Staff

Ginnette Simko

Farm Manager

Board of Trustees

Lisa Dietrich, Board Chair
Owner/Operator, Solis Agro Flower Farm

Barbara Greene, Vice Chair
Principal, Common Good Consulting, Inc.

Nick Katanic, Treasurer
Retired, former Manager, IBM Corp.

Andrea Kinast
Deputy Court Administrator, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court

Robert Kirschner
Director of Leadership Cleveland, Cleveland Leadership Center

James Kurtz
Creative Director, Kurtz Graphic Design Co.

Susan Klein
Community Volunteer & Conservation Advocate

Alida Moonen
Cuyahoga County Court System

Phillip Nabors
C0-Founder, Mustard Seed Market & Cafe

Bronlynn Thurman
Program Officer, GAR Foundation

Charles Rankin
Alcon Tool Company

Laura Brown
The JM Smucker’s Company

Tracy Emrick

Chief Executive Officer

temrick@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Tracy has served Countryside in multiple capacities since 2012 and was appointed to CEO in March of 2017. She graduated magna cum laude in 2010 with her degree in Political Science from Kent State University. Tracy is passionate about farmland preservation; sustainable agriculture; social and environmental justice and policy; and she is committed to building a resilient food system that ensures equity and viability for all. She’s been actively involved in agriculture since 2004. She is a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau, and served as a county Board member, food and animal issues committee co-chair, and a county delegate at the OFBF Annual Meeting. Tracy has been a life-long entrepreneur, small business owner, as well as farmer and outdoorswoman. She lives is Wayne County Ohio on a tiny farm once belonging to her grandparents.

Erin Molnar

Director of Local Food Programs

emolnar@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Erin’s first role at Countryside was on-site support for its farmers’ market; her passion for and understanding of local agriculture and food production coupled with her skills in logistical management, relationship building, and her love for data and analytics quickly made her an asset to the team, and in short-order she became the Assistant Markets Manager. She left Countryside for two years to oversee the cafe portion of a Cleveland-based coffee roaster, where she developed and implemented data-driven management solutions for multiple cafes. She returned to Countryside in 2016 and now serves as the Director of Local Food Programs, overseeing multiple programs to increase the viability of local food production for farmers and makers and the accessibility of local food to consumers and. Erin holds a degree in Anthropology from Kenyon College, where her love and appreciation for small, sustainable agriculture first took root. Erin lives in Cuyahoga Falls and enjoys cooking, gardening, rehabbing her house and taking bicycle adventures near and far.

Serena Jones

Farmers’ Market Manager

Serena considers herself a lifetime student of books and the world around her. She holds a degree in Conflict Management and Political Science from Kent State University, where she was able to explore her passions of nonviolent communication and social activism. Serena believes in the importance of grassroots organizing and growing local community, and comes from a decade of experience in coffee shops and interning in the non-profit sector. Serena can be found running or hiking the trails of CVNP, daydreaming about her next backpacking trip, or watching detective shows.

Daena Johnson

Office Manager

Daena joined Countryside in August of 2019 after leaving a career in promotional products manufacturing. Her interest in food access and supporting local businesses brought her to Countryside. She is also passionate about sustainable practices both in the workplace and in the home. This passion started in her youth with clothing created from recycled and unconventional materials and led to the creation of her own business making long lasting products using recycled papers. Daena is a lifelong resident of Cuyahoga Falls and enjoys frequent visits to the library, second-hand stores, and all the local breakfast joints with her husband, Anthony.

Christina Hill

Marketing and Communication Specialist/ Farmers’ Market Culinary Intern

Christina joined Countryside in the summer of 2018 as the Farmers’ Market Culinary Intern. Since, she has graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from The University of Akron and moved into the role as Marketing and Communication Specialist. Christina has always had a love for cooking throughout her life and working at Countryside combined her two passions of cooking and marketing perfectly. When Christina isn’t working, she loves to spend time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and boating.

Bianca Difeo

Farmers’ Market Assistant

Bianca joined Countryside in May of 2019 after earning her bachelor’s degree in Integrated Health Studies from Kent State University. While assisting with the start-up of a Community Health Incentive Program at a nonprofit organization in the greater Akron area, she realized her passion for nonprofit studies, increasing food accessibility, and shopping locally. Volunteering at the Countryside Farmers’ Markets aligned these passions, and sparked a curiosity to help bring its mission to fruition. In her free time, you can find Bianca in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park hiking, biking, and spending leisurely time in her hammock.

Staff

Tracy Emrick

Erin Molnar

Serena Jones

Daena Johnson

Christina Hill

Bianca Difeo

Ginnette Simko

Board of Trustees

Tracy Emrick

Chief Executive Officer

temrick@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Erin Molnar

Director of Local Food Programs

emolnar@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Serena Jones

Farmers’ Market Manager

sjones@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Daena Johnson

Office Manager

admin@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Christina Hill

Marketing and Communication Specialist/ Farmers’ Market Culinary Intern

chill@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Bianca Difeo

Farmers’ Market Assistant

bdifeo@countrysidefoodandfarms.org

Ginnette Simko

Farm Manager

gsimko@countrysidefoodandfarms.org