Ruben Alarcón, PhD, is a Biology Professor at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) where regularly teaches Entomology and Apiculture & Bee Biology.  His research focuses on pollinator communities, honey bee health, and sustainable agriculture.  He is the faculty advisor for the Bee Club and is working to create a B.S. degree in Sustainable Agriculture at CSUCI.

Suzanne Lugotoff is a Registered Dietician who has dedicated her career to bringing students healthy, delicious meals in school cafeterias.  She is a founding member of Ventura County Farm to School and paved the way for the programs we have today. 

Alec is a Fourth generation farmer. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Accounting and Information Systems, he returned to work on the farm growing and managing crews for a variety of row crops. Currently serving as President of Farm Bureau of Ventura County’s Young Farmers & Ranchers committee while working for Nelson Farming helping to manage Avocados, and Citrus orchards.

Anna is the Farm to School Program Coordinator with Oxnard Union High School District, where she oversees programs for eight high schools throughout Oxnard and Camarillo. She has been with the school district since 2018 where she was first employed as a Garden Manager and Educator and moved into the Program Coordinator position in 2021.Anna has a degree in Environmental Sciences from California Lutheran University and currently serves as the Healthy Schools Chair Member for Partnership for a Healthy Ventura County. She has been in the Ventura County community for ten years and enjoys everything from the farms to the beach.

Allison England, SNS, is the Director of Nutrition Services for Ocean View School District in Oxnard, CA. Allison started her career in edible education in Boston, MA where she was the menu planner for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. As her experience expanded into the classrooms of Boston Public Schools, she found her niche in school food, combining her passions for both teaching and cooking. Her interest in Farm to School Programming brought her out to California where she was the Executive Chef for Grimmway Academy and Edible Schoolyard Kern County, spearheading scratch cooking, farm to school, and connecting school gardens to the cafeteria. As a former credentialed teacher, she treats her cafeterias as an extension of the classroom. Allison holds a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from Endicott Collect, a Swiss Hotel Diploma from Les Roches International School of Hotel & Restaurant Management, and an Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate from the Culinary Institute of America.

Claudia was born and raised in Ventura County, obtained an associate degree from Ventura College before transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Agriculture Business with a Minor in Crop Science. Claudia began her career as a Sales Demand Management Intern for Driscolls in Watsonville, CA.  Her ultimate goal was to work in Agriculture in Ventura County, and the main reason for pursuing a Bachelors in Agribusiness. So, when the opportunity to move back home was available she took it. In September of 2019, she returned to Camarillo and started as a Field Technician in raspberries for the Oxnard district with Driscolls. Now, she is the Oxnard district Blackberry/Blueberry Forecaster. She enjoys her role and most importantly being able to participate in various philanthropy events throughout the year such as: back to school drive, food share month, Santa to the Sea, winter wish basket, and many more.