Daniel Sheehan is the executive director at AFOP. He joined the association in this capacity September 10, 2012. Daniel brings 25 years of public policy experience to the association, with a particular focus on improving communities. He previously worked as a professional registered lobbyist representing a wide variety of public-sector clients, including local governments, transit systems, airports, and universities. Prior to becoming a lobbyist, Daniel served as a professional staff member for a United States senator, United States representative, and a committee of the United States House of Representatives. Daniel holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and macro-economics from the College of William & Mary in Virginia.
Ayrianne Parks is the director of Communications at AFOP. She develops and implements all communications strategies for AFOP, including its Job Training Program, Health & Safety Programs, the Children in the Fields Campaign, as well as providing assistance to the organization’s 52 member agencies. Ayrianne also produces the organization’s bimonthly newsletter, The Washington Newsline. Prior to joining AFOP in 2010, Ayrianne worked as a public affairs manager at a public relations and event planning firm in D.C. She also served as the Midwest coordinator for the Women’s Specialty Media Team at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, and as an intern for Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard in 2007. Ayrianne received her bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Jeanna Vaughn is the director of Workforce Development at AFOP. In this capacity, she works with the Department of Labor funded National Farmworker Jobs Programs (NFJP) around the country, providing technical assistance and training. Jeanna has worked in the employment and training field for the past three years, primarily with youth and young adults facing serious barriers to employment. She served as the youth employment programs coordinator for northern Virginia as well as a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) case manager. Prior to this, she worked as an executive assistant at a national education association dedicated to furthering college opportunities for low-income and first-generation students. Jeanna obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology from American University and a master’s degree in social work from George Mason University.
Cat Nguyen is the administrative assistant at AFOP. In this role, she works closely with the executive director and finance manager, managing the needs of AFOP’s office and staff, as well as the Board of Directors. Cat is also responsible for the planning of AFOP’s annual National Conference and Board Meeting. Prior to joining AFOP in 2012, she worked as tutor, mentor, and role model at an elementary school in Southeast Washington, D.C. as a Corps Member for City Year Washington, D.C., an education-focused non-profit. Cat holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Health & Safety Programs
Levy Schroeder is the director of the Health & Safety Programs at AFOP. She leads AFOP’s effort to bring farmworker health and safety programming to the AFOP membership agencies. Since joining AFOP in 2006, she has expanded the department with the additions of the OSHA heat stress and prevention project, Project LEAF, the SAFE AmeriCorps program, and the growth of the flagship pesticide safety education program, Project HOPE. Prior to working at AFOP, Levy obtained over 20 years experience in workforce development programs in Indiana and Kentucky. She also worked in the private sector, gaining valuable experience in human resources and workplace safety management. She holds a master’s degree from the School for International Training in sustainable development; focusing on food production, labor rights, and the environment.
Melanie Forti is a Program Manager for AFOP’s Health & Safety Programs. In this role, she manages the SAFE AmeriCorps program, coordinating members’ day-to-day activities, such as trainings, service projects, and special events. She also manages site compliance, supervisors’ engagement, and compliance with federal program requirements and regulations. As a program manager, Melanie collaborates on fundraising and grant writing as well, helping to successfully secure funding opportunities for Health & Safety Programs. A native of Puerto Rico, Melanie relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2009 to work for AFOP. She has over seven years of administrative, supervision, training, and management experience in the private and public sectors. Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Sacred Heart University in Puerto Rico.
The Children In The Fields Campaign
Norma Flores López is the director of the Children in the Fields Campaign at AFOP. She has long been an active advocate for migrant farmworker children’s rights and continues to raise awareness of migrant farmworker issues across the country in her current role. Norma has also had the opportunity to testify before Congress and has appeared on national news outlets on issues related to child labor in agriculture. In addition to her years of experience as an advocate, Norma has invaluable firsthand experience with farmworker issues. Growing up as a child of a migrant farmworker family from South Texas, she began working in the fields at the age of 12, where she continued working until she graduated from high school. Prior to joining at AFOP in 2009, Norma worked managing national and local clients at public relations firms. Norma graduated from the University of Texas Pan-American in Edinburg, Texas, with a bachelor’s degree in communications and studied abroad at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain.
