Local Food Planning in Lake County

Bio: Executive Director of Conserve Lake County a non-profit land conservancy that preserves natural areas and farmland in Lake County, Illinois

Education: B.S. Environmental Science, Aurora University

Past Assignments: Chicago Wilderness Congress - Oak Recovery in Chicago Region Green Town Highland Park, IL. - Local Food Systems Planning County Green Grayslake, IL. Local Food Systems Planning

Bio: Brad is an entrepreneurial community-builder with an extensive background in community economic development, social enterprise finance, and public-private partnerships. Brad brings nearly 20 years of business and management experience to the Liberty Prairie Foundation, where he serves as its Executive Director. Brad has a broad perspective on the Chicago region’s major issues. His most recent work includes a number of initiatives closely related to the Foundation’s efforts to build a regional food economy, including the acquisition and lease-up of farmland for the use of local food producers, the development of a technical assistance and investment program for emerging farm and food enterprises, and policy work to identify and remove barriers to a regional food economy. Prior to joining the Foundation, Brad served as a consultant to public, private and non-profit clients on both strategic and technical assignments. Brad developed the leading Business Improvement District planning practice in Chicago by establishing over $20 million in dedicated funding for local economic development programs in underserved, industrial, or emerging retail districts. Brad also co-developed the Fountain View of Lincoln Square, Chicago’s first LEED® certified mixed-use building on a neighborhood infill site. Brad is the Co-Chair of Fresh Taste, a collaborative that encourages diverse local agriculture and healthy eating for all in Chicago and across Illinois. He is also a member of Lambda Alpha International, the honorary society for the advancement of land economics.

Education: Brad holds a Masters of Urban Planning and Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Bio: I currently serve as the Manager of the Chicago Botanic Garden's Green Youth Farm programs in Lake and Cook County. Part of my duties include oversight of 2 acres of urban/suburban growing space and the growing of 80 high school students along with 20,000 pounds of food, 80% of which is distributed in food desert communities. I also teach a course entitled "Sustainable Food Systems" at Lake Forest College

Education: Lake Forest College--BA in Environmental Studies Indiana University--MPA in Urban Management

Key Publications: "Small is Beautiful: Youth Garden Programs" in Brooklyn Botanic Garden's All Region Guide on Community Gardening. With Patsy Benveniste, Angela Mason and Lynne Haynor. 2008

Past Assignments: EcoFarm--January 2013 American Public Gardens Association--July 2012 Chicago Botanic Garden School Garden Conference--June 2012 Feeding the Spirit, Phipps Conservatory--November 2011 National Association of Counties--July 2010

Bio: Lenore Beyer-Clow is the Policy Director at Openlands, a regional conservation organization. At Openlands, Ms Beyer-Clow plans, implements, and coordinates the organization’s policy agenda. She manages projects to protect water quantity and quality and advocates for the protection of land and natural resources across the region including the creation of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and facilitating farmland protection and local food system development. Ms. Beyer-Clow was previously the Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County , a citizen advocacy environmental organization.

Education: Masters in Business Administration(MBA) University of Illinois, BA from Oberlin College

Bio: Senior Planner with Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department since 2003. Executive Secretary of the Lake County Regional Planning Commission. Chair of the Wind Energy Task Force of Lake County Communities, which received a 2010 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. Other projects include work on local food policy, solar and geothermal energy regulation, sustainable building and development practices, open space, and land use policy.

Education: Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2003). Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago in (1992).

Bio: Currently a Principal at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Jason was previously employed with a small, private sector planning, landscape architecture, and engineering firm focusing on sustainable and green infrastructure projects. With over 12 years of experience in the southern Lake Michigan region, Jason has focused primarily on creating sustainable human environments through the integration of urban and environmental planning and policy. Jason’s public and private sector experience includes environmental assessment, land and water resource management, sustainable land planning and policy, green urban design and infrastructure, development guidelines, greenways and trails, and local food systems. His experience includes over 25 plans and publications, numerous public presentations and workshops, and a strong record of initiative and leadership.

Education: BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. MS, University of Michigan.