Meet the Founders
Amanda Pagniello
Sowing Liberation
Amanda Pagniello is a food service veteran, accumulating 12+ years of experience in front and back of the house. Post food service, they chose a path in agriculture to develop a deeper understanding of ecology, farming, and wider food systems.
They most recently worked at the nation's largest food rescue non-profit as one of the first stops for food donors, volunteers, and those in need calling into the dispatch line, which granted them an ear into communities in and around the PGH area. She currently works a an advisor and consultant, co-creating new systems and operations rooted in equity based in ecological thinking.
Lina Rodriguez
Community Cultures
Trevor Ring is the founder of Community Cultures. He has taught fermentation for over a decade, worked for numerous agriculture, food and fermentation businesses, and produces fermented products in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is most excited about sharing his knowledge of fermentation, creating resiliency within the food system through fermentation, and utilizing seasonal and regional ingredients to inspire his ferments.
Marie Mencher
Academic Advisor at CCAC
Marie Mencher is the founder of Lil' Loaf, a small business specializing in the production of fruit leathers and seasonal baked goods. She is a graduate of the Fulton Commons Accelerator program and a participant in the 2025 Franklin Street Market series in the Manchester neighborhood. She has worked on behalf of Jak's Bakery at the Farmers Market Cooperative of East Liberty and is currently an Academic Advisor at CCAC.
