Our Team & Partners

Together we are working passionately to propel a collective mission of transforming our food systems and regenerating our eco systems by supporting and enhancing our connection with farms, ranches, and wineries through direct sourcing on Eco Farm Finder.

Our team

Team

Sasha Frate

Sasha Frate

Co-Founder & CEO

Sasha brings more than a decade of experience working with influential figures, visionaries and change-makers around the world. She founded the award-winning media and publishing company,

Face the Current to inspire and affect positive change in the world through purpose-driven storytelling. Her journalism has welcomed invitations to cover special expeditions in Egypt, Peru, and Bolivia, unique wellness resort experiences in Costa Rica and Whistler, as well as celebrity and red carpet events by the Whole Planet Foundation and more. 

Sasha is Executive Producer of The Grand Return documentary, filmed throughout Egypt and currently in development. Realizing the power and potential of media to affect positive change through inspiring and entertaining educational stories as editorial, film and tv, Sasha has worked alongside her partner Ty to expand efforts and offerings with Face the Current magazine and TGR TV to support the mission of Eco Farm Finder. 

Sasha is also a former Cryptologic Linguist and Veteran of the US Air Force. Her academic background includes a Master’s Degree, BA in Linguistics, Business and Marketing at PCC, and Holistic Health, Nutrition and Herbalism at ACHS.

Ty Johnson

Ty Johnson

Co-Founder & COO

Over the past few years, Ty has worked on media and film projects spanning the globe including in Egypt, Mexico, Canada and Hawaii, with media and journalism covering celebrities and subject matter

experts. From running the award-winning media and publishing company Face the Current (FtC), to the startup and launch of The Grand Return, Inc. (TGR) and Eco Farm Finder (EFF), Ty has been involved in all aspects of business strategy and development, plus web design and development on multiple platforms. Ty is highly adept, able to quickly grasp new concepts, with abounding curiosity and knowledge in a variety of fields, which combined with his drive and relentless determination has enabled him to excel in the founder role.

Ty was an award-winning collegiate baseball player at Tulane University (TU), receiving unique recognition from TU, the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and D1 Baseball.  Highly valued for team leadership and unrivaled dedication, he was selected as the “AAC Senior of the Year” in his final season of competition, and was honored with the TU “Bleed Green” award for displaying excellence in the forms of spirit and leadership.  Ty excelled in his academic career, studying finance and political science, obtaining his degree from Tulane University. 

Following his academic and athletic careers, Ty was warmly welcomed by the team behind FtC and TGR.  

Chris Almida

Chris Almida

CTO & Strategic Advisor

Chris has more than 15 years of experience in C-level key positions in various tech startups and established 

companies. His expertise spans leadership, business development, fundraising, operations management, strategic planning, relationship building, stakeholder management, and governance.  Chris is known as a progressive, driven, and down-to-earth leader and business development expert who consistently delivers results. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by businesses in managing their digital assets, he has strived to provide tailored solutions that unlock their full potential. It’s a part of his DNA to find unconventional solutions for the highest and best of all involved. 

Ian Hill

Ian Hill

Chief Revenue Officer

Ian Hill is an international SaaS startup veteran who has been building sales teams for small startups for the past 10

From the beginning of is career he has found a niche for scaling sales teams from just a couple reps to full departments. He has worked for companies all over the world and has successfully sold into more than 30 himself. His primary focus is building out the entire Go to Market motion for his companies, enabling them to scale annual revenue as high as 9x in his career. Ian’s biggest passion is leading, coaching and mentoring budding salespeople to help them advance their careers into top reps. Outside of work, Ian has a lot of passions. Before working in SaaS, Ian was a fine dining chef for many years cooking for some of the most recognizable celebrities in the world. 

Saju Thomas Paul

Saju Thomas Paul

Chief Marketing Officer

Saju has more than 15 years of experience in leading large scale advertising and marketing campaigns with brands that

range from Sheraton, Radisson, GMC, Chevrolet, Nestle,Unilever, ZADK, Aramco, Nesma, Bin Hamoodah, Coba, Lonix Finland and more.  Saju now brings his extensive background and expertise to The Grand Return as Chief Creative Officer.

Tim Barnsley

Tim Barnsley

Creative Director

Tim has had a 20 year career leading creative teams in film, tv, design and web development. He began his career in 

print production for renowned advertising agency Mojo Partners. It was there that he was introduced to the world of design and print production. Tim graduated from The University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Visual Arts and AFTRS with a Graduate Diploma of Cinematography, giving him a solid foundation of creative theoretical exploration that underpins his creative journey.  A winner of 5 Australian Cinematographers Society awards during his career as a Cinematographer, Tim has been recognized for his contribution to international film, television and music video productions.

