Leadership

Homesteads for Hope Team

  • Jennyrae Brongo

    FOUNDER/CEO

    Jennyrae is the heart & soul of Homesteads for Hope, dedicated to providing families like her own a genuine sense of belonging. With a Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management Engineering, and 15 years of entrepreneurship, she's turning our vision into reality by spearheading the 55 acre development of Western New York's first Inclusive “Learn, Work & Live” intentional Community. Her true joy lies in constructing our dreams, for a better future for all families.

    Contact: Jenny@homesteadsforhope.org

    585.352.4673 Ext. 105

  • Chris Krivanek

    FARM DIRECTOR

    Chris is the man behind the scenes. He works tirelessly to plan, organize, and grow our nature based classroom with our wonderful produce here at Homesteads for Hope. Chris can be found working from dawn until dusk behind the wheel of a tractor, sometimes with a pint of mint chocolate cookie ice cream during the busy season. Chris takes great pride in growing only the best produce and teaching our apprentices along the way.

    Contact: Chris@homesteadsforhope.org

    585.352.4673 Ext. 108

  • Ann Saylor

    OFFICE & HR MANAGER

    Ann has been part of the Homesteads for Hope family since the beginning. Best friends with co-founder Luann Brown and employed at the gravel pit Jennyrae owned, it was just a natural fit for Ann to come over to Homesteads for Hope and become the Office Manager, Human Resources, and head of accounting. Ann can be found jamming to music and getting the job done no matter what.

    Contact: Ann@homesteadsforhope.org

    585.352.4673 Ext. 101

  • Alexis Manuel

    OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Alexis joined Homesteads for Hope after showing up for an event and just so happened to sit behind Jennyrae. She tapped Jennyrae on the shoulder to ask what Homesteads for Hope was, and immediately asked how she could help. After spending the summer volunteering in the Harvest Pizza Grill and the Blue Jean Ball, she was offered a job running the enterprises around the farm, including running events, weddings, and volunteer coordination. There is a running joke about how Alexis should just bring a mattress with her to work and move in since she is always here.

    Contact: Alexis@homesteadsforhope.org

    585.35.4673 Ext. 109

  • Nora Venezky

    Development Director

    Nora comes to Homesteads for Hope from the small museum field and is excited to support the grant writing and fundraising efforts of the organization. She loves local history and the history of the Erie Canal, feel free to quiz her about it anytime! She loves being outside and in nature and can be found hiking on the weekends. She is excited to work with existing funders and donors to learn what they love about Homesteads for Hope and share her passion for the organization with anyone who will listen.

    Contact: Nora@HomesteadsforHope.org

    585.352.4673 Ext. 112

  • Abbey Pikuet-Orchard

    PROGRAM MANAGER

    Abbey brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to Homesteads, backed by her degrees in childhood and special education, alongside a psychology minor from St. John Fisher University. Her journey began early, supporting her sister with developmental disabilities, driving her commitment. With 5.5 years at a local agency, Abbey played a pivotal role in providing essential services to individuals alike. Driven by her experiences, she's on a mission to foster inclusivity in Rochester, tirelessly working to create brighter futures. Fun fact: Abbey has been involved in the world of competitive cheerleading for 16 years and never imagined she would have a pair of muck boots in her closet!

    Contact: abbey@homesteadsforhope.org 585.352.4673 ext 103

  • Shannon Russell

    CULINARY COORDINATOR

    Shannon loves cooking and all things food related. She loves teaching people about eating seasonally & locally while getting recipe inspirations from all over the globe. For Shan, the learning never ends - she decided to go back to school for Nutrition in 2023 as an extension of her current career. Shannon has worked in many capacities of the food industry over the past 20 years, working for great restaurants and dabbled in personal chef work, but ultimately wanted to pivot her career in a meaningful, impactful way, thus, Homesteads.

    Shannon enjoys making food creatures out of oddly shaped produce, so she will fit right in. Ask to see a picture of her creations!

    Contact: shannon@homesteadsforhope.org

  • Jane Elder

    FARM ASSISTANT MANAGER

    Jane came to the farm in 2024 for our first year of our Care Farming Training Program! She is using this program to kick start her career as a farmer and hopes to open her own Care Farm in the future. Jane has been in charge of a lot of the flower operations this year and has loved it so much, she plans to continue flower farming in the future! She loves all aspects of working on the farm team but her favorite thing to do is harvesting all of the beautiful produce and getting to hand it off to each of our lovely customers and members at our CSA pick-ups! Outside of work, you can find Jane working on her latest art project, rock climbing, or camping!

