Jen Lamson

Jen is a passionate cook and true believer in the power of a good meal to bring people together; she knows good food is the secret to bringing change to America’s kitchen table. A strong leader with keen instincts and strategic insight, Jen also knows how to get things done—her record at Good Food Strategies shows it. Jen has helped the David & Lucille Packard Foundation shape their approach to federal farm policy; was instrumental in bringing the first local, sustainable commodity product to the mainstream; spearheaded an “Eat Local for Thanksgiving” campaign; and has been a key strategic advisor to one of the most successful organic farms in the nation.
Jen has two decades of experience in grassroots organizing, campaigning, and media relations. After starting her career with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jen escaped the Hill to lead national citizen campaigns for Common Cause—including gathering one million names on a national petition, before the internet—for McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation; organizing citizen demonstrations in all 435 congressional districts on the same day; and getting presidential and congressional candidates on the record supporting reform.  As acting director of the Cascade Conservation Partnership, she helped manage a collaborative effort to raise private funds to leverage federal funding to preserve at-risk old growth forests in the Northwest.  Jen lives in Seattle. She can often be found exploring the Great Northwest’s outdoor bounty with her husband and three kids in their green canvas 1966 pop-up trailer.