BOARD OF DIRECTORS – REMOTESTEAD™

REMOTESTEAD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Will Fisher: Founding Director

Software Developer, Health Advocate & Outdoorsman

Professional Summary

Agricultural Roots & Background
Will brings a rare blend of cutting-edge tech and practical farm work experience to St. Louis. Raised homesteading on a grape farm in rural Illinois and working as a farmhand he learned agriculture from the ground up.

Tech & Corporate Leadership

Will is a highly skilled web3 developer & distributed systems architect with over 8 years of professional software development & consulting experience.
Before he became a software developer, Will gained experience in corporate management for a multi-billion dollar home improvement corporation which operated over 300 stores across 15 states.
He has already built and finalized Remotestead’s 100% complete and deployable software prototype and user dashboard demo.
By merging his developer background with his agricultural roots, Will is uniquely equipped to deploy Remotestead’s decentralized urban farming network which transforms empty city lots and rural properties into high-yield, automated community health and fitness assets.

Athletics & Nutrition Focus
As a former collegiate and Prospect League baseball player as well as a current fitness advocate, Will understands the profound link between clean, nutrient-dense nutrition and human performance.

Community, Martial Arts & Outdoors

When Will is not working, volunteering, or lifeguarding, he is a martial artist holding an orange belt in Krav Maga and a two-stripe white belt in BJJ where he holds a 2-2 amateur record.
As a lover of Missouri’s great and beautiful outdoors, Will enjoys partaking in Missouri’s long tradition of hunting in addition to hiking, camping, sightseeing and exploring Missouri’s Civil War era and other historical sites.

Education and Certifications

B.S. Communication Studies, Minor: Criminal Justice – Central Methodist University: Fayette, Missouri.
Technical Certification: Solidity Developer.
Technical Certification: Foundry Fundamentals.
Technical Certification: AWS Partner: Security Essentials (Technical).
Technical Certification: Certified Cryptocurrency Trader.

Personal Commitment

“I believe anyone willing to manage a Remotestead has an absolute right to entreprenuerially produce fresh, local, organic foods that optimize health, fitness and longevity—regardless of farming background or land ownership!”

Jocquelyn Benson: Board Director

Educator, Administrator & Community Leader Educator

Professional Summary

Academic & Corporate Leadership
A dynamic and multi-talented professional, Jocquelyn Benson brings a powerful blend of academic rigor, corporate marketing expertise, and deep community leadership to her work.

STEM & Education Expertise

With 14 years of dedicated classroom experience, she has established herself as an innovator in STEM and project-based learning.
Jocquelyn has designed and implemented hands-on curricula for students across grades 1–12, fostering critical thinking, curiosity, and practical problem-solving in the next generation of thinkers and makers.

Civic Impact & Community Health
Beyond the classroom, her leadership extends to the civic sector, where she served for five years as the Associate Board President of Operation Food Search, driving initiatives to address food insecurity and championing regional community health.

Outdoors & Wellness Focus

An avid outdoorswoman and community steward, Jocquelyn’s life is defined by a deep connection to nature and a commitment to safety and wellness.
When she isn’t teaching or leading, she can be found hiking, camping, reading, or mastering the art of scratch cooking with a focus on plant-based meals.
Whether guiding students through a complex engineering project, steering a nonprofit board, or navigating the great outdoors, Jocquelyn brings energy, expertise, and a lifelong passion for growth to everything she does.

Education and Certifications

Dual Master’s degrees in Education, Teaching, and Learning.
Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from the Illinois State College of Business.
Lifelong aquatic expert, serving as a lifeguard for 17 years with elite swimming and diving skills.

Personal Commitment

Passion for growth: Jocquelyn seamlessly bridges the gap between structured pedagogy and strategic organizational growth to foster critical thinking and practical problem-solving in the next generation.

Community stewardship: Dedicated to driving initiatives that address food insecurity, champion regional community health, and bring a deep commitment to safety, wellness, and water safety to her local area.

Edra Fisher: Board Director

Agriculture Advocate, STEM & Health Champion

Professional Summary

Agricultural Roots & Background
Edra Fisher serves as a Board Member/Secretary/Agricultural Planning Coordinator of RemoteStead, providing leadership and strategic guidance to advance the organization’s mission of improving community well-being through agriculture. Growing up on a 5 acre vineyard/small homestead in IL she understood quickly the benefit of caring for the earth and using its land to provide healthy produce to nourish one’s body.

Community Outreach & Journalism

Having helped her local community college produce 700 pounds of organic greens to the Illinois food bank over a summer session and working alongside a team to introduce kids from local schools/boys clubs about healthy cooking and meal prep.
Edra also served as a volunteer journalist for “The State Journal Register” of Illinois.
As a journalist she would write weekly articles highlighting healthy living and community business that promoted community health, healthy lifestyle and supported sustainability within their operations .

