Last year, we celebrated 50 years of advancing organic integrity, an important milestone that underscored both our legacy and our future. As we continue to evolve beyond five decades, Oregon Tilth is in a pivotal moment, one marked by strategic departmental focus, leadership growth, and operational clarity. Guided by our organizational strategic priorities: People, Data, and Operational Excellence, we have strengthened the foundation that allows us to serve the organic community with purpose, transparency, and resilience. Our enduring commitment to organic principles is grounded in the belief that the power to create a healthier, more sustainable world lies within the people. We are honored to work alongside farmers, certifiers, educators, and policy leaders, learning from their wisdom and passion as we collectively strive to nurture a more just and vibrant organic movement.

This evolution is embedded in the belief that the strength of our structure is defined by the quality of our people and the alignment of our mission across teams. Oregon Tilth’s Certification, Quality, and Inspections departments have each welcomed new leaders who bring a vision and a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and service. Together, their collective work is creating the foundation for growth.

Foundations for Growth through Certification, Quality, and Inspections

Evelyn Rosas, Certification Director

With over 15 years of experience in organic production, certification, and education, Evelyn leads with clarity and care. Her approach combines program management expertise with a deep respect for human-centered leadership. She believes in recognizing every voice and ensuring staff have the tools and guidance to succeed. Her vision for certification extends beyond any one team. To Evelyn, certification is part of everything we do. Her goal is to build a culture where decisions are transparent, processes are understood, and everyone feels ownership of the outcomes. When expectations are clear and people feel supported, excellent service follows.

Lexi Spoor, Inspections Deputy Director

Lexi is reshaping the inspections landscape with a practical, forward-thinking approach grounded in more than a decade of organic sector experience. She leads Oregon Tilth’s fully staffed inspections department, focused on standardization, sustainability, and trust. By closely analyzing workloads and improving inspector training, she is creating systems that promote fairness and integrity. Lexi sees inspections as a vital part of the organization’s mission, not as a separate task. Her work builds consistency, fosters unity among inspectors, and ensures the process is strong from start to finish.

Meagan Collins, Quality Compliance Manager

With a systems mindset and over twelve years of experience in organic certification, Meagan brings deep expertise in organic standards and operations. With a focus on reducing complexity, she is building frameworks that support both staff and clients. Through project management tools and clear procedures, Meagan is ensuring quality is built into every step of the client journey. She values structure as a means to create trust and sees quality as an active, engaged force that helps teams deliver their best work.

JJ Mack, Senior Quality Assurance Specialist

JJ brings over 15 years of organic agriculture experience, backed by hands-in-the-earth authenticity. With nearly a decade of experience at Oregon Tilth in both the Inspections and Certification Services Department, JJ brings insight and depth to the new quality assurance role. He is developing tools that make expectations clear and consistent, allowing teams to learn and adapt together. JJ believes quality should support the entire organization, from marketing to finance, not just meet regulatory standards. His focus is on building systems that are clear, durable, and responsive to the needs of staff and clients alike.

As part of Oregon Tilth’s growing team,  Evelyn, Lexi, Meagan, and JJ represent a shift toward integrated, purpose-driven leadership at Oregon Tilth. Each brings a unique perspective, drawing from experience, collaboration, and a shared belief that organic integrity is achievable through the development of sustainable systems, mutual trust, and continual dedication to advocacy and education. Their work reminds us that excellence in certification is not the responsibility of one department. It’s a collective effort woven through every corner of the organization. By creating the framework for organic practices to progress and cultivating relationships through a people-centered approach, they are continuing to forge a strong path forward for generations to come.

Strategic Priorities in Action

At Oregon Tilth, we’ve aligned departmental goals with our broader organizational strategy. Each department is contributing to progress in the following ways:

People
We are prioritizing staff empowerment, training, and engagement. Departments are focused on building consistent expectations, sharing knowledge across teams, and creating spaces for leadership at all levels.

Data
We are improving how we collect and apply data to guide our decisions. Whether it’s analyzing inspection workloads or tracking service timelines, data helps us identify trends, reduce service gaps, and improve transparency. Our goal is to use data to strengthen internal systems and create better experiences for our clients.

Operational Excellence
We are streamlining processes that are clear, consistent, and scalable. Clear processes, cross-functional collaboration, and built-in accountability are helping us improve service delivery, adapt to change, and build greater alignment across teams. Operational strength supports long-term impact. Our goal is to support staff, reduce obstacles, and improve the client experience.

Strength in Structure

These departments are positioned to work collaboratively while focusing on their distinct contributions. Certification leads with service clarity. The Inspections department focuses on integrity and impartiality. Quality and Accreditation promotes consistency, fosters transparency, and ensures that standards are clearly defined and consistently upheld across the organization.

By creating lines of responsibility and strengthening communication between teams, we are fostering improved decisions, responsive service, and a shared commitment to mission impact.

Growing the Organic Community Together

Oregon Tilth builds upon five decades of service through collaboration, accountability, and shared leadership. This moment influences how we work with the organic community and steward relationships together. As we look ahead, our continued success depends on deepening those connections and creating inclusive spaces for dialogue, partnership, and shared learning. Oregon Tilth is actively investing in stronger communities within the organic sector, bridging gaps, amplifying diverse voices, and making room for new leaders.

Our growth and resilience stem from the communities and partnerships we’ve shaped over the years, which have focused around upholding the integrity of organic standards and ensuring they are sound and sensible for all. 

Be part of the foundations for growth. As Oregon Tilth evolves and our strategic focus deepens, your engagement helps strengthen the path forward. Join us in advancing our mission across the organic community. Together, we are building a brighter food future for people and the planet.