STAFF

Contact at:  travis@appfoodworks.org

Travis Lesser
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​Founder & Executive Director

Travis is the Founder & Executive Director of Appalachian Food Works. He is a 2001 graduate of Methodist University (NC) with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Professional Golf Management, and a 2014 graduate of Penn State University's Smeal College of Business with an MBA in Marketing & Entrepreneurship. In addition to his work as an Adjunct Professor in Penn State's cross-college Entrepreneurship Minor, he is also the co-Founder and CEO of Cityscape Farm Supply, a local startup that manufactures and sells elevated raised garden beds. A native Central Pennsylvanian, Travis lives in State College where he enjoys the vast array of outdoor activities that the region has to offer.

Certifications: ServeSafe Food Protection Manager, Penn State Ag Extension Sanitary Transport of Human & Animal Food Course

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daniel McNulty

President

Daniel has always had a passion for food, which lead him to earn his Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Penn State, and start his career in the restaurant industry. This is where Daniel learned about the food supply chain and the difference that having fresh food makes.  Currently, Daniel works as a Digital Marketer for INDIGO Biosciences, a global biotech company located in State College, PA. Daniel received his M.B.A. from Penn State, and previously worked as the Regional Manager for Nature's Medicines, overseeing the operation and growth of the company in PA. Daniel also taught at Penn State as an Adjunct Professor in Hospitality and Marketing, and has been an independent consultant that assisted businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs with business strategy and marketing. Daniel is excited to bring his skills and experience to help Appalachian Food Works in its mission.

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John Peterson
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Vice President

John is currently a business consultant for the Penn State Small Business Development (SBDC) Center at University Park. his primary focus is providing confidential, one-on-one consulting to startups, and existing businesses within Lycoming, Centre, Clinton, and Mifflin counties. He enjoys working with current businesses to help them grow or assist with various needs. John lives in Happy Valley with his wife Christina and their two sons. In the community, he is the Cub Master, volunteer for State College Little League, and a basketball coach for area youth. He is also a Happy Valley LaunchBox Program Advisor, Downtown Bellefonte Inc Economic Vitality committee member, Penn State Smeal Alumni Club-Happy Valley member, Smeal College of Business Hammond Society member, Penn State DuBois Alumni Society board director and past Smeal College of Business Alumni Society board at-large director. John grew up around various extended family businesses including his parents greenhouse as a child.  

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Joel Perkins

​Treasurer

Joel is is an Associate Director of Development for the Liberal Arts College at Penn State, and he brings with him more than five years of nonprofit fundraising experience, most notably with Boy Scouts of America as a district executive in Bethesda, Maryland, and senior district executive in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the MBA program at the Smeal College of Business and has called Happy Valley home since 2015. He has served on boards of several non-profit organizations before coming to State College while living in the Washington DC and Philadelphia areas and is excited to be involved with App Food Works. Originally from Buffalo, NY and an expert on what makes an authentic Buffalo wing, Joel is a frequent flyer at area farmers markets and most of the food he eats is locally sourced - he looks forward to helping advance the mission of the organization.

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Laura Valchar
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Secretary

Laura Valchar has been working in the State College food and farming community for many years. She moved to Happy Valley in 2000 for a BS in Environmental Resource Management, then traveled to Norway and Uganda to complete a MS in Sustainable Agriculture, focusing on the importance of local food systems even in a global scale. Throughout this time, she also worked cooking in restaurants, learning how to manage each of the steps that bring food to the table. After moving between farming and restaurant work, in 2015, she began her own shiitake mushroom farm, followed 2 years later by Feel Goodery Foods, a prepared foods business focusing on local and seasonal ingredients. In 2019, she brought this business to RE Farm Cafe and focused on providing locally sourced prepared foods during the pandemic. She is now happy to contribute to the growth of App Food Works while she is at home expecting her first child!

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Ronald C. Miller, Jr.

A native Central Pennsylvanian, Reverend Ron moved to State College over 30 years ago to serve as Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church. While growing up in Bedford, Ron would relish the chance to help pitch in at his friends families' dairy farms at milking time. As the second oldest of nine children, he was often sent to work tending to the veggie plants in the garden boxes and make-shift greenhouse built by his father, which was needed to help feed such a large family! Not only did this upbringing gave him a profound respect for what goes into growing and understanding the value of fresh food, the entrepreneurial spirit of his parents who turned that family garden & greenhouse into a small plant selling business lives on through him. He and his wife Ann have two daughters, and a one-year old grandson named Frederick. Ron was drawn to App Food Works because of his love for local food and community, and is very excited to contribute his skills and background to the growth of the food hub!

​Certifications: ServeSafe

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Georgia Abbey

Georgia Abbey recently retired as the Executive Director of Leadership Centre County (LEADERSHIP), a community-based organization that develops leadership potential in individuals and encourages volunteer community service. Prior to joining LEADERSHIP, Georgia held various leadership positions at Penn State over the course of 15 years.  She is certified in Organizational Development through the NTL Institute, trained in Appreciative Inquiry and was active in her own consulting practice.  She is the recipient of the Athena International Award that recognizes outstanding community leaders.  Georgia holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from The University of Michigan and a Masters degree in counseling from Central Michigan University.  She currently serves on the Discovery Space Nominating Committee and is a founding member of the Community Diversity Group’s Women’s Leadership Coalition.

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Position to be filled

Interested in becoming a board member for Appalachian Food Works? Fill out our volunteer sign-up form, and we will contact you as positions come available! ​