Madison was born and raised here in western Washington and is excited to be back in the area and joining the Non-GMO Project team!
After earning her B.A in Sociology from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, Madison spent time in Vermont serving with the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Her work with youth development and environmental education based community organizations fueled her passion for nonprofit and mission-driven work and cultivated her interest in sustainable food systems and food education. Most recently, this interest led her to a community-owned food cooperative in Burlington, VT where she joined the Community Engagement team and worked on Co-op membership and programming.
Her passion for food education and transparency is what brings Madison to the Non-GMO Project. She is excited to contribute to the Project as a member of the Client Experience team!
In her downtime you can find Madison working on various craft projects, seeking out the best local cuisine, cooking, baking, or exploring local hikes and trails.
Growing up working on a farm on the Palouse, Cameron developed a deep appreciation for the connection between our land, our food, and our health. Through a varied career that has included time as a design engineer, a Six Sigma Black Belt, a software company executive, amongst other endeavors, Cameron never lost his connection to the land. For Cameron, joining the Non-GMO Project has been a deeply fulfilling full-circle connection with his roots.
Cameron has volunteered extensively for organizations operating in the sustainable food space, including serving on the Board of Directors of Tilth Alliance. While pursuing his MBA in Sustainable Business, Cameron co-founded FarmShare, a sharing economy platform for farmers to share equipment with each other. The intent of FarmShare was to reduce the capital costs of farming in order to help younger farmers enter the profession, thereby reducing the trend of farm consolidation and corporatization.
Bellingham was initially home to Cameron while he pursued his undergraduate degree at Western Washington University. Some years later, Cameron and his family returned to Bellingham from the buzzing tech hub of Seattle, seeking a greater sense of purpose and balance. Moving to Bellingham was a step closer to Cameron’s roots and a more intimate sense of community. Joining the Non-GMO Project brings that greater sense of purpose and balance into the professional realm, and Cameron is excited to bring his business and leadership experience to the organization.
Shannon earned a BS in Biology with a focus in Conservation from Illinois State University. During her studies, she became passionate about ecology and the human impact on ecosystems.
Working as the manager on an organic farm, Shannon gained a labored appreciation for our food system. She understands the importance of sustainable farming practices. After working as a fisheries biologist in Dutch Harbor, AK, Shannon was rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Her deep-seated concern for food security and transparency in the food system brought her to the Non-GMO Project.
Shannon brings a unique perspective to the Project with her background in water quality, organic farming, and fisheries. She is excited to contribute to the expansion of Non-GMO Project Verified food choices for consumers.
Born and raised in the Midwest Shannon grew up in the country collecting eggs and climbing trees: She now collects stamps and climbs the endless trails in Bellingham.
Kiira Heymann brings her excitement for food, education and the environment to the Non-GMO Project as the Industry Engagement Manager. Kiira first realized the importance of connecting communities to their food networks during college, where she helped to found her school’s first organic garden and spent time developing educational programs at her grandfather’s non-profit farm in southern Vermont. After receiving her B.A. in English and Environmental Studies from Colby College, Kiira traveled for work as a teacher, backpacking guide and farm apprentice in both the U.S. and abroad.
Kiira moved to Bellingham in 2011 to pursue her M.Ed. at Western Washington University where she focused on experiential education and non-profit leadership and management. Most recently she has served on the faculty at an experientially-based high school, where she developed and implemented globally-relevant curriculum in the classroom and in the field.
Outside of work Kiira enjoys trail running in the mountains, cooking and sharing meals with friends, and hanging in the backyard with her flock of chickens and ducks.
Lea Emery was born and raised in Western Massachusetts and now that she has followed family to the Pacific Northwest, she has lived in all four corners of the United States. As a Francophile, she pursued a degree in French Language and Culture, followed by studies in education and business. Lea joined the Non-GMO Project after nearly two decades as an admissions and financial aid administrator at a New England boarding school (also her alma mater). At the school, she was part of a community that put values into action, including having a working farm and promoting sustainability (its dining services recently attained a Three-Star Green Certified Restaurant designation by the Green Restaurant Association). After working to provide the next generation access to a top-notch education tackling global concerns, Lea is eager to work in an organization directly addressing these concerns.