Board of Directors

Directors

Judy Aagard - Tiny Tots (Diaper Service) - Term expires 2012

Judy Aagard is one of the owners of Tiny Tots Diaper Service & Baby Boutique located in northern California. Since 1967, when her family purchased the business, it is estimated that they, along with their faithful staff, have laundered over 650 million diapers and have been recognized by the state of California for their resource reduction programs and innovation in water conservation efforts. Customer service has always been hallmark to Tiny Tots. Due to her inability to find natural fiber clothing for her children, in 1994 Tiny Tots Baby Boutique on-line and brick & mortar boutiques were birthed. Besides her family and cotton diapering, Judy’s other passions include rowing, kayaking, helping others achieve positive outcomes with breastfeeding, baby wearing and car seat installations. She is happily married to Tim, also involved at Tiny Tots and equally passionate about cotton diapering, and has two grown children.

Peter Allen - Do Good Diapers (Diaper Service) - Term expires 2010

Peter Allen founded Do Good Diapers with his wife Kathy in 2008 after looking for a cloth diaper service in the Twin Cities and not being able to find one. Since starting Do Good Diapers, Peter has made it his goal to have every new parent consider using cloth diapers. He has been active in promoting cloth diapering by giving interviews on cloth diapering to local television news stations, radio and newspapers and partnering with local retailers to organize cloth ‘Nappi’ hours to train parents on using cloth diapers. Peter joins the board with a wealth of experience from managing supply chains to merchandising.  Prior to starting Do Good Diapers, he spent 2 years as a buyer at Fortune 50 retailer and 6 years as a management. Peter has a BS in Industrial Engineering from NDSU and an MBA in Strategy and Marketing from the University of Minnesota.

Shayla Boyd-Gill - Alyahs Alternatives (Retailer) - Term expires 2012

Shayla Boyd-Gill is the owner of Alyahs Alternativeness LLC founded in September of 2003. She spends her time educating her community and beyond about the benefits of cloth diapering and natural baby care. Shayla graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering Technology. After having a career as a construction project manager, she sought out a career option that would allow her to spend more time with her family. The cloth diaper business was a viable option as she had been promoting the use of cloth diapers since having her first child in 1997. She balances running Alyahs Alternatives with her full time career as a mother of four, wife, natural childbirth educator (Bradley Method®), doula and bellydance instructor.  Shayla believes in the concept of Sankofa … reaching back to bring forward information that we have always known but have gotten away from.

Leah Carter - Better for Babies (Manufacturer) - Term expires 2012

Leah Carter is founder and CEO of Better For Babies, Inc. While its beginnings were nurtured overseas, Better For Babies now has its roots firmly planted, and growing, outside Atlanta, Georgia. In 2007, Leah opened her own manufacturing facility near her town’s square allowing her to see to fruition a dedication to local and sustainable production, fair wages, green business practices, and an uncompromising commitment to quality products, innovation and customer service. From there, Little Beetle organic diapers and wool covers are born. With a BS and graduate work in Philosophy, Leah keeps current on legal issues and has a passion for reading and enjoying family time whenever possible.

Dennis Frederick - All Together Diaper (Manufacturer) - Term expires 2011

Dennis Frederick is the owner of the All Together Diaper, Co, est. 1994, a manufacturer and wholesaler infant cloth diapers and related items. His company provides imported prefold and flat diapers to retailers and diaper services. They also manufacturer fitted diapers, all-in-one diapers, organic diapers and related products in the USA. In addition, his company maintains two retail websites, one for infant cloth diapering and one for adult incontinence. He is a former partner in Mothers' Little Helper Diaper Service, est. 1990, ended 1997. In recent years, his company has expanded into reusable linens for the massage and spa industry. Dennis has bachelors degree in Environmental Engineering and a master degree in Business Administration. While growing the All Together Diaper, Co as a home based business with the assistance of his wife Bobbie, he also managed the Ground Water Protection Program for the State of Utah between 1997 and 2003.

