conjunction with his proven leadership and team-building skills, Damon strives toward time optimization, and is committed to delivering outstanding quality while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Education:
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, Concentration in Sustainable Energy Engineering
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Engineering Leadership Development, Pennsylvania State University
Residential Green Building Certification, Geographic Information Systems—University of Vermont
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