Alfredo is a Professor at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. He is a biologist with a special focus on bats, agave, and ecology. His work is based in the tropical frontiers of the southern edge of the Sonoran Desert, and brings experience and perspective of working with local communities and agave producers to support conservation from the ground up.

In 2021, Allison Kreis joined Randy in Sahuaripa as La Tierra’s Development and Education Director. Her conservation journey began as a college intern and volunteer, later becoming a zookeeper apprentice at Reid Park Zoo. Allison then served as a Mammalogy and Ornithology Keeper at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) for 14 years. She remains connected to her ASDM family, working as a contract keeper when needed.

Allison brings a deep passion for and extensive knowledge of native birds and mammals in the region. She is actively documenting species found on the demonstration site and in the surrounding areas. With experience in developing environmental education programs for youth and adults, she is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of conservation. Currently, she is enrolled in Miami University’s Project Dragonfly  Masters program to further enhance her expertise in community conservation.

Angélica J. Afanador-Pujol is an art historian and associate professor at Arizona State University. She specializes in the art and architecture of the Indigenous peoples of western and Central Mexico from Ancient times through the sixteenth century. Her scholarship on the work of P’urhépecha artists from Michoacán, Mexico, received two Andrew W. Mellon Foundation/ACLS awards. Her current research explores the rich and multifaceted roles food plays in the artworks of Indigenous artists in the sixteenth century.

Ben Wilder’s research is broadly focused in desert ecology and botany. He is the acting director of the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill. Wilder also works with Dr. Christopher Scott in the administration of CAZMEX, the Consortium for Arizona-Mexico Arid Environments. Wilder values the incorporation of diverse perspectives and the powerful results made possible via collaboration. In his role as director of the Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers, he strives to create opportunities for collaboration across borders and disciplines and a more holistic understanding and appreciation for the Sonoran Desert.

Origen Raíz represents a partnership between two distinct sets of Mexican roots: the Saravia family of Durango, who have a long history of working to improve the local economy through business, and the Cortés family of Oaxaca, who contribute six generations of knowledge to the world of mezcal production. The families were brought together by their sons, Asis Cortés and Bildo Saravia, through cultural passion and respect for each other’s heritage.

Caitlyn focuses on integrating environmental justice, natural hazard resilience, science policy, and communication to address conservation challenges in the borderlands. She works with community, industry, and government leaders to develop best-fit, technical policy, and public health solutions to best address a community’s challenges and values.

After being raised on the flatlands of South Dakota, Chris Simmons wrestled at the Division One level for Boston University before launching his career in the hospitality field. After a dozen years in the Northeast, he moved his young family to San Diego where his son was born. It was in America’s Finest City, just a stone’s throw away from the Mexican border, where his passion for Tequila and other agave spirits began to take shape. 

Through years of bartending and making his way through the ranks of restaurant and hotel management and operations, Simmons focused on building world class bar programs and profitable restaurants. Taking a job at the prestigious Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in 2012, he curated his first large scale agave program and launched the All Agave Club. Then, as the General Manager of The Patio on Goldfinch and later as the Director of Food and Beverage for celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey, Simmons created and facilitated the Agave Dinner Series. These popular and well-regarded agave and food pairing events often featured award-winning chefs from Southern California and Baja, Mexico, including the likes of Javier Plascencia, Drew Deckman, Flor Franco, and Miguel Angel Guerrero, along with Master Distillers from Mexico, including Carlos Camarena, Tomas Estes, Guillermo Sauza, Pepe Hermosillo, and others.

In 2017, Simmons joined forces with business partner Alan Ezeir and founded Sipping Life, an agave-centric company focused on providing professional level tastings throughout the U.S. as well as guided tours to Mexico.

Chris has earned his Level Two Master Mezcalier certification and is a Certified Catador, obtaining his title from the Mexican Academy of Tequila Tasters led by the highly respected Francisco Hajnal. He has also earned Sommelier certifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). He now travels the U.S. and Mexico, working as the National Agave Spirits Specialist for Samson & Surrey. In this role, he represents Tequila Ocho and Mezcal Vago as each brand’s National Ambassador.

