Our Approach
The IPM Institute is an independent non-profit formed in 1998 to improve sustainability in agriculture and communities.
We have over 20 years of experience in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and reducing pesticide use and risks. Anticipating a growing demand for sustainability programs that go beyond a focus on IPM, our focus expanded over the years to encompass a broad range of agricultural sustainability issues.
Our work grew to include partnerships and projects with food and agricultural companies along the supply chain, from growers to packers and processors to retailers. For instance, Partnership for Ag Resource Management was formed in 2010, focused on our work with ag retailers, and Sustainable Food Group was formed in 2014 to focus specifically on developing and implementing programs to advance sustainability in food and agriculture.
Our work includes a range of projects to increase practices that improve working conditions, reduce greenhouse gases, improve air quality, water quality and soil health and reduce risks to health and the environment from pesticide and nutrient use in agriculture and communities.
About the IPM Institute
We envision a world where we grow food and sustain our communities in sync with natural processes. Where the actions of agriculture, food companies and communities directly benefit workers, consumers, vulnerable populations, water, air, climate, biodiversity, pollinators and soil.
Our mission is to improve sustainability in agriculture and communities by using the power of the marketplace: buyers want to support products and services that work to protect the environment and reduce health hazards. Marketplace demand is a powerful incentive for increasing the adoption of sustainability best practices in agriculture, landscapes and public and private facilities.
Our Team
Executive Director
Christopher earned his MBA from University of Wisconsin Business School and received numerous professional certificates from Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton at Penn, Cornell University, Darden Graduate School of Business at UVA, and others. A mission-driven leader, Christopher has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and strategy development and is drawn to IPM Institute’s mandate to improve sustainability in agriculture and communities by using the power of the marketplace. In his personal life, Christopher loves spending time with his family, walking his golden retriever, Daisy, and fly fishing the spring-fed creeks of Wisconsin’s driftless region.
Operations Director
Kelly studied Art History and Art Studio at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also attended certificate classes at the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies, which fueled an interest in sustainable agriculture and environmental health, particularly school and community-based projects. Kelly serves on the IPM Institute leadership team to oversee operations and supports financial administration. Her interests include gardening, herbalism, hiking and travel.
Department Director: Sustainable Food Group
Department Director: Specialty Crops and Sustainable Communities
Project Manager II: Specialty Crops
Project Manager I: Sustainable Food Group
Project Manager I: Sustainable Food Group
Project Manager I: Sustainable Communities Group
Sustainable Communities and Specialty Crops Coordinator
Zack earned his Master's Degree in Entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as part of the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease, where he investigated tick control methods employed by Pest Management Professionals (PMPs). He earned his Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Middlebury College in Vermont, while also competing in both football and track and field for the Panthers. He grew up in New Jersey, where his family owns and operates a structural pest control company.
Coordinator: Sustainable Food Group
Coordinator: Sustainable Food Group
Madison earned a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Growing up near the lakes in Milwaukee, she developed an appreciation for nature and its role in building community. This led her to an internship in Ecuador, where she worked on a sustainable eco-farm and became interested in applying ecologically based practices to larger food systems. After graduating, Madison worked in an entomology lab studying aphids and their natural enemies, gaining experience with Integrated Pest Management. Now, as a coordinator for the Sustainable Food Group, she supports projects that help companies implement sustainable agricultural practices and connect with broader sustainability initiatives. She is committed to advancing environmental responsibility in business and encouraging others to contribute to a more sustainable food system. Outside of work, Madison enjoys paddleboarding, hiking, live music, and exploring coffee shops.
Junior Software Developer
Project Manager I: Leisure Services
Our Board Of Directors
Board President & Co-Founder of the IPM Institute
Board Member
