Sue has joined RFA/Crospey as a full-time Executive Director and overall champion for our farm and education programs. She studied Business Management from Millersville University, Community Development and Viticulture from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Sue served on RFA’s board during 2021 and offers some great experience in managing people and operations at Equinox, Lululemon and Ambercrombie & Fitch. She is a lifelong gardener and has a strong passion for Community Development. Sue is close-up on the farm - she and her husband Matt and their four children live just over the deer fence from the South Field! Coming to the office is just a short walk across our fields! Sue is thrilled to join our community in this leadership role.

Thalia's vision is to assure a bright future for humanity by improving our relationship with nature, through contribution and education. She joined the RFA staff in March 2021 in support of this vision, following a long career in Purchasing at mostly pharmaceutical firms. She has a BA from UC Santa Cruz in Theatrical Lighting Design, a MBA from NYU, is a lifetime A.P.P. (Accredited Purchasing Practitioner) and C.P.M. (Certified Purchasing Manager), and is currently serving as VP Finance/Treasurer for ISM-NJ (Institute of Supply Management - New Jersey). Thalia is also an avid gardener, and a lover of nature, especially felines.

Kathy Rauth is an Early Childhood Educator with a love of gardening! She maintains the Children’s garden and runs RFA’s group farm visits as well as our after school gardening program. A longtime resident of Rockland County, she has always been an avid organic vegetable gardener. When the Rockland Farm Alliance started its CSA at Cropsey Community Farm, Kathy became an active member and volunteer. After more than 20 years of being the Educational Director and a teacher at Nursery School of the Nyacks, Kathy has switched gears to make more time for teaching in the garden. She finds that teaching young children about both nature and growing food is the perfect combination of her two passions.

Marisa is excited to join RFA as a Farm Crew Member and the Volunteer Coordinator. After spending nearly a decade in the construction industry, she took a leap to follow a calling in agriculture. This will be her third year farming. She is originally from Rockland County and is looking forward to working with the community in her old stomping grounds. For Marisa, farming is at the intersection of many of her interests — from spending time outdoors to local, seasonal produce, and community education, as well as food and environmental justice. Marisa believes involving people with their local farms, getting their hands in the soil and out in nature, allows us all to see just how everything is connected and to better appreciate, take care of, and give back to the environment and each other.

Board of Directors

John McDowell, Founder, President, Chair

Alexandra Spadea, RFA Co-Founder

Joan Dye Gussow, Vice-president

Mary Lukens, Secretary

Michael Morenberg

George Ballane

Advisory Board

Robert McClure

John Wickes

Heshi Gorewitz

Barry Dorfman

Michael Guarnieri

Robert Salmon