Staff
Chip Paillex
President and Founder
Chip Paillex, President and Founder, started America’s Grow-a-Row as a private garden project in 2002. He formally converted his efforts into a fully operational, farming non-profit program in 2008. As a result of his personal accomplishments with America’s Grow-a-Row, Chip has received numerous volunteer and community service awards. In 2010, he was publicly recognized as... Read More.
Tristan Wallack
Senior Director of Programming and Operations
Tristan joined America’s Grow-a-Row as Senior Director of Programming and Operations in February 2020. His responsibilities include overseeing the development of education programs, including on- and off-the-field education and Grow-a-Row Kids Farm Days, and overseeing our Free Farm Market program. In addition, Tristan oversees the Volunteer program as well the distribution of produce to area... Read More.
Heather Mulvey
Director of Development and Communications
Heather joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff as Director of Development in April 2013. Her responsibilities include fundraising, event management, strategic planning, and oversight of America’s Grow-a-Row’s development. In addition, Heather manages all communications, marketing, and social media. She was delighted to return to the non-profit realm after many years in a corporate setting handling inside... Read More.
Jeremy Compton
Director of Farm Management Operations
Jeremy joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in November 2014 as Director of Farm Management Operations. Jeremy was born in Flemington, NJ and at the age of 7 moved with his family to Wisconsin, where they became dairy farmers. After 7 years of dairy farming, the Comptons moved back to Flemington, and at the age of... Read More.
Marc Wirasnik
Director of Facilities, Crop Production & Distribution
Marc joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in March 2015 as Farm Equipment Operator and Grounds Manager. Marc studied Agriculture Business Development and Equine Science at Morrisville State College and has had over 10 years of farming experience. He began spending time on our Pittstown farm at the age of 12. Marc has traveled throughout North... Read More.
Dan Dietz
Chief Financial Officer
Dan joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff as Chief Financial Officer in June 2019. He was thrilled at the opportunity to utilize his professional background and give back in a volunteer capacity. Dan gained extensive finance experience while working with Chemtrade as Group Vice President and at General Chemical in several other leadership positions. Prior to spending 21... Read More.
Heather Stillman
Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility
Heather joined the America’s Grow-a-Row team in September 2022 as Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility. Her responsibilities include supporting corporate partnerships through customized employee engagement/volunteerism events and financial giving that best aligns with the organizations’ corporate social responsibility programs. Additionally, Heather manages America’s Grow-a-Row’s Pennies for Produce fundraising campaign with retail partners. Heather holds a... Read More.
Jacqui Witte
Field Team and Special Projects Manager
After volunteering with America’s Grow-a-Row’s Farm to Fork event in 2015, Jacqui continued to volunteer in the fields before joining the staff in September 2015. Jacqui earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and received her Elementary Education certification at Cedar Crest College. After several years teaching in the fourth grade classroom, Jacqui left... Read More.
Connie Miller
Volunteer and Database Manager
Connie has been active with America’s Grow-a-Row as a volunteer and supporter since 2003 and joined the staff in 2016. Her responsibilities include scheduling volunteer groups, leading volunteer groups, and serving as system administrator. Connie graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Business Administration, had a career in information technology, raised a family, and... Read More.
Susan Kalfaian
Grant and Public Relations Specialist
Susan began volunteering for America’s Grow-a-Row in 2003 and in May 2011 joined the staff as Grant Writer and Development Associate. Susan’s previous experience includes Senior Technical Editor at ADP, Inc. in Roseland, NJ, Legal Editor at Warren, Gorham & Lamont in New York, NY, and freelance editor. She is a graduate of Bucknell University... Read More.
Elizabeth Barickman
Grant and Communications Specialist
Elizabeth joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in March 2017 as Grant Writer and Development Associate. Her previous experience includes serving as Director, Client Partnerships for The Angeletti Group, LLC, and Director of Development for both the West Virginia Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and Sunrise Museum (now the Juliet Art Museum) in Charleston, WV. Elizabeth... Read More.
