July 1, 2018, the Board of Directors at Virginia Farmers Market Association (VAFMA), has announced that Kim Hutchinson, a well-recognized and long-time philanthropic leader and community advocate, will serve as the Executive Director; ending a search that began earlier this year. Ms. Hutchinson has been a nonprofit executive, management consultant, public policy expert, federal contractor and community advocate for building healthy, sustainable communities for more than 20 years.
Virginia Farmers Market Association Board President, CeCe Dodd, reflected upon this decision by saying that she is “incredibly grateful to Kim for taking on the challenge of building an organization that is so vital to the growth and sustainability of farmers markets statewide. Part of what makes Kim so well suited to assume leadership of VAFMA is her ability to build organizations and engage multiple networks in the community” adding that “Kim has remarkable leadership and passion that will position VAFMA for growth and impact in 2018 and beyond.”
Prior to joining Virginia Farmers Market Association, Ms. Hutchinson served as the President/CEO of complex philanthropic organizations, having demonstrated abilities in the areas of strategic planning and capacity building, collaborative and pooled funding and in building social impact collaborations that create systemic infrastructure change within communities. Her ability as a forward thinker to create critical change by building cohesion among multiple constituencies, inspiring and motivating others, and engaging multiple networks in the community while focusing on maximizing collaborative funding, developing and implementing strategic political action, and advocating for issues that will cultivate vibrant and sustainable farmers market communities across Virginia is very exciting and will be extremely valuable to the field.
Upon being named Executive Director, Ms Hutchinson stated “I have a tremendous amount of respect and passion for the work VAFMA has done across Virginia. The need for a united voice among the field to ensure full recognition that farmers, vendors, customers and organizations all play a critical role in the success and sustainability of farmers markets is imperative. I look forward to working with Virginia Farmers Market Association’s committed board, staff, and stakeholders across the Commonwealth to ensure we are an organization that represents our rich and diverse community in our mission to support farmers markets through education and training initiatives, while building opportunities for collaboration, networking, advocacy and innovation that supports the growth and sustainability of farmers markets statewide. VAFMA’s best days are in front of us and I’m honored to be part of its future.”
Ms. Hutchinson has served as a featured speaker at the United Nations regarding the UNCRPD, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs on disability rights, as well as engaging on these issues with foreign audiences in Mongolia, Nepal, Cyprus, the Ivory Coast of Benin, Russia, Oman, China, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Namibia, and has traveled to the Doha, Qatar, West Bank in Israel, Vienna and Amman, Jordan, to work with Presidents, Monarchs, heads of state, and foreign leaders in academia and government to develop viable health and human service programs to support their underserved and underrepresented communities.
Ms. Hutchinson is a native of Virginia and resides here with her family. She is an avid chef, artist, and golfer.
You may contact Ms. Hutchinson at info@vafma.org
About the Virginia Farmers Market Association
Virginia Farmers Market Association is a 501(c)3 non profit with a mission to support farmers markets through education initiatives, while building opportunities for collaboration, networking, advocacy, and innovation that supports the growth and sustainability of farmers markets statewide.