Archive: People: Renee Mann

Renee Mann helps set the standard for organic materials

"Starting a non-profit is easy," says Renee Mann. "Maintaining it is the hard part." Mann ought to know: as Executive Assistant for the Organic Materials Review Institute, her job is to do "everything" to keep the office functioning. "Everything" ranges from ordering office supplies to answering technical queries about organic standards. It's a demanding position in a challenging area—and Mann loves it.

OMRI, based in Eugene, Oregon, was founded in 1997 to be a research and certification clearing house for materials used to produce organic products, such as fertilizers for crops. It services farmers, processors, home gardeners, certifiers, and brand name product manufacturers. OMRI is the largest of the handful of groups around the country handling this most important task. "With the new organic rules now in place, it's more important than ever to know that your ingredients and products meet the standards to qualify as certified organic," explains Mann. "An OMRI review is a secure way to make sure you're in compliance with the new organic rules as spelled out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

Mann, 23, found her position the old-fashioned way: by looking in the Yellow Pages. "I had just moved to Eugene and wanted to work with an environmental non-profit. I picked out OMRI's address from the phone book and went to the office to apply for a job. That day, they just happened to have an opening and I got hired pretty quickly."

There was a build-up to Mann's "overnight success" story. She grew up in Orange County, California, where she fixated on waste management issues. "I became a recycling Nazi," she says. "It was the only thing I latched on to in that suburban landscape. I really enjoyed getting into the joy of garbage and figuring out what to do with it." ("The Joy of Garbage" was the title of a class Mann later taught at college.) How did she get so eco-conscious? "My mom always encouraged me to think independently," she explains.

Mann studied environmental sciences at UC Berkeley's College of Natural Resources, focusing on molecular environmental biology—in particular, insects. But biotech was not for her. "It's where the money is, and some of the work is interesting. But I couldn't buy in to the mission of the big tech corporations," she says.

After only a half-year on the job at OMRI, Mann feels like she's learning how to advance the organic message.

"The best thing about organic is that it's holistic—it affects everything, from the soil to your health. It's just such a good thing."

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