OGC’s Board of Governors
Our Board of Governors works to actively cultivate a diverse, sustainable and engaged organic trade from farm to marketplace. As partners dedicated to inspiring change within the industry and beyond, we draw on their decades of combined experience to deliver measurable impacts toward our mission and purpose.
meet The board
Mike Bedessem
Mike has been an OGC Board Member since 2019. He worked at CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley for 29 years in various positions, primarily as the Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 2016 (other roles included an organic apple grower, board member, and business advisor). Prior to Organic Valley, Mike held ownership and management roles in the insurance and garbage and recycling industries.
Bianca Kaprielian
Bianca joined OGC’s Board in 2024. She grew up within eyesight of the Sierra foothills, where her family has been farming for four generations. After attending Smith College in Massachusetts, she returned to California to complete the UC Santa Cruz Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. Bianca began her career as a produce buyer, first at Veritable Vegetable, then at Whole Foods Market. In 2017, she co-founded Fruit World - an organic-first fresh and creative grower/shipper of the most flavorful fruit in California. Fruit World is all about honoring their growers, staying true to their farming heritage and keeping family farming thriving for future generations.
Edmund LaMacchia
Edmund joined OGC’s board in 2023. He is a 40+ year veteran of the organic and natural food trade. He has worked in all aspects of the organic trade from being a gardener for Glorious Grass in the 1970s to 28 years with Whole Foods Market (12 of those years as a Global Vice-President of Perishable). In addition to the OGC board, Edmund advises other mission-driven companies, such as the Organic Plus Trust. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin’s inaugural Environmental Studies Program.
Cathryn Calfo
Cathy joined OGC’s Board in 2019. She served as an executive director and CEO at various organizations since 1987, most recently leading the trade association, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Cathy also served as deputy treasurer for the state of California for seven years and as an analyst for the County Board of Supervisors in Santa Cruz for three years. In addition, she has served as a board member for various mission-driven entities since the 1980s. She has a B.A. in American Studies from the University of Santa Cruz.
Maia Larson
Maia joined OGC’s Board in 2020. Currently, she is a farmer and works at the nonprofit Ecotrust as the Director of Community Food Systems. Maia’s prior experience includes working as a Loan Officer at Community LendingWorks and an Economic Development Coordinator with the City of Creswell. She has a B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning with a Minor in Nonprofit Management from Eastern Michigan University.
Brian Rohter
Brian rejoined OGC’s Board in 2016 (he was previously a member in the 1980s). He was the CEO, co-founder, president, and Board of Director’s chair at New Seasons Market. He has held various positions in the food industry (including on community boards) since 1976.