Mandi Meidlinger - Jillian’s Drawers (Retailer) - Term expires 2010

Mandi Meidlinger began her business in 2005 after the birth of her daughter, Jillian.  Jillian's Drawers consists of a retail store in Ithaca, New York, as well as an online natural parenting.  Mandi is committed to maintaining ethics in every aspect of her business, including her relations with employees, customers, and manufacturers. Jillian's Drawers is Living Wage certified, offers paid time off and a flexible schedule for their employees.  Customer service is Mandi's top priority, as well as ensuring products are safe for mom and baby.  Mandi supports local businesses, women-owned businesses, and works with wholesalers that offer excellent working conditions.  Jillian's Drawers is the recipient of a 2008 Tompkin's County New Sustainable Enterprise award and Mandi has been quoted in Mothering Magazine, The Ithaca Journal, and Tompkin's Weekly.  Mandi is a board member of the Real Diaper Industry Association, which works to promote cloth diapering.  Mandi holds a M.S. in Accelerator Physics from Michigan State University and has prior experience teaching physics, chemistry, and material science.

Dave Milligan - Bambino Mio (Manufacturer) - Term expires 2011

Dave Milligan is a Sales Development Manager for Regal Lager, Inc., the exclusive distributor of
Bambino Mio in the United States. He has been in the children’s industry since 1989, is
passionate about business and especially in the growth of the cloth diaper category. He ran a
retail store for many years and developed multiple products that have gone to market, from
cribs to car seat components. Later, as a National Sales Manager for a furniture as well as a
stroller company, he also gained invaluable insight from the retailer’s view. Dave feels most at
home right on the floor of the store, working closely with retailers on staff training and
merchandising. He believes strongly in the pursuit of putting more babies in cloth diapers and
travels extensively all over the country to raise awareness. Dave, who is enthusiastic about
being part of the RDIA as a board member, resides in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is happily married
to Danean and is the proud father of three rambunctious boys and an adorable daughter.

Shirley Murdock - Bummis (Manufacturer) - Term expires 2010

Shirley Murdock is co-owner of Bummis Inc., a cloth diaper manufacturer and distributor based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Shirley and her partner Betsy Thomas also own and operate 2 retail stores in the Montreal area, as well as a French retail website associated with the stores. They have made it their mission to establish Bummis as a sustainable model of business - one that supports community in many different ways. And community at Bummis means more than just local - it involves employees, clients, suppliers and fellow industry members. Their focus is on the impact of their business on environment and community - in a social, ecological and spiritual sense. Shirley has a background in biochemistry and worked at establishing biochemical testing systems through statistical analysis in many hospitals in Canada before pursuing her own business in 1991. She is an active volunteer in her local community and has managed many minor sports teams. Her passions are her family, hockey and building business in an ethical and eco-friendly way.

Ann-Marie Speirs - Cozy Baby Boutique (Retailer) - Term expires 2011

Ann-Marie Speirs founded Cozy Baby Boutique in 2005, a retail store specializing in cloth diapers, baby carriers and other natural products. She provides education for health care, labor, and birth professionals to further advocate the use of cloth diapers and is a member of the Real Diaper Association. Prior to starting her cloth diaper business, Ann-Marie worked in donor development (fundraising) for Plymouth Housing Group. She has served as a board member and an officer for several non-profit organizations, including Great Starts, a non-profit providing childbirth education and the publishers of the Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn book. Ann-Marie has also been a founding board member of two different charities. Since 1995 Ann-Marie has been a member of the Seattle Junior Chamber of Commerce, an international not-for-profit organization providing leadership training through community service. Ann-Marie served as president of the Seattle Chapter in 2001 which included managing a building and 23 employees. She is experienced in event coordination, fundraising, and volunteer management.

Lori Taylor - Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers (Small Manufacturer) - Term expires 2011

Lori Taylor owns two small, cloth diaper manufacturing companies with a focus on natural and organic materials – Fuzbaby, est. 1999, and Firefly Diapers, bought 2001. She keeps both small following her Smallering philosophy. Lori is a Founder and current President of Real Diaper Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on cloth diaper education and advocacy. Lori has an M.A. in American Studies / Folklife and a Ph.D. in American Studies. She has worked as book editor at Thorsons, archivist at the Smithsonian Institution, and university teacher at SUNY at Buffalo. Her scholarly work has focused on oral history and community organizing. In addition to web development and business strategy at VeryWrite and 3Stream, she continues political, environmental, and development work for several nonprofits, including the Iroquois White Corn Project, and is a co-Founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air.

