The OC Team
Staff Contractors
Gifts made in support of team members celebrate their leadership and commitment by directly supporting the mission, programs, and community impact they help make possible every day.
JOHN WITTLER
Executive Director
John brings a lifetime of entrepreneurial thinking to his role at OC. With a strategic, people-centered approach to guiding our vision and mission, managing finances, and building partnerships, his work is focused on guiding our team toward lasting impacts for vibrant rural communities.
Berlin Ervin
Director of Operations
Berlin’s role at OC involves managing all our program delivery teams as well as assisting with OC financial management and serving as one of our food systems subject matter experts!
MEGAN ENGLAND
Director of Development
Megan’s work with OC includes managing our administrative team, including communications, development, and technology, as well as leading our Workforce & Leadership Development programming.
DARRYL BIRKENFELD, PH.D.
Director Emeritus
As one of OC’s founders, Darryl’s role spans every part of our programming. The keeper of OC’s institutional knowledge and relationships, he serves as a mentor for all our staff. His work is focused on planning for OC’s future legacy and leading our Ogallala Life Programming.
Maria Yañez
Regional Coordinator
Maria serves as OC’s local area expert in the Texas Panhandle. A subject-matter-expert in Natural Resources, her work engages all three of OC’s programs, and is all about building relationships.
JUSTIN HOWARD
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
Justin serves as OC’s local area expert in Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas. A subject-matter-expert in food systems with a background in education, his work engages all three of OC’s programs, and is all about building relationships.
Will Masters
Ogallala Life Educator
A Texas-Panhandle native and co-founder of Ogallala Life, Will’s passion for and expertise in stewarding natural resources is evidenced by the hands-on work and education he does with our Landscape Rehydration programming!
Lillian Rocha
My Foodshed Delivery Driver
Lillian’s extensive business experience and passion for rural communities makes her the perfect face of OC’s MyFoodshed Foodhub deliveries across New Mexico, logging literally tens of thousands of miles each year to put fresh, nutrient-dense food directly in the hands of communities that need it!
Meryl Benham
OC Grant Services
Meryl’s career of legal experience and research makes her a grant-writing guru! Her eye for details development strategy, and her fantastic writing skills are critical to making the work we do possible. And if that’s not enough, she also loves to serve as an OC Intern Coordinator, mentoring youth across the region!
Darrian Lambert
Technical Services
Darrian is the developer behind all of OC’s technology: our intern and website management systems, our business sub-hub, food producer portal, accounting system, OC interactive maps, and entrepreneur portal. His technological prowess, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills make every part of OC’s work better!
Alea Wittler
Communications Coordinator
Alea’s role is all about telling important stories. Her skill in helping each member of our team collect and synthesize all the important details of our work to share with the public is crucial, and her passion for telling the story of OC and our collaborators is evident in all she does!
KIM HALL
OC BOOKKEEPER
Kim’s role at OC is entering its second decade, and the way she manages the growth of our financial reach and impact is foundational to everything we do. She brings steady, detail-oriented care to our finances, ensuring that our resources are tracked, stewarded, and aligned with the communities we serve.
Serena Flynn
My Foodshed Program Coordinator
Serena brings a wealth of experience in systems management to her role at OC, which is perfect for leading our growing foodhub and all our food systems programming in the eight-state region!
Board of Directors
JEFF OCHAMPAUGH
President, Agrilead, Inc.
BERTHA MENDOZA B.S., M.S.
EFNEP/SNAP-Ed Extension Agent Kansas State University
Southwest Research-Extension Center
Jeremy West
Chief of Finance & Operations
Urban School Food Alliance
WILLIAM J. NELSON
Chair, Ralph K. Morris Foundation
William J. Nelson, LLC.
Calley Runnels
County Extension Agent-Family & Community Health
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Swisher County Extension Office
TIANA SUAZO
Youth Mentor, Regenerative Agriculture and Ranching Program Manager, Center OF southwest Culture
ELAINE BELANSKY, Ph.D
RETIRED PROFESSOR AND FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR RURAL SCHOOL HEALTH & EDUCATION
MORGRIDGE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Mia Dacus
Local Food Producer/Gardener
