Chair/Founder

Gen Lawrence is the Founder and President of the Board for Barron Creek Farm. In 2017, stepping away from her work as a CPA for nonprofits, she founded her first farm with the aim of learning how to grow food for the community. Over the next seven years, she ran a CSA, donated fresh produce to neighbors, church groups, and a local food bank, and learned everything she could about small-scale farming along the way. That experience led her to found Barron Creek Farm, a nonprofit farm that donates all the produce it grows to the community while educating the next generation of young farmers. Gen is thrilled to be leading Barron Creek Farm into its new adventures in Oceanside and beyond! Her favorite veggie on the farm is zucchini. No, it's tomatoes. No, it's definitely zucchini.

Treasurer

Shawna Powell-Blunt has built a career working in higher education for almost 30 years after obtaining a Mathematics degree in Operations Research. She has volunteered as the Treasurer for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop for each of the past 6 years. Growing things comes naturally to Shawna who had grandparents who owned a farm and a father who was always growing tomatoes in the back yard, along with whatever else she and her siblings wanted to try growing. Backyard gardening has been a hobby for as long as she has had a backyard, and seems to expand each year. Favorite veggie grown at Barron Creek Farm is not a veggie at all, but that beautiful red fruit – tomatoes, of course – along with the basil to go with them.

Secretary

Heewon Park is the Director of School and Teacher Programs, managing Project Look and Cultural Kaleidoscope program. She brings more than 20 years of experience teaching art and working with kids. She received her B.F.A in Painting from Seoul National University in Korea and M.F.A in Print Media from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. When Heewon’s not making art with kids at the Art Center, she likes to get involved and volunteer for many different communities that she’s part of on top of taking care of her three kids and two fur babies. She enjoys eating all things grown on Barron Creek Farm!

Member

Javier Guerrero brings extensive experience in organizational management and resource development to uplift the impact of nonprofits and care for people and planet. Prior to joining Escondido AgX Regional Innovation Hub as CEO, Javier served as President and CEO of Coastal Roots Farm, Executive Director of Children’s Museum of Discovery, USA Director for SurfAid International, and the Museum of Us in multiple leadership roles. Javier currently serves on the Board of Directors for WILDCOAST, Boy Scouts of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and Advisory Board for University of San Diego Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Javier has an M.A. in Applied Cultural Anthropology from Northern Arizona University and a B.A. in Anthropology from University of San Diego.

Member

Leika Kejriwal works for Compass, Palo Alto as a real estate broker. Her profession has enabled her to assist clients from all walks of life, leading to lasting friendships. She cherishes her work and relationships tremendously. She received her Bachelor's degree in Economics and Math in India. Leika likes to volunteer for causes that primarily help women and children. She loves all the produce from the farm and especially the tomatoes and turnips.

Member

From working on four organic farms to consulting on corporate food waste and teaching food system courses at Harvard University  and Northern Arizona University, Eric holds a wide range of experiences across the food system.  As the Co-Founder of Plant Futures, he supports a network of over 105 university chapters dedicated to equipping and mobilizing the next generation of climate and food systems leaders through  curriculum, career development, and social entrepreneurship.

He holds a Masters in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University, and a Permaculture Design Certificate from Hava Ve Adam Ecological Farm.  Curly kale is his favorite vegetable to grow.

Member

Bringing over two decades of impact investing experience spanning asset classes, countries and impact areas, from market rate return expectations to catalytic philanthropic capital. Catherine began her career at Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley and now works with a range of clients, from impact investment funds, to foundations and family offices, globally. Catherine is passionate about community agriculture and specializes in place-based funds that serve BIPOC food producers and land stewards, centering community stakeholders’ needs. An avid gardener, yet still a beginner, Catherine continues to experiment growing more and more food. Her favorite food and most recent experiment, ginger.

Member

Adam Uribe is the founder of Red Earth Movement and an Indigenous (Wixárika) permaculturist. Adam’s work centers Indigenous knowledge, traditional seeds, regenerative agriculture, and reconnecting communities with the land.