principals

Leslee Dixon

I have been in the food industry as long as I can remember. My formative years were spent around a table or working on farms (including the one I grew up on). My first kitchen internship was in the hottest kitchen ever, with an Italian baker by the name of Columbo. 

I studied midwifery/obstetrics, but changed in pursuit of my real love, business entrepreneurship. At 23 I started my first business, a natural foods brokerage firm. 

I have held the title of Mother, Farmer, CEO, Director of Marketing and Development, Senior Managing Partner, Pastry Chef and Minister of Social Artistry. 

In addition being a pastry chef, my strengths are in farm and business planning,  and navigating Pacific Northwest market channels. I’m experienced with micro-production, systems and operations development, organizational culture, regional menu creation, branding and marketing plans.  I create innovative, personalized solutions for small scale farms and food business, and excel at restaurant startup, bootstrapping and funding strategies. 

My interests include seed sovereignty, backcountry exploration, human scaled economies, and spoken word poetry. I’m not too shabby with a slingshot.

Paul McClellan

Since starting Corvus in 1999 as an independent consultant, I have been a Director of Marketing, Business Development Manager, Product Manager, Internal Consultant, Controller, MIS/IT Manager, Due-Diligence Analyst, Technology Evangelist and Web Developer/Designer.

Among the markets in which I've worked are consumer electronics, industrial distribution, systems integration, online retailing, media and hospitality. I understand the differing needs of both product- and service-oriented companies, B2B and B2C. I have helped professional service practices in the legal, architectural and engineering fields.  My project experience ranges from startups, market analysis and product/service definition to restructuring, mergers and acquisition.

I'm committed to alternative education, public libraries, and local food initiatives.  I received a master's degree in music composition from New England Conservatory in 1993.  With the least encouragement I'll talk too long about cooking, aged or fermented food & drink, language, and music - especially jazz on vinyl.

In 2015 I fulfilled a long-held desire to work exclusively with local, sustainable businesses by combining forces with Leslee Dixon to form Corvus Northwest.

Associates

Patricia Hennessy

Growing up I had the good fortune to travel quite a bit with my family and on my own to places and countries that taught me about opportunity and community. Between Manila, Managua and beyond, I have been blessed with many invitations to sit around a table and “break bread” with some incredible people.  This hospitality taught me food is essential to a quality life and is a powerful resource to bring all of us together around a common appreciation and understanding.

I believe in building lasting relationships and connecting communities. With nearly two decades of experience under my belt my focus is organizational development.  My strengths and accomplishments include start-up management, financial planning and strategic growth, fund development and cultivation, community and legislative engagement, capital campaigns, marketing and public relations and innovative program design and oversight.

My expertise has been gleaned through in-depth hands-on work across an array of industries and issues including education, public health and creating built environments.  I am particularly drawn to efforts that support and create opportunities to empower healthy eating choices and promote sustainable development. I hold a very special place in my heart for the heroes of our community, non-profits!

Above and beyond professional life, I love digging in the dirt, being in and on the waters of the Pacific Northwest.  I also have a huge girl-crush on all things pretty especially if it relates to food and dinner parties or vintage muscle cars. To me there is no better way to end the day than cooking dinner for my family and friends!