GROW La Crosse is a non-profit organization formed by enthusiastic parents and community members who connect children to health food and nature through school gardens and farm experiences.
These amazing individuals guide our organization.
Liza Ware - President
Liza is eager help GROW provide youth in our region with healthy food and nature experiences. Liza has a background in developmental psychology and recognizes the importance of healthy food knowledge and access to lifelong development, and the impact of connecting with nature on mental health and eco-friendly lifestyle practices. As a parent, Liza is passionate about engaging her child in food cultivation, food preparation, and nature experiences, and is grateful for the opportunities that GROW provides to children in the community. She is thrilled to apply her passions with GROW to serve the community and help the environment.
Bree Moore-Lawrence - Vice President
With over two decades of experience in education, Bree Moore-Lawrence is a passionate and dedicated educator committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Currently serving as a Classroom Teacher at Prairie View Elementary in the School District of Holmen, Bree partners with colleagues and administrators to implement student-centered learning experiences. Outside of spending time in the garden, Bree enjoys traveling around the country with her family in their vintage camper. She is excited to work with GROW and connect children with healthy food and nature through hands-on garden-based experiences.
Ester Tierney - Treasurer
Esti is happy to be helping GROW reach families living in our community. After having children and raising them in the La Crosse area, Esti has seen the great work GROW has done first hand with her own children's involvement. She feels strongly that the entire community benefits from healthy food and healthy environments, and GROW is helping our local community do just that. By educating and exposing children to nourishing food and lifestyles, we are preparing them for the future. She has her undergraduate degree in Economics and her Masters in Business Administration, and is currently working in the HVAC industry.
Erica Rytilahti - Secretary
Erica brings her experience and knowledge of supporting nonprofit organizations from her role in Wealth Management at Trust Point, Inc. In addition to her financial background, she is mom to two young children and understands the importance and value in connecting all children to the natural world and healthy living. Erica is excited to be a part of GROW and continue her involvement in the community.
Maria Morgan-Bathke, MBA, PhD, RD, CD, FAND
Maria received a B.S. in Dietetics with a minor in Spanish from UW-Stout in May 2009. She received her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Cancer Biology from the University of Arizona in July 2013 and her MBA with an emphasis in health care management from Viterbo University in 2020. She also completed a Medical Nutrition Therapy focused dietetic internship at the Carondelet Health System in Tucson, AZ. She completed her postdoctoral research fellowship in the Endocrine Research Unit at the Mayo Clinic with Dr. Michael Jensen. Currently, she is working as an associate professor, Nutrition and Dietetics Department Chair and Dietetic Internship Director in the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI, and as a Registered Dietitian for Foodsmart. She also recently started her own business: Dr. Maria’s Nutrition and Wellness and you can follow all of her blog posts and other activities here: www.yournutritiondoc.com. Her current research focus is on obesity, insulin signaling, inflammation, and fat metabolism. In her free time, Maria is an avid gardener and enjoys teaching her daughter the ways of gardening.
Mark Moulton
Mark Moulton has a background in education, especially in career and technical education, and brings strong connections with our business partners and Western. Throughout his career, Mark has been an agent of change, starting as a math and technical education teacher in the La Crescent-Hokah School District, where he led initiatives like the region’s first FIRST Robotics team and expanded the program across multiple schools. His leadership extended to founding the Seven Rivers Robotics Coalition, a unique nonprofit supporting local robotics teams, and he was instrumental in launching the annual Seven Rivers Robotics Regional Competition. In recent years, Mark transitioned to technical education, where he secured resources through grants and partnerships to enhance programs that align with industry needs. His dedication to student success earned him the TUMMA Tech Educator Excellence Award in 2024. Beyond work, Mark and his family are active community members, involved in robotics mentoring, theater set design, and travel, with a shared love for outdoor adventures and the arts.
Angela Gelatt
Angela Gelatt is a Lecturer in the Public Health and Community Health Education Department at UW–La Crosse, where she teaches courses in global health, grant & resource management, and sexual health promotion. She brings experience in professional writing, program administration, organizational development, team management, and has supported diverse populations from youth to adults.
A La Crosse native, parent, and health education specialist, Angela knows how valuable hands-on learning and access to healthy food are for kids. Joining the GROW La Crosse board reflects her passion for connecting youth to local resources and outdoor learning opportunities, and she is eager to help strengthen the organization’s impact in the community.
Angela lives in La Crosse with her husband Jonathan, two children, and their big dog Buddy. They enjoy time on the Mississippi river and exploring all the Driftless Region has to offer.
Mariah Hall
Growing up on a dairy and crop farm and having a large garden footsteps away from her childhood home, Mariah’s passion for cultivation of healthy food runs deep. She knows the value in involving kids in the gardening process and understanding the origins of the food they consume. After seeing the impact of GROW’s curriculum firsthand within the La Crosse community, she is very excited to join a board that embodies her own values of enriching children’s appreciation for both their food and the community that supports them in this endeavor.
Mariah currently works as a Nurse Practitioner in Radiation Oncology at Mayo in La Crosse. Her focus in healthcare is disease prevention and empowering patients with evidenced based education to assist them in taking back control of their lives. She has a particular interest in integrative oncology which includes using food as medicine.
Mariah and her husband reside in La Crosse with their two girls and dog Clifford. They enjoy camping, hiking, making meals from scratch, and playing board games together.
Potential Board Member
Are you interested in becoming a member of the GROW team? We are looking for individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact on the health of youth in our region.
