🚀 Join CAIC to celebrate Delmarva agriculture at Producers Unveiled 2024! Register now. 🌱📈

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Our team

Caic team banner

Core Team

Emiliano Espinosa

Director

Emiliano oversees all CAIC programs, services, and operations. He leads the team, manages strategic partnerships, and ensures program quality and financial sustainability. Emiliano focuses on delivering real, measurable results for farmers and agricultural businesses across the region.

Chelsea Roseberry

Course Instructor

Chelsea leads CAIC’s farm-focused courses, offering hands-on instruction and personalized guidance. She helps participants apply key concepts to their operations, ensuring they gain practical skills to strengthen and grow their farm businesses.

Madison Hugo

Farm Consultant

Madison provides one-on-one consulting to farmers enrolled in CAIC programs. She assists with business plans, financial projections, and marketing strategies, ensuring each client receives customized support to advance their agricultural business goals.

YSABEL SANCHEZ

Marketing Coordinator

Ysabel ensures a smooth experience for all CAIC program participants. She provides course support, assisting with registrations, communications, and materials. Additionally, she leads marketing efforts to promote CAIC’s services and maintain consistent branding across all platforms.

Ivan Esala

Participant Success Coordinator

Ivan serves as the first point of contact for new and returning CAIC participants. He connects with leads, guides them through registration, and follows up after program completion to check progress and offer ongoing support. His role ensures participants stay engaged from start to finish.

Alice Chalmers

Alice Chalmers

Strategic Advisor

Alice provides high-level strategic guidance for CAIC’s Value-Chain Coordination Program. She helps connect farmers, processors, and buyers, fostering partnerships that strengthen local food systems. Alice advises on program development and ensures alignment with industry needs and market opportunities.

Mike Thielke

Executive Director

Mike provides overall leadership for the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) and its initiatives, including CAIC. As Executive Director, he drives strategic vision, builds partnerships, and creates opportunities that promote economic development across the region.

Lindsay Gilmour

Food Safety Trainer

Lindsay leads CAIC’s Food Safety Training program, helping farmers and producers implement best practices to meet regulatory requirements. She provides practical guidance on developing food safety plans, ensuring participants understand and apply the necessary standards to operate safely and confidently.

Julian Kroboth

Value-Chain Coordinator

Julian leads the day-to-day coordination of CAIC’s Value-Chain Program, working directly with farmers, processors, and buyers to build strong market connections. Collaborating closely with Strategic Advisor Alice Chalmers, Julian facilitates partnerships, manages relationships, and ensures that value-chain projects move forward effectively and deliver real results.

Program Instructors and Advisors

BRIAN BROWN

Instructor, Emerging Business Program/Advisor, Producers Growth Program

CAIC’s lead business consultant; experienced in business operations, finances, and economic development.

ALEYA FRASER

Program Manager, Produce Safety Education Program

Farmer and consultant specializing in sustainability, holistic farm planning, and other areas.

KIMBERLY RAIKES

Instructor, Product Safety

Works to build and manage the AgriBiz Hub community, and ensures that all farmers and value-added producers feel welcome on the platform.

JEFF LANDSMAN

Advisor, Producers Growth Program

Veteran food broker, manufacturer, importer, and distributor throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

AL RENZI

Instructor, Developing Successful Value-Added Products

Created a successful artisanal goat cheese business and Grade A yogurt operation; provides consulting services to aspiring value-added producers.

CATHERINE RENZI

Instructor, Developing Successful Value-Added Products

Created a successful artisanal goat cheese business and Grade A yogurt operation; provides consulting services to aspiring value-added producers.

SAM ZAPPAS

Advisor, Producers Growth Program

Expert in intellectual property, investment, and business growth.

Board of Advisors

The members of our Board of Advisors all play leading roles in the region’s agricultural industry. At CAIC, they help guide our development and growth as an organization.

Audrey Broomfield

Marketing Specialist

Maryland Department of Agriculture

George Class-Peters, Jr.

Deputy Principal Assistant (Policy Analyst)

Delaware Department of Agriculture

Donald Webster

Chair

Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Council

Roxanne Wolf

Community Liaison

Shore Gourmet

Lindsay Thompson

Executive Director

Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board

Shelby Watson-Hampton

Director

Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Corporation

Dave Marvel

Vice President

Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware

MINI-GRANTs

Mini-Grants up to $5,000 are available for:
– Market Research and Validation of Target Market
– Customer Acquisition
– Product Development Initiatives
– Food Safety Classes
Eligibility
Value-added producers and companies with traction ($20,000 or more in yearly revenue) in Maryland and Delaware are eligible to apply for Mini-Grants. Participants may apply once for each of the categories. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a unique and differentiated product or service that incorporates an aspect of innovation or technology in its production, processing, distribution, or other element of the food supply system.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Award decisions will be made and funds will be available no later than three weeks following the receipt of a completed application.
Application Process
Applicants must submit Mini-Grant proposals by filling out the form at this link. Copy(ies) of quote(s), proposal(s), estimate(s), or any other supporting documents.

MINI GRANT APPLICATION

ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMES)

CAIC offers access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can offer authoritative advice based on their deep knowledge and experience in a specific area. See the ADVISORS page of this Web site to learn more about the SMEs who are available to CAIC participants.

Register For The CAIC