About
Windham Grows, a project of Strolling of the Heifers, is a food and agriculture business hatchery ready to give the mentorship, education, tools and financing help food and agriculture businesses grow.
The program is led by two experienced Entrepreneurs-in-Residence that work one-on-one with entrepreneurs to help drastically improve business growth and health.
We get specific on the exact help needed, working as a team with subject matter experts to set specific goals and create plans that are reviewed to assure execution.
Windham Grows Leadership
Orly Munzing
Executive Director Strolling of the Heifers
Orly is the founder and executive director of Strolling of the Heifers. Previously, she served as a learning specialist with the Windham Central Supervisory Union for 24 years. She has a BA in Psychology and Education from Boston University, and Master of Education degree in Psychology and Special Education from Keene State College. She also built a profitable private consulting business, training teachers in cutting-edge educational techniques.
Jim Verzino
Director and Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Jim is the Director and Entrepreneur in Residence of Windham Grows, a business accelerator that was created by the Strolling of the Heifers and is designed to nurture the next generation of innovative food and agriculture entrepreneurs in southern Vermont. Prior to running Windham Grows Jim co-founded and successfully exited three socially responsible businesses focused on energy and waste management automation systems, and workforce development. As a co-founder of Ruralogic, a “re-shoring” firm created to counter the trend in outsourcing US jobs to third world countries, Jim helped bring 2,900 high-tech jobs to rural Louisiana and Pennsylvania that would have otherwise gone overseas.
Cairn Cross
Entrepreneur-in-residence
Cairn is founder of FreshTracks Capital, where he concentrates on making equity investments in Vermont based growth companies. He is currently on the board of FreshTracks portfolio companies Vermont Teddy Bear, Native Energy, Budnitz Bicycles, Faraday (Chairman) and an observer to SunCommon board. He is the former board chairman of EatingWell Media Group and a former board member of NEHP, both sold in profitable sales. Outside of FreshTracks Cairn is a past Vice Chaiman of Opportunities Credit Union, and a board member of the Vermont Community Loan Fund and Vermont Board of Public Accountancy.
Anne Latchis
Strolling of the Heifers General Manager
Anne works enthusiastically with the full range of the Stroll’s work, from the annual parade and festival to the Farm-to-Table Culinary Apprenticeship Program, to the Slow Living Summit, Windham Grows and our River Garden events. Anne is particularly excited about the Stroll’s emphasis in supporting local farm and food-related entrepreneurship and internship programs.
Jennifer Brandt
Windham Grows Outreach Coordinator
Outreach Coordinator, Jennifer Brandt, brings years of marketing experience for a variety of clients ranging from Sony to small non-profits. Jennifer’s extensive marketing experience gives her access to a vast professional network of marketing and creative heavy-hitters that can be assembled for projects with even the most daunting marketing and creative challenges. Her passion for sustainable food systems makes her work with Strolling of the Heifers more like a dream than a job. While not working on organizing spectacular events or creating new marketing materials for clients, you can find her exploring new food around the world whether it be via food stall, beach shack and even the occasional high-end meal.
Strolling of the Heifers prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
religion, age, disability, marital or family status. Strolling of the Heifers is an equal opportunity employer.