Tara Ritter

Experience

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  The Ohio State University

  Sept 2010 - Sept 2012

  Teaching and Research Associate

  -- Teaching assistant for environmental writing and introductory environmental science courses. Taught discussion sections for undergraduates, administered exams, and graded assignments.-- Hosted focus groups with Ohio farmers to understand decision making around nutrient management and conservation practices in the Lake Erie watershed.-- Conducted a statewide survey of farmers on nutrient management decisions. Analyzed survey data to inform publications and Extension materials.

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  Local Matters

  May 2012 - Sept 2012

  Columbus Foundation Fellow

  -- One of ten fellows selected by the Columbus Foundation to provide summer consulting services for a local nonprofit. -- Provided technical support for the establishment of a food co-op in Columbus, Ohio.

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  Catholic Charities

  Oct 2012 - May 2013

  Food Shelf Supervisor

  -- Provided dignified service to over 150 weekly food shelf customers.-- Maintained the flow of food inventory from intake to distribution through retail rescue, donations, and purchasing.-- Supervised and scheduled a team of food shelf volunteers.-- Submitted reports and documentation to granting agencies as required.

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  Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

  May 2013 - Jan 2021

  As a member of the climate change & rural communities team, I managed a research and policy portfolio to advance equitable agriculture and climate change policy at the local, state, and federal levels.-- Authored over 100 reports, blog posts, and comments on state and federal agriculture and climate change policy.-- Organized and implemented the Rural Climate Dialogues, an award-winning program that catalyzed community-driven action on climate change and renewable energy in five rural Minnesota counties. -- Held leadership positions in regional and national networks, including the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's climate change committee, the RE-AMP Network's climate and agriculture project team, and the Animal Agriculture Reform Collaborative's environment and environmental justice team. Show less

  • Senior Program Associate, Climate and Rural Communities

    Jul 2016 - Jan 2021

  • Program Associate, Climate and Rural Communities

    May 2013 - Jul 2016
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  University of Minnesota

  Jan 2021 - Dec 2023

  Project Manager, KernzaCAP

  Project Manager of KernzaCAP, a 5-year, $10 million USDA-funded project to build a perennial grain crop enterprise based on Kernza. The project brought together over 90 collaborators to develop research, education, extension, and commercialization innovations to scale up Kernza and build collective leadership for the next generation of perennial cropping systems.-- Designed, launched, and promoted use of project management infrastructure for 90 collaborators across the country to encourage collaboration and integration across the project.-- Provided high level oversight of project scope and budget by supporting collaborators in planning and tracking activities and spending. Fulfilled USDA requirements for annual reporting on budget and progress.-- Produced communications materials including newsletters, website updates, publications, and presentations to disseminate project results and promote internal project cohesion.-- Developed and helped manage platforms for data collection, curation, and synthesis. Show less

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  Growing GRASS: A USDA Climate Smart Commodities Project

  Dec 2023 - now

  Director of Finance & Administration

  Growing GRASS is a 5-year, $35 million USDA-funded project to develop the Generalized Regenerative Agriculture Sourcing Specification (GRASS) verification system and associated markets. The goal of Growing GRASS is to increase profitability and production of regeneratively grazed beef and bison in ways that benefit U.S. farmers, ranchers, market partners and the climate through increased valuation and utilization of byproducts in the market.-- Manage financial systems to ensure grant activities and expenditures align with project goals and objectives.-- Ensure compliance with federal regulations for grant and financial management.-- Lead the development of GRASS as a credible and functioning equivalency standard. Show less