Field & Fork Accelerator — Pre-Seed VC Firm ($100K–$500K Checks)

Loizzo has a Ph.D. and MS. Ed. in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University and a B.A. in Radio-Television from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She founded and facilitates The Streaming Science Project, a student-driven project-based learning science communication platform.

Long maintains the farm and gardens and supervises interns who assist him in the daily work that comes with managing the space. His work encompasses all aspects of agriculture, ranging from cultivating fruits and vegetables to fostering collaborations with local farms in order to combat food waste. Noah has a bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Sciences from the University of Florida and has worked in a variety of different forms of agriculture. Having been a former intern himself, Noah understands what’s needed to have a meaningful and fruitful experience at Field & Fork.

Brew coordinates programs for faculty, staff and the community at the farm. She has decades of experience in local food systems work, most recently as the Farm to School Coordinator for Alachua County Public Schools. Kelli was a co-founder of the Gainesville Catholic Worker where home-cooked meals, made from produce purchased or gleaned from local farms, were served for many years to people experiencing homelessness and hunger. She also established a school garden program for Florida Organic Growers and co-edited “Grow to Learn,” an IFAS manual for school gardeners.

Benson manages the day-to-day operations of the Field & Fork pantry. Much of her professional career has been at universities including Penn State, UNC Charlotte, and Winthrop and now at the University of Florida. Benson holds a master’s degree from Penn State in Hotel and Restaurant management. Prior to moving to Gainesville, she owned her own business, “Style Recycled”, a curated sustainable fashion boutique. This business idea evolved after Benson learned about the fast fashion industry and the use of sweatshops to produce most clothing. She has been thrifting for almost two decades and it was this experience that also motivated her to address the need for sustainability in fashion.

She has 15 years of experience in sustainability and food system efforts, including working as statewide coordinator for the Florida Farm to School Program, management of sustainability efforts with institutional food service at UF, and serving on the boards of Slow Food Gainesville and the Alachua County Nutrition Alliance. She received her B.S. in marine biology from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington and her M.S. in wildlife ecology and conservation with a certificate in tropical conservation and development from the University of Florida. She served in the Peace Corps at Vanuatu from 2004 to 2005.

Habeck serves as a non-clinical case manager with CARE (Campus Assistance and Resources for Empowerment), helps to oversee the Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry and assesses basic needs strategies for our campus community at the Dean of Students Office. Previously, Habeck worked with the UF Office for ADA Compliance, where she served as an ADA Case Manager, coordinating and resolving related issues of reasonable accommodations for the UF community in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Before joining UF in 2022, Habeck worked in the education field for over 16 years, teaching, organizing, and directing programs for a variety of learners. Since 2008, Habeck has also been a co-founder and co-director of the local nonprofit organization, Yopp! Inc, whose mission is to provide an outlet where people of all ages can express themselves through the arts. She brings a passion for advocacy and community well-being as she strives to create safe and inclusive spaces where students feel empowered in each role she serves.