RESUMÉ
GABRIELE MAREWSKI: Coach, Entrepreneur, Farmer
Gabriele is a seasoned professional specializing in establishing farm-to-table programs, organic farming, small farm start-up and comprehensive farm business management.
PROFESSIONAL
2018-Present Agricultural Coach and Foundations facilitator for Mountain BizWorks, a not for profit that helps small businesses start, grow and create jobs through loans, classes and coaching. Work one on one with agriculturalists to set up and systematize their operations procedures and facilitate decision making. Coached over a hundred clients providing over 1,000 hours of individual business guidance and leadership.
2017-Present Founder, Designer & Photographer for Story Skyrts - a creative arts business with an eco-friendly no-inventory business model.
2019-2020 Organic Inspector for Quality Certification Services. QCS is the certification program of Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc., a nonprofit organization that began certifying organic growers in 1989 and received its USDA accreditation in 2001.
2014-2017 Independent Consultant for organic farming, Farm-to-Table, B&B Farm-stays and small farm start up. Customized programs for Farm-to-Table, organic and edible landscaping.
1999-2017 Founder of Paradise Farms Organic. Converted an abandoned avocado grove into a show case 5-acre certified organic farm specializing in micro-greens, baby greens, edible flowers, mushrooms, tropical fruits and vegetables for upscale Miami area restaurants.
Managed 9 employees in production (planning, planting, maintenance, harvesting), business planning, research, sales, marketing, record keeping, etc. Developed a 17-chapter operations manual for all aspects of the business.
Pioneered and hosted Dinner in Paradise from 2005 to 2015, a series of artisanal dinners featuring the best chefs in Miami. The purpose of the dinners was to raise funds for agricultural educational not-for-profits. Paradise Farms expanded to Brunch in Paradise and B&B Farm-stays. Led educational tours at Paradise Farms. Successfully sold the farm in 2017.
2011-2014 Partner in Natural Greenscape: lead designer for installation of edible gardens. Designed and supervised installation of showcase edible gardens: Miami Culinary Institute (Miami-Dade College) with 100 varieties of edible plants.
1994-1998 Manager, Miami-Dade County Commissioner office. Responsible for managing the district office. Project manager for all of the of Commissioner’s key South Miami-Dade issues. Selected and customized computer software program to address and respond to over 3,000 constituent requests per year.
EDUCATION
2021 Master of Arts in Leadership, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Asheville NC
1980 Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy, University of Maryland, College Park MD
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2024 Developed & Lead Farm4Business Online Course
2023 Presenter: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s Sustainable Agriculture Conference - Know Your Numbers
2021-22 Florida Organic Growers Advisory Board for the USDA National Organic Program - Human Capital Capacity Building Initiative: A Career Educational Technical Model for Organic Technicians
2020-22 Organizer & Presenter: Workshops at ASAP Business of Farming Conferences, Asheville NC
2019 Independent Organic Inspectors Association - Training for Organic Process Inspection in Crops
2016 Panelist: 5th National Conference for Women in Sustainable Agriculture, Portland OR
2016 Keynote Speaker: University of Florida Regional Small Farms Conference, Ft. Meyers FL
2015 Published Author: Farm Business in a Binder, Farm Production in a Binder and Farm Hospitality in a Binder
2014 Presenter: Farm to Table International Symposium, New Orleans LA
2014 Presenter: Miami Dade College Eco-Tourism & Sustainable Conference, FL
2013 Presenter: 4th National Conference for Women in Sustainable Agriculture Cultivating our Food, Farms & Future, Des Moines IA
2010 Presenter: Florida Small Farms Conference, Kissimmee FL
2010 Presenter: Florida International University School of Agro-Ecology Symposium
2009 Presenter: “Sustainable Food Production”, Miami Dade College, FL
2009 Speaker: Miami Living Green Expo, FL
2008 Presenter: “Edible Landscapes”, Miami Beach Botanical Garden, FL
1992 Speaker: Dade County Women’s Coalition for a Healthy Environment, Miami FL
1989 Co-Author: The Guide: An Industry Response to New Regulations, Florida State Horticulture Society, Miami FL
AWARDS
2016 “Plowing Through Award” - For “Focusing on experimentation and the determined cultivation of something difficult to grow.” Edible South Florida Magazine and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
2015 “Snail of Approval Pioneer Award”, Slow Food Miami
2015 Selected for Miami Herald's Inaugural Class of South Florida Food 50
2013 “In the Company of Women: Outstanding Woman in Business & Economics”, Miami Dade County
2013 Selected #5 of Top 30 Tastemakers, New Times’ Best of Miami 2013
2012 “Innovative Farmer Award”, Florida Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises Conference
1992 “Nike Award for Leadership”, Homestead South Dade Business and Professional Women’s Club
1991 “Golden Rule Award”, JC Penney
PRESS
Featured in: Conde Naste Traveler, Daily Candy, Food Arts, Food & Wine, Forbes Traveler, Modern Luxury, Money Talks News, Organic Gardening, PLUMTV, Tropical Fruit News and Urban Daddy.
Florida Press: Boca Magazine, Florida Travel & Life, Lux Miami City Guide, Miami New Times, Miami Sun Post, NBC Miami, South Florida Magazine, Sun Sentinel, The Miami Herald, and Visit Florida as well as many other local publications.
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Conducted in association with Paradise Farms in Miami, FL
2015 Member Les Dames d’Escoffier Miami: Educates & Mentors Women
1994 Board of Directors: Leadership South Dade Executive Committee
1994 County Bicycle Advisory Committee: Metro Dade County Bicycle
1993 Appointed to the Governor’s Study Commission on Property Insurance & Reinsurance
1993 Appointed to the Metro Dade County Performance Commission
1993 Charter Member: The Redland Conservancy, Inc.
1991 Initiator & Organizer: 1st Dade County Ag Land Retention Conference
1990-93 President: Redland Citizens Association
1985-94 Board of Directors: Redland Citizens Association
1990-94 Alumni Association: Leadership South Dade
1990-93 Initiated Issues Oriented Tour: Leadership South Dade
1990-91 Leadership: South Dade Program Committee
1990 Graduate of Leadership South Dade
1989-91 Chair and Public Relations Committee: Hosted the Annual Tropical Ag Fiesta, Southern Florida Tropical Growers, Inc.
1986-89 President: Southern Florida Tropical Growers, Inc.
1988 Plan Review Committee: Dade County Ag Land Use
1985-87 Charter President: Dade County Women in Agriculture