Dave Mendoza – Executive Director
Dave Mendoza, is originally from El Paso, Texas. He retired after 24 years of service in the United States navy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in health care administration. Dave worked for 15 years as a defense contractor serving clients within the Veterans Administration throughout the U.S. He joined the F.R.E.S.H. Project team in 2019 at the Programs Coordinator and volunteered with the Project since 2017. Dave enjoys serving those who are less fortunate and learning more about our rural farmers and where our food is produced. In his spare time, Dave enjoys woodworking, fishing and kayaking.
Board of Directors
Lori Schuettpelz – Chair of the Board
In 2010, Lori began her career with UW Extension FoodWIse Program and working in Shawano County and Menominee County/Nation since 2016. Her goal is to help families with limited income and
Nicholas Mau – Vice Chair of the Board
As the Vice Chair for the FRESH Project and Community Health Educator for the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department, Nick works with many community partners to improve health outcomes in these two counties. Nick is passionate about bridging gaps in health disparities among economic status, gender, race, ethnicity, and culture. Nick is proud to have been a part of the FRESH Project for nearly two years and is excited to see the impactful work that is yet to come.
Rebecca Dillenburg – Treasurer
Becky retired from Ogla Brener Elementary School on the Support staff. She grew up in Gresham and earned her “green thumb” while working the long summers on her family’s “Redmond’s Pick Your Own Strawberry” farm. The family farm is now the location of one the FRESH Project’s garden. Becky states that donating the garden space to the FRESH Project is just one of the ways the family can give back to such an important project that helps so many in our communities.
Barbara Mendoza – Finance/Grant Director
Barb Mendoza, a native of Gresham, retired after 22 years of U.S. Naval Service. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications. Since 2013 Barb worked in the non-profit community to improve food security for school-aged children and their families. Currently served as the Executive Director with The F.R.E.S.H. Project, she continues to ensure everyone has access to healthy and affordable food. While not working, she enjoys baking, kayaking and gardening.
Wendy Ainsworth – Secretary
Wendy Ainsworth is a lab technician at Genex Dairy. Originally from Gresham she now resides in Shawano and her husband, Paul manages the Ainsworth farm. Wendy spent her summers working on her family’s Pick Your Own Strawberry farm. She believes that providing healthier foods to our food desert residents is a great way to securing local needs through our partnerships with our rural farmers.
Troy Porter – At Large
Troy, owner of Porter’s Patch, a century family farm located in southeastern Shawano County is passionate on how your food is grown and the continued education of the community of where your food is coming from. By being involved with the Fresh Project, he hopes to make more of a community impact on the fresh local food movement and bridging the gap between the consumer and the farmer. For Troy, it’s very rewarding to see all the big smiles when guests are visiting the Farm.