Descended from two farming families – one in Manitoba, Canada and the other in Silicon Valley – Walt followed a different career path while taking an early interest in health, nutrition, and backyard gardening. His primary undergraduate interest at UC Davis was sustainability/environmental studies with secondary focus on communications. He later earned an MBA from Willamette University in Salem, OR. 

Walt’s work history includes staff positions and consulting projects in the nonprofit, for profit, and public sectors. His role and responsibilities generally have included project management, strategic planning, communications, research, and community outreach. Walt retired from Puget Sound Energy in 2021 after 12 years as Community Engagement Manager for Whidbey Island and Skagit County. Prior to PSE, he served four years as City Administrator for the City of Langley, WA. Walt moved from Denver to Langley in 1996.  

 In 2022, Walt joined OFS as a part-time consultant focused primarily on project management, developing operating guidelines and policies, and event planning. He was a strong OFS supporter while at PSE, and he is grateful for the opportunity to directly support the important work of bringing new organic farmers into the world.