  • Marketing Coordinator

    Beth Sumner

    MARKETING COORDINATOR

    Hi, I’m Bee. My background spans technical support, web and graphic design, branding, marketing, and photography, giving me a unique mix of tech-savvy problem-solving and artistic vision. Outside of work, I’m a self-proclaimed nerd who enjoys gaming, anime, and storytelling. You can also find me hiking, cooking, painting, or experimenting with woodworking and crafting with natural elements like driftwood and sea glass. At heart, I believe creativity is a way to connect, inspire, and spark imagination—whether through design, storytelling, or the little things that make life brighter.

    Contact: beth@homesteadsforhope.org

    585.352.4673, x107

  • Barbara Hull

    FARM ASSISTANT

    Barb came to Homesteads for Hope as a dedicated volunteer back in the beginning. While she started as a farm assistant, she has also worked with programs to help bring the farm inside during the winter. When Barb is not working, she spends time nurturing her own gardens, vegetables and spending valuable time with her grandchildren and family

  • Steve V.

    FARM ASSISTANT

    Steve is another Homesteads for Hope success story. Steve worked very hard to gain the skills needed to be a farmer and he takes great pride in everything farm related. Steve helps run the CSA pickups and loves telling people about the produce we grow here. Steve will often be found right next to Farmer Chris ready to get out to the fields.

  • George & Kate

    EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

    George and Kate are Farmer Chris’ dogs and they are the best behaved employees. They run chicken security and are certified hug therapists. George will take payment in pets and Kate loves to give kisses whether you want them or not.

    George sadly passed away in 2025. We will miss him and his vibrant personality forever.

  • Clark

    EXECUTIVE SMILE BRINGER

    Meet Clark! The newest addition to our team. From the puppy breath, the snuggles, the stealing shoes, and learning the farm, Clark has an important position here at Homesteads. Taking payment in the form of belly rubs, he’s the best new sidekick to Farmer Chris

  • Sam Worrock

    PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    Sam came to us from Mary Cariola with years of experience working with the IDD community. Her dog’s name is Sadie, and a cat named Jackson.

    Contact: sam@homesteadsforhope.org

    585.352.4673 Ext. 110

  • Mary Lowe

    Mary Lowe

    PROGRAMS FACILITATOR

    Contact: mary@homesteadsforhope.org

Our Board of Directors

  • Brian Brase, Board President

  • Charles Gannon, Vice President

  • John Scanlon, Treasurer

    John Scanlon, Treasurer

  • Laura McFarlane, Secretary

  • Rhonda SanFilipo

  • Dan Martucci

  • Bob Moriarty

  • Jessie Cocquyt

  • Ben Pearson

  • Stephanie Clinton

  • Anthony Pisa

  • Mike Baum

Join the Board of Directors

  • "Working in the gardens has been such an incredible experience for me. I absolutely love flowers—they’re so beautiful and delicate, each one unique in its own way. It’s amazing to see how nature works together, especially watching the bees busy pollinating and the butterflies fluttering everywhere. Being surrounded by all this beauty makes me feel so peaceful and connected to the world around me."

  • "I’ve always loved coming to the farm store to grab a beautiful, fresh bouquet, but now that I can come weekly alongside my CSA Food Share pickup, I’m thrilled! I get to choose my own floral arrangement and pick all the colors I love. I’m so excited for this new experience—it’s going to be the highlight of my week!"

  • "My son, who uses a wheelchair, loves participating in activities all over the farm, but there’s something truly special about the flower fields. While he may not be able to clip each flower himself, with the support of his staff, he gets to make choices and decisions—and the farm staff are absolutely wonderful. I encourage all families to consider this opportunity for their child. If we can do it—and we absolutely can—so can you. Just go for it, you won’t regret it!"

  • "We are so excited to bring this incredible experience to our community here at Homesteads and beyond! Everyone loves flowers, and while we often find ourselves at stores like Wegmans debating if a bouquet is a need or a want, here at Homesteads, you’re the one harvesting it fresh. As a participant, you’ll enjoy longer-lasting blooms, a creative opportunity to design your bouquet, and the support you need every single pick! When you create an experience around a WANT, it’s a no-brainer—get out here in nature’s classroom and get involved! I’m so proud of my team for making this happen—it’s going to be a smashing success!"
    – Jenny, CEO