Our Leadership
Keith Eppers, Director of Global Agribusiness Operations
Keith Eppers is the Director of our Global Agribusiness Operations, which includes Trout Lake Farm as well as other international farming and manufacturing locations. He has responsibility for all aspects of the Botanical Supply Chain. Keith first joined Trout Lake Farm in 2013 as the Operations Manager and has over 20 years of professional leadership experience, the majority being in the food or nutrition supplement field. He is continually focused on employee safety, product quality, and delivering orders on time while maintaining a high level of efficiency.
Keith lives in Washington State and enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, cooking, skiing, and competing in endurance and fitness sports.
Allison White, Sales Manager
Allie, who joined the Trout Lake Farm team in 1997, personally oversees all aspects of Sales, Marketing & Customer Service. Since joining the team, Allie has been blessed to see Trout Lake Farm through many seasons and changes over the years and knows the best is still yet to come. Allie works tirelessly with all TLF departments to ensure that our customers are receiving the best possible service & products. Allie believes in a very hands-on approach and can be witnessed with her fingers in just about everything, from crop and harvest planning to production scheduling and product quality evaluation, and her personal favorite, taste testing. She loves to get out in the fields, especially when hosting visits to breath some fresh air, check on the plants and capture shots of the hard work in process! When asked what she loves most about her job, Allie said #1 her customer relationships, so many of whom she considers personal friends, and #2, providing the highest quality products that help people to stay healthy! In her personal time, Allie enjoys golf, home improvement, traveling, and spending time with family & friends.
Favorite morning Beverage: A great cup of strong coffee with half & half (All Organic of course)!
Most enjoyable part of the job: People & Plants – There is nothing better than strolling the fields and spending time with my work family!
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 1997
Mario Contreras, Operations Manager
Mario’s team is responsible for the Cleaning, Milling, Heat Treatment, and Packaging of our products. Mario has been working in Manufacturing since 2003. He has extensive experience in manufacturing technologies related to Extraction, Concentration, Drying, Milling and Heat Treatment. Mario has had in depth training and experience in High Performing Work Systems (HPWS). He has leveraged his knowledge in this field to build the people systems at Amway’s Nutrilite Botanical Concentrate Plant in Quincy, WA and is implementing these same learnings at Trout Lake Farm. His favorite part of his job is coaching and mentoring others. Mario believes “Our people are our greatest strength. If you take the time to invest in them, you will be amazed in what they can accomplish.” Mario has had the pleasure to participate in multiple manufacturing plant startups. He is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified and has used these tools to drive dramatic improvements in productivity and quality outputs at multiple facilities. Mario’s knowledge in HPWS and Lean Manufacturing provides the team with a competitive advantage in driving the best out of people by empowering them to deliver best in class results. During his free time, Mario enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, reading, and playing golf.
Favorite morning Beverage: Coffee
Most enjoyable part of the job: The people. I love our team and everyone’s willingness to help each other. There is genuine care and support for each other.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2006
Heather Folks-Lambert, Quality Assurance Manager
Heather is responsible for Quality Assurance functions at Trout Lake Farm, LLC. She brings over 22 years of quality leadership experience in the food industry and a strong background in food safety and sanitation. In her current position, Heather supports Operations with a team based, first time quality ethic focused on streamlining quality processes and making Trout Lake Farm products second to none in food safety, quality and regulatory compliance. Heather is a past AHPA Trustee and is active within her community. She is a native of Washington State and enjoys spending time with her two daughters.
Favorite morning Beverage: I often start my morning with an herbal energy tea from one of our customers.
Most enjoyable part of the job: I get to work every day with people who are passionate about their jobs and the company, and there’s a great deal of satisfaction that comes with ensuring that our customers and their consumers have the benefit of safe, high-quality botanical ingredients.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2013
Amanda Green, Finance Manager
Amanda joined the Trout Lake Farm team in 2013. Throughout her career with Trout Lake Farm, she has developed a profound respect for organic farming and the commitment of the Trout Lake Farm team to produce superior botanical ingredients. Amanda is always trying to expand her knowledge about our company -- from crop planning and growing practices, to production and distribution to our valued customers, and everything in between. As Finance Lead, Amanda is committed to ensuring financial best practices across Trout Lake Farm operations. In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family, running, gardening, quilting, traveling, and frequent outdoor adventures.
