Board of Directors and Staff

WCG is supported by a volunteer Board of Directors whose names and positions are listed below.

President

Vince Zangardi

Vince is a Williamsburg native who loves having his hands in the dirt. He, and his wife Valerie, run the Zangarden Micro-Farm where they cultivate a wide range of edible fruits and veggies. Vince is passionate about sharing his knowledge of gardening through classes, children's workshops and consultations with new gardeners. He is the author of 'Vinny Veggie Seed', a children's book that teaches the value of planting seeds and growing your community. Vince and his wife love to travel to Costa Rica to enjoy the warm weather, friendly people and incredible biodiversity.

Immediate Past President

Pam Dannon

Pam lives on a little farm and has a big fruit and veggie garden. She raises chickens and compost on her farm, supporting the full life cycle of ecological farming. Pam is a Registered Dietitian and has worked in the farm to school arena at local, state and federal levels. In former lives, she has been an egg specialist, corporate trainer, preschool and science lab teacher, Master Gardener, and restaurant inspector. She is a Hokie, proud Army wife, mother of 3 adult children, and lives her best life outside. Pam served two terms as WCG Board President, from 2018 to 2022.

Treasurer

Nathan Moore

Nathan grew up in Virginia, and has lived in Williamsburg since 1994, starting as a student at W&M. His first job was working on an organic farm in Oxford, Maine in 1992, and has had an interest in gardening and growing vegetables ever since. Nathan was one of the first members of WCG, and has grown his plot and plant-repertoire over the years. By day, Nathan in a software engineer. currently with Ferguson. You'll often see him at the garden working with his children that aren't playing a sport on the fields across the WISC parking lot.

Volunteer Coordinator

Liz Callan

Liz is an agronomist who was a Hillside Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras (1995-1997), and an organic farmer in Troy, NY where she ran a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) on two acres for five years. She loves getting people involved in raising their own food! When she lived in Mt. Baldy, CA, she ran the school garden when she wasn't making and selling her Mountain Mermaids soaps. Liz, her husband Brian, their two daughters and two dogs recently moved back the United States after living in Trinidad and Tobago for eight years, where Liz worked with Habitat for Humanity. Currently, she is the Culinary Educator with the School Health Initiative Program (SHIP), and also the Williamsburg Farmers Market Assistant. Liz is passionate about equal access to opportunity for all and local food systems. She loves gardening, being outside, making soap, crocheting, Irish step dancing, learning languages, and spending time with her husband and daughters!

Community Garden Coordinator

Whitfield "Chip" East

Chip was born and raised in Winston-Salem, N.C. where he developed his love for gardening while working in his grandmother’s expansive garden. Chip moved to Williamsburg in 2013. After attending college at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Georgia and taught in higher education at the University of Northern Iowa and East Tennessee State University. While in Iowa, he ran a successful truck farm and was a frequent supplier at the local farmer’s market in Cedar Falls. For 23 years Chip served as professor of discipline at the United States Military Academy and was appointed Professor Emeritus in 2020. He retired in 2021 and now devotes most of his time to gardening, WCG and golf. Chip and Connie have 4 children and 9 grandchildren that also consume much of their time and attention.

Education Coordinator

VACANT

Secretary

Barrie Quant

Bio coming soon

Outreach Coordinator

Stephanie Sabin

Bio coming soon

Food Access Coordinator

Susan Stewart

Susan grew up in Newport News, and moved to Williamsburg in 1979. She received her BA in Sociology from CNU in 1985. Upon graduation, Susan worked as the Employee Benefits Manager, for 22 years, in Human Resources at the local hospital, which is now Sentara. Susan then worked for 5 years promoting health and wellness with the School Health Initiative Program (SHIP) in Williamsburg/James City County Schools. Susan’s final career was as a pediatric urgent care nurse with CHKD. Now retired, Susan is thrilled to volunteer with Williamsburg Community Growers, helping to get fresh, organic produce into the homes of our community citizens.

Ex-Officio Board Member

Leanne Harrow

Leanne Harrow brings with her years of state and local experience in program development, education, and marketing in the land resource fields of Horticulture and Agriculture. Experiences range from serving in AmeriCorps helping underserved farmers diversify to high-value crops in the rural south, working with Farmland Preservation initiatives in New York State with American Farmland Trust to serving as an Extension Educator within both Cornell University and Virginia Tech. Prior to her role with HVLC, she served as a Program Manager in the Division of Sales and Market Development for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Her duties there included developing marketing programs to facilitate the growth of direct marketing, local food systems and agritourism for Virginia agricultural producers. Her duties also included managing the Virginia Grown marketing program, serving as the state coordinator for the Virginia Farm to School program and as the State Representative for the National Farm to School Network. Her current job with HVLC as Land Stewardship and Outreach Manager embraces many of her interests and skills in preserving land and enhancing business opportunities for landowners and working landscapes.

Farm Manager

Michael Krueth

Bio coming soon

Farm Tech

Anna Shackelford

Bio coming soon

Farm Tech

Natalie Reid

Bio coming soon

Ex-Officio Board Member

Marty Mathes

Martin Mathes was a Botany professor for more than forty years, most of which were enjoyed at William and Mary. He has been a “gardener” for many years with interests ranging from the College greenhouse and landscape, the Bicentennial community gardens, and instruction in the Master Gardener program. He currently has a plot at WCG and is interested in the development of Senior gardens.

Advisor, VA Department of Environmental Quality

Brock Reggie

STAFF

Williamsburg Community Growers is looking for a qualified, reliable person to lead our farm team! Our non-profit farm focuses on organic vegetable farming, education and community outreach. We have an immediate need for a farm tech to oversee our crop production for the year. We grow a wide variety of vegetables for our CSA and donations to local food banks.

Job duties include all aspects of crop management including planning, planting, watering, weeding, fertilizing, and harvesting. Additionally, assisting with property needs including irrigation maintenance, equipment organization and other tasks as directed. Farmer must be willing to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including heat, cold and rain if necessary. Candidate must have the ability to work independently while communicating with supervisors about progress, issues and needs of the farm.

We want to grow your professional potential as well as delicious produce. Potential for a full time position for the right candidate. Grow food, grow community, grow your career!

Please contact our Board President at vince@growwilliamsburg.org