Dan Collins says that his fondest childhood memories are of the desert. He grew up in Southern California, where his family would escape the smog-clouded clamor of the LA basin to vacation under the clear skies and quiet of the Mojave Desert. There he and his sister would eagerly explore the desert environment, and excitedly share their discoveries when returning to the family campsite. It was only natural that when he retired, Dan and his wife Sue would decide to return to the desert. But then, wanting to escape the maddening excess and expense of California, Tucson, Arizona would become their new home. Eager once again to explore this new environment, Dan received his initial certification as a Sonoran Desert Naturalist in 2011, and in 2018 he earned his designation as an Arizona Master Naturalist. He devotes most of his volunteer hours at Saguaro National Park - West, where he helps visitors plan their activities and presents interpretive programs on our native fauna and flora, including the agave.

David Martinez is the founder and proprietor of Esfuerzo Mezcal, an artisanal mezcal brand that partners with father and son maestro mezcaleros, Artemio García Cruz and Margarito García of San Dionisio Ocotepec, Mexico.

The project began as way to elevate mezcal-making communities and provide educational opportunities for individuals to connect with this culturally significant spirit. For David, this partnership is a chance to transcend the conventional transactional nature of business and focus on fostering genuine relationships rooted in reciprocity.

Esfuerzo Mezcal's steadfast commitment to supporting the Garcia family's operations is seen in David’s thoughtful approach to sharing the family's story and his enthusiastic presentation of their mezcal.

Prior to delving into the world of mezcal, David worked as a producer specializing in visual storytelling. One of his most notable ventures is a grassroots non-profit he co-founded with his brother nearly a decade ago. The organization continues to divert food waste away from landfills by returning it to communities in the form of nutrient rich compost.

Diana Pinzón Co-founder of Zinacantán Mezcal with Fabiola Torres, is a Colombo-Mexican Forest Engineer and conservationist who has worked on ecological restoration projects in Mexico for more than 15 years. This approach, together with respect for the tradition of Agave distillates from Mexico and the heritage of Faby and her family in the elaboration of Mezcal for more than 400 years, is what gave birth to Zinacantán Mezcal. At Zinacantán Mezcal, our production route is guided by respect for the land, recognition of the work of producers, their tradition, and the dignity of their mezcal trade through fair payment. We produce small batches of unique and unrepeatable mezcal. Zinacantan is the conservation mezcal-100% Mezcal Poblano.

Doug Smith is an Arizona native and owns Exo Roast Co. in Tucson. His Ph.D. research in cultural anthropology examined agricultural history in several Mexican states. Exo’s mezcalería not only connects guests to the spirit itself but educates them on the cultural matrix and production methods of mezcal. Research trips to Sonora, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca keep Doug in contact with mezcaleros and sotoleros and allow him to explore agave’s potential in ecological and economic regeneration. He sits on the Board of Directors of Native Seeds/SEARCH and Borderlands Restoration Network.

Francisco Cantú is a writer, translator, and the author of The Line Becomes a River. A former Fulbright fellow, he is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and the 2019 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His essays and translations have been featured on This American Life and in Harper’s, The New Yorker, and Best American Essays. He is a lifelong resident of the Southwest.

Gary Paul Nabhan is an internationally-celebrated nature writer, agrarian activist and ethnobiologist who tangibly works on conserving the links between biodiversity and cultural diversity. For such work, Nabhan has been honored as a pioneer and creative force in the “local food movement” and seed saving community by Utne Reader, Mother Earth News, New York Times, Bioneers, and Time magazine.

Logan Phillips works to create new opportunities for the intersection of poetry and wider society. As a bilingual poet, performer and DJ he tours his art throughout the US, Latin America and beyond. Born to a family of Irish-Slavic descent and raised in the Arizona / Sonora borderlands, Phillips lived in and around Mexico City 2006-2011, where he contributed to organizing and hosting the country's first regular poetry slam series.
Teaching and facilitating has been an important part of Phillips' artistic practice since 2005, serving as Cofounder & Codirector of Spoken Futures, Inc. whose programs included the Tucson Youth Poetry Slam, 2012-2019.