Favorite morning Beverage: Peppermint Tea
Most enjoyable part of the job: I love working with an incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated team, and within a company that champions organic and sustainable farming practices.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2013
Meet Danielle Kruse, West Farm Manager
Danielle has been an integral part of Trout Lake Farm for over 13 years. She is responsible for all farm and finished good warehouse daily operations at Trout Lake Farm West, focused on growing 25+ organic botanicals for the Organic Industry. From seed to harvest, farming never stops! Danielle focuses on crop planning through budgeting, preparing the ground, planting, cultivating, harvesting, root washing, and dehydration. She has a passion for organics and regenerative agriculture and spends much of her energy focusing on how to continuously improve the soil as well as life for her employees. With a background in biology, Danielle appreciates the research side of farming and is always looking for continuous improvements through research. She has also been a leading force in the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and has helped Trout Lake Farm become an industry leader in food safety standards.
Born and raised in Cape Cod, Massachusetts Danielle enjoys the water and the lush land. She has a true passion for regenerative systems, sustainability, and a healthy environment. Other activities that keep her busy are hiking with her pups, hunting for wildflowers and mushrooms, camping, fly fishing, and cross-country skiing.
Favorite morning Beverage: COFFEE!!
Most enjoyable part of the job: Engaging with soil, plant and farmers daily.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2009
Meet Phil Hintz, East Farm Manager
Having been born and raised on a farm in the Columbia Basin, Phil has a lifetime of agricultural experience. For over 25 years, Phil’s expansive expertise has led to the modernization of many of Trout Lake Farm’s technology and farming practices. Phil has also been on the cutting-edge of new sustainable organic farming practices, as he has traveled world-wide on behalf of Trout Lake Farm to introduce these practices with other countries. When Phil is not pioneering new and innovative organic herb farming practices, he enjoys traveling with his wife Shannon of 44 years and working on their property outside of Moses Lake. They have 4 grown children, 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Favorite morning Beverage: Strong hot Coffee
Most enjoyable part of the job: Harvest time, when all the teams’ hard work and planning pays off.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 1998
Darwin Hintz, Technology Manager
Darwin is instrumental in the extreme precision mechanization technology utilized at Trout Lake Farm. He has also worked with internal teams and vendors on the custom design and building of multiple pieces of specialized equipment and infrastructure, improving our production efficiency and quality. In addition, his visibility has grown with numerous photo and video contributions featuring the Trout Lake Organic Farming System and our team members, inspiring customer’s confidence in our products.
In his personal time, Darwin loves music, traveling and enjoying new adventures with his beautiful wife Gena.
Favorite morning Beverage: French press coffee
Most enjoyable part of the job: Developing and Incorporating advancements into the Trout Lake Organic Farming System with our team members.
Inspiring confidence in our products by sharing about our Success and Best OG Practices while telling our team story in presentations with photos and videos captured.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2006
Our Staff
Denise Vogel
Sales Rep
Favorite morning Beverage: HOT COFFEE made from freshly ground beans
Most enjoyable part of the job: The opportunity to work with talented and passionate teammates in multiple locations
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2019
Rikki McNealy
Financial Analyst II
Favorite morning Beverage: I love to start my day off with pink grapefruit XS!
Most enjoyable part of the job:I love the people I work with; they are like family! The thing I enjoy most about my position is the challenge. Each day tends to bring something new.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: I started working for Trout Lake Farm in 2013.
Cory Kirkpatrick
Accounts Receivable
Favorite morning Beverage: Iced coffee
Most enjoyable part of the job: My co-workers and my challenging monthly tasks
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2022
Tia Ballard
Shipping
Favorite morning Beverage: Coffeeeeeeeeeeee
Most enjoyable part of the job: Simplicity and coworkers
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2021
Jose Martinez
Shipping
Favorite morning Beverage: A warm cup of coffee
Most enjoyable part of the job: I enjoy that I work with competent, kind, funny people who like to get things done and also treat you with respect
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2007
Jalier Ixchi
Shipping
Favorite morning Beverage: Orange juice
Most enjoyable part of the job: Download and upload of the orders and keeping the warehouse organized
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2013
Ramiro Velazquez
Shipping
Favorite morning Beverage: Coffee
Most enjoyable part of the job: I enjoy when it’s me and my forklift, I enjoy to be active, and get to know new people. I feel good when customers are happy to receive their product.
Started work at Trout Lake Farm in: 2007