Staff

Meg is a Buffalo-based operator and community builder with a background in helping
organizations bring clarity to complex projects, strengthen internal operations, and build
sustainable systems. Kelly has supported the region’s business and entrepreneurship
community through work with UB Cultivator, UVC, and BootSector. Her experience has always
prioritized Buffalo and working alongside local organizations to turn ambitious ideas into
practical action.

Kelly was named to Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under 30 list in 2024. In addition to her new role
with Grassroots Gardens WNY, she is an active member of Nickel City Canine Rescue and
cares deeply about building strong, connected communities across Buffalo.

Haley is an incoming senior at the University at Buffalo pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Environmental Studies. She is excited to join the Grassroots Gardens Team this summer and contribute to community-centered initiatives around Western New York. Haley is passionate about community engagement, creative outreach, and hands-on community work.

Originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, Haley plans to remain in the Western New York area after graduation. She enjoys being involved on campus through clubs and leadership roles while building meaningful connections with peers and professors. Outside of work and school, she enjoys hiking, spending time at the beach, and trying local food spots.

Nina joined the Grassroots Gardens team as a Seasonal Zone Leader in Spring 2024, promoted to Program Manager in 2026. She recently graduated with a Masters in International Relations from the University of Glasgow, where she also spent four years finding a love for community gardens. As a Northtowns native, Nina is overjoyed to blend community empowerment with outdoor education on her home turf.

Outside work, Nina enjoys exploring, butternut squash ravioli, and going to Wegmans before a Bills game. She is frequently found at Bark Park.

Kat started at Grassroots Gardens in the spring of 2023 as a Seasonal Garden Zone Leader before joining the GGWNY team full time in October 2024 as the Community Garden Coordinator. They have a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Maine at Machias and an A.A.S. in Horticulture from SUNY Niagara, and have spent the better part of a decade transforming their North Tonawanda home into a miniature food forest. Outside of work, you may come across them fixing sewing machines at the Tool Library’s Dare to Repair events, or walking their leash-trained cat Bubbles.

Greg joined Grassroots Gardens WNY in the spring of 2017 as the school garden coordinator. He has a bachelors degree in adolescent education and has been an avid gardener for many years. In 2014 he purchased an empty lot at the city foreclosure auction and transformed it into a garden where he grows fruits, vegetables, and perennial flowers. He enjoys how gardens can be effective conversation starters as a way to build positive relationships within the neighborhood. Outside of gardening, Greg is active in the local cycling community and helps to promote alternative forms of transportation with Go Bike Buffalo. For recreation, he loves spending time hiking and camping, especially in the Adirondacks. He also unsuccessfully tries to be a fisherman, but enjoys it nonetheless.

Justin joined Grassroots Gardens WNY in December 2022 as development director, bringing more than a decade of nonprofit fundraising and communications expertise to the organization. Throughout his career, he has worked to address food insecurity and increase food access in our communities. Prior to joining Grassroots Gardens WNY, he served in both development and communications roles at FeedMore WNY and the Meals on Wheels Foundation of WNY.

Justin holds a Master of Science in Communications and Leadership from Canisius College. A lifelong resident of the Buffalo-Niagara area, he is passionate about the region’s food system and the sustainability of its unique resources.

Tim joined the GGWNY team in November 2020 to supervise the day-to-day operations of the Community & School Garden program before moving into the Executive Director position in January 2023. His background has ranged from youth development and education to environmental justice work, and he holds an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon and a BS in Biology from Houghton University. Most recently, he spent several years working in outdoor leadership training while based out of Boston, MA.

Tim is particularly interested in the intersections of community development, food sovereignty, and environmental equity, and looks forward to continuing to advance GGWNY’s collaborative efforts with communities across our region.