Our Team

Elena Dalton

Executive Director

Renee Boughman

Founder & Director of Community Engagement

Renee Boughman was part of the original founding team of F.A.R.M. Cafe when it opened it in May of 2012. She served as the Executive Chef and later assumed a dual role as Chef and Executive Director. Renee still maintains F.A.R.M. Cafe is the "best job she's ever had!" and was grateful to side step into her current role focused on community engagement in 2022. Renee has a Master's Degree in History from Appalachian State University as well as a Culinary Degree from A-B Tech in Asheville.

Pete Herbert

Operations Director

Pete Herbert moved to Boone in 1999 and has been working in the restaurant ever since. When Covid hit, Pete moved into construction and home inspection, but missed being in a kitchen. So when the opportunity to join F.A.R.M. presented itself, Pete packed away his tools and grabbed his apron! In his spare time, Pete loves to hike the mountains of Western NC with his dogs, and hang out with his wife and two daughters. He is an avid lover of reading, writing, music, and crafts. Pete has a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from Appalachian State University and an Associate's degree from Caldwell Community College.

Shane Hillman

Program Director

Sharon Pinney

Volunteer Coordinator

Sharon Pinney came on as the Volunteer Coordinator/ FOH Manager at FARM Cafe two weeks before Hurricane Helene hit and she has been honored to be here ever since. She has spent decades in the restaurant industry - from owning and operating restaurants in Steamboat Springs, Co and The Bluffs at Doughton Park to helping others start and successfully run their own. She has been involved with all aspects of restaurant operations. The most rewarding part she has always found to be the connection with the patrons - to see them try something new and love it or just to hear them talk about their day. A graduate from App State with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, Sharon is still very much involved with the local theatre community. When not at FARM or performing on stage, Sharon loves watching "Is It Cake?" with her youngest daughter, Gilmore Girls with her oldest daughter, and enjoying nature with her partner and dogs.

Kaden Theisen

Communications Coordinator

Kaden Theisen first involved himself in FARM Cafe as an intern in 2023, while undergoing his studies in Sustainable Development and Sustainable Business at Appalachian State University. His studies specialized in sustainable food systems and food insecurity, where he developed a passion for local community, sustainability, and food security initiatives. Kaden served as a Postgraduate Sustainability Ambassador at Appalachian State University's Office of Sustainability and Energy Management, where he oversaw the numerous campus food pantry locations. Following his graduation in 2024, he joined FARM Cafe's team as the Communications Coordinator, where he oversees the Cafe's social media and news outputs, as well as assisting in everyday Cafe operations. Outside of his work, Kaden is passionate about music, movies, and the outdoors.

Miranda Boone

Program Associate

Marcus Gupton

Program Support

Russell Marcus Gupton was born in the summer of 1970, near Raleigh, N.C. Growing up; he lived in Brussels, Belgium; in Durham, N.C.; and in Sydney, Australia. He has resided in Boone since 1992, where he was involved with Appalachian State University, and where he worked as a clerk. For the last ten-years; he has been involved with F.A.R.M. cafe, in various roles.

Kim Short

Program Support

Amanda Hege

Board Chair

Amanda is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and faculty member at Appalachian State University, where she leads the Master of Science and Dietetic Internship program. With more than 15 years of experience in public health and nutrition, she is committed to connecting local food systems and healthcare to strengthen community food security. As Chair of the FARM Cafe Board of Directors, Amanda is honored to support the Cafe's mission of creating a welcoming space where everyone has a seat at the table. She also leads the Community Health Working Group of the NC Local Food Council and has served in leadership roles at local, state, and national levels throughout her career. Amanda lives in Boone with her husband, Andrew, their two children, and their dog. You can often find them hiking the beautiful mountain trails, exploring local farms, or sharing meals with friends and neighbors.

Theodoor Visser

Vice Chair

Theodoor is originally from the The Netherlands but found his way to the US and Boone in 2017. He has a Masters in Economics from the University of Groningen and a MBA from the University of Georgia. After a few years in management consulting, Theodoor joined a Boston based NGO in global health, working remotely with lots of travel. At a time when growing inequality and inequity can feel inevitable, Theodoor is proud to be part of a local organization that challenges that narrative, working to build a community that is inclusive, welcoming, and for everyone! If not driving his kids to sporting events, Theodoor likes to run and bike in the high country.

Angie Pate

Treasurer

Angie hails from Charleston, SC, and came up to Boone in 1988 to attend Appalachian State University. She is a controller at a local law firm with a Masters in Accounting and even worked as FARM Cafe's bookkeeper 2014-2015. She loves her mountain community and is proud to help achieve FARM Cafe's mission of feeding people healthy and delicious food regardless of means with dignity and care for all who enter. Angie spends her downtime in her garden, hiking with her dog Willy, tie-dying and exploring the underwater world with her scuba gear.

