Vicky Scharlau, President, CEO: Vicky has over 25 years of non-profit organization management experience and has developed a reputation as a strategist, manager, organizational planner, and facilitator. Her skills include strategic planning, project management, meeting and process facilitation, project budgeting, marketing, and communications. Vicky’s experience includes nine years holding various positions with the Washington State Apple Commission, including interim president, vice president and director of communications and three and a half years as executive director of the Washington State Horticultural Association. She also worked for the Department of Agriculture in both Washington State and Wisconsin. Scharlau earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism and a minor in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was raised on a 260-acre dairy farm near Waumandee, Wisconsin and is a Class X graduate of the Washington Ag and Forestry Leadership Program.

Stacy Roeder, Program Manager: Stacy’s background has emphasized communication for 10 years. She earned Masters degrees from Purdue University and the University of Dayton, and has utilized her skills in diverse industries ranging from state government to telecommunications. She has reviewed construction contractors’ Equal Employment policies for the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and taught communication classes for the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her strengths include organizing, writing, public speaking, developing educational materials and problem solving.

Tricia M. Belcastro, Marketing Consultant (Independent), is a 17-year marketing veteran of both large Fortune 100 and small start up companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Ogilvy & Mather, RSL Interactive and the Washington State Apple Commission. Her credentials include strategic planning, brand identity and development, marketing planning, advertising management, advertising production, public relations, promotions, research, web site development and management, direct mail and fulfillment, internet marketing, sponsorship and event marketing, guerilla marketing, packaging design and more. In 2003, she launched a full-service marketing consultancy under her name, devoted to helping companies use classical marketing principles based on strategic thinking to reach their target customers.