Please join us in welcoming Ben Daugherty as our new Green Dining Alliance Program Manager and Janessa Jenkins as our new Communications and Marketing Manager! Ben will be helping our local GDA restaurants stay up to date with sustainable practices, educating their staff and customers, and encouraging more establishments to make the awesome choice of becoming a certified sustainable restaurant for patrons to enjoy. Janessa will be using her knowledge of Public Relations and Design to communicate the voice of earthday365.

Ben has been involved with the restaurant and event industry in St. Louis for over 10 years. He has a  passion for sustainability that started with an interest to reconnect and find a more fulfilling relationship with food. He hopes to see a growing sustainable collaboration between the entire region’s communities, businesses, and its local farmers.

Ben enjoys gardening, cooking, home brewing, reading, going to St. Louis’ many incredible parks, catching a movie at The Hi-Pointe, biking, traveling, and trying different restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries. He has a love for the outdoors and enjoys hunting down home on the family farm, trout fishing at Meramec and Bennett Springs State Parks, hiking, and going to Cardinals games. He enjoys trying new things and is always game for learning new hobbies.

Janessa has experience working as a Freelance Graphic designer supporting small businesses in visually elevating their brands. She has received her BFA in Graphic Design from Southeast Missouri State University and her MA in Public Relations from Full Sail University. She believes in living a holistic lifestyle and is passionate about the intersection of social justice and the environment.

Janessa is a local artist who has contributed to various creative projects around the St. Louis Region. She is passionate about supporting Black Owned and local small businesses. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Lawrence, and their son. She loves to be creative, collect houseplants, socialize, and soak up the sun (preferably near water)!

Check out Ben and Janessa’s full bios here.