Leo Pollock

About Leo Pollock

I am a facilitative leader with over 17 years of experience working in food systems and social impact work, having successfully led and managed mission-driven initiatives across a variety of organizations, including non-profit, multi-stakeholder network, and social enterprise.In my current role as co-founder and managing partner of ReMix Organics, Rhode Island’s first dedicated organics hauling service, I have built and scaled our operational, administrative and financial systems from the ground up. Our focus and mission is the collection and diversion of organic waste from regional landfills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By partnering with local and regional farms as well as anaerobic digestion facilities, we divert food waste to a better and higher use than landfilling, producing high-quality soil amendments or renewable energy. Since incorporating in 2013 as a low-profit, limited liability company (L3C), I implemented key operational strategies that fueled consistent growth while maintaining alignment with our triple bottom line—focusing on profitability, employee compensation, and environmental impact. To date, ReMix has diverted over tons of food waste and organic material from going to local landfills.Prior to ReMix, I spent years facilitating cross-sector collaborations with diverse teams around food systems and agriculture. As the founding Network Director for the Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC), I was the principal architect in the organization’s design and development, facilitating the creation of an inclusive mission and vision, and building multi-sector partnerships to drive systemic change. Prior to the RIFPC, I held leadership roles at the Southside Community Land Trust, one of the premier urban agricultural organizations in the country. In addition to my professional work, I have been involved with community-based boards for organizations advancing innovative, social-mission aligned models for community development and investment. I served as an inaugural Board member for Hope & Main, a non-profit that provides shared-use commercial kitchen space and technical assistance to de-risk startup for food-based businesses. I recently joined the inaugural Investment Committee of Local Return, a new organization that recently created a direct public offering for its Diversified Community Investment Fund (DCIF), the State’s first pooled investment fund, and one of the first of its kind nationally.

Experience

1. Co-founder

   Remix Organics Co

   Aug 2023 — Present · RI, US

Education

• Utrecht University

  Master of Science (MS), Sustainable Development

  2005 — 2007

• Dartmouth College

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Anthropology, Education

  1999 — 2003

Skills

• Program Evaluation
• Compost
• Grants
• Environmental Education
• Urban Agriculture
• Community Organizing
• Sustainability
• Program Development
• Grant Writing
• Student Development
• Team Leadership
• Food Systems
• Environmental Policy
• Homebrewing
• Fire Building
• Community Outreach
• Technical Support
• Team Motivation