About Us

A third-generation Central Oregonian, Nicolle Timm-Branch is the Founder and Executive Director of Central Oregon Locavore, a nonprofit she established in 2009. Under her leadership, Locavore operates a variety of educational programs that champion local food and farmers for the well-being of individuals, the community, and the planet. The centerpiece is a year-round indoor marketplace offering local produce and products, and accepting SNAP/EBT, Oregon Farm Direct Vouchers, and Double Up Food Bucks. Nicolle also works as a full-time nurse at St. Charles Family Birthing Center, where she supports families with care and expertise.

Alex Lustig, President of the Central Oregon Locavore Board, excels as an Integrator, turning visionary ideas into reality. With expertise in strategic planning, project management, communication, and team leadership, Alex seamlessly integrates the operational side of the organization, ensuring that its visions, plans, and values are brought to life. Her ability to listen, understand, and execute with creativity, critical thinking, and enthusiasm, combined with her belief that eating locally benefits both our bodies and our community, supports Locavore’s mission to foster a healthier community.

With over 20 years in corporate finance, accounting, and system implementation, Stephanie Bonds brings her extensive expertise to the Central Oregon Locavore board as our Treasurer. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys traveling, riding a giant flaming octopus through the desert, and nurturing her newly installed Pollinator Pathway garden. Her diverse interests and commitment to community make her a vibrant asset to our team.

Amanda Bedell is a seasoned entrepreneur who understands the transformative power of food-based businesses and the critical role of financial management in driving profitability. After successfully building a bakery from scratch in Seattle, Amanda gained firsthand insight into the unique challenges and opportunities within the food and retail industries. Known as the “Business Chaos Sorter,” Amanda empowers business owners to understand their numbers, make financially sound decisions, and optimize their operations for lasting profitability—without getting bogged down by overwhelm. If you’re a business owner looking to boost your profit while staying true to your mission, join Amanda for her free workshop on strategic financial management and sustainable growth >> https://businesschaossorter.com/workshop

My background is in business development and large scale event production, and I became incredibly passionate about food system redesign while living abroad for most of 8 years. For the last 6 years, I have been working with unique small farm properties seeking to integrate regenerative practices. As an initial layer, I help farms diversify their revenue streams by incorporating farm-hospitality activity and scaling vertically up the supply chain. I also work on development strategy and fundraising for some unique ag properties that are working on more complicated models like “agrihoods” and education centers.

Angela Switzer, alongside her husband Aaron, owns the Source Weekly, Central Oregon’s independent newspaper, and Lay It Out Events, which produces local events like Winterfest and Summerfest. For 26 years, she has served as controller of the companies and editor of Bend Nest magazine. Angela brings to the board a love of fresh, local foods, a passion for sustainable farming, and a commitment to humane practices. In her spare time, she enjoys Oregon’s great outdoors, family time, cooking, and gardening.

Kate has 25+ years of experience with non-profits and is excited to support Locavore’s mission and community. A transformational leader in health policy, strategy, technology, and program integration with nineteen years of experience providing vision and successful execution of multi-stakeholder projects. Kate has advised thirty-two states, leveraging a unique capacity to conceptualize and develop creative solutions to complex health initiatives in the public and private sectors.

Originally from San Diego, California, Dan moved to Bend, Oregon in 2023 with his spouse of 45 years, Donna, to enjoy the vibrant Central Oregon lifestyle. After a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant, and a partner in a forensic accounting firm specializing in business valuation and economic damage analysis, Dan retired in 2023. Dan served on the boards of several non-profits, such as Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego and the California Surf Museum and now volunteers on the Deschutes County Facility Project Review Committee.

Dr. Anthony Gustin is a trained functional medicine clinician, entrepreneur, and amateur farmer, dedicated to optimizing human health. After earning a Doctorate in Chiropractic (D.C.) and a Master’s in Sports Rehab (M.S.) to work with elite athletes, he founded a successful clinic in San Francisco that expanded to six locations. He now operates several health and wellness brands, including Equip Foods, Lineage Provisions, and Rooted Local, and hosts “The Natural State” podcast, where he explores how to recreate natural environments for humans to thrive.