Marisol is an experienced tourism professional and leader, specializing in the Spanish-speaking market in the United States. She is a recognized expert in international Arizona-Mexico travel, with a strong focus on multicultural marketing in the U.S. and attracting international visitors from Mexico. Binational and bicultural, she is dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for travelers in Arizona.

Misty first stepped behind the bar while studying theology at Harvard Divinity School outside Boston. Upon graduating, she realized what most excited her about the Bible was the passage where Jesus turns water into wine. She soon helped launch Boston’s B-Side Lounge, the first bar in the city to focus on classic cocktails and vintage spirits and continued making her mark on the city’s hospitality scene during stints at Green Street, Brick & Mortar and Barbara Lynch’s award-winning Drink. In 2007, Kalkofen founded Boston’s chapter of Ladies United for the Preservation of the Endangered Cocktail, fulfilling her desire to “cocktail for a cause.” Collectively, the ladies of LUPEC raised more than $40,000 for local Boston women’s charities by throwing the best parties in town. In 2013, Misty signed on as a cultural liaison and brand representative for Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal. There, she learned the ins and outs of not only the spirit but the people, customs, and cultural considerations that go into its production. Featured in the likes of Bon Appetit, Imbibe, Wine Enthusiast, The Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe, to name just a few, Misty also racked up American Bartender of the Year and International Bartender of the Year nominations and an American Brand Ambassador of the Year award from Tales of the Cocktail, among other industry accolades.

I was born in Huasabas Sonora in 1978 where I spent my entire young life. In 1995 I decided to try my luck by coming to the US leaving my hometown, parents, and brothers in search of more opportunities.

When I arrived in Tucson, I stayed with my aunt until I graduated from high school. Upon my arrival, I found out I needed to not only learn what was taught at school but also, I didn’t just have to learn what was taught at school but also a new culture and a new language, a task that I enjoyed (and still do) because I fall in love with Tucson and its people.

I started working as a musician that same year but at 17 Years Old I had to step outside the saloon or cantina on my breaks because I was not old enough to stay inside. After graduating from High school I started going to college taking classes in Music and construction the two things I enjoyed the most, I also got a part-time job cleaning offices after my music performances. I married my wife Aracely in 1999 and we had our first child Carlos in 2000, Darien in 2001, and Xitlaly in 2004. I started an HVAC company in 2009 and started working with Bacanora back in 2012, importing the second Bacanora in the states. That project was a test flight to import and distribute liquor spirits, a company that stayed as a project until 2021 when we made the decision to make it into a business with the involvement of our children (adults by now)

We import Bacanora Los Cantiles 1905 in partnership with the Portillo Family in Mexico and our family represents the brand in the states as part of a perpetual exclusive agreement.

Patty is Director of Resilient Food Systems at Local First Arizona, where uses her diverse and vast experience in community-based food systems to ensure Local First Arizona's programs directly address and diminish systemic food security challenges across the state while supporting and advancing local farmers.

Paul R. Fish (Ph.D. Arizona State University, Anthropology) is Curator Emeritus of Archaeology, Arizona State Museum and Professor Emeritus, School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. He has studied the Hohokam tradition for over 30 years and is an author of over 100 publications on the prehispanic archaeology and traditional agriculture of the region.

Pedro is a visual artist who uses experimental film and documentary as his tools. His work has been screened at film festivals in several countries across the world. He started researching agave culture in 2005 and then, in 2009, opened a mezcaleria in Guadalajara called Pare de Sufrir… Tome Mezcal. At a controversial moment in agave spirits legislation, he directed the documentary Viva Mezcal with the intention of turning people’s eyes to the mezcal situation. He also founded Mezonte, an organization and tasting room that aims to preserve the traditional agave spirits culture creating partnership with 13 producers and families from across Mexico. He has given seminars, screenings, tastings and forums in Mexico and USA. He is a member of the Tequila Interchange Project (TIP) and board of the BatFriendly Project. He continues to spread the word and work of producers and academics for others that want to know and appreciate the agave culture from Mexico.

Rachel joined Bat Conservation International as the Agave Restoration Coordinator in 2023. As part of the Endangered Species Intervention team, Rachel works with the Agave Restoration Program on applied conservation for nectar-feeding bats in the southwestern United States. She collaborates with native plant growers, land managers, land owners, and other stakeholders to promote a resilient landscape for nectar-feeding bats.