Meghan Pearson

Meghan Pearson

Communications Director

Meg is a holistic chef, author and intuitive eating educator with more than a decade of experience in brand communications. 

Her numerous television experiences on programs like Fox News, Forbes and CTV are beautiful demonstrations of Meg’s love of food and energy in motion. She is also an integrative health coach, certified yoga guide, Breakthrough Breathwork facilitator, later-in-life mama, childbirth educator, podcaster, inspirational speaker, retired TV director, and eating disorder awareness advocate, with a personal mission to make the world a sweeter place, filled with love.

Sema Garay

Sema Garay

Design Director

Sema has been part of the founding team as Executive Designer of multi-award-winning magazine, Face the Current

working on all aspects of the graphic design for every issue of the publication from its inception.  Prior to his work at Face the Current, Sema obtained a Masters Degree in Architecture at ETSA of Sevilla, and developed and led numerous projects including a leading role in the Creative Department of BG Life Magazine in Spain.  Now as Design Director at The Grand Return, Sema brings his experience to a larger team and broader applications of design and media production, which include the continuation of Face the Current magazine.

Eugene Cussons

Eugene Cussons

Producer, Director & Host

African conservationist Eugene Cussons is a seventh-generation land steward, and in 2006 he founded the Jane Goodall 

Institute (JGI) South Africa Chimpanzee Sanctuary on his family’s own property—1,000 hectares known as Umhloti Nature Reserve, 15 kilometers outside Nelspruit. Eugene’s exploits have become multiple TV shows in which he has hosted for Discovery / Animal Planet, including the very popular long-running series Escape to Chimp Eden, for which Eugene won “Best TV Host of a Nature Program.” Over the years, he’s executed countless rescue missions to save abused chimpanzees from the illegal wildlife trade. His passion for conservation led Eugene to also become a Ranger for anti-poaching of black rhino, elephants, and large cats.

Ainsley Schoppel

Ainsley Schoppel

Senior Editor

Ainsley is long-standing Co-Editor in Chief of multi-award-winning magazine, Face the Current. She has worked as a 

copy editor for clients across North America and has edited several best-selling books in the aspirational and new-thought genres. Now as Senior Editor at The Grand Return and Eco Farm Finder, Ainsley brings her experience to a larger team with a mission to oversee all writing and media production, including the magazine, newsletters, and web content.

Adly Thoma

Adly Thoma

Partner

Adly is CEO of Gemini Africa, actively developing an international entrepreneurial ecosystem by bridging the gap 

between entrepreneurs and the business world through offering unique investment models, untapping business opportunities and creating innovative flagship programs with focus on sustainability and social impact solutions.  Adly is also the Founder and Owner of CinemaTech, an official partner of TGR TV.  CinemaTech is the first entrepreneurial track that is uplifting the entertainment industry by injecting technological solutions in the industry and its supporting functions to open a realm of opportunities and possibilities. Adly has been the recipient of numerous awards, including worldwide project management.

Lisa Guy

Lisa Guy

Content Creator

Lisa is a respected Naturopath, author and passionate foodie, with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She believes 

wholesome food is one of the greatest pleasures in life, and the foundation of good health. Her aim is to change the way people eat, cook and think about food.  Lisa has been a regular contributor to Face the Current magazine for several years, and has featured in other well known publications including front cover placements for her work with recipe development and food styling.

Patricia Awyan Lehman

Patricia Awyan Lehman

Wisdom Keeper

Patricia’s lifelong passion to know why and how we exist led her to the in-depth study of the esoteric sciences as well as the physical

sciences, comparative religions, ancient literature, mythology, art history and symbolism. Her work as an Architectural Artist for 12 years, taught her about the energetic nature of structure, color theory and how we experience the world around us through our visual sense.  Living in Egypt for 14 years now, she has been devoted to researching ancient symbolism and mythologies worldwide. She has traveled to many ancient sites globally, researching clues that support the concept of a very advanced civilization, both technologically and spiritually, that once spanned the globe thousands of years ago and left a legacy of knowledge and wisdom for us to decipher.

Patrick Connolly

Patrick Connolly

Partner, Foley Hoag Legal

Pat works closely with innovators and their investors, from formation through exit. He has been Partner and Co-Chair

of award-winning law firm Foley Hoag for over 13 years and has spent his entire career counseling on issues like company formation and inter-founder matters, venture capital financing, commercial transactions and mergers and acquisitions. In 2023, Foley Hoag made “Top Ranking in Public International Law” by Chambers Global, marking the 12th consecutive year the firm was ranked Band 1.  Foley Hoag was also recognized with 20 national rankings and 37 regional rankings in U.S. News and Best Lawyers’ 2023 edition of the “Best Law Firms.”

Advisors

Allen Williams, PhD.

