Organic Seed Alliance will welcome Cara Loriz as its new executive director beginning this month. Loriz joins OSA with a background in nonprofit development, small business management and public advocacy, environmental education, as well as consulting, and writing. OSA’s previous director, Micaela Colley, will remain on staff in a new role as she pursues her doctorate.
“Cara Loriz is a strong addition to our team,” says Sebastian Aguilar, board president. “Loriz brings a wealth of experience that makes her more than qualified to lead OSA through its next phase of growth.”
Loriz most recently worked as the director of Sylvestor Manor, a nonprofit educational farm located on Shelter Island, New York, where she managed the day-to-day farm and program operations. She holds degrees in geology and technical writing, and taught environmental science and geology in California, Utah and Ohio. She also served as editor of the local newspaper before joining the nonprofit farm world. She and her husband Mike moved to Port Townsend in 2015.
“Joining the OSA team is a compelling opportunity to continue my commitment to sustainable agriculture and the environment,” Loriz says. “I’m eager to work with OSA’s expert researchers, educators and policy advocates as we grow our capacity to meet the critical needs of organic farmers and the food systems they serve.”
Micaela Colley has served as OSA’s executive director since 2010 and will remain with the organization as project director. She is simultaneously pursuing a doctorate in organic plant breeding under the instruction of Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren at the University Wageningen in the Netherlands.
