gus von roenn, pdc
Founder & Executive Director
Gus is an advocate for permaculture and sustainable practices throughout Nebraska. He works through many organizations like the Nebraska Farmers Union, the Sierra Club, Nebraskans for Solar, Nebraska Sustainability Agricultural Society, and the Metro Omaha Food Policy Council to elevate the discussion of issues surrounding healthy food accessibility, land stewardship and entrepreneurship in low-income communities. His academic background is in anthropology, sociology, archaeology, and permaculture. Currently, Gus is a certified permaculture designer integrating permaculture design consulting and landscaping into community efforts. As an advocate for everything permaculture and sustainability in Nebraska, he likes to help many organizations teach their constituents the limitless opportunities that create abundance in all of our communities for all of us to share.
shana martinez
President
Shana Martinez is a learning and development professional and native to Omaha. Her interest in activism and preserving natural resources started in high school (an undisclosed number of years ago) when she was a member of Earth Day Omaha. As a former high school teacher, she enjoys finding creative ways to teach people about a variety of topics including how to live a more sustainable life. Shana has two children who inspire her desire to preserve the environment for them and their future children. In this fast food nation, she is determined to show her children (and others) how we can eat and grow food differently without the use of harsh chemicals.
graham Herbst
Vice President
Graham Herbst is a native Nebraskan and graduate of the Horticulture Program at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. After working in the landscape and arboriculture industries, he moved to the Nebraska Forest Service to promote innovative Urban Forestry projects as the Community Forestry Specialist for Eastern Nebraska. Graham loves growing trees and food at home, connecting people and information through social media, and bringing the family out to plant trees and explore each corner of the Great Plains.