Gail Savina, Executive Director
Gail Savina grew up picking apples in the ‘Apple Capital of the World’ and, after a hiatus of 40 years, returned to coordinate fruit harvests throughout Seattle. She has organized neighborhood and community harvest groups and is the author of Gather It: How to Organize an Urban Fruit Harvest. Gail’s background includes serving as a communications specialist with King County environmental programs, working as a public health educator, and overseas stints in the Philippines and Ghana. She has masters degrees in anthropology and public health. photo courtesy of urbanfarmhub.org
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Nancy Gohring, Vice President
Nancy has more than ten years experience as a technology journalist. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Wired News, the Seattle Times, the Dallas Morning News, PC World, Macworld and many other publications. She currently serves as a staff writer for the IDG News Service, an international news wire that feeds hundreds of magazines and newspapers around the globe. In addition to City Fruit, Nancy served for two years on the City of Seattle Citizens’ Telecommunications & Technology Advisory Board. Nancy also holds a Master Food Preserver Certificate.
Harriet Huber
Harriet first became involved with City Fruit as a volunteer fruit harvester in the Wallingford neighborhood. In 2010, she joined Tree Stewards along the Burke-Gilman trail in identifying fruit trees, clearing brush and pruning to enhance fruit production of trail-side apple trees. The rest of the time, she is a Wildlife Biologist for NOAA’s National Marine Mammal Laboratory studying harbor seal abundance, distribution, life history and genetics.
Morgan Larsen, Secretary
Morgan most recently hails from Chicago where she survived the winters by spending long hours crunching numbers for first Ernst & Young in their audit practice and then Citadel Investment Group working in Accounting Policy and Financial Reporting. She is now a full-time mom who runs marathons and loves to cook and eat delicious food and is excited to learn how to care for the pear tree that came with her new house! Morgan holds a Masters in Accountancy from Arizona State University and is a CPA.
Jen Mullen
Jen has a background in social work with a focus on community organizing. She coordinated City Fruit’s Phinney Ridge fruit tree harvests in 2009 and 2010. Jen also has experience in volunteer engagement and special events planning, working as the Volunteer Coordinator for Seattle Audubon from 2007-2010, and now as Special Events Coordinator for the Phinney Neighborhood Association. When she’s not gardening at home, Jen is an active volunteer in the local gardening community as a master gardener and a Master Composter & Soil Builder.
James Rooney, President
James has worked at Microsoft for 12 years in a variety of capacities but is currently the Program Manager of the Technology for Good program — working with strategic NGOs on their technology needs and participating in Microsoft’s Disaster Response team. Previously, he worked as an editor and an English teacher, including a year-long stint teaching English in Poland. James previously served on the board of the Phinney Neighborhood Association and the Rainier Valley Foodbank. He recently completed his Executive Master of Public Administration program at the University of Washington’s Evans School – expected graduation May 2012.
Hazel Singer, Treasurer
Hazel’s work experience relates back to and is reinforced by my training in Economic Geography and Urban Planning: understanding how systems (transportation, social services, manufacturing, health, small and large businesses, communities, government, etc) function in a region; what are the constraints and obstacles to successes and efficiency; and how to increase participation by all citizens in these processes so that they have a stake in positive outcomes. photo courtesy of urbanfarmhub.org
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Bob Baines helps clean up downtown parks as a crew chief with Seattle Parks and Recreation. He’s also a longtime hobby orchardist and president of the Friends of Piper’s Orchard Steering Committee, a community group that maintains the historic orchard at Carkeek Park.
Dave Beeman worked in the Computer industry for twenty years and then started my own piano studio three years ago, teaching classical piano in my home, he volunteered for the Solid Ground Lettuce Link program for two years and for City Fruit last year. He was the assistant volunteer lead for the South Seattle fruit harvest last summer and delivered fruit to numerous food banks, shelters, and low income apartments in the South End. Dave represents City Fruit in their partnership with Bradner Gardens.
Don Ricks has been leading the charge on applying foot socks to apples & pears throughout the city. While Don shies away from the term “expert”, he’s very knowledgeable about fruit trees and pest prevention. He’s very involved with the Friends of Piper’s Orchard and sits on the City Fruit Advisory Committee.
Diana Vergis Vinh grew up visiting family farms in Iowa and Montana and now farms an urban yard, complete with goats and chickens. When she’s not busy collecting eggs, Diana serves as a public health nurse for Public Health Seattle & King County’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Program.
VOLUNTEERS
While there are too many to name, we couldn’t do what we do without them. Thank you!
