ISHPEMING — Partridge Creek Farm has announced that it has welcomed Shana Donner to its team as the co-executive director of Operations and Finance. Donner brings 20+ years experience in fundraising, team building, finance and leadership to the Partridge Creek Farm team ahead of the 2026 growing season.

This position works in partnership with the Programs & Partnerships Executive Director (“Co-ED”) to provide comprehensive leadership. This role has primary responsibility for financial oversight, operational excellence, fundraising strategy, board development, and organizational compliance while collaborating closely with the Programs & Partnerships Co-ED on strategic planning and organizational culture development.

PCF is pleased to bring on Donner with her fundraising expertise as they seek to increase donor and volunteer engagement and participation in the near future with the instability of the food system and education grants increasing. PCF will need to rely heavily on community champions who believe in their mission: to provide local food access and education to connect the community with their food and one another. Donner will work collaboratively as Co-Executive Director alongside Mary Antonia Andronis, PCF’s executive director of Programs and Partnerships. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Shana to our team and the PCF community. She is an amazing addition to the team and will offer great support as a co-executive director,” says Mary Andronis, Programs and Partnerships executive director. 

Partridge Creek Farm has decided to turn a new page and try a co-executive director model to collaboratively lead the organization. This model encourages balance, sparks innovation, and strengthens team driven culture. PCF is hopeful this model provides a balance of expertise as one leader will be focused on finance and operations, while the other leader will be focused on programs and partnerships, ensuring PCF thrives both in the office and in programming with its community. 

The co-executive director model is emerging as a powerful approach for nonprofits across the country. By distributing leadership between two individuals with complementary strengths, organizations are better equipped to balance vision with structure, community needs with sustainability and innovation with accountability.

For PCF, this model ensures that their mission remains at the center while the organization builds long-term stability. It’s a shared way of leading that reflects their value and PCF believes it’s the way of the future for nonprofits seeking to deepen their impact.

PCF also welcomes a new Food Access manager, Sarah Hayward, to its team. Hayward will manage the four community garden sites, bed rentals and food access programming at Partridge Creek Farm.