To the Wonderful GoFarm Community,
I have some news to share with all of you. I have made the decision to step down from my position as CEO of GoFarm in 2021. This decision was not taken lightly, as I hold GoFarm very near and dear to my heart, but it is time for me to move on to a new adventure and allow a new leader to guide GoFarm on its path forward. It is an opportunity to create space for new perspectives and voices that will help GoFarm continue its work toward building an equitable food system.
Since founding GoFarm in 2014, I have watched it grow and flourish beyond my wildest dreams. In these six years, we've supported over 48 local farmers, helped 13 beginning farmers start their own farms, connected 3,500+ community members to their local agriculture, and launched and operated many initiatives that make fresh food more affordable and accessible to under-resourced communities. Especially during these tough times amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked with our partners to continue meeting the critical needs of our community.
I have also had the pleasure of working alongside amazing colleagues, partners, community groups, farmers, and friends, and am honored to be part of this incredible network of local agriculture champions.
I cannot think of a better time to transition the reins, while GoFarm is in a strong financial and programmatic state. From the beginning, it was my goal to create an organization that would live on and thrive well beyond me- that had a lasting impact on our local food system. I’m so proud to see this come true. GoFarm is growing, thriving, and diving deeper into the communities we serve. I have the utmost confidence in the dedicated, passionate team of people that keeps GoFarm running day after day, and I cannot wait to see what they will accomplish in the coming years. I am excited to continue on as a supporter to GoFarm for many years to come.
As for me, I will be returning to my roots in private consulting work and am excited to share that I will also be co-managing an entrepreneurial effort focused on building infrastructure for the food/agriculture industry. With this change, I look forward to furthering my work to strengthen local food systems, in and outside of Colorado.
In the coming days, the GoFarm board will be announcing next steps for hiring a new Executive Director. To ensure a smooth transition, I will continue my work with GoFarm until this new Executive Director is hired and onboarded.
Thank you for all of your support and encouragement in helping GoFarm become what it is today. I look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Updated: 1/15/21
Dear Friends of GoFarm,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of GoFarm, I wanted to share with you that after six wonderful years leading this organization, our Founder & CEO Eileen O’Rourke will be transitioning into a new venture that takes advantage of her entrepreneurial nature.
In 2014, Eileen founded GoFarm with the innovative idea that a community food organization can achieve systemic change by taking a more holistic approach to solving gaps in the local food system. The GoFarm concept quickly took root and has flourished ever since. In Eileen’s time as CEO, GoFarm has supported over 48 local farmers, helped 13 beginning farmers start their own farms, connected 3,500+ community members to local food, and launched and operated initiatives that make fresh food more affordable and accessible to under-resourced communities. Among GoFarm’s many achievements, we are especially proud of how Eileen and the team have been able to pivot this last year in order to respond to the needs of our community due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is with our deepest gratitude for her many contributions that we wish Eileen the very best in her new pursuits, and we know we can count her among our supporters for many years to come. In the meantime, the GoFarm board is undertaking the search for a new Executive Director. Recruitment efforts will be led by Pearl Street Collective, an executive search firm dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations fill key leadership positions. We look forward to welcoming a new Executive Director and are deeply committed to a smooth transition for all of our partners, shareholders, and supporters.
To learn more about the Executive Director search, please visit: https://pearlstreetcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/GoFarm-ED-1.pdf
Sincerely,
Traci Case,
GoFarm Board Chair
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