Chief Executive Officer

Evan Harrison

Evan Harrison is the Chief Executive Officer at Kiss the Ground.  Evan, a digital music and media pioneer, helped transform iHeartRadio (formerly known as Clear Channel Radio) into a multi-platform content creation company as the President of Digital. After spending a decade at BMG Music, he joined a handful of his BMG colleagues at AOL, where together they created groundbreaking music programs such as AOL Music’s “Sessions” and “First Listen,” which debuted hundreds of new songs by the most prominent artists in the world, putting AOL on the map as a legitimate innovator in the music space. He also held leadership roles at Univision, Townsquare Media, and as a music festival producer. Evan has been recognized in Advertising Age’s “Entertainment A-List,” Details “50 Most Powerful Men under 38,” and New York Observer’s “Power Punk” list and profiled in Billboard, Businessweek, Crain’s, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, Reuters, USA Today, Variety and The Wall Street Journal.

Evan’s love for the ocean is what first sparked his crusade and interest in environmentalism, which developed further when he joined the board of Surfrider, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches.

Chief Operations Officer

Karen Rodriguez

Karen Rodriguez is a Guatemalan woman raised in Venice Beach. She is a food lover who got her food education in kitchens of great restaurants in Southern California and a few in NYC. In these roles, she opened teams, served, managed and occasionally cooked. Her love of the culinary arts led her on the journey to learn an incredible amount from chefs, farmers and all of the people connected to our food.

She loves to connect with nature through healing, herbs, and gardens and is always excited to share a meal and feed loved ones. Following the thread of where our food comes from has made her passionate about teaching both children and the adults who teach children about tending to our soil and our earth because that is where all food begins. She is excited about regeneration and supporting healthy humanity, through food education, regenerating soils, restoring systems and kissing the ground.

Co-Founder

Finian Makepeace

Finian Makepeace is the Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Kiss the Ground. He is a renowned presenter, media creator, and thought leader in the field of regenerative agriculture and soil health. His dedication to Kiss the Ground’s mission of “awakening people to the possibilities of regeneration”, has motivated him to develop training programs, workshops, and talks designed to empower people around the world to become confident advocates for this growing movement.

Director, Marketing and Communications

Nathan Rice

Nathan Rice is the Communications and Marketing Director at Kiss the Ground. A seasoned communicator, connector, and digitally savvy marketer, his passion is to develop dynamic storytelling that inspires authentic new connections and moves people to action. Prior to joining Kiss the Ground, Nathan spent 14 years at a mission-based agency where he led marketing and communications programs for pioneers dedicated to improving the food system, including Traditional Medicinals, Organic Valley, Annie’s Homegrown, Gaia Herbs, Lundberg Family Farms, and Earthbound Farm. As a long-time, passionate environmental advocate and firm believer in the power of regenerative agriculture, Nathan is thrilled about the opportunity to lend his talents to fulfilling the Kiss the Ground mission.

Director, Content Production and Marketing Operations

Leigh Tarsa

Leigh learned the importance of collaboration and storytelling on regeneration from working with talented chefs in the Colorado hospitality scene who cared deeply about the dishes and ingredients they served to their guests, starting with the local food systems that created them. Her experience in this industry included the launch of Dry Storage Mill & Bakery, a concept that grows all of its own grain (regeneratively) in the San Luis Valley and mills it locally in Boulder before supplying the flour back into the bakery, its sister restaurants, and the community. She is eager to take what she has learned from these experiences into her role at Kiss the Ground and to amplify the call to action on the importance of the health of our soil, our planet, and its people.

Director, Development

Kaitlin Downs

Kaitlin is a food, gardening, and nature enthusiast. Having grown up around the hospitality industry, she has a deep passion for serving others, sharing delicious food, and for keeping things well-organized and operating efficiently. With over ten years of experience in the realms of agriculture and nonprofit work, she’s thrilled to lend her experience and skills to the exciting work at Kiss the Ground! She will be supporting our development team as our Membership and Individual Giving Manager. In her free time, Kaitlin enjoys long hikes with her dog, cooking, and swimming in the many lakes of Wisconsin. Prior to Kiss the Ground, Kaitlin held roles with the American Farmland Trust and the Biodynamic Association.