Former Directors

Shannon Doan - Wildflower Diapers (Retailer) - 2008-2009

Shannon Doan is owner of Wildflower Diapers, a retail shop of cloth diapers and other environmentally friendly products in Scottsdale, Arizona, since 2005. Shannon holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of South Dakota and an M.S. in Plant Biology from Arizona State University. She has worked for the U.S. Senate in Washington DC, as a legal secretary for a Washington DC law firm, and for Arizona State University as a research botanist and herbarium collections manager.

Jennifer Labit - Cotton Babies/bumGenius (Manufacturer) - 2008-2009

Jennifer Labit, is co-founder and CEO of Cotton Babies, Inc.. Founded in 2002 with a tiny $100 investment, Cotton Babies has become one of the nation’s leading manufacturers in the cloth diaper and natural parenting products industry. The company’s flagship bumGenius!® brand, created in 2005 by Jenn and her husband, Jimmy, is currently being manufactured on three continents, distributed on five continents and sold primarily through independent retailers. In addition to being selected by Target for a special parent-inventors project, the bumGenius® brand has received widespread media attention from publications including Time magazine, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Jenn is committed to run her business in an ethical manner that is reflected in an unceasing insistence on extremely high standards in customer service, treatment of employees and production quality. Jenn is a vocal member of the Juvenile Product Manufacturer’s Association and has spoken to members of Congress regarding product safety issues.

Jennifer Liptrot - Diaper Pin (Cloth Diaper Information Service) - 2008-2010

In 2000, Jennifer Liptrot created Diaper Pin in an effort to educate parents about cloth diapering and green living. Her website has grown to host a wealth of information about cloth diapers in the form of product reviews, business listings, customer reviews, busy forums and many articles on cloth diapering. While her children have grown out of the diapering stage, she continues to stay green using cloth and other reusable items instead of disposables wherever she can. Jennifer has a B.S. in Computer Science and works full time as a manager of a web development group. On Sundays, she volunteers as a religious education teacher at her church. When not working, she enjoys family time with her husband and two children.

Cecelia Lucero - San Diego Diaper Service (Diaper Service) - 2009-2010

Cecelia Lucero owns a small diaper service: San Diego Diaper Service. She runs the business with her husband and 18 month old daughter Megan in San Diego County. Cecelia was a middle school teacher until Megan was born in 2007. That is when she realized that she wanted to be a SAHM.  Cecelia & family used the diaper service with their daughter until the previous owner decided to shut the business down. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to stay home with Megan, so they bought the business in November of 2007 and have been so happy! Cecelia has a BA in US History and a Masters in Education, her husband is an active duty Marine that has been deployed 4 times.  Currently Cecelia volunteers with the Real Diaper Association and belong to several cloth diapering networking groups.

Tashi Nibber - Kissaluvs (Manufacturer) - 2008-2009

For Tashi Nibber, a mom to two young boys and the owner of Kissaluvs, cloth diapers are a natural fit. Growing up on a farm in North India, Tashi herself was cloth diapered. She has seen the cotton being picked, seen it being woven into a thread on her grandmother's spinning wheel, and even seen that thread being woven to cloth on the loom in her village. With a Masters in Marketing and in Computer Science, she has previously worked in the Newspaper and Communication industries. On the birth of her first son, she went back to her roots of living simply and naturally, and took over the reins of Kissaluvs. She believes in natural parenting and creating the best products for kids and runs her business with the philosophy “be great rather than big”.

Jennifer Moore Temple - Buzzie Bee Diapers (Diaper Service) - 2008-2009

Jennifer Moore Temple owns a small scale cloth diaper service and supply company with a focus on green laundering – Buzzie Bee Diapers, est. 2005. She runs the business with her husband and daughters on the coast of Maine. Jennifer volunteers for the Real Diaper Association and belongs to two local networking groups for women. Jennifer has a BA in Shakespearean Drama from Bates College and participated in the Urban Teaching Program at Wheelock College. She has worked in education, social service, healthcare and finance