Registration for Think Outside Summer 2024 Program is open.
Meet The Team
Executive Director
Doug was instrumental in the creation of the New Ag School, because he saw the need to educate future generations in the importance of agri-business. Doug has been a winemaker for more than three decades and a winery owner for more than 18 years. Doug was employed in the wine cellar at Buena Vista Winery in the Carneros District of California. Over the ten years of his employment, Doug had a chance to work with many fine winemakers including the legendary Andre Tchelicheff. He continued his education in both enology and viticulture at U.C. Davis and Santa Rosa Junior College. Doug was becoming an accomplished home winemaker while he continued to work and learn as a professional. After returning to the East Coast, Doug served as winemaker for Loudoun’s Tarara and Windham (now Doukenie) wineries. He then opened Fabbioli Cellars, with his wife Colleen, in 2000. The 6-acre vineyard is known for its award-winning red wines.
Board Member
Nancy grew up on a small farm in Pennsylvania, and during her young adulthood she saw how development slowly overtook the farmland in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She has a passion to fight the same fight here in Loudoun through the New Ag School. She currently is a financial advisor and a financial coach. She lives in Sterling where she grows hops, fruits and vegetables. She pulls from her background as a corporate trainer to assist in The New Ag School program design, and works with Sree to coordinate the finances, and other organizational systems.
Board Member
Denise Rowell, a lifelong resident of Loudoun County, currently resides in Hamilton with her husband and two sons. Together, they operate R Farm, specializing in herbs, heirloom tomatoes, and a pick-your-own sunflower field. Drawing upon over 20 years of experience as a professional gymnastics coach, a farming background, and a degree in business, Denise has become a fervent advocate for innovation in agriculture and business education. In addition to her service on various boards and councils, Denise previously chaired the Loudoun County Public Schools' School Business Partnership Executive Council, where she actively participated in programs such as Job 4 a Day. Since joining NAS, Denise has strengthened connections with local schools, supporting initiatives like the Think Outside Program, while also spearheading the growth of The NAS Country Market.
Board Member
Janet Kernan (Jan) and her husband Joe are the owners of Bleu Frog Vineyards in Leesburg, Va. After many moves while Joe served in the US Navy, they put down roots of their own and are enjoying the adventures of agriculture and agri-tourism. Initially, grape farming and a healthy lifestyle motivated the property transformations but soon the family realized they could offer more to the community, the grape growers, and the wine makers of Northern Virginia. Jan has been a voice regarding the vitality of Virginia’s rural economy, green spaces and agricultural zones, and is currently a member of the Loudoun County Rural Economic Development Council. Other advisory roles have included the Senior Board of Advisors for Project FOCUS, a UCLA National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and a US Navy Bureau of Medicine program that creates programs in support of Families of Combat Under Stress (FOCUS). She is currently a member of the 100 Women Strong nonprofit organization that provides funding and support to many Loudoun County charitable organizations.
Board Member
Kindra capitalized on her more than 15 years of Development expertise by launching her own consultancy. She has turned it into a nationally recognized centre of excellence for business, workforce, and leadership development. Her mission in life and in business is “Ensuring Entrepreneurs Thrive One Brilliant Idea at A Time”. Prior to launching Purpose WorX, Kindra held roles in colleges & universities, local, and state government. Her development experience includes human resources, training and adult education, leadership, workforce, business, and economic development. She has served on numerous boards that support the growth and advancement of communities across the nation. Specialties: Training and development. Strategic relationship building. Business growth planning. HUBZone workforce attraction and engagement strategies. Innovative ideation. Process design and improvement. Go-to-market strategy.
Board Member
Since 2014, Beth Erickson has been the President & CEO of Visit Loudoun, Loudoun County’s officially designated tourism development and destination marketing organization. Loudoun’s tourism revenue topped just over $3 billion in 2021, with Washington Dulles International Airport being a major contributor to the local economy, making Loudoun the top generator of visitor revenue in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Recently appointed to the US Travel Board of Directors, Beth also serves on the board of Destinations International and is the board chair for Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, Travel Association. She holds the internationally recognized Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), a program of Destination Marketing Association International and received the George Washington University Tourism Innovation Award for Innovations in Destination Development and Management in 2017. Beth and her husband have raised three children in Waterford, Virginia.
Board Member
Sree is a Architect at Navy Federal Credit Union. Sree manages the finances for the New Ag School. He grew up in India in a family with strong farming roots. He has been working in the corporate world for more than 20 years, and always wanted to do something related to his farming roots. In 2020, he and his wife started a small vegetable farm (Sprouting Roots Farm) in Loudoun County where they grow Indian ethnic vegetables.