Our Staff

Leslie Davidson, a Fashion Design graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, initially entered the industry with a primary focus on design. However, upon experiencing the realities of the field, her dedication to sustainability and deep concern for the fashion industry's negative environmental impact prompted a transformative shift toward a career aimed at catalyzing systemic change.
Since 2017, she has transformed her passion into impactful action by centering her work around advocating for eco-friendly practices and circular economies spanning agriculture, fiber, and fashion. Her commitment extends to serving on the PA Sustainable Business Network Steering Committee, actively advocating for sustainable manufacturing in Pennsylvania
Throughout her career, her proficiency in creating efficient organizational systems has led to substantial revenue growth, while her knack for brand development and marketing has been instrumental in driving success for businesses and organizations, ultimately shaping her journey to where she is today.
As the Co-Founder of Pennsylvania Fibershed and the Executive Director of All Together Now PA, Leslie envisions a future where the fashion and textile industries seamlessly integrate with nature, promoting circular economy principles and empowering local communities.

Rachel Higgins, a passionate advocate for circular fashion, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sustainable fashion movement. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design & Merchandising from Drexel University and a Master's Degree of Professional Studies in Business of Fashion from LIM, she is well-prepared to drive change in the fashion industry.
Rachel's journey began with the creation and successful sale of her own children's clothing brand, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit. Her dedication to fashion education led her to a teaching position in the Design & Merchandising Program at Drexel University, where she imparts her insights and passion to the next generation of fashion professionals.
In addition to her role at Drexel, Rachel plays a crucial part in the Philadelphia fashion community. She leads the Sustainability Committee for the Philadelphia Fashion and Garments Task Force, contributing to sustainability initiatives in the local fashion industry. As a co-founder of PA Fibershed, she is instrumental in advancing sustainable and circular fashion practices, making a lasting impact on the industry and the community.

Amy Kostelansky-Rafinski has spent over 15 years in the textile and apparel industry, working across design, product development, production management, process operations, and corporate responsibility. After years in large-scale apparel production, she returned to school to earn a Master of Science in Sustainable Management, driven by a desire to help solve some of the industry’s most pressing challenges. She has worked on initiatives ranging from B Corp certification consulting to supply chain sustainability reporting, helping companies improve transparency and accountability. Guided by a deep commitment to improving social and environmental impact, she sees this work as her true north star.
Amy enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their two dogs, as well as caring for her pet chickens. She can be found outdoors year-round, whether gardening, backpacking, volunteering at her local urban farm, cycling, or cross-country skiing.

Our Board

Holly Adair supports regenerative and community-centered work through values-driven storytelling, creative collaboration, and sustainable supply chain strategy.
With a background in brand development and nonprofit consulting, she helps elevate mission-driven brands through impact partnerships, thoughtful design, and environmentally responsible practices. Her cross-sector work has spanned food, fashion, and sustainability—with a consistent focus on cultivating connection, creativity, and purpose.
Most recently, she founded Central Stem, an immersive experience that gathers people around goods that matter—spotlighting intentional artisans, seasonal ingredients, and the stories behind them.

Jeanne Lurvey is a leader and fierce advocate for farmers in her role at Pasa Sustainable Agriculture as the Associate Director for the Climate-Smart Program.
Her passion in food and fiber systems led her to pursue a Master’s in Sustainability & Environmental Management to improve the health of our society and planet after working as an art director, a visual storyteller for cooking shows in New York City for over 15 years.
Developing strong relationships and building connections is the foundation of Jeanne’s work approached with optimism, warmth, pragmatism, and agility.

Board Chair
MICHAEL A. NUTTER is a former two-term mayor of Philadelphia who previously spent nearly 15 years in the Philadelphia City Council. Since leaving public office in 2016, he has remained active in public policy, government, and civic life. He is the inaugural David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and holds fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, and Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. He is a senior advisor and national spokesperson for the What Works Cities program at Bloomberg Philanthropies and a member of the external advisory council for JPMorgan Chase’s AdvancingCities initiative.
Mayor Nutter is past President of the United States Conference of Mayors and founder of Cities United. He is on the board of Routeware, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Council on Criminal Justice, the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, the Urban Institute and the Advisory Board of the African American Mayor’s Association. Mayor Nutter maintains active involvement in critical areas of education, media, public policy, political campaigns, the corporate community and academic institutions across the country.

Jen Rhodes, a textile designer and handweaver, has been a part of the textile industry for nearly thirty years. Commercially, her focus has been on woven textile design, product development, and color and trend direction within the Contract, Automotive, Home Textiles, and Sleep Products markets.
As a Textile Design faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University, she shares with her students her technical knowledge and passion for color and design.
In the studio, Jen is most inspired by the colors, textures, and fibers of the natural world around her. An award-winning designer, with a BS and MS in Textile Design, Jen consistently pushes herself to innovate through creativity and her curiosity drives her to always keep learning.

Vinti Singh is the Vice President of Marketing at CurveBeam AI, where she leads strategic initiatives to elevate the company’s global presence in orthopedic imaging technology.
As a board member of the PA Fibershed, she brings her expertise in brand development, community engagement, and navigating regulatory landscapes for new systems and technologies—paired with a passion for environmental sustainability—to support the organization’s mission of building regenerative, local textile systems.

Board Secretary
Mark Sunderland is a textile engineer with over 25 years of experience as an owner, entrepreneur, and consultant in the industry.
Sustainability, performance, functionality, and material health are at the core of his work, with a strong emphasis on carbon-negative solutions, ESG strategies, and circular inputs that support zero-waste manufacturing.
As the co-founder of Hemp Black—now a division of Ecofibre—and former Vice President of Innovation and Technology at Thomas Jefferson University, Mark bridges industry-funded research, patented technologies, and global supply chain expertise to deliver innovative, sustainable materials to market.

Ashlei Tracy (she/her) is a nonprofit leader, policy strategist, and environmentalist.
Her work focuses on advancing the Pennsylvania Environmental Rights Amendment through place-based education and sustainable urban design. Outside of work, Ashlei enjoys baking, Pilates, and spending time with her husband and two cats. She is passionate about shaping healthier, more equitable futures at both the neighborhood and state level.

Barbara Vance, PhD, CRA is a strategic and operational leader in the biomedical sciences, currently serving as Director for Strategy and Business Development for the Cytokine Storm Treatment and Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania.
Her scientific and administrative expertise supports PA Fibershed’s efforts in grants, education, and research. With a lifelong passion for the fiber arts and a strong background in science and leadership, her goal is to bridge the full life cycle of textiles—advancing research programs that connect sustainability, innovation, and community impact.