Chris serves as Chief Executive Officer at Iroquois Valley, where he combines his investment management experience and personal background in support of the strategic vision of the organization. Prior to joining Iroquois Valley, Chris was
Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investments at EnTrust Global, an alternative investment firm based in New York. He was a member of the Management Committee and the Global Investment Committee. As a senior investment professional, Chris covered most asset classes and investment strategies across both public and private markets.

Chris grew up on a family dairy farm in Minnesota and maintained an interest in food and agriculture throughout his career. Since 2016, Chris has been a board member at The Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, a non-profit organization supporting regional food and farming in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Chris graduated with an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003 and a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Saint Olaf College in 1998. He is a CFA® Charterholder. Chris and his family reside in Westchester County, NY. Outside of work, Chris enjoys traveling, gardening and hiking with his wife, three sons, and dog, Bruce

As Chief Financial Officer, Mark has responsibility for financial systems and reporting, budgeting and forecasting, reviewing new funding opportunities, monitoring and tracking the investment portfolio, and evaluating new deals. Mark sees Iroquois Valley as a great vehicle for improving the health of the planet and raising awareness of the multitude of benefits achieved through farming organically. And with farmers in his family, the company’s mission is a personal one.

Mr. Schindel received his BS in Finance from the University of Illinois, and his MBA from Northwestern’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Before joining Iroquois Valley, Mark spent most of his career in the private equity business; and as a financial consultant and private investor. Mr. Schindel lives in Chicago, and enjoys tennis, downhill skiing, and hiking around the world.

Arnold (“Arnie”) has several areas of responsibility including multi-year budget modeling, long-term planning for the company and evaluating new business/geographic opportunities as well as management of specific programs including the Young Farmer Land Access Program and a farmland ownership transition program. He also monitors and evaluates developments in such areas as climate change and the environment, capital markets, regulation, and technology for factors that may have long-term implications for the Company and its farmers. Arnie reports directly to the CEO; and coordinates his duties with the CFO. Arnie also supports development of offering materials, investment sales and investor relations.

Arnie has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Economics from Lawrence University, and a Masters of Management from Northwestern University. He was previously a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange from 1983 until 1999, and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade from 1985 until 2007. He is a life member of the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy.

In Donna’s role at Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, she shares the Company’s vision and investment strategy with investors and prospects. She is responsible for expanding our investor base by building a community of like-minded investors. Donna is passionate about creating an opportunity for all people to reap the health benefits of nutritional food, grown in a sustainable and socially just society. Using her knowledge of finance and investing, Donna structures investment vehicles to address investors’ different needs and goals. She believes in Iroquois Valley’s triple bottom line principles, actively securing social, environmental, and financial returns for our investors.

Prior to joining Iroquois Valley, Donna served in business development and investor relations roles at three alternative asset management firms. Before working in finance, she practiced law, specializing in tax and ERISA matters.

Donna earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Syracuse University, a Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University, College of Law, and a Master of Law in Taxation from New York University. She is a CAIA Charter-holder and an FSA Level 1 Certificate Holder.

Claire serves as VP, Farmer Relations where her work centers on process, program development, and resource-building. She is broadly focused on Iroquois Valley’s farmer-facing work to ensure that partnerships are successful. Claire also works on impact strategy, evaluation, and reporting in support of the company’s efforts to create public benefit.

Claire joined Iroquois Valley in 2015 as Communications Director where she created mission-driven, data-informed content across platforms. Claire gravitated toward stakeholder engagement as she connected with farmers to tell their stories, which led to her transition to farmer relations in 2021. 

Claire completed her bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and French from Loyola University Chicago. Within philosophy, Claire was interested in the ways that land stewardship and land-based ethics intersect with social and political movements. After graduation, she spent a year in Madison, WI working as an AmeriCorps Farm-to-School educator. Claire lives in southern California where she enjoys gardening and all things outdoors, especially camping. 

Raya works toward a future where holistic, inclusive, organic-regenerative farming heals the farming and food ecosystem: the land, the animals, and the people involved, too. Embracing the natural continuity from farming organically herself, since childhood, Raya is honored to work as a Senior Relationship Manager, and she has now been with the Company for around 4 years. In this capacity, Raya supports farmers across the U.S., acting as a farmer liaison for Iroquois Valley, helping organic farmers get the financing & land access tools they need to thrive. It gives Raya perspective to see that small and midsized organic farmers across the country often share similar challenges and aren’t alone in being up against a difficult overall food system to exist and run a business in. But she is encouraged also to witness the unique solutions each farm business narrows in on, and she is often inspired by farmers’ & ranchers’ perseverance as well as their great dedication to land stewardship. Raya successfully completed the 2015 Good Food Business Accelerator Program by Family Farmed, holds a Liberal Arts in Humanities degree with Great Distinction from Shimer College, and is currently pursuing her MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Raya has run a seasonal farm dinner & tour series at her family’s farm in Illinois for the last decade, and on the best weekends, she still cares for the animals and pastures.  

Kavita is a Senior Relationship Manager at Iroquois Valley, where she works directly with farmers and partners on the Rooted in Regeneration note for farmers of color. She comes from over a dozen years in agriculture, from tending organic veggies and livestock to providing technical assistance to folks in financial distress to helping create funding programs to farmers helping in the fight against climate change. She is passionate about improving practical and equitable access to financing. In addition to her work at Iroquois Valley, Kavita is a proud co-owner at Money Positive, a worker-owned financial planning firm focused on helping those who are often excluded from the conventional financial industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in geography and biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a dual MBA/MA in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Kavita can usually be found frolicking with her dog through the woods of Greensboro, North Carolina, and getting overly-excited about plants. 

As a Senior Relationship Manager at Iroquois Valley, Drew works directly with farmers focused on organic crop systems and ensures that they have the means to invest in their soil and business operations for the long-term. He has spent the last two decades actively engaged in agriculture and rural community development, from running a diversified vegetable and livestock operation to leading coalitions and collaboratives focused on restoring access to farmland, rebuilding agriculture’s missing middle, and revitalizing regional food economies. He is most passionate about inspiring and developing the audacious farmers and food system leaders of tomorrow. In addition to his work at Iroquois Valley, Drew serves his community as a school board trustee and holds leadership roles for various land use boards and commissions. Drew received his Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Idaho and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. When not touring the partner farms of Iroquois Valley, Drew can be found skiing, running backcountry trails, or paddling the rivers and lakes of western Montana with his family.

Growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota, Lacey couldn’t wait to trade in the cornfields and cattle pastures for the hustle and bustle of a big city. After graduating with a degree in Economics and Finance, she achieved her goal and spent one year as an analyst at JPMorgan in New York City. Missing the wide open spaces of the Midwest and discovering her passion for organic and regenerative agriculture, Lacey moved back to the Corn Belt and joined the Iroquois Valley team in 2020.

In this role, Lacey manages the investment process for the equity and debt issued by the company. She loves to brainstorm new ways to make the systems more efficient, streamlined, and organized… all while helping the firm grow its capital base. When she isn’t working at Iroquois Valley or helping out on her family farm, Lacey enjoys gardening, practicing yoga, and traveling.

Laura has been a Staff Accountant with Iroquois Valley since 2021. 

Meg has a background in non-profit development, working on behalf of art and ecology non-profits. Currently she fundraises on behalf of two artist residency programs: ACRE Residency, located in the Driftless Region of WI, and Ox-Bow School of Art, an 100+ year old residency located on a 112 acre conservation easement in Western Michigan. Prior to this, Meg worked in programming for the Graham Foundation, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and as Sales Manager for Mint Creek Farm, where she managed on-site farm dinners and Mint Creek’s CSA program. She holds an MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where her studies focused on the intersection of art, ecology, and architecture. She is very pleased to be working with the incredible folks at Iroquois Valley.

In the Credit Manager position, Alyssa focuses on the financial viability and structure of all potential lending opportunities. She loves that her position helps create pathways for farmers and their families to live out their dreams and mission. Prior to joining Iroquois Valley in 2020 as an Underwriter, Alyssa worked in the tax and accounting field; specializing in tax preparation, bookkeeping and succession planning for farming operations. Alyssa holds a BS in Accounting from Ball State University. She resides in Northeast Indiana with her husband and three children where they are an active part of their family’s 4^th generation farm.