Cathryn Kloetzli

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Graduate School -- Ithaca, NY - May 2002

Master of Professional Studies in Agriculture & Life Sciences, Agribusiness Management 

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Cook College -- New Brunswick, NJ - May 1999

Bachelor of Science in Plant Science - Horticulture Industry

PEACE CORPS NIGER                                                                                                                                         Faria Beri, Niger, West Africa

Agroforestry Extension Agent                                                                                                                                  January 2006 – March 2007

• Built 3 acre vegetable garden to enrich local diet and generate income for 1500 people afflicted with malnutrition 
• Secured garden funding from Rotary International and collaborated on the FAO’s seed and farmer’s school program
• Translated radio programs from English into Zarma to promote health, girls education and agriculture

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY                                                                                                                                                                      Pittstown, NJ

Agriculture Research Assistant, Snyder Research & Extension Farm for Sustainable Agriculture        July 2005 – December 2005 

• Collected & tracked results from apple thinning, peach variety trials, apple harvest dates & tensiometer readings for irrigation

• Scouted crops weekly for pests and made control recommendations based on this monitoring

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                                                                                  Smithfield, NC

Agriculture Extension Agent, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service                                             September 2002 – July 2004

• Trained and managed 30 Master Gardeners who contributed over $40,000 in community service 
• Assisted 1,700 people with horticulture questions via email, phone calls, newsletters and a website I created and maintained
• Created ‘Fire Ant Bulletin’.  Resulted in $200,000 savings in reduced pesticide applications & medical treatment for stings     
• Authored 26 news articles, interviewed on WRAL-TV 5 and recorded 4 PSAs and a Q&A program on WPTF–AM 680

CORNELL UNIVERSITY                                                                                                                                                                           Ithaca, NY   

Graduate School-Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture                                              August 2000 - December 2001

• Created ‘Greenhouse Enterprise Budget’ which analyzes a greenhouse crop’s worth and helps growers achieve maximum profit.  http://hortmgt.aem.cornell.edu/programs/hortbusiness.htm

GARDEN STATE GROWERS                                                                                                                                                            Pittstown, NJ

Section Grower – Ornamental Crops                                                                                                                    January 2000 – August 2000

• Decreased labor costs and increased product quality through trainings in greenhouse crop production 
• Managed 9 employees in the daily operations of 5 ½ acres of greenhouse ornamental crops 

• Produced 900,000 trays of flowers, 500,000 chrysanthemums and 25,000 hanging baskets during the spring/summer cycle   

STONY HILL GARDENS                                                                                                                                                                       Chester, NJ

Greenhouse/Retail Assistant Manager                                                                                                            October 1997 – December 1999

• Grew and harvested orchids, cut flowers and annual plants.  Created webpage and quarterly newsletter to promote business 

ALSTEDE FARMS                                                                                                                                                                                   Chester, NJ

Greenhouse/Field Manager                                                                                                                                           June 1996 – August 1997

Farm Stand Manager                                                                                                                                                             July 1994 - July 1995 

• Managed crews in greenhouse production of ornamentals & vegetables and harvesting 30 acres of horticultural crops

USAID FARMER-TO-FARMER–WINROCK INTERNATIONAL, ACDI/VOCA & MERCY CORPS                         April 2004 – 2007

Greenhouse Production Specialist                                                                                    Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

• Increased rural incomes through agricultural crop sales by providing field and classroom training on greenhouse management, integrated pest management, soil health, locally-made pesticides, composting, and water conservation 
• Trained 1,300 large and small-scale field and greenhouse growers
• Emphasized practical, cost-effective and sustainable solutions using local resources
• Developed educational materials accounting for farmers limited access to electricity, gas, synthetic pesticides & fertilizer