Susie Sutphin joined CLBL in April 2023. She brings her experience in food access and passion for local food systems to her position as Community Food Program Manager. Prior to CLBL, Susie founded the Truckee based non-profit, Tahoe Food Hub, where she was the Executive Director for 10 years. The goal of the Tahoe Food Hub is to provide access to sustainably grown fruit and vegetables from small family farms within 150-miles of North Lake Tahoe. The hub built a network of 50 farms and ranches, and proceeds from the local food marketplace benefit the organization’s three community impact programs. In 2009, Susie was managing the national tour program for the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. She grew the tour program from 10 host cities to 110. At the Wild & Scenic, Susie proved the ability of film to inspire activism and help grassroots organizations build their capacity by hosting a film tour to attract new members. Her environmental awakening, however, began when she was working at Patagonia Clothing Company where she managed the Ambassadors and Events Program from 2003-2006. She helped build the company’s brand by telling the story of their athletes through events and online communications. Prior to Patagonia, she was the Sales & Marketing Director from 1999-2003 at Couloir, a backcountry skiing magazine. There she demonstrated the effectiveness of niche publications to reach a target audience.When not getting her hands dirty in soil, Susie can be found enjoying a good meal with friends or out exploring the Sierra Nevada backcountry on snow, dirt, or rock with her dog Charlie. Her passion for the outdoors has taken her on two wheels and two sticks to destinations around the world. While her outdoor pursuits are global, she believes the best way to change our food system is one community at a time.