Bookkeeper

Nishitha Donthy

Nishitha is grateful to be part of Kiss The Ground’s mission. Her work experience comes from volunteering for Isha Yoga Foundation. During her free-time, she loves connecting with nature through gardening. Her interest in holistic lifestyle and involvement with international SaveSoil movement introduced her to the magical world of Soil. She currently resides in the suburbs of Boston and enjoys singing, drawing, playing piano and strumming the ukulele. She looks forward to lending her skills and passion to help the environment, as well as inspire others about soil regeneration.

Producer, Content Production

Carina Immer

Carina comes from 6 years in the coffee industry, where she worked in both the roasting and importing spaces. She developed a love and appreciation of visiting farms across central and South America, where she met farmers and listened to their stories surrounding generational perseverance, innovation, and deep love for respecting the earth. Carina’s passions include creative storytelling, community building, and helping diverse communities access powerful knowledge regarding food, soil, human rights, and climate.

Associate Director, Partnerships

Jackie Peller

Jackie is a yoga teacher, avid hiker, and animal lover living in Denver, Colorado. Her experience volunteering on a biodynamic farm, studying holistic nutrition as well as her history working in restaurants have shaped the way she views our food sources. Jackie is a plant-based cook, a pit bull advocate, and a nature explorer. She’s excited to use her skills to support Kiss the Ground on the mission of regeneration.

Grower Relations, Education

Kylie Wagner

Kylie Wagner, Grower Relations, created and developed Kiss the Ground’s now global and growing Farmland Program. Raised on an organic avocado ranch on the Gaviota Coast of California, Kylie’s hands-on connection to farming began at an early age. After graduating from UCLA with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in Food Systems, Kylie returned to her hometown in Santa Barbara and is a yogi, farmer, and activist in her local community. She believes in the power of change at the grassroots level, making conscious food choices that positively impact our health, our environment, and our communities.

Coordinator, Development

Olivia Wandres

Raised between New York City and the Catskill Mountain Region, Olivia has always felt most connected to life when she is outside. After receiving an undergraduate degree in English where she studied the intersection of the climate crisis, literature and justice, she knew she wanted to join an organization that amplified peoples stories and worked in tandem with the planet. A people person through and through, Olivia is excited to bring her experiences in community building, event planning and brand partnerships to the Development team!

Graphic Designer

Lisa Blakeborough

Lisa Blakeborough is a graphic designer, illustrator, and visual storyteller with over 15 years of experience translating complex ideas into engaging approachable visual solutions for mission-based brands. Lisa is passionate about co-creating a kinder, more beautiful world and living in harmony with nature. She strives to use her imagination and intuition to illuminate the beauty and magic of the natural world through visual storytelling.

Graphic Designer

Helen Thompson

Helen is a ultra talented graphic designer who enjoys helping bring ideas to life through clear and compelling visual design. Helen applies years of experience from agency and in-house work. She is especially passionate about layout design, strategic color use and solving creative problems through effective visuals. When not designing, Helen loves to be outside, preferably with a good book in hand.

Associate, Communications & Marketing

Luli Harrison

Luli Harrison is an undergraduate student at San Diego State University studying Public Relations and Sustainability. Her passion for the environment is rooted in spending time in nature, trail running and surfing. At her college newspaper, she covers stories highlighting campus sustainability initiatives. She is excited to contribute to the mission at Kiss the Ground and use her skills in creative writing and public relations to shape solutions to environmental issues.

Intern / Operations

Kaitlyn Kamieniecki

I’m Kaitlyn, an herbalist with a deep-rooted passion for making things better and a love for connecting with nature. From wildcrafting in the lush forests of Michigan to nurturing medicinal gardens in Costa Rica, my connection to the natural world runs deep. Through my work, i’ve cultivated a profound respect for the earth and a commitment to promoting regeneration in everything I do.