Advocacy & Support
With a passion for empowering individuals and strengthening communities, she has been a long time supporter of programs that promote sustainable agriculture, educational opportunities, healthy lifestyles, and equitable access to resources.

Education and Certifications

Agricultural Business Development: Completed foundational coursework and holds an Agricultural-Business background from her Community College.
Marketing Communications: Holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield in Marketing Communications.
Healthcare & Nursing: Currently a practicing nurse continuing her higher education to obtain her BSN.
Collegiate Athletics: Awarded a competitive Division 2 (D2) athletic scholarship in Basketball, Track and Field, and Cross Country.
Campus Leadership: Voted homecoming queen maintaining honor roll at her college and actively served on the student government.

Personal Commitment

“I believe God created the earth and provided its natural resources as a blessing for humanity. Through the gifts of agriculture, nature, and healthy foods, we have opportunities to nourish our bodies, strengthen our communities, and improve our overall well-being. It is our responsibility to educate and empower others with the knowledge and skills needed to use these blessings wisely.”“By promoting agricultural education, healthy living, and access to nutritious foods, we can help individuals and families make informed choices that support self-health and long-term wellness. Through stewardship, learning, and community engagement, We Honor God’s Creation while building healthier, more sustainable communities for future generations.”

Berni Mcguire: Board Director

Community Leader, Educator & Strategic Advocate

Professional Summary

Academic & Corporate Leadership

A deeply rooted and strategic professional, Berni brings a powerful blend of frontline community advocacy, educational outreach, and creative systems thinking to her work.

STEM & Education Expertise

With years of classroom instruction as a substitute teacher and inner-city homework tutor, Berni specializes in creating accessible educational frameworks. She is dedicated to advancing complex scientific curriculum—including soil biology, botany, and apiculture thermodynamics—into low-barrier, high-success entry points that accommodate diverse learners and overcome cognitive barriers.

Civic Impact & Community Health

A champion for regional community health, Berni has served as a Supervisory Election Judge in Jefferson County and led food distribution initiatives for over 500,000 individuals across the Saint Trinity and Saint Stephens Food Pantries, directly combating systemic poverty and food desert bottlenecks.

Outdoors & Wellness Focus

An analytical thinker and community steward, Berni’s life is defined by a commitment to social equity, reading, and immersive strategic planning. When she isn’t teaching or leading, she can be found diving into an immersive book or managing complex campaigns as a Dungeons & Dragons player—hobbies she views as masterclasses in tactical planning, cooperative problem-solving, and asset allocation. Whether managing food logistics for half a million neighbors, navigating complex team strategies, or engineering decentralized urban farming networks, Berni brings immense tactical expertise and solidarity to everything she does.

Education and Certifications

Experienced Classroom Instructor and former Substitute Teacher specializing in early learner and inner-city developmental tutoring.
Frontline Nutritional Logistics Expert with proven mastery in managing regional food distribution systems and census-tract asset allocation.
Advanced Tactical Planner utilizing complex campaign management, cooperative problem-solving, and structural mapping skills.

Personal Commitment

Passion for growth: Berni seamlessly bridges the gap between emergency crisis relief and decentralized, science-driven food abundance to hand communities the keys to their own health and financial autonomy.
Community stewardship: Dedicated to protecting the future of children, defending the integrity of the civic voice, and optimizing urban networks to shift the landscape of food security and health equity.

Durant Muhammad: Board Director

Civic Advocate, Public Administrator & Community Leader

Professional Summary

Academic & Corporate Leadership

A deeply community-oriented and principled leader, Durant Muhammad brings a powerful blend of public sector administrative governance, high-volume operational management, and dedicated grassroots community leadership to his work.

STEM & Education Expertise

With an extensive background overseeing massive organizational networks and public infrastructure, Durant specializes in resource allocation, administrative personnel training, and structural execution. His expertise includes managing large budgets, directing complex workplace operations, and educating teams on sustainable business practices to empower local workforces.

Civic Impact & Community Health

A passionate advocate for localized food justice, economic empowerment, and public service, Durant protected vital state resources by managing budgetary controls exceeding $1.5 million for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. He actively revolutionized urban food access as the Executive Director of YOURS Supermarket, a community-focused enterprise where he pioneered hyper-local food systems by developing, cultivating, and distributing fresh produce harvested directly on-site to combat regional nutritional scarcity.

Outdoors & Wellness Focus

A devoted community pillar guided by his active spiritual and civic service within the Nation of Islam, Durant’s life is defined by a profound commitment to promoting self-sufficiency, personal resilience, and family well-being. When he isn’t directing public initiatives or private enterprises, he volunteers his time to local efforts focused on education, environmental stewardship, and uplifting the quality of life for families in need. Whether navigating state-level public administration, supervising diverse teams, or championing sustainable living, Durant brings immense integrity, a collaborative spirit, and an unwavering lifelong devotion to community welfare to everything he does.

