Board Members

 
 

Abby Sayler, Chairman Emeritus

Victor Karydis, Governing Board

Victor Karydis, Owner of Abby’s Health and Nutrition, is a certified National Health Professional, working on his doctorate in Naturopathy. With over 26 years in the health and nutrition field, he has been working at Abby's for over 23 years. Originally from Greece, he has a four year degree in Business from John Abbott College in Montreal, Quebec.

David Housefield, Governing Board

David Housefield spent 39 years in the title industry and has been actively involved in nonprofit organizations for over 40 years. A passionate gardener, he joined Abby Sayler in 2014 to help develop the farm. He was the Executive Director from 2015 to August 2024, managing the farm, overseeing its growth and alignment with Abby Sayler’s mission. David was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, where he lived with his wife, Darlene until his relocation to Colorado in September 2024.

 
 

 
 

Nancy Niemann, Governing Board

Nancy Niemann, a Tampa native, spent 35 years as a teacher before retiring. Coming from a long line of farmers and gardeners, she has always enjoyed working with children and cooking. She believes that exposing kids to food in its natural form helps them develop lifelong healthy eating habits. As the Director of Education at Abby’s Farm, she organizes field trips and Nature Lab programs to teach families about sustainable food practices. Nancy is married with three adult children and six grandchildren.

 
 

 
 

Rita wickner, Governing Board

Rita Wickner started her career in banking before transitioning to medical record coding, where she worked for over 22 years. After retiring, she focused on nonprofit work, becoming involved with organizations such as the Straz Center and Feeding Tampa Bay. She joined Abby’s Organic Community Farm to support its mission and contribute to sustainable agriculture efforts. Rita and her husband, Todd, have two children and are active in the Tampa Bay community. She continues to dedicate her time to philanthropy and community service.