Ryan DeBisschop

Master of boxes, ruler of ribbon, and emperor of envelopes, RYAN DEBISSCHOP lends his creativity and retail packaging expertise to designing and procuring Elegant Roots’ eco-friendly keepsake packaging. After many years working as the head of packaging and print for an online retailer, he recently launched California Retail Packaging with his father. That home-grown family approach extends to his spare time, when he enjoys being with his family, in addition to engaging in his diving and photography hobbies. He lives in Marin County, where he was born and raised, and where he and his wife are diligently teaching their son to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Learn more about Ryan’s excellent work at Gift Packaging.

Rob Favole

Co-Founder & President, ROB FAVOLE, founded Elegant Roots on the conviction that making sustainable artisanal products commercially available benefits everyone—from artisan to gift-giver to recipient. Previously, Rob practiced law for many years, in addition to authoring two young-adult novels, one of which was a featured launch at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Prior to his attorney days, he was a special education teacher. Married to co-founder, Cynthia Remmers, Rob has four kids, four grandchildren and one dog, all of whom he loves to spend time with. He’s an avid runner, reader, traveler, cinephile and cook, as well as a baseball fan. And small wonder that Rob developed a passion for eco-conscious, sustainable retailing—he has been a conservationist his entire life. He either bicycles or hoofs-it to work every day. Having recently moved back to the US after a sojourn in Asia, he enjoys supporting Bay Area farmers by walking to one of two different local markets each weekend.

David Fischer

Elegant Roots’ infallible photographer, DAVID FISCHER, brings 30 years of professional experience to the table. A San Francisco native, he opened his own photography studio in 1978 and has since shot numerous national commercial campaigns for such companies as Bank of America, Hewlett Packard, Del Monte, Dole, Wells Fargo Bank, Microsoft and Chevron, among many others. He also shoots for Getty Images. David is a passionate jazz fan, and has shot approximately 300 jazz album covers, which is his proudest career achievement (if a poor way to pay the bills!) He resides with his dogs and family in Mill Valley, CA, where he spends his free time mountain biking and playing tennis.

Kate Kinnicutt

Recently transplanted from California to Rhode Island, senior copywriter KATE KINNICUTT is weathering the weather and enjoying the change of scenery. Before landing at Elegant Roots, she worked for years as a grant-writer and curator at a non-profit San Francisco arts organization and obtained an art-school MFA in Writing. Recently she's been applying her pen to various retail copywriting ventures. When not pounding out copy, she can be found reading, running, shoveling snow and writing poetry. Outsider-art devotees, she and her husband like to support local artisans by picking up art during their extensive travels.

Julie Kramer

Brand strategist and buyer JULIE KRAMER has extensive experience as a buyer and branding consultant to retail ventures. She also lends her expertise with color theory and graphic design to Elegant Roots’ website and packaging. When she’s not consulting or busy with her own eco-friendly baby-wear company, EvokeBaby.com, she enjoys running, yoga and taking advantage of the Northern California beaches with her husband Mark, daughter Sofia and new baby son Jack. Julie and Mark work hard to live well and support the health of the planet by incorporating ecologically responsible practices into their busy every-day lives. EvokeBaby is also a member of 1% for the Planet, donating a percentage of its proceeds to eco-forward non-profits. Needless to say, Elegant Roots is a big fan.

We are proud to carry one of Julie’s gift sets, which you can see at EvokeBaby's product page.

Boone Spooner

Web expert BOONE SPOONER, of SOL SF DESIGNS, has partnered with Trevor Stearns to design Elegant Roots' web site and keep it truckin'. He is a CSS and Photoshop expert who has been devoted to web and graphic design for the last four years. Born and raised in San Francisco, Boone is a man of many talents. He has a BA in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara but also follows in his famous father's footsteps with a multi-faceted music career that includes being a music producer, recording engineer, mix engineer, songwriter and drummer in several bands. When not at his computer or music pursuits, Boone shows his environmental consciousness by, among many other things, riding his bicycle all around the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives with his wife.

Trevor Stearns

Our other web expert, TREVOR STEARNS, of SOL SF DESIGNS, has partnered with Boone Spooner to design and support Elegant Roots' web site. For the last four years, Trever has developed and provided web-based solutions for a wide range of clients in the areas of business, investment banking, retail, e-commerce and information management. Trevor earned a degree in biochemistry from UC Davis, after which he worked in a genetics lab, lived in Ecuador and taught English and environmental education before turning his passions to web architecture and design. Trevor generously volunteers his considerable talents to a number of non-profit organizations, including Habitat For Humanity and GRID Alternatives, which works to provide energy efficiency for low income households. An avid hiker, Trevor has trekked many mountain ranges and has climbed one of the world's highest active volcanoes. At home in San Francisco, Trevor gets around on his bike and public transportation.

Audrey Wong

Copywriter extraordinaire AUDREY WONG has many years’ experience as a professional editor and web producer. Currently, she’s keeping busy as a freelance writer on various marketing and retail projects. When she’s not chasing around her two-year-old son, she practices yoga and loves to hike, ski and hip-hop dance. She and her family live in the heart of the orchard and vineyard country of Hood River, Oregon, where they are lucky to have access to lots of local, sustainable fresh foods. They love to cook and to eat locally, so they belong to the Gorge Grown Food Network, which has a mission of building an economically and environmentally sound local food system.

Special Thanks

The Elegant Roots team wishes to thank a wonderful group of talented professional writers who help us from time to time: Aggie Blum, Zack Houston and Sandy Rogin. We also wish to thank Melton Cartes (An Ad Guy) and Monica Bloom for wise advice on a variety of design issues and Isabel Rasmussen for her e-marketing expertise.