Maressa is Eat Local First Director at Sustainable Connections, a local non-profit in Bellingham, WA, and oversees the work of the Eat Local First Collaborative. She brings over twenty years in graphic design, website development, and communications experience to her role at Sustainable Connections. She has volunteered with the University of Washington Autism Center, served on the Bellingham Public Schools Good Food Promise Committee, worked with Whatcom Farm to School leading up to the launch of the Bellingham central scratch kitchen and currently serves on the Culinary Arts Program Advisory Committee at Bellingham Technical College.