BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Aya Osaka
Born into a family of makers and sewists, Aya Osaka grew up around fabric. Ever since she discovered that her name meant “twill weave” in Japanese, she felt like textiles were in her DNA. During her graduate study in product design, she became passionate about sustainability and traditional textiles such as wool and linen. This passion led her to start collaborating with a friend who makes guitars and ukuleles, using materials that incorporate flax fiber. Her interest in flax has only grown from there!
She is excited to join Sandy and Durl and the team and contribute to the growing linen industry in North America.
Claire Fong
Claire has been a long-time volunteer with Golden State Linen. Passionate about local and sustainable textiles, she sees Golden State Linen as a pathway to building a strong community around local fiber, as well as a much-needed change in how we think about and produce the clothes we wear.
A talented artist who specializes in playful and whimsical jewelry, she also shares her love of the arts in her role as a K-8 educator at a local charter school.
Jake Coppola
Jake is a civil engineer specializing in structural design. He is passionate about supporting regenerative agriculture in the local community, and believes that market-viable solutions are a critical element of any sustainable future.
He enjoys days outside helping on the farm, as well as hiking on local trails with friends and family.
Lindsey Hethcote
Lindsey Hethcote is originally from Saint Louis, MