Colleen O'Brien Email & Phone Number

United States

Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Provided technical expertise in organic crop production, wild crop harvesting, and livestock production to staff reviewers, inspectors, and clients regarding assessment to the USDA organic regulations. Formulated new policies to ensure inspectors and reviewers properly execute the National Organic Program regulations, ensuring their implementation align with the standards, NOP guidance, and accreditation requirements. Reviewed and edited requests to update or add new internal procedures related to organic certification efficiencies and workflow. Assisted with quarterly internal audits, conforming to ISO 19011:2018 guidelines, utilizing electronic management systems to track and analyzing activities and performance measures. Helped develop and oversee the annual sampling program for crop, wild crop, and livestock operations certified to the NOP standards. Responded to complaints, developing and implementing an investigation plan to evaluate the operation’s compliance with 7 CFR Part 205.

Olympia, Wa

-Lead and supervise the organic crop & livestock inspector teams-Point person for all adverse action files, handling proposes suspension, mediation, and settlement agreements-Perform quality assurance review for organic certification applications and inspection reports for compliance with regulatory requirements-Provide customer service for Spanish-speaking clients, including conducting inspections in Spanish-Conduct approximately 30 annual crop producer and handler inspections

Nh

-Prepared policy briefs, press releases, outreach materials, presentations, grant applications and reports-Representative on the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Food System Integrity Committee (FSI) helping shape the final rules of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Woodstock, Vt

-Established and maintained relationships with farmers and wholesale distributors for the produce department in a busy upscale year-round market.-Managed staffing issues in produce department; 5 full time and 3-6 part time employees. Responsible for hiring, training, supervising and evaluating.

San Salvador, El Salvador

· Taught Environmental Science, Food Science, Biodiversity, Ecology, and Biology courses at the Upper School· Advised the Foodies Club, a club that focuses on the importance of local and organic food, where it comes from, and how to prepare it.· Headed the Wellness Policy Committee and wrote the Wellness Policy for the Escuela Americana community.

El Salvador

Designed the greenhouse for the seedlings that will be part of the integrated aquaponics system. Assisted in set up of the management of the hydroponic component of system to a final goal of producing thousands of vegetables each week for sale on the local market.

• Designed, built, and maintained small-scale commercial aquaponics system• Maintained fruit orchard, vegetable gardens, livestock, and campus landscape• Taught sustainable systems seminar and research course to Island School students• Hired, trained and supervised employees and interns• Co-taught annual Permaculture Design course• Led extended sea kayak trips

Durham, Nh

• Facilitated youth through adult groups on the low and high challenge courses• Developed programs and designed curriculum with core staff

· Expanded the Resource Network for farmers in need of assistance · Interviewed hundreds of farm service organizations nationwide · Compiled information onto database for online publication

• Managed demonstration plot and oversaw farm site activities• Compiled and edited the quarterly newsletter• Assisted with grant proposals and final reports • Instructed immigrant farmers in sustainable agriculture techniques

• Planned and facilitated adventure activities for diverse youth groups• Supervised and coordinated schedules of college student interns • Delivered inter-generational after school programs

M.S., Agriculture, Food & The Environment

B.S., Outdoor Education

Nepali Studies

Study abroad in Nepal: courses included anthropology of Nepal, geology of Nepal, economics of Nepal and the Nepali language.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Outing Club, field hockey team, co-ed ice hockey team, cross country and downhill ski teams, track and field.