Interested in joining our board of directors? We are looking for individuals committed to farming, education, and food justice! We celebrate diversity and encourage BIPOC and LGBT+ individuals to apply. Please contact us.
Ellie Zeitlin – Board President
Ellie has dedicated her career working on social and environmental justice as a consultant to some of the leading institutions in the U.S. that support progressive issues such as defending reproductive rights, welcoming refugees and asylum seekers, reducing single-use plastics, and building youth leadership in our movements for change. Most recently, Ellie spent the last 6 years at the United Nations facilitating community development projects in places around the world. She moved to the Hudson Valley in 2020 with her partner where they built a home and are experimenting with permaculture on a piece of land. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys making pottery, practicing yoga, and hanging out in the field with her two dogs.
Alexandra Lotero Vanderkam – Vice President
Alexandra, the daughter of Latin American immigrants, was born and raised in New York City and recently moved to Shawangunk. Throughout her career, she has led projects that position young people and youth workers as change agents and narrators of their own experiences. Seeing the farm team’s focus on community leadership and food justice inspired her to join first as a shareholder and committee member, and now as a board member. A home cook, birder and yogi, you can find her pairing tropical flavors with CSA produce, identifying birds by their songs on the Nature Trail, or finding her balance in headstand.
Amanda Milhet – Treasurer
Amanda is a Miami, FL native who moved to Gardiner for the rock climbing and stayed for the community. She believes that access to fresh and sustainable—don’t forget delicious!—food is fundamental to our health and how we engage with our families and communities. All the best things happen (and the worst things are soothed) over a shared meal. When she’s not rock climbing, skiing, or cooking, Amanda works as a tax lawyer to pay the bills.
Tona Wilson
Tona is an artist and Spanish interpreter. She has translated for families in the New Paltz school district for many years, and volunteers with the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network’s school outreach committee. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures, her school district work expanded to involve even more communication with families, including letting them know about sliding scale farm shares and helping to connect them with Phillies Bridge’s summer camp and after school programs, in partnership with the school district. Becoming aware of the enormous benefits that come with participation in these programs, as well as the challenges faced by families in making such participation possible, has made her eager and excited to help expand and encourage communication among community members and the farm.
Debbie Robbins
Debbie has resided in the Hudson Valley for most of her life, and has spent many years in New Paltz/Gardiner area. Joining Phillies Bridge as a shareholder nearly 6 years ago was a game changer for her and the farm has held an important spot in her heart and life since. Participating in the operations of the farm through her role on the Board creates a further connection. Debbie works for Ulster County, and feels strongly that engaging in the specific work of social justice through food justice with Phillies Bridge enhances what she can give to the community she serves.
Avery Maul
Avery (they/them) moved to the area from Brooklyn, NY in January 2024 and was introduced to Phillies’ Bridge that summer and very quickly started volunteering as an occasional farmhand. They currently work as a therapist at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and sees the difference fresh food access can make within communities. Before pursuing a social work degree, they worked in policy advocacy, community organizing, and labor and union advocacy. You can usually find Avery playing Dungeons and Dragons, trying out rugby, hiking, pilates, and spending inordinate amounts of time with their four cats.
Josh Verluen -Josh is an environmental and renewable energy leader with more than 18 years of experience as a lawyer, consultant, and LEED certified sustainability professional. In his current role Josh leads the permitting and environmental compliance team for Empire Wind, the first offshore wind farm to connect to NYC (powering 500,000 homes), and the SBMT Offshore Wind Port Project in Brooklyn. He previously served as a lawyer in private practice, staff attorney at environmental not-for-profit Riverkeeper, senior legal editor at Thomson Reuters, and as a member of the Town of Gardiner Planning Board. Josh and his wife live in Gardiner with their two dogs and three cats.
Honorary Trustees Leland E. Gartrell 1927-2015 Frank Kraat Susan Loxley-Friedle Frederic B. Mayo Mary H. Ottaway James H. Ottaway, Jr. Edith Kraat Sherman Helen L. Vukasin 1922-2016 Sally Vasse, President Emerita