Caitlin Aguilar, Director of Quality, is responsible for ensuring global consistency of A Greener World’s certifications. She received her BSc in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and has spent the past decade in beef and poultry farming. Before joining AGW, she worked in Quality Control and Regulatory Compliance for a California-based poultry producer.
Katie Amos, Director of Communications and Outreach, is a Pennsylvania native, currently living in Lancaster County. Before joining AGW, Katie worked as the Marketing & Sales Manager for a farm in PA, gaining a strong background in working with farmers and agricultural marketing. She is passionate about communicating the benefits of high-welfare animal agriculture to consumers and farmers, and enjoys promoting the program throughout her region. Katie is responsible for leading AGW’s outreach team, assists with new programs and initiatives within the organization–including AGW’s labeling support and membership programs, and is responsible for farmer and consumer services in the North region.
Daniel Brabson, Auditor and Slaughter Specialist, has almost 30 years’ experience in the meat industry. Daniel was raised on a small farm in north Georgia, where his family managed cattle, pigs and chickens. After completing high school and four years of military service, Daniel worked as a butcher for 24 years for various companies, as well as a Market Manager for most of the same period. He then spent five years working for USDA as a Meat Inspector, which covered slaughter plants and processing facilities, before joining AGW.
Callie Casteel, Marketing Services Coordinator, is a Mississippi native now residing in middle Tennessee. Prior to her work at AGW, Callie received her MA in Sociology from the University of Mississippi and, upon graduation, joined their department team as a sociology instructor and academic assistant to the chair. With over a decade of experience in the food and agriculture industry, Callie has worked in both academic and non-profit settings. Since 2014, she has been dedicated to supporting AGW-certified farmers and has a deep understanding of their unique challenges and needs. In her current role, Callie connects AGW’s network of farmers with the program’s farmer services. She strives to identify tailored solutions that address the individual needs of each producer, ensuring they receive the resources and support they need.
Jessa Farnsworth, Administrative Assistant, joined AGW in August 2018 and is a native Oregonian that grew up loving animals, especially horses. She has a BS in Animal Sciences from Oregon State University and she brings her experience as a former office manager/administrator at a staffing firm to the AGW team in the Terrebonne, OR office. Jessa is no stranger to wearing multiple hats and helps with creating and sending out farm correspondence, fulfilling merchandise orders, payroll, and any other administrative tasks that are given to her.
Charlie Hester, Lead Slaughter Specialist/Auditor, was raised on his family’s farm in New Mexico. After graduating with a BBA, he left New Mexico and entered corporate America. After 30 years he returned to his agricultural roots in Texas. Charlie previously served as Business Manager of a vertically integrated family-owned food distribution network which included a grassfed/natural ranch operation, organic farm, meat processing plant, health food store/restaurant and direct sales through 14 area farmers’ markets. Charlie is HACCP Certified, an Animal Welfare Office (AWO) and a Poultry Welfare Officer (PWO).
Tim Holmes, Director of Compliance, leads the AGW Compliance team, guiding the compliance process for facilities certified by AGW. He is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BSc in industrial engineering technology. Tim has over 24 years of farming experience. The farm raised multiple-species pasture-based livestock in addition to grain, cereal, forage, and vegetable crops with a grass/forage seed processing operation. Tim has over 14 years’ experience in auditing and compliance. This includes auditing, compliance program management and development and implementation of standards, forms and processes.
Ashley Khteian, Outreach Specialist, is a California native that grew up in a small mountain town called Tehachapi and currently resides in Long Beach. Her sales career started in the food industry working for a California-based natural foods broker before entering the renewable energy space working in both wind and solar for the last several years. Ashley is responsible for outreach and communications with farms and businesses interested in certification.
Emily Moose, Executive Director, developed a love of agriculture at an early age during summer visits to her cousin’s hog farm in eastern Virginia. She is a graduate of UNC-Asheville and the NC State CALS Agricultural Leadership Development Program, and is also a 2019-2022 Castanea Fellow. Based in rural North Carolina, Emily has supported the growth and development of A Greener World programs and initiatives for over thirteen years, helping to establish Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) by AGW as the leading label for sustainable livestock production as recognized by Consumer Reports. With over 20 years working in food, agriculture and communications, Emily has extensive experience at all points in the supply chain from farm to market.
Peter Mundy, Writer/Editor, spent much of his childhood in upstate New York, before moving with his family to the UK. After gaining a MSc in environmental policy and management in 1997, he joined the UK’s largest organic certifier, the Soil Association, where he worked as editor for the ‘Organic Farming’ magazine for over 12 years. As a freelance writer, he has worked on several major sustainable food and farming projects, including editing the original content for the European Commission’s consumer-facing Organic Farming website. Peter is responsible for producing AGW’s triannual Sustainable Farming magazine, as well as contributing to other written material from the program.
Christine Peckham, Corrective Action Plan Coordinator, holds a MSc degree in Geology from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Previously, Chris performed technical and regulatory reviews of hazardous waste management facility permit applications and provided guidance and support for those facilities seeking permits. She also has extensive experience in the review, approval and oversight of the implementation of corrective action plans for the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater at hazardous waste management facilities. Agriculturally, Chris worked as a scout for a crop management consulting firm, identifying and reporting insect and weed pests, plant diseases, mineral deficiencies and any other potential negative impacts on corn, soybean and wheat crops.
Julie Walker, Director of Operations, is responsible for the day-to-day activities of AGW’s certifications. She ensures the program functions smoothly while operating within the guidelines of AGW’s ISO/IEC Guide 17065 accreditation. She has over 12 years’ experience in non-profit management.
Wendy Weirich, Auditor, received her BSc and DVM degrees from Michigan State University and her MSc in Livestock Health and Production from the University of London/Royal Veterinary College. She has worked in many aspects of small and large animal welfare, including projects in nutrition, behavior, housing and overall well-being. Wendy is also certified in medical acupuncture for veterinarians. Wendy lives on a farm where she raises and cares for Nigerian dwarf goats, Norwegian Fjord horses and Rhode Island Red chickens. She enjoys bringing together veterinary and animal husbandry skills to help elevate the level of welfare available to all kinds of animals and people, too.
Stephanie Wuorenma, Communications Coordinator, joined AGW in Terrebonne, Oregon, in 2015 with over 20 years’ experience in marketing, printing/publishing and commercial art. Stephanie is responsible for website maintenance, social media content and public relations. She strongly believes that we all have a vested interest in helping to provide consumers with high-welfare, sustainable foods–today and for generations to come.