With a commitment to efficiency and a love for problem-solving, I’m dedicated to leveraging my expertise to support Kiss the Ground’s mission with efficiency and purpose. I’m here to ensure that our organization operates seamlessly, allowing us to focus on our shared goal of healing the planet through regenerative agriculture.

Coordinator, Marketing

Catherine Dale

Catherine is a nature and wildlife enthusiast from the Southeast. She has always had a calling to help protect the Earth, and as an adult, she hopes to inspire positive environmental change through her art and creativity. She has a background in Mass Communication and Digital Media Production, and years of experience in Marketing. She is thrilled to contribute to Kiss The Ground’s mission and to bring her blend of strategic thinking and creative skills to grow the movement. Catherine loves to spend her time outside hiking, camping, or just marveling at nature – or making many forms of art, from digital art and video animations to paintings and woodburning crafts.

Coordinator, Social Media

Jackie Suerth

I’m Jackie, a creative storyteller currently working as a Social Media Coordinator for Kiss the Ground. Hailing from the vibrant city of Chicago, I now reside in the serene desert landscapes of Phoenix, Arizona. Graduating from The University of Arizona, my personal and professional goals intertwine around advocating for human and planetary well-being through my work. When I’m not crafting content, you’ll find me exploring farmers markets, immersing myself in local live music, fashion, and art shows and movements for positive social change, embarking on road trips to Joshua Tree, and finding my zen through yoga while capturing moments with my camera.

Coordinator, Partnerships

Ashley Lamontagne

Ashley is a partnerships and connections professional hailing from the coast of Massachusetts. A self-described earth nerd, she is passionate about exploring nature and advocating for the planet. Coming from a background in reforestation, Ashley sees the infinite value of getting your hands in the dirt and is passionate about soil health and the power of regenerative agriculture. Skilled in sustainability storytelling and forging relationships with a variety of organizations, she looks forward to supporting Kiss the Ground in fostering a regenerative revolution. In her free time you can either find Ashley cooking, hiking with her dog Indie, or on the pottery wheel.

Communications Coordinator, Marketing

Savannah Leedy

Savannah’s appreciation for soil health started at a young age when she learned to compost and garden at her environmental science magnet elementary school. In college, she studied Professional Writing, which sparked her passion for bringing science topics to the media through engaging stories. Having served on the editorial team of various publications, Savannah is excited to contribute to the storytelling department at Kiss the Ground and use her writing skills to help bring the regenerative agriculture movement to new audiences.

Associate Director, Education

Jenny Neal

Jenny Neal is a wellness and sustainability enthusiast with a deep passion for storytelling and community building. With over ten years of experience in wellness, marketing, and nonprofit work, she’s excited to bring her expertise to Kiss the Ground as the Senior Manager of Education.

Before joining the Kiss the Ground team, Jenny spent her time supporting wellness and psychedelic organizations, including MAPS, Zendo Project, Dave Asprey, The Copy Posse, where she developed innovative marketing strategies, educational content, and community engagement programs.

Jenny loves to teach (and practice) yoga, study herbalism, travel with her husband, lead wellness retreats, write, hike, and volunteer.

Coordinator, Operations

Margaret Taylor

Margaret grew up in the lush gardens of the Pacific Northwest, where she developed a deep love for the feeling of the sun on her face and the earth beneath her feet. As an adult, she moved to the coast of Southern California where she could feel the sun a little more frequently and the earth was warm and soft. Margaret thrives in new social ecosystems and blooms in spaces where it takes time to grow roots and build deep, long lasting connections with other beings. Over the past decade, Margaret has cultivated diverse operational skills and is deeply fulfilled and excited to share them with Kiss the Ground. Margaret loves beach runs, making new connections, and getting lost in a good book series.