Jody Kass

Executive Director

Jody has worked at PlantPure Communities since its inception in early 2016. As Executive Director, Jody manages the overall organization and day-to-day activities of PPC, including operations, fund raising, board development, and implementing a broad range of program initiatives. Jody brings to PPC considerable experience in advocacy, nonprofit management, lobbying and strategic planning from her 30-year career in nonprofit community revitalization. Jody serves on the Board of Directors at the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies (CNS). Prior to national nutrition/food policy issues, Jody worked in the brownfields and affordable housing arenas.

jkass@plantpurecommunities.org

Caroline Dyar

Vice President

Caroline works with the Executive Director on organizational development and with all staff on new initiatives and the design and implementation of PPC’s programmatic framework and guidelines. She started working for PlantPure Communities in September 2016. She is a Black Belt Nia Technique teacher and trained as an Integrative Health Coach at Duke Integrative Medicine. She spent a year at Bryn Mawr College before graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Media Studies. She is passionate about animal rights and equal access to health and wellness education.

cdyar@plantpurecommunities.org

Alex Brown

Director of Neighborhood Programs and Information Technology

Alex develops and implements neighborhood-based programs related to PPC’s mission of building strong, healthy, sustainable neighborhoods and also establishes, oversees, and directs the technology capacity connected to PPC’s organizational goals and objectives as well as PPC’s program-specific needs. Alex is a graduate of the Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture Urban Farmer Program and is also a certified permaculture design specialist.

abrown@plantpurecommunities.org

Katya Trent

Director of Pod Operations 

Katya has a Master’s degree in Management from Eastern Kentucky University. She joined PPC in September 2016 and works primarily with the Pod Network. She enjoys working with volunteers and building the whole food, plant-based movement. Katya founded and organized the first VegFest in Lexington, KY. When she is not promoting a plant-based lifestyle she grows berries and veggies in her home garden.

ktrent@plantpurecommunities.org

Jessie Stahl

Senior Policy and Program Coordinator

Jessie began working for PlantPure Communities in June 2017. Jessie graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University. She aspires to obtain her Masters Degree in Nutrition, as well as become a Registered Dietician.

jstahl@plantpurecommunities.org

Ella Stephens

Pod Support Programs Manager

Ella began working for PlantPure Communities in September 2017 after graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. Ella’s focus is creating informational Toolkits for the Pod Network. She is excited to start her career in educating others about plant-based nutrition, and aspires to obtain a PhD on the topic. Ella is passionate about changing the world by making a positive impact on society’s health and the sustainability of the planet.

estephens@plantpurecommunities.org

Kera Linn, RD

Regional Manager

Kera completed both her Bachelors of Science in dietetics and dietetic internship at Iowa State University to become a Registered Dietitian. She is passionate about educating children and adults about the benefits of a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. Kera began working for PlantPure Communities in January of 2018 as a regional manager to help support group leaders and pod networks.

klinn@plantpurecommunities.org

Joshua Wayne

Regional Manager

Josh joined PlantPure Communities as a group leader of Pure Sprouts – Athens, GA in February 2016. In April 2018, Josh became Regional Manager of Pods in the Western U.S. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. In Psychology and a Spanish Minor. Currently, Josh is in the process of completing a dual masters program in Public Health (MPH) and Social Work (MSW) at UGA. He looks forward to helping empower communities by improving access to whole food, plant-based options for the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. When Josh isn’t working with PlantPure Communities, he enjoys walking in the forest, listening to the birds, and practicing Ashtanga yoga.

jwayne@plantpurecommunities.org

Heather Patrick

Regional Manager

Heather Patrick joined PPC in April 2018 to help support and grow the Pod Network. Heather holds a B.A. in Social and Cultural Anthropology from Connecticut College. She spent several years living abroad, studying and teaching sustainable farming in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. Heather is Co-Founder of Wild Earth Farm and Sanctuary, a nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary and sustainable education farm. She is certified in permaculture design and seeks a “Grow Beyond Vegan” approach to make plant based living regenerative for the earth.

hpatrick@plantpurecommunities.org
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Teresa Seitz

Regional Manager

Teresa joined PPC in August 2018 to help support the Pod Network. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from San Diego State University. In 2017 Teresa retired from the U.S. Public Health Service where she was a commissioned officer assigned to NIOSH, an occupational health research agency that is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teresa is now turning her efforts to promoting a whole food, plant based lifestyle and keeping current on the latest research in plant-based nutrition.

tseitz@plantpurecommunities.org

Nyah Abdala

Digital Marketing Manager

Nyah Abdala serves PlantPure Communities as the Digital Marketing Manager. Born and raised in Westmoreland, Jamaica, her roots have carried her to the United States to fill her duties of enhancing humanity through spiritual growth, awareness of holistic lifestyles and healing; feeding her music and artistic expressions. Graduating with her B.S. in Broadcast Communications, from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, her background in media, writing and content development has assisted in her work as a Creative/Digital consultant. She aims to bring about beauty, Truth and Love in all that she does in both work and play.

nabdala@plantpurecommunities.org

Kelly Flegal

Administrative Assistant

Kelly Flegal joined PPC in July 2018 to provide administrative support to the Executive Director and the Director of New Initiatives and Operations.  She has 20 years of support experience and has personal experience in changing lives through adopting a plant-based diet – not only a change in health, but an entire lifestyle.  She has a positive outlook for the future of plant-based eating and has a passion for sharing her recipes with others. In her free time, she loves experimenting in the kitchen, being around animals, yoga, and hiking. She has hiked more than 25 National Parks and hopes to cross them all off her list one day.

kflegal@plantpurecommunities.org