Education and Certifications

Business Administration Studies, Saint Louis University (1971–1974).
Administrative Executive I & II certifications, leading personnel and operational oversight for 65–70 state employees.
Licensed Real Estate Professional (1994–2005) and Licensed Insurance Salesperson (1989–2004) with deep expertise in property, risk management, and community asset allocation.

Personal Commitment

Passion for growth: Durant seamlessly bridges the gap between structured public governance and strategic grassroots initiatives to foster collaboration, build productive relationships, and empower individuals through practical education.
Community stewardship: Dedicated to driving initiatives that promote absolute self-reliance, defend the integrity of the family unit, and advance localized, science-driven food security to create permanent, sustainable community well-being.

Kimberly Willis: Board Director

Public Administrator, Legal Analyst & Organizational Secretary

Professional Summary

Academic & Corporate Leadership

A highly organized and strategic administrative expert, Kimberly brings a wealth of public systems knowledge, operational insight, and dedicated institutional governance to her role on the Board of Directors, while simultaneously serving as the primary Secretary of the organization.

STEM & Education Expertise

With over two decades of experience navigating complex public frameworks, Kimberly specializes in operational workflow design, process optimization, and educational management. Having served for five years as the Office Manager for the Madison County Regional Office of Education, she excels at managing regulatory compliance and cultivating thriving professional environments.

Civic Impact & Community Health

A deeply trusted public servant with 22 years of dedicated tenure within Madison County, Kimberly spent 17 years as a legal assistant within the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. She leverages this rigorous legal and administrative background to tackle complex systemic problems, manage meticulous corporate records, and ensure organizational transparency and legal integrity across all public-facing initiatives.

Outdoors & Wellness Focus

A culturally aware and collaborative leader, Kimberly’s life is defined by a deep appreciation for community-focused equity, cross-cultural communication, and lifelong learning. When she isn’t managing administrative compliance or executing her duties as corporate Secretary, she focuses on active listening and strategic development to expand local opportunities. Whether streamlining organizational workflows, navigating the intricate legal frameworks of local government, or designing systems for regional educational improvement, Kimberly brings a practical, grounded perspective and an unwavering passion for inclusive service to everything she does.

Education and Certifications

Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Sociology, Western Illinois University.
Minor in Spanish, specializing in cross-cultural communication and inclusive community outreach.

Personal Commitment

Passion for growth: Kimberly seamlessly bridges the gap between meticulous legal compliance and strategic organizational growth to ensure programmatic initiatives remain impactful, secure, and structurally sound.
Community stewardship: Dedicated to fostering transparent governance, promoting inclusive systems where diverse teams can thrive, and safeguarding the long-term strategic mission of the organization.

Shane Laufman: Board Director

First And Foremost A Follower Of Christ

Professional Summary

Academic & Corporate Leadership

A strategic multi-venture founder, Shane brings a robust background in business and finance to executive management, achieving notable success including scaling one venture to $4 million in revenue within a single year and another to $2.5 million in just two years. He serves as Founder and CEO of Humanda LLC and currently directs high-level strategy across five active ventures spanning M&A technology, sales enablement and consumer networking. Shane leverages his established professional networks to secure corporate growth, bridge the gap between technical teams and to provide seasoned governance across his entire business portfolio.

STEM & Education Expertise

A highly technical and versatile leader, Shane possesses deep fluency across both the business and product sides of enterprise technology. His expertise spans web development, leading specialized technical teams and architecting complex digital infrastructure from the ground up. By building remotely managed technical systems and launching pioneering platforms like Humanda’s Behavioral Virtual Data Room he specializes in using data standardization and software development to solve systemic, centuries-old operational challenges.

Civic Impact & Community Health

Guided first and foremost as a follower of Christ, Shane centers his career on purpose-driven innovation and structural integrity. His professional philosophy focuses on identifying where market incentives are misaligned and building the technology needed to close those gaps. He applies this exact problem-solving framework to community-minded initiatives particularly through his alignment with Remotestead’s mission to democratize health, promote agricultural entrepreneurship and safeguard food security.

Outdoors & Wellness Focus

An impact-oriented leader, Shane is deeply committed to utilizing modern technology to make land, tools and healthy food genuinely accessible to underserved communities. He champions practical, sustainable solutions that elevate local quality of life without requiring individuals to adopt a fully off-grid lifestyle. Whether scaling hyper-growth ventures to millions in revenue, designing sales-enablement systems or optimizing regional food infrastructure; Shane brings an analytical mindset, operational agility and a faith-driven passion for sustainable empowerment to everything he does.

Education and Certifications

Background in business and finance, specializing in corporate strategy, financial modeling and go-to-market execution.

Expertise in technical systems management.

Personal Commitment

Passion for growth: Shane seamlessly bridges the gap between technical product development and high-level financial strategy to scale new ventures rapidly, optimize market incentives and drive disruptive industry innovation.

Community stewardship: Dedicated to utilizing advanced technological infrastructure to democratize resource access, support inner-city economic development and advance sustainable community health initiatives.