Sue daCosta
Finance and Administration Coordinator
Sue has been volunteering with America’s Grow-a-Row for many years. She has helped with Farm to Fork events and Barn Dances and in other areas as well. Susan joined the staff as Finance and Administration Coordinator in May 2015. She comes to America’s Grow-a-Row with varied finance and administrative experience from her work with both... Read More.
Tim Vogel
Corporate Relations Manager
Tim joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in the spring of 2021 as Corporate Relations Manager. Previously he spent 12 years at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey as the Director of Food Sourcing. Prior to that, Tim spent 30 years at Wakefern Food Corp. in a variety of management positions, retiring in 2008. He earned... Read More.
Shauna Alvarez
Executive Chef and Programming Lead
Shauna joined America’s Grow-a-Row in February 2020 as Executive Chef and Programming Lead. Shauna graduated from Brown University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and from The Culinary School at the Art Institute of Philadelphia with a Baking and Pastry Certificate. Prior to joining America’s Grow-a-Row, Shauna was a Nutrition... Read More.
Erica Stevenson
Social Media and Programming Associate
Erica joined the America’s Grow-a-Row team in June 2018 as a Seasonal Programming Associate and began her role as Social Media and Programming Associate in June 2022. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior. Erica is also a youth gymnastics coach and is passionate... Read More.
Jess Huber
Programming Associate
Jess joined America’s Grow-a-Row in April 2020 as a Programming and Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the America’s Grow-a-Row staff, she worked at Valley Crest Farm and Preserve, where she was the office manager, ran the CSA, and frequently assisted the farmers. Jess has also been a teacher at a local preschool since 2013. She... Read More.
Julia Gilpin
Programming Associate
Julia joined America’s Grow-a-Row as an intern for the programming team for the summer of 2019 and returned as a seasonal Programming Associate in the summer of 2020. Julia graduated from Ursinus College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Exercise Physiology. She has a passion for health and wellness, and she is... Read More.
Zach Johnson
Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Zach joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in July 2020 as a member of the programming team and in October 2021 joined the farm team as a Fruit and Vegetable Technician. Zach graduated from St. John’s University in New York City in 2017 with a degree in Philosophy and spent time at Texas Tech University pursuing... Read More.
Kyle Tomkins
Equipment Operator and Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Kyle joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in January 2022 as an Equipment Operator and Fruit and Vegetable Technician. Kyle grew up in Belvidere, NJ and has worked in agriculture for over 10 years. At the farm, Kyle enjoys operating the tractor and keeping the fields mowed. Read More.
Francisco Enriquez
Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Francisco (Paco) is a member of our farm team as a Fruit and Vegetable Technician. His favorite place to be at our farm is in the orchard. Paco takes great pride in helping our team to produce high quality produce and growing what we consider to be some of the biggest peaches around! Read More.
Thelma Enriquez
Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Thelma is a seasonal member of our farm team in the role of Fruit and Vegetable Technician. Her joy for working with the crops here truly shows as she is always seen with the biggest smile on her face! Thelma enjoys helping package produce for our Free Farm Markets knowing the produce is getting sent... Read More.
Marietta Avila
Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Marietta is a seasonal member of our farm team in the role of Fruit and Vegetable Technician. She is happy to be working here knowing that all of the produce that she nurtures will be going to families who are in great need of healthy fruits and vegetables. Read More.
Craig Smith
Seasonal Programming Associate
Craig joined the America’s Grow-a-Row staff in the summer of 2019 as a Seasonal Programming Associate. Prior to joining the staff, Craig was a volunteer for the Free Farm Market® program. Craig enjoys biking, hiking, and going to Phillies baseball games with his wife Sharon, and he coordinates a free community breakfast at The Liberty... Read More.
Jose Enriquez
Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Jose joined the America’s Grow-a-Row farm team in the summer of 2020 as a Fruit and Vegetable Technician. He grew up working on his father’s farm in Guatemala, where he gained many years of experience growing and harvesting produce. Jose’s favorite task on the farm is planting, because he knows what is grown will end... Read More.
Babou Diallo
Custodian and Fruit and Vegetable Technician
Babou takes great pride in his work here at America’s Grow-a-Row! He helps to keep things clean and tidy so the organization can run smoothly day to day. He also joins the farm team in the fields as a Fruit and Vegetable Technician. Read More.