Allen Williams, PhD.

Advisor

Allen Williams is a 6th generation family farmer and founding partner of Grass Fed Insights, LLC, Understanding Ag, LLC 

and the Soil Health Academy. Through Regenified and Eco Farm Finder, Allen continues to guide farmers and ranchers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America, and other countries, on operations ranging from a few acres to over 1 million acres.

Allen pioneered many of the early regenerative grazing protocols and forage finishing techniques and now teaches those practices and principles to farmers globally. He is a “recovering academic”, having served 15 years on the faculty at Louisiana Tech University and Mississippi State University. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Livestock Genetics from LSU. He has authored more than 400 scientific and popular press articles, and is an invited speaker at regional, national, and international conferences and symposia.

Allen and his colleagues specialize in whole farm & ranch planning based on the concept of regenerative agriculture. Their approach creates significant “value add” and prepares the landowner for multiple enterprise/revenue stream opportunities that stack enterprises and acres. This approach allows for enhanced profitability and/or investment value. They routinely conduct workshops and seminars across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

He has been featured in several of the Carbon Nation film series, “Carbon Cowboys”, “Roots So Deep You Can See the Devil Down There” docuseries, on the Dr. Oz show, ABC Food Forecast News, and in Kiss The Ground, A Regenerative Secret, The Farmer’s Footprint film series and the Sacred Cow film series. He co-authored a book with Teddy Gentry, “Before You Have A Cow”. Allen is a regular contributor to “GRAZE” and “Stockman Grass Farmer” and has written articles for the “Organic Broadcaster” and many other publications. Several of his presentations and webinars can be found on the Pasture Project.

Rodney Dietert, PhD.

Rodney Dietert, PhD.

Advisor

Rodney R. Dietert, B.S. (Duke, 1974), Ph.D. (University of Texas at Austin, 1977), is Professor Emeritus of Immunotoxicology 

in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY USA. Professor Dietert was a Senior Fellow in Cornell’s Center for the Environment who directed the Graduate Field of Immunology, the Institute for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology, and the Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. His extensive publications (>300 publications in 70 different scientific journals) concern the developing immune system, the microbiome, communicable and non-communicable diseases, safety testing, and public health. He introduced the microbiome to Cornell’s basic science DVM curriculum and was designated a “Microbiome Hero” by the inaugural World Microbiome Day Committee. Dietert is a member of the Society of Toxicology (Past-President of the Immunotoxicology Specialty Section) and the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention 2014 Best Paper of the Year award for his microbiome paper.

In recent years, Rodney has advocated for a microbiome first approach to agriculture, food, diet, eco-management, and lifestyle that encourages a return to the types of practices that naturally supported the health of our microbe-rich ancestors. Such an approach can help us to embody the “food as medicine” mantra and ultimately rid us of the burdens of polypharmacy and comorbid chronic diseases. In 2016, Rodney authored the book, The Human Superorganism (Dutton Penguin Random House), and he has never looked back when it comes to empowering people with tools and ideas for pursuing a healthier, nature-connected life.

Marc Goyette

Marc Goyette

Advisor

Marc brings a wealth and breadth of industry experience, with his strong background with over 25 years of Chief Officer level experience

in a wide range of public, growth, and startup companies.  After 5 years as a top quintile producer at Merrill Lynch he joined an early stage telecom company as their CFO and was later promoted to President and COO.  That company (Phoenix Network) was recognized as the #9 fastest growing public company in the INC 100 in his 4th year there.  He has also served in financial, sales, IT and general management roles at General Dynamics, Mid-Com Communications, R3 Biofuels, SafetyMesh, and ROI International.  He is currently volunteering as a certified mentor and equity financing lead for the Seattle Chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).  Marc received his MBA in Finance and graduated near the top of his class at San Diego State University.   He has served on over a dozen public, private, and startup boards.

Partners

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Regenification Certification

A verification standard that is the culmination of work led by Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams — veterans in the regenerative industry creating the highest standard of quality farming and 

ranching practices. This system creates consistency and protocols to track progress as we heal our agricultural systems.

The Regenified Certification mark says that you are holding a product made using regenerative practices, advanced biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and ecosystem resilience that is in harmony with nature. 

Education and Client Resource

UnderstandingAG is comprised of real farmers and ranchers who combine decades of experience to help successfully implement regenerative agricultural and ecological principles that replace the 

input-intensive, agricultural model to enable sustained profitable farming and ranching operations.

Understanding Ag, LLC, is ushering in a new era of regenerative agriculture that is resulting in more productive, profitable, and resilient farms across the globe. At their individual and collective cores, UA’s team members believe there is no more important pursuit than to help you improve the health of our living and life-giving soil and they are dedicated to your growing and regenerative success.