Meet the Team
R. Carter Scott
...is a Principal of TransFarmations, a developer of energy positive and resilient Agrihoods (agricultural neighborhoods).
He was President of Transformations Inc, a sustainable development and building company in Massachusetts from 1986 through 2017. In 2009 Transformations received the $15,000 award for its entry in Zero Energy Challenge competition. In 2013 it was a winner of two Housing Innovation Awards from the Department of Energy (DOE).
A Northeastern University graduate with an industrial engineering degree, he has been a leader in the Massachusetts zero energy home building movement. His projects have appeared in the Solar Today and Fine Homebuilding magazines and on the Discovery Channel, This New House TV show and The Connecting Point public television show. In 2013, Carter received the Zero Net Energy Public Impact Award from the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). He was a member of Massachusetts Net Zero Energy Building Advisory Council under both Governor Patrick and Governor Baker.
Collaborators
Brian Roberts
… is a builder, father friend and early investor in the Jacobson Farm Agrihood project. Currently Brian is operating as the principal consultant for HomeBase, LLC where he is focused on fostering and supporting earth-loving enterprises and communities. He was formerly the managing partner at Landmark Services, Inc, a high-end restoration and high-performance/green building company, where he spent 15 profitable and enjoyable years managing roughly 30% of the company’s building projects and all of the firm’s Finance and Operations. Prior to that he was the VP of Client Service and top revenue generator for Construction Recruiters Inc in Boston. He brings deep experience in operations, team building and authentic communication to the Transfarmations team. In his free time he is an avid mountain biker, snowboarder and cold-plunger.
John F. Slater
…is a Passive House Institute US Certified Builder and is trained in Zero Energy Home designing and building. He is the owner of Energy Vision Homes, LLC of Hollis, NH who specialize in building high performance homes. John holds a doctorate degree in Environmental Chemistry and is an Adjunct Instructor in the Earth Science Department at the University of New Hampshire where he teaches about Sustainability and Global Climate Change. Other research interests include Environmental Education, New England Air Quality, Green Building Technology, and Environmental Sustainability in Business and Industry. Additionally, he is chair of the NH Envirothon Advisory Committee (an environmental science academic competition for North American high school students), Head Judge for the NH Envirothon, and a co-author of NH’s Environmental Literacy Plan.
Karen Fitzgerald
...is the founder and owner of FitzDesign, Inc. She has over 25 years of experience as a landscape architect and land planner and has demonstrated expertise in public process and team synthesis, earning her the respect of local leaders, citizen groups, and public agencies. Karen has worked with farmers and farm owners on land acquisition, land planning and farm transition. Her knowledge of planning and development policy, design and construction, and agriculture are critical elements in the work of preserving farmland for future farmers.
Lincoln Geiger
...grew up in rural southern Sweden, where the land with its ancient roots was still live in its people. He started farming in 1966 at the age of 18, inspired by the ways of his village and the Swedish BioDynamic agricultural movement.
He inspired and created the Swedish collective Mother Earth with his brother Chris where he worked as gardener, farmer and miller for seven years. In 1979 he immigrated to Temple New Hampshire US where he took on a small farm, and in 1986 cofounded the Temple Wilton Community Farm (TWCF) which helped imagine the idea of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the US. Working there feeding the community, caring for the dairy cows, the pastures and hay lands for over 30 years, he brings a wide range of skills to the table. He is now working as the director and farmer/educator at The Gaia Institute in Wilton NH.
Ryan Hvizda
...is armed with extensive experience in farming, permaculture, visual arts, education, and community organizing, Ryan found that her passion for sustainable living and community building was well positioned to the world of real estate. In tune with her belief that real estate starts with the community, Ryan puts environmental, social, and economic stewardship at the forefront of her business philosophy.
Ryan’s background is in visual arts, design, education and marketing has been integral to the Hvizda Team’s meteoric rise to prominence making them a top team in the top market center and state. Ryan currently sits on the New Hampshire Association of Realtors Sustainability Committee, the Advocacy committee of the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility, and on the boards of the Junior Service League of Concord and Intown Concord.
Ian McSweeney
...is the founder/owner of Farmland Consulting LLC and serves as Director of Agrarian Trust, after recently winding down a dozen years of work as Executive Director of the Russell Foundation, a private foundation focused on assisting landowners, farmers and communities through customized approaches to farmland ownership, conservation, management and stewardship. During Ian’s tenure the Russell Foundation worked directly with 78 nonprofit land trusts and community groups, 45 townships, and local, state and federal partners to assist 72 farms and complete 107 land projects protecting over 13,000 acres and raising over $18,000,000, all aimed towards providing benefit to farmland, farmers, community and local agrarian economy. Ian also participates in many farm and food systems initiatives and serves as a consultant to a number of organizations around the country. He has served on zoning, conservation, planning and agricultural Boards and Commissions, County Conservation Districts, Regional Planning Commissions and University Extension Coverts Program. NH has recognized Ian as a 40 under 40 leader and New England Food Solutions has selected Ian for their Leadership Institute.
Find out more about Ian's work at: www.farmlandconsulting.com and www.agrariantrust.org
Omi Preheim
...is a metaphysician, teacher, speaker, and a feng shui consultant, fluent in ancient wisdom traditions and energy healing modalities. Integrating architectural design, construction, real estate, and astrological experience, she teaches multiple approaches to feng shui as an expert practitioner since 1992. Omi has offered CEUs to architects enrolled in her feng shui classes, and created a course for astrologers combining Western Astrology and Feng Shui. Omi has been featured in the Boston Globe, the Improper Bostonian, WALE Radio, and WB Channel 56 News, Boston, Massachusetts.