Board President

Annette Herboth is Owner and Principal Consultant at Twill Design and Consulting and Associate Partner at Zefyr Consulting, and was previously a Senior Director of Footwear Material Development at Nike, Inc. Annette has nearly 30 years of experience in the footwear, apparel & home goods industries, working with a wide variety of brands, manufacturers, and suppliers. She is a designer & handweaver determined to connect her family history of farming with her love of fiber, passion for making, and desire for promoting sustainable regional industries. 

Board Vice President

Fiona Barrett is a fashion professional based in Boston, Massachusetts, working as a sustainable fashion strategist and creating a regenerative textile ecosystem for Bast fibres. Fiona has over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry with global brands VF/Timberland, L Brands and Marks and Spencer in the UK. She is committed to collective action towards regenerative systems to help combat fashion’s unsustainable footprint.

Board TREASURER

Meara McNally Butler is the General Manager at Fairsing Vineyard, a family-run and sustainability-focused vineyard. She is a handweaver with a Master’s degree in Geography, and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology/Archaeology. Her interests in agriculture, human culture, and craft intersect at the production of local fiber and fabric. Meara sees the potential of bringing new and returning industries to our part of the world. 

BoarD sECRETARY

Sandra Marquardt is the founder and president of On the Mark Consulting, which provides communications, research, and advocacy for the organic and sustainable sectors. She has extensive experience in the agricultural, environmental, and sustainable fashion and textiles sectors. Sandra has spearheaded issue and media relations campaigns, led advocacy initiatives at the congressional and regulatory levels, written in-depth reports on a variety of agricultural and environmental topics, presented at and organized conferences and educational seminars, testified before Congress, and coordinated organic cotton and recycled textiles tours. Most recently, she has authored reports about global hemp production and the use of pesticides and fertilizers on cotton. Previously, Sandra served as the Fiber Crops Senior Manager with Textile Exchange, North America Representative for the Global Organic Textile Standard, and Coordinator for the Organic Trade Association (OTA) Fiber Council. She is currently Secretary of OTA’s Fiber Council and the OTA Representative to the Global Organic Textile Standard Standards Committee. Since 2009, Sandra has also managed a popular organic farmers market and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in her Maryland community.

Board Director

Zoica Miesen is the Founder and CEO of Stitch Lightly, a consultancy specializing in sustainable practices and circularity in the fashion industry. With over 24 years of experience in apparel design, production, and strategic leadership, Zoica has worked across diverse facets of the industry. Her career includes serving as Director of Design and Product Development at CAT Apparel, where she led cross-functional teams and contributed to innovative product launches in the lifestyle and workwear divisions. Previously, she owned a slow fashion brand focused on linen and sustainable materials, reflecting her dedication to promoting eco-friendly textiles and practices. Now, through Stitch Lightly, Zoica helps apparel businesses integrate sustainable practices, focusing on Ecodesign for Circularity, ethical sourcing, and waste reduction to drive environmental and economic benefits. A passionate advocate for regenerative agriculture and textile innovation, Zoica brings her expertise and commitment to advancing resilient and sustainable solutions in the industry.

Board Director

Carol Hyland, Founder and Principal Consultant of CS Creative Inc.in Victoria, Canada, brings her expertise in design communications alongside a fervent commitment to promoting local food and fibre products. Originally hailing from Northern Ireland, Carol migrated to Canada’s west coast during her childhood. Her upbringing resonates with tall Irish farm tales, including flax fields and retting ponds on her father’s side, while her mother boasted about rising to a supervisory role at the local linen mill. In 2021, Carol embarked on a personal journey, bridging her family’s linen heritage with her passion for farming and textiles. She has subsequently made Flax Fibre seed available in western Canada through her farm, Alderley Grange. Carol remains steadfast in her mission to champion local, sustainable agriculture and textile production. her attention to environmental issues. 

Board Director

Arin Gintowt is partner and President at Eliza Faulkner Designs, and the founder and President of Canflax. With over ten year’s experience in the sustainable fashion industry, and a multi disciplined and diverse background in economics, media, entertainment, and marketing, Arin brings passion and vision, and looks to create a positive impact in whatever he touches. Arin is a ceaseless learner and critical thinker. He enjoys advocating the benefits of durable goods, restorative and regenerative agriculture, and ESG, and enjoys speaking on those subjects.

Board Director

Kristina Foley was introduced to felting wool while completing a BFA in Fiber Structure and Interlocking at Syracuse University and continued her practice after graduation when she moved to Italy. In Tuscany, she developed a ‘nomadic studio’ tailored to felting and natural dyes that reflected the local materials available: European wool varieties, dye plants and secondhand textiles. Her professional work in fashion and design while immersed in the artisan culture of Florence was influential to her craft. In 2018, Kristina moved to Oregon and created Food Shelter Clothing, small collections intertwining beauty, utility, and sustainability. Her felted sheepskins highlight the incredible wool available from small farms in the Pacific Northwest.

BoarD director

Heidi Barr is a textile artist and founder of kitchen garden textiles, a Philadelphia based lifestyle brand working at the intersection of food and fabric. In 2020 with Emma de Long of Kneehigh Farm, Heidi co-founded the Pa. Flax Project and began working to reestablish a flax for linen supply chain in Pennsylvania. A former costume designer, she holds a BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts and is a two-time Leeway foundation grant recipient. Equaling her lifelong commitment to artistic pursuits in dance and textiles, is Heidi’s passion for gardening and her attention to environmental issues. 

BOARD DIRECTOR

Spencer L. Marchand is the founder and chairman of Dakota Linen Company. As a 5th generation North Dakotan, Spencer has been immersed in production agriculture his entire life, even working daily with farmers today as a conservationist. Spencer also has a broad background in upholstered furniture and bedding as a 3rd generation owner in his family business, where his primary role utilized his formal educational background in supply chain and operations management. Spencer takes pride in being raised in rural North Dakota, where it teaches the importance of resilience, hard work, and meaningful relationships. He is excited to bring his skills and experiences to re-emerge the flax fiber supply chain west of the Atlantic. 

BOARD DIRECTOR

Alvin Ulrich is owner of Biolin Research Inc. which began as a research facility with the goal of producing value-added fiber from flax grown in the Prairie provinces of Canada. It has morphed into a privately-owned company, under the leadership of Alvin Ulrich, with the purpose of processing and marketing the products available from all portions of flax straw. Biolin’s mission is to utilize 100% of the flax straw for commercial end uses so that the straw, traditionally burned or chopped in the fields by farmers, becomes a viable and profitable product, completing the natural recycle circle.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Shannon Welsh is a dedicated advocate for promoting fiber, textile, and apparel design. Her work encompasses raw fiber and material development, regenerative agricultural production, regional textile systems revitalization, community organizing, outreach, and education. With over two decades of experience, she has been a trusted advisor for fiber producers, brands, universities, and community organizations seeking to bridge gaps in the regenerative textile landscape. Shannon has invested considerable time and effort in researching and revitalizing the historic linen industry of Oregon. She holds the positions of Co-Founder and CEO of Fibrevolution, Bast Fiber Producers, and Executive Director of the North American Linen Association (NALA). Additionally, she is the Founder and former Affiliate Director of Pacific Northwest Fibershed, a Fibershed affiliate organization.