Staff
Lindsay was appointed Executive Director by the ISA Board of Directors in early 2009 after serving as program coordinator at ISA for over two years. While working for ISA, Lindsay reached out to farmers, consumers, restaurants and retailers in central Illinois to promote locally produced foods and connect local growers and producers to new markets.
Prior to coming to Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Lindsay studied Policy Advocacy and Social Justice at the School for International Training and received a B.A. from Arizona State University with concentrations in Anthropology and Sociology. Throughout her studies, Lindsay kept her connection to the land by working on farms in Arizona, Illinois and New Hampshire. Lindsay is a Central Illinois Farm Beginnings graduate. Lindsay, her husband and son hope to help both of their central Illinois based family farms flourish in becoming diversified sustainable operations.
As Policy Coordinator, Wes is monitoring sustainable agriculture and local food related legislation in Springfield at the State House and helping to coordinate the Springfield Local Food Task Force. In addition, Wes is working on organizing, coordinating, and building the capacity of grassroots capacity to influence policy decision in Illinois.
Prior to joining ISA, Wes was an organizer at the Illinois Environmental Council conducting policy work for a statewide coalition of enviromental organizations. Wes has a BA in Political Studies from the University of Illinois at Springfield and an MA in Political Studies from UIS. While working on his MA, Wes interned at the Illinois EPA and studied the effects of globalization on agriculture in Latin America. Whether it was helping with his father’s organic garden as a child, his experience in the Boy Scouts, or his academic experiences with globalization and agriculture issues in the global south, Wes has always been interested and concerned with society’s metabolic relationship with nature. Following in his father’s footsteps Wes has become an avid organic gardener himself.
Devin represents downstate Illinois with a home base in Carbondale. Devin is conducting outreach for Farm Bill programs including the Conservation Stewardship Program. Devin earned a degree in Environmental Policy from Virginia Tech and his background includes water policy, aquatic ecology, and environmental education.
Devin is a small-scale, organic vegetable farmer whose fresh produce can be found at the Neighborhood Coop in Carbondale. He is also participating in a Community Food Assessment (CFA) in Union and Jackson counties in Southern Illinois. The CFA is a research project with the purpose of identifying the assets and needs of the local food system, specifically as they relate to production, infrastructure, consumer access, and education. When he's not advocating conservation farming policy, farming, or working on local food issues, you can find him hiking with his family in the beautiful Shawnee hills.
Dee Carlson began her time as the ISA office manager with over 20 years of management experience. Her employment history includes 12 years of office management with payroll and bookkeeping experience, and a strong work ethic. Dee’s diversified work background and skills will be a valued asset at ISA.
Dee is excited about facing new challenges and using her organizational abilities in her new work environment. She has always been interested in learning and getting involved and hopes her employment at ISA will continue to challenge her growth.
When Dee’s not working, you can find her enjoying time with her family and being outdoors. The love of nature combined with the desire to learn more about healthy eating and organic gardening lead Dee to the ISA, which offered her the opportunity to use her skills and fulfill her passion to contribute. ISA’s local food campaigns, support of small farms and initiatives to develop local food systems will provide a way to get involved.