Board of Directors

BAV’s Board of Directors bring a wide range of experiences and skill sets that support every aspect of the organization.

These individuals are always willing to lend their expertise and jump in when called upon. The Board’s attentiveness and passion for BAV’s mission has staff forever grateful for all their contributions.

We have endless appreciation for the time, insight, and dedication that these members give Berkshire Agricultural Ventures.

  • Maryann Tebben

    President

    Professor of French at Bard College at Simon’s Rock;

    Head of the Center for Food Studies at Simon’s Rock;

    Author of three books: Food Cultures of France (2021); Savoir-Faire: A History of French Food (2020); Sauces: A Global History (2014)

  • Erik Rasmussen

    Vice President

    Former Market Administrator for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service / Dairy Programs.

  • Dan Schaeffer

    Treasurer

    Co-founder & Chief Investment Officer;

    Director at ABS Capital Markets at Academy Securities.

  • Don Perdue

    Secretary

    Nationally honored photographer with permanent collections in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and International Center for Photography;

    Avid gardener & farmers market shopper.

  • Rebecca Busansky

    Executive Director

    BAV’s Executive Director. Formerly a Program Director at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, Rebecca’s work focused on helping local farms thrive and increasing food access. She worked as part of the team to create and launch the PVGrows Investment Fund.

  • David Valicenti

    Director

    Attorney at Cohen Kinne Valicenti Cook specializing in business & real estate;

    Avid supporter of local food.

  • Tom Gardner

    Director

    Principal Owner, Gardner Pie Company;

    Manages a small farm raising Soay Sheep, Italian Maremma Guard Dogs, & Australian Shepherds.

  • Amanda Freund

    Director

    Freund’s Farm in East Canaan, CT;

    Involved in family businesses Freund’s Farm Market & CowPots.

  • Rachel Moriarty

    Director

    Holds a B.S. in Sustainable Food & Farming from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

  • Martha Page

    Director

    Former Executive Director of Hartford Food System Inc, with multi-disciplinary management experience in nonprofit, government, and private sector settings.