shared leadership at rogue farm corps

Letter from RFC’s Board of Directors

We are excited to have officially entered into shared leadership here at Rogue Farm Corps.  Shared leadership, or co-leadership, is a “leaderful” approach to leading an organization. In recent years, many organizations have left the traditional Executive Director (ED) model to directly address the issue of burnout and more fully embody the values of equity and power sharing. 

A shared leadership model exemplifies RFC values and is in alignment with our Strategic Plan and Theory of Change. This transition represents a step towards building an equitable workplace and culture that honors whole people and supports personal and professional growth. As stated by RFC Board Member, Claire Cekander, “An internal shared leadership model better reflects the external systems RFC is working to build- systems that value collaboration, compassion, and inclusion.”  

Our Former Executive Director, Abigail Singer, built in a thoughtful transition as we welcomed new Co-Directors into their roles. RFC's Board filled the two Co-ED positions in March, 2023.  There was an internal hire, Matt Gordon, who was promoted into the role of Co-Executive Director: Programs & Operations. Matt brings a wealth of experience in regenerative farming, adult education, and program development, implementation and evaluation. His relationships with farmers in Oregon run deep, and he has a keen understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing today's small to mid-sized farmers and ranchers. 

The Co-Executive Director: Development and Communications role has been filled by Jennifer Hamilton, who also started in March 2023.  As a seasoned nonprofit professional, Jennifer comes with an impressive background in development and over 15 years of nonprofit, small business, and grassroots organizing experience. She has a passion for advancing regenerative solutions that increase equitable access to fresh locally grown food and for communicating those efforts through storytelling. 

It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome these two bold and collaborative leaders! The Board looks forward to learning and growing together within this new model.  

If you have any questions or feedback for the RFC Board, please contact Teagan Moran, RFC Board Chair at Teaganwalden@gmail.com 

In Solidarity, 

The RFC Board