Our Board, Staff and Advisory Board

Meet the Institutional Advancement Director

 Norman, CFRE, is a 50-year veteran of the non-profit profession. He began his career in fundraising by managing a successful congressional campaign in 1976. He has gone on to serve as the representative of a Fortune 50 corporation's foundation, as president of an educational foundation, executive director of a multi-state membership organization, and in hospital and college vice presidencies.

Chris has held professional certifications as a CFRE since 1991 and as a registered organizational consultant (RODC) since 1982.  He has attended the Faculty Training Academy of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), as well as the Planned Giving Institute at William & Mary and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI. He has trained with The Grantsmanship Center and The Foundation Center (Candid). Chris has served as a grant reviewer for several state and federal agencies and private foundations. 

A veteran of more than two dozen capital and endowment campaigns, Chris has served nonprofit development efforts from start-ups to college and hospital advancement vice presidencies.  He is a frequent presenter and trainer on topics relating to development and organizational communication.  

A native of Hamilton, Ohio, and a longtime resident of Central Ohio, Chris is an honors graduate of Ohio Dominican University.  He is the proud father of five adult children and the grandfather of three brilliant and beautiful grandsons.  He currently resides in Springfield.

Meet the BIPOC Farming Initiatives Director

Tia Stuart serves as the BIPOC Farming Initiatives Director at the Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice, where she leads programs such as the Regenerative Farmer Fellowship. With more than 25 years of experience in growing, preserving, and teaching practical uses for locally grown produce, she brings deep practical knowledge to her work.  Tia is passionate about sharing these essential, life-sustaining skills with others to strengthen community resilience and food sovereignty.

Meet the Programs Director and Administration Manager

Florentina Rodriguez, MHSA, Ed.D.

Florentina has been providing finance and administrative support to Agraria since March 2024 and began her current role in November 2025 as part of Agraria’s new leadership team.

Florentina is a CHamoru seed educator, seed librarian, and cooperative farmer. She serves on the board of Seven Seed Sowers Cooperative, founded the Miami Valley Seed Commons, and is the Project Development Director for The Lavender Project. She earned her Masters in Human Services Administration and Doctorate in Environmental and Sustainability Education through Antioch University, as well as several professional certifications in Nonprofit Management, Human Resources, Professional Bookkeeping, and Permaculture Design. She is the co-author of the Culturally-Informed Community Seed (CICS) Pledge which can be found at https://cicspledge.org/ She founded the Yellow Springs Community Seed Library and currently lives and farms in Dayton.