Monique Eckerd

Secretary

Raised in Hendersonville, NC, Monique went on to earn her BS in animal science from NCSU. After starting a family, Monique earned her MS in Endocrinology. After a 23 year "tour" of NC, Monique returned to her beloved mountains with her husband and daughters in 2003 to manage the Vivarium for App State, retiring in 2022. Monique has a passion for helping others and began volunteering with Full Circle several years ago. Believing lunch is the best meal of the day, Monique is honored to serve on the FARM Cafe Board and promote its vision of inclusion and acceptance. Monique's interests include gardening, hiking, kayaking and spending time with family and friends.

Carol Coulter

Assistant Professor of Sustainable Development, Appalachian State University

Jacqui Ignatova

Assistant Professor of Sustainable Development, Appalachian State University

Jacqui has been a part of the Boone community for ten years and is currently an Associate Professor of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University. She is originally from San Diego, CA. Jacqui's research and teaching focuses on food security and food sovereignty in the United States and in Ghana. She appreciates that she can hold up F.A.R.M. Cafe as an inspiring example of community-supported food justice work for her students, and many of her students volunteer regularly at F.A.R.M. Cafe. Jacqui enjoys music, hanging out with her cats, baking, cooking, gardening, paddleboarding, and traveling.

Liz Whiteman

Executive Director, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture

Liz grew up in northern Minnesota, spending summers helping her parents dig potatoes and carrots in their backyard gardens. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Liz followed her passion for regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty to urban gardens in New Orleans and tropical farms in rural Ecuador. In 2019, Liz found her way to Western North Carolina, spending a season working for Tumbling Shoals Farm in Wilkes County. She is now the Executive Director of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, a non-profit working to build a sustainable local food system in the High Country.

Neil Tilton

Senior Application Engineer, CIGNA

Nikki Rezvani

Team Leader, Keller Williams High Country Realty

With over two decades of deep roots in North Carolina's High Country, Nikki Rezvani has built a reputation as one of the region's most respected real estate professionals. She combines local insight, technical expertise, and a client-first mindset to guide buyers and sellers through the area's unique mountain market with confidence. Nikki's degree in Building Science from Appalachian State University and prior work in structural engineering give her a sharp eye for evaluating homes and understanding what adds lasting value. Ranked among the top 1% of agents in the High Country MLS and leading the #1 team at Keller Williams High Country, Nikki has closed hundreds of transactions and earned many sales awards. Clients value her responsiveness, transparency, and steady guidance during one of life's biggest decisions. Much of her business comes from repeat clients and referrals, a testament to the trust she builds. Beyond real estate, Nikki is deeply committed to her community. She supports many local nonprofits and has served as a board member for FARM Cafe since 2021. She runs @liveinthehighcountry, a social page dedicated to supporting local businesses - highlighting the homes, the people and the vibrant lifestyle of these mountains.

Susan Poorman

Previous Professor of Communication, Appalachian State University

A native of North Carolina, Susan and husband Alex moved to Boone in 2007 to join the faculty of Appalachian State University. Susan's professional life includes 25 years with Motheread, Inc., a national adult literacy nonprofit where she developed curriculum and taught classes. She also worked with North Carolina Public Television for many years. In addition to her work at F.A.R.M. as a volunteer and board member, she served on the board of High Country United Way and Watauga County Public Library. Recently retired from the university's Department of Communication, Susan's commitment to help build a strong and welcoming community in Watauga County continues through her work with F.A.R.M. and her church, Holy Cross Episcopal in Valle Crucis.

Willard Watson

Programs & Outreach Director, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Willard moved to Boone in 2008, but his roots run deep in Watauga County. His great-grandfather and namesake, Willard Watson I, was a well-known toy carver, moonshiner, and dancer from Deep Gap. Willard has a Masters in Appalachian Studies with a concentration on Sustainability and a Bachelors of Science in Sustainable Development both from Appalachian State University. Since 2010 Willard has been an active member of the High Country community through volunteerism and event planning. He has worn many hats in the area with a variety of organizations such as the Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove, Sustain Appalachian, Center 45 Climbing & Fitness, F.A.R.M. Cafe, High Country Local First, the Watauga Food Council, and the High Country Beer Fest. He was also a member of the 2020-2022 class of the William C. Fridays Fellowship for Human Relations. His personal and professional passions intersect on the topic of cultural preservation and community development through the creative arts. When not organizing events, Willard spends his time cooking, reading comics, playing electric bass, and spending time with his partner Lauren and their English bulldog Banksy.

Roger Capote

Board Member

Laurel Elam

Board Member

Alcinder Lewis

Founder & CEO of Imaginex

Alcinder Lewis is a dynamic entrepreneur, technologist, and community advocate dedicated to building inclusive systems that empower people and uplift local economies. As the founder and CEO of Imaginex, a technology and innovation firm, Alcinder brings a passion for creative problem-solving and strategic development to every initiative he supports. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Appalachian State University and has spent his career using technology as a bridge between underserved communities and meaningful opportunity. From launching digital tools that support small businesses to developing AI systems for nonprofit impact, Alcinder is committed to leveraging innovation for the public good.