Our Staff

Rooted in an understanding of food and farming, John Mesko has been advancing agricultural sustainability for over 30 years, working with supply chain partners to help farmers learn about, evaluate, and choose farming practices which make sense for their bottom line. As the President and CEO of the Potato Sustainability Alliance, John and his team are collecting and reporting data and information which help to tell the unique story of potato sustainability. He speaks regularly about agricultural sustainability and is the host of the Resource Positive Agriculture podcast. He can be reached at mesko@potatosustainability.org.

Natalie is the Program Manager at the Potato Sustainability Alliance, collaborating with value chain partners across North America to evaluate production practices and track key performance indicators for sustainability reporting. Building off a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Natalie’s passion for sustainable agriculture stemmed from an inclusive experience conducting soil analysis, managing crop production, vermicomposting, and beekeeping at a community farm. Ultimately driven by data, Natalie is eager to help measure and communicate the impact of their members’ sustainability efforts.

Courtney joins the team with 15 years of marketing and communications experience. Having previously worked with local and global ag-focused marketing agencies across the country, Courtney has experience with crop and livestock organizations, non-profits, research entities, and member alliances. Focused for most of her professional life on the livestock side – in large part due to an animal science and biology degree from Purdue University – Courtney has dedicated her career to helping connect farmers to one another through communications. When she’s not creating a marketing strategy, she spends her time teaching riding lessons, running with her dog, reading books that are way too long, and following her two children around on their adventures.

Jenna Cargile has over 14 years of experience in the marketing and events industry, driven by her passion for bringing people’s ideas to life for others to enjoy. She was key in organizing the inaugural Potato Sustainability Alliance Summer Symposium, demonstrating her commitment to creating impactful events. When she is not working, Jenna cherishes spending time with her husband and one-year-old son, who brings joy to her life every day.

Laura has provided contract web design and development services to non-profits and small businesses throughout the country for almost 20 years. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a degree in English, and also pursued continuing education in web design and development. Laura grew up on a dairy farm in western Minnesota, and that background launched her career in the non-profit sector working with sustainable agriculture and beginning farmers. She continues to support sustainable agriculture through her web work.

Liz joins the Potato Sustainability Alliance as the Education Portal Coordinator, bringing extensive experience in agricultural education, program coordination, and strategic communications. Growing up on her family’s farm in Nebraska, she developed a strong appreciation for agriculture and the people who sustain it. Throughout her career, she has focused on helping people access clear, research-based information and strengthening connections across diverse groups. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, one-year-old daughter, and energetic golden retriever, shopping with friends, and cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Blair is the Potato Sustainability Alliance’s local representative for the Lake Winnipeg Basin Project in Manitoba working with the six cooperating farms and financial partners. For the past 50 years, Blair has had a variety of roles in agriculture including farming, managing an overseas development project, teaching and potato research. Blair is pleased to be working on a project demonstrating the positive outcomes of sustainable farming practices for the farms and surrounding community.