Randy is a dedicated conservationist and community leader who has called Sahuaripa, Sonora, home since 2015. As the former manager of the Northern Jaguar Reserve, he witnessed firsthand the environmental destruction caused by conventional agricultural practices and their role in jaguar persecution.

A dual citizen, Randy has deeply integrated into the local community, contributing to municipal initiatives, leading youth programs, and facilitating agave agroforestry workshops. His work also extends to painting murals that celebrate regional culture and ecology. He is a member of Sahuaripa’s Committee for Sustainable Rural Development and has received extensive training in regional watershed restoration.

With expertise in permaculture, natural building, and regenerative agriculture, Randy holds a diplomado from the Universidad de Guanajuato in agave and mesquite cultivation for restoring semi-arid ecosystems. His diverse skill set and commitment to sustainability make him a key figure in conservation and community development in the region..

Chava Rosales Trejo is a third generation Tequilero, currently working with his family at Tequila Cascahuin. Cascahuin is a family business founded by his grandfather, and now his father is in charge of the company.

Chava now works in production at the distillery, as well as in the commercial department.

Chava studied a Master's Degree in Tequila Processes, at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and now participates in the board of Bat Friendly and TIP.

Susan is a long time marketing and communications strategist in the sustainable food & beverage worlds. She is the co-founder and director of Mezcalistas, a media, events and marketing company dedicated to spreading the gospel of mezcal. Previously, Susan was the Director of Marketing and PR for CUESA, the organization that runs the world famous Ferry Plaza Farmers market in San Francisco. She was also a co-founder and former director of the Eat Real Festival, an annual food event in Oakland and Los Angeles, CA.. Susan was also part of the marketing team for the groundbreaking Slow Food Nation event in 2008 in San Francisco which brought together food activists, farmers, food crafters and chefs from around the world. She was most recently named a 2019 Drink Innovator by SevenFiftyDaily. She has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Suzanne K. Fish (Ph.D., University of Arizona, Arid Lands Resource Sciences) is Curator Emerita of Archaeology, Arizona State Museum and Professor Emerita, School of Anthropology, at the University of Arizona. She specializes in Hohokam archaeology, the organization in non-state, regional settlement patterns, and the past and present ethnobotany and traditional agricultural of the Sonoran Desert.

Valeria Cañedo, a biologist from the University of Sonora, Mexico, has been working in conservation and sustainable development since 2017, protecting migratory pollinators and their habitats in Bacanora-producing communities in Sonora. She has led projects such as "Bacanora for Bats," "Fondo del Bacanora para el Desarrollo Sostenible," and "Empowerment of Rural Women through the elaboration of Bacanora by-products," among others, in collaboration with organizations such as Bat Conservation International, Borderlands Restoration Network, Biophilia Foundation, and the Consejo Sonorense Regulador del Bacanora, among others. She currently serves as Vice President of Centro de Colaboración para la Ciencia y Cultura S.C. Valeria's goal is to inspire positive change and empower communities to thrive in harmony with their environment.

Yadi has his own unconventional approaches to life. He is a first generation immigrant, first one in his family speaking other languages other than Chinese, and a full time first generation farmer. After careers being a financial portfolio advisor, a chemical and process engineer, and a soil water researcher, Yadi entered the agricultural arena to continue his father-in-law's legacy of land stewardship and community relations. In the past three years, he has brought over 150 species back onto a 12 year fallow land at Oatman Flats Ranch, one of the hottest and driest areas in the US Southwest. His farming principles range from minimizing soil disturbance, multispecies annual and/or perennial cover crops, agroforestry, holistic animal grazing, heirloom seed saving and planting for epigenetic development, using absolutely no chemical, no nitrate based fertilizer. As a result, he has found paths to bridge the water cycle and carbon cycle while increasing his never ending appreciation and learning desires among nature, culture, and values. Yadi co-founded Development of Regenerative Yields Cooperative in hope to engage with all community members through sensible collaboration and education in exchange for the health of the ecosystem and all life.