Officers

Amanda Kaleta-Kott, President
Constance McCarthy, Secretary
Bob Bower, Co-Treasurer
Jeffrey Holmertz, Co-Treasurer

Board Members

Joanne Aggens

Management Consultant, Wilmette, IL

Joanne joined our board in 2007. Early in her career she taught elementary school. She is a United Methodist Diaconal Minister. She has been a pastoral counselor. She served The Gallup Organization for 25 years as an analyst and senior consultant. Most recently she served for two years as a Wilmette Village Trustee. An avid traveler, Joanne participates in an annual medical mission team to Senegal. She is an Angelic Organics shareholder.

Angela Bowen

Senior Associate Director of Development, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Angela Bowen joined our board in 2008. She is the senior associate director of development for the University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, she was the development director of Inspiration Corporation, where she currently serves on the Advisory Board and volunteers as a cook at their Living Room Cafe. Angela began her resource development career in the United Kingdom. She received her BA in English Literature from Kalamazoo College. Angela and her family are Angelic Organics shareholders.

Bob Bower, Co-Treasurer
General and Growing Manager, Angelic Organics, Caledonia, IL
Bob is a founding board member and currently serves as co-treasurer. He joined Angelic Organics farm in 1995 and has headed up efforts in customer service, distribution, finance, marketing, and more. Prior to Angelic Organics, Bob spent nine years in the corporate world with responsibilities ranging from accounting to computer management. He is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a student of anthroposophy and biodynamics.

Christine Cikowski
Chef and Owner, Sunday Dinner, Inc., Chicago, IL
Christine joined our board in 2007. She is a chef and co-founder of Sunday Dinner, Inc., a private dining and catering company committed to sustainability, seasonality, and local products. Sunday Dinner’s Eat Green Foods brand of gourmet prepared foods is available at farmer’s markets, grocery stores, and cafes in Chicago. She is a member of the Slow Food Chicago Convivia. Prior to co-founding Sunday Dinner, Christine worked in the kitchen at Blackbird, one of Chicago’s most highly acclaimed restaurants. She received her culinary training at Kendall College.

Donna Jones Ilsley
Senior Coordinator/Learning Specialist, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Donna joined our board in 2005. She holds teaching posts at DePaul University and National Louis University and is a board member of the Big Water Learning Center in Bayfield, Wisconsin. In addition she is a working member of her local food co-op, Duck Soup; a member of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance; a member of APPLE-Alliance for a Post Petroleum Local Economy in Elgin; and a member of the Chequamegon Food Coop in Wisconsin. Donna’s teaching and research focuses on the living biosphere, social justice, globalization, adult education, and community service. She was previously the associate director of the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement at Rockford College and the coordinator of the Center for Service Learning at College of DuPage. She holds a MA in International Studies from The American University, a Certificate of Advanced Study in education from Syracuse University, and is pursuing a doctorate in adult education from Northern Illinois University.

Amanda Kaleta-Kott
Design Planner and Strategist, Chicago, IL
Amanda joined our board in 2006. She is a design planner and communications strategist with extensive experience in initiating, planning, and leading large-scale website projects and integrated marketing programs for Fortune 500 corporations and leading organizations. She is currently pursuing a Master of Design Methods from the IIT Institute of Design, with a focus on design research and strategic planning. Amanda is an Angelic Organics shareholder.

David Kostka
Co-owner, Juda Springs Farm, Juda, WI
David joined our board in 2004. He is vice-president of the Sugar-Pecatonica Watershed Partnership, a committee chair of the Four Rivers Environmental Coalition, and the retired director of the Regional Environmental Center. He brings more than 35 years of teaching experience and 40 years of organic gardening experience to his involvement in on-farm education at the Learning Center. David holds a life-long commitment to live close to the earth and is currently working to rehabilitate a 134-acre farm with his partner, Cindy. He received a BS from Michigan State University and a M.Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology.

Constance McCarthy, Secretary

Linguistic Editor, IBFD, Machesney Park, IL

Constance joined our board in 2008 and currently serves as secretary. She is a linguistic editor for an international publishing company and recently retired from teaching high school. In addition to serving as a mentor to youth in our Roots & Wings program, Constance is a Master Gardener, a volunteer with the Klehm Arboretum, and president of the Wild Ones (Rock River Valley chapter). She received a B.A. Honors in French and Political Science and a J.D., both from Loyola University Chicago.

Maria Mowbray
Executive Director, Rock for Kids, Chicago, IL
Maria joined our board in 2005. She is executive director of a nonprofit that provides music education and other support to children that are homeless or in need. She previously served as director of development for Between Friends and has extensive experience in special events planning. Maria gained a life-long appreciation of organic food and its origins during her former career in food and beverage management.

John Peterson (President Emeritus)
Farmer and Founder, Angelic Organics, Caledonia, IL
John is the founding president of Angelic Organics Learning Center and has served as president emeritus since 2004. He runs Angelic Organics, our partner farm and one of the largest community supported agriculture (CSA) farms in the United States, growing vegetables and herbs for more than 1,350 families each year. John is the subject of Taggart Siegel’s award winning feature documentary film The Real Dirt on Farmer John, which has been seen in theaters and television throughout the world. He published Farmer John’s Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables in 2006. He is now writing his autobiography and a book of short stories about farming.

Tom Spaulding (Non-voting)
Executive Director, Angelic Organics Learning Center, Roscoe, IL
Tom is our founding executive director. He focuses on strategic planning, building partnerships, and managing our staff team and facilities. Tom has played a leadership role in several local and regional food policy efforts, most recently serving as co-chair of the 2006 Rockford Food Summit. He was a founding board member of Growing Home and has received a Kellogg National Fellowship from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Prior to co-founding the Learning Center, Tom was associate director for the YMCA’s International Group, where his responsibilities included leadership development and cross-cultural education programs. He received his MA in International Affairs from George Washington University. Tom’s first season as an Angelic Organics shareholder was 1993.