MeeCee Baker's name is synonymous with agricultural and rural issues in Pennsylvania. MeeCee's commitment, experience and knowledge coupled with her networking skills, make her a uniquely efficient and effective advocate.

15-20 years

Dr. Baker was named an Alumni Fellow at the Penn State University and delivered the commencement address at the College of Agricultural Sciences spring graduation. She also received the prestigious Medal of Honor Award from the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture (PSPA), the oldest (1785) continuously operating agricultural society in the country. PSPA was involved in establishing the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. In addition, Baker was honored with the esteemed Jefferson Award by the Penn Ag Democrats.

Baker was appointed during the Rendell administration to work in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture . While there, she directed the educational outreach for the Department.

Dr. Baker owns Versant Strategies, a premier governmental affairs firm focused on agricultural, education, environmental, and rural issues. Versant has represented dozens of clients in the Harrisburg and DC marketplace ranging from small farms and businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Previously, Baker served in the executive office of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. While there, she directed the educational outreach for the Department using the knowledge, skills, and traits she perfected during her 20 years behind a teacher’s desk at secondary and post-secondary institutions. Baker served as a faculty member at Penn State, an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University, and was the first woman elected as president of the National Association of Agricultural Educators. She is known across the nation as a published author and columnist with frequent engagements as a motivational keynote speaker and workshop presenter.

MeeCee, husband Jim Garofalo, a retired PA State Police Major who now works with USDA Investigation and Enforcement, and daughter Libby, a former state FFA president (Future Farmers' of America) and current Penn State student, live on the Baker homestead farm in Juniata County.

Versant means "having good knowledge of" and clients benefit from our in-depth industry knowledge and skills on the Hill. We help clients ranging from small farms and businesses to Fortune 500 companies send the right message to the right people who can affect action on their behalf. Our expertise in navigating legislative and regulatory issues provides you with a powerful partner for nearly any organizational or governmental relations concern. In addition, our network of relationships can open up opportunities for business development.

0-5 years

2019 30 Under 30 by AgGrad

With a focus on rural affairs, I work with numerous members of the legislature. I also engage regularly with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Department of Education.

Chief Operating Officer Caleb Wright's roots in Pennsylvania's agricultural community are deep, and accolades earned during his young career have marked him as a voice of rural Pennsylvania's new generation. Raised on a Huntingdon County farm that has borne his family's name for over a century, Caleb grew up as the grandson of the region's renowned veterinarian, Doc Kyper, with a family legacy of serving the rural community. Prior to joining Versant Strategies, he served as a PA State FFA Officer, was a National FFA Officer Candidate, and taught high school agriculture.

Caleb is a graduate of Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education. He was named as the College of Agricultural Science's inaugural Emerging Leader Candidate, working one-on-one with the College's Dean. Caleb investigated recruitment and retention of students in Agricultural Education as a Penn State research project. A skilled speaker, his energized commitment to rural education also earned him the Youth Agricultural Award presented by the Penn State Agriculture Council. Wright was elected to Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society Board and also serves on the Board of the PA FFA Foundation.

Along with managing day-to-day operations of the firm, Caleb actively lobbies and assists with organizational management.

CARSON BAKER

(Pennsylvania)
Clients:

JENNA EARLEY

(Pennsylvania)
Clients:

MATTHEW PLUMMER

(Pennsylvania)
Clients:

50) Kimball Motion Analytics LLC

51) Kingsley Association

52) Kooth USA, LLC

53) Lackawanna College

54) Leading Youth For Excellence

55) Lion Health System

56) LIUNA Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizing Coalition

57) Local Union No. 1319 O.S.H.E.

58) Luzerne County Child Advocacy Center

59) Malibu Wellness Ranch

60) Malt Beverage Distributors Association of PA

61) Martz Trailways

62) McCarthy Tire

63) Messiah Lifeways

64) MidPoint Group of Companies, Inc.

65) Misericordia University

66) Modern Treasury

67) Mowery Entertainment

68) New Birth of Freedom Council, Boy Scouts of America #544

69) Nlyten Corporation

70) PA Association for Justice

71) PA State Building & Construction Trades Council

72) Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals

73) Pennsylvania Beer Alliance

74) Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition

75) Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants

76) Pennsylvania State Nurses Association

77) Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Inc.

78) Phila Trial Lawyers Assn.

79) Philadelphia School District

80) Recycle the World, Inc.

81) Red Horizon Global

82) Rikore, Inc.

83) Rutter's Holdings, Inc.

84) RVG Management and Development Co.

85) Sheet Metal Workers LU 19

86) Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Luzerne County

87) Summit Realty Advisors, LLC

88) Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

89) The Lands at Hillside Farms

90) Ticket Network

91) Total Security International LLC

92) Valley Crest Real Estate, LP

93) Verified Voting.Org., Inc

94) Viatris Inc.

95) Visit Hershey & Harrisburg Inc.

96) Waste Reduction Recycling Transfer, Inc.

97) William J. Brennan, Jr. Center for Justice

DAVID THOMAS

(Pennsylvania)
Clients:

1) 1315 Investments, LP

2) ACE Cash Express

3) Age of Learning

4) Allen Real Estate LLC

5) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates

6) AMLL Management Group

7) AMP Global Strategies

8) Antrim Investment Group, LLC

9) ARM Development LLC

10) Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers

11) AT&T Inc.

12) Aviat Networks

13) Bounty Minerals

14) Byler Management

15) Caprice Management

16) Carey Holdings LLC

17) Casey Recovery, LLC

18) Catapult Learning

19) Central Penn College

20) Chick-fil-A, Inc.

21) Child USA

22) Christian School Association of Greater Harrisburg

23) Churchill Downs Incorporated

24) City of Philadelphia

25) CNX Gathering LLC

26) CNX Land LLC

27) Coalition for Community Solar Access

28) College Board

29) Compass Learning

30) Concurrent Technologies Corporation

31) Critical Response Group

32) Crown Display Inc.

33) Dallas Area Fall Fair Inc. TA The Luzerne County Fair

34) Dallas Suites LLC

35) Deloitte Consulting LLP

36) Dillon Floral Corporation

37) Eco 1st Logistics

38) EduConsult Consulting

39) Effective School Solutions

40) Fairview West LLC

41) First National Bank of Pennsylvania

42) FMP Realty LLC

43) G&F Realty

44) GREATER JOHNSTOWN REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

45) Greenview Development, Inc.

46) Hazel Health, Inc.

47) HeyTutor

48) Hidden Still Spirits

49) Higher Information Group

50) Hill Valley Healthcare

51) Housing And Redevelopment Insurance Exchange

52) Inch & Co

53) Indo-American Community of Scranton

54) IUPAT District Council 21

55) Jewish Community Alliance of NEPA

56) Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania

57) Kingsley Association

58) Kooth USA, LLC

59) Kyndryl, Inc.

60) Lackawanna College

61) Leading Youth For Excellence

62) LIUNA Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizing Coalition

63) Luzerne County Child Advocacy Center

64) Malibu Wellness Ranch

65) Malt Beverage Distributors Association of PA

66) Martz Trailways

67) McCarthy Tire

68) Messiah Lifeways

69) MidPoint Group of Companies, Inc.

70) Misericordia University

71) Modern Treasury

72) Mountain Springs Lake Resort LLC

73) Mowery Entertainment

74) New Birth of Freedom Council, Boy Scouts of America #544

75) Nlyten Corporation

76) NVNG Inc.

77) Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading and Berks County

78) PA Association for Justice

79) PA Parentage Coalition

80) PA State Building & Construction Trades Council

81) Patient Direct RX

82) Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals

83) Pennsylvania Beer Alliance

84) Pennsylvania Principals Association

85) Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants

86) Pennsylvania State Nurses Association

87) Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Inc.

88) Phila Trial Lawyers Assn.

89) Philadelphia School District

90) Recycle the World, Inc.

91) Red Horizon Global

92) Rikore, Inc.

93) Rutter's Holdings, Inc.

94) Sentiment AI

95) Sheet Metal Workers LU 19

96) Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Luzerne County

97) Sordoni Properties, LLC

98) Sugar Plum Chocolates

99) Summit Realty Advisors, LLC

100) Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

101) Terrapin Investment Fund 1, LLC

102) The Lands at Hillside Farms

103) Ticket Network

104) Total Security International LLC

105) Valley Crest Real Estate, LP

106) Viatris Inc.

107) Visit Hershey & Harrisburg Inc.

108) Waste Reduction Recycling Transfer, Inc.

109) William J. Brennan, Jr. Center for Justice