Carbon Yield Values

Inclusion

Solutions to our agricultural challenges must fit farms of all sizes and draw from diverse perspectives and disciplines to address the urgency and complexity of our work.

Integrity

We hold our work to high standards by investigating unintended consequences, learning from mistakes, and addressing topics that challenge our assumptions.

Impact-first

Our work is driven by the opportunity to nourish our communities and secure our climate. Financial returns are secondary to advancing our mission.

Collaboration

We serve as stewards of the regenerative agriculture sector and recognize that progress requires collaboration within and beyond Carbon Yield, particularly with our producers.

Innovative

We pursue transformative practices and technologies that create meaningful change. We investigate new advances with curiosity, implementing the credible ones, noting that some are a revival of enduring wisdom.

Rigorous

Thorough analysis and diligent follow-through ensure our work meets the challenges of scaling systems-level change.

Carbon Yield Team

Sam Schiller (he/his)

Co-Founder, CEO (LinkedIn)

Sam Schiller is the co-founder and CEO of Carbon Yield, where he leverages his experience in carbon programs and agricultural communities to align farm profitability with climate-smart management practices. His entrepreneurial work in environmental markets has generated over 2 million tons of carbon credits, earning him the Kellogg Zell Fellowship, first prize at the 2019 Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge, and recognition in Fast Company's World Changing Ideas series.

Under Sam's leadership, Carbon Yield has developed programs that have secured over $15 million in conservation grants, supporting soil health and reducing livestock emissions. Carbon Yield's portfolio advances landscape-scale climate initiatives through collaborations with governments, brands, and agricultural supply chains, including partnerships with the USDA's Office of the Chief Economist, Ben & Jerry's, and Dairy Management Inc. (the U.S. dairy trade association). Carbon Yield also serves as the agricultural lead of Climate TRACE, an emissions tracking coalition founded by former Vice President Al Gore. Sam has released quantification tools into the public domain, improving the credibility and impact of greenhouse gas programs and ultimately incentivizing more regenerative food production systems.

Before co-founding Carbon Yield, Sam helped launch and scale two environmental startups—Wabashco and Tradewater—which focus on carbon offset development through the destruction of CFC refrigerants and methane capture from abandoned coal mines. Sam also served as Board Chair of the Delta Institute, a nonprofit specializing in environmental markets, regenerative agriculture, and conservation finance. He graduated with a degree in social policy and environmental policy from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

Claire Pluard (she/her)

Co-Founder, COO (LinkedIn)

Claire is passionate about seeking solutions to the amplified effects of climate change on vulnerable populations and sees Carbon Yield as her next step in exploring this intersection. As co-founder of Carbon Yield, she leverages her expertise in strategic organizational development to help regenerative farmers navigate carbon markets and scale sustainable agriculture practices.

Claire's career has focused on the strategic development of mission-driven organizations, ensuring they effectively track their impact and secure resources to scale. She has over twelve years of experience in organization management, government relations, and social justice advocacy. In 2013-2017, Claire revamped the data management system at Catholic Charities of Chicago and secured over $30 million in new funding for their programs.

An avid gardener and lover of the outdoors, Claire finds working with Carbon Yield's farming partners a natural fit. She completed her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2020 and lives in Chicago with her family.

Vivian Powell (they/them)

Data Analyst (LinkedIn)

Viv is an environmental data analyst driven by a love for science communication and all things data, as well as a strong desire to improve food systems through regenerative agriculture and environmental justice work.

Since 2023, Viv has been building and improving on Carbon Yield’s data systems, driven by a belief that robust agricultural data is a key step toward resilient food systems. They created Carbon Yield’s first database and have since taken on a wide variety of data-related roles, including app development, GHG impact assessment, data QA/QC, geospatial data analysis and mapping, and MMRV program design. Viv enjoys collaborating on the entire process of building a data-driven project from the ground up as well as spending hours coding, mapping, and debugging.

They hold a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Applied Math from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Originally from Seattle, Viv now lives in Minneapolis and enjoys swimming, playing the guitar, dancing, and cycling.

Collaborators

Alieza Swenson Durana (she/her)

Project Manager (LinkedIn)

Alieza brings over 12 years of experience as a writer, content strategist, and project manager to Carbon Yield, where she coordinates initiatives that connect regenerative agriculture with carbon markets. In her role, Alieza collaborates closely with the Carbon Yield team to establish project needs and deadlines, manages hiring processes, develops project documentation, and facilitates team operations. She excels at turning complex concepts into clear, engaging narratives and managing cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact results.

As a journalist, Alieza has written for major publications including the Washington Post, CNN, The Atlantic, USA Today, and NerdWallet, with a focus on economic issues and their impact on diverse communities. She has also managed editorial operations for mission-driven organizations, including the Fuller Project for International Reporting, the Eviction Lab, and the Better Life Lab at New America. Alieza has a Masters in Public Policy from the Hertie School of Governance. She lives in Utah with her family and two cats.

Tiana Veldwisch (she/her)

Product Manager & Team-Builder (LinkedIn / Web)

Tiana is a fractional product manager and independent consultant and coach supporting teams and individuals in effective work practices and communication habits. Her clients range from tiny startups to the 200+ person Innovation team of a Fortune 500. Tiana supports Carbon Yield in technology roadmapping and development, as well as team visioning and collaboration processes.

Tiana is an advisor at Greentown Labs, a coach for the FedTech Climate Studio, and a mentor for Third Derivative, MassChallenge, and CleanTechOpen. Her passion is helping technology-oriented teams in the climate sector with launching early MVPs and developing effective teamwork, collaboration, and feedback habits. She has 15+ years experience in product management and tech leadership across health tech and climate tech including most recently at Indigo Ag, and she has an engineering degree from Olin College of Engineering and an MBA from MIT Sloan. She lives in the Boston area with her family and cats.

Option Zero

Software Development & Technology Guidance (LinkedIn / Web)

Led by mom-and-pop duo Jason and Jaime Curtis, Option Zero provides fractional CTO services and software implementation for climate-positive companies & initiatives. They have provided guidance and implementation for Carbon Collective, NYSERDA, Commons, and Freight Farms, among others.