Alex Patton

Research Associate

Alex is a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Sciences graduate, with solid analytical background and success in guiding data-driven decision making.

Prior to joining New Venture Advisors, Alex led competitive intelligence and secondary research strategies for Trane Technologies using specialized skills in Qualtrics, NVIVO and Tableau. Alex also was a Business Development Manager for US Laser, Inc. and is proficient in Spanish.

While studying for her MPH, Alex was a research assistant examining the association between blood pressure and body mass index among farmers and farmworkers in North Carolina.

She received a PhD in Public Health Sciences from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Masters in Public Health from East Carolina University, and a B.S. in Public Health Studies from University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Alex currently lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. She loves traveling and anything outdoors including paddleboarding, snowboarding, surfing, running, and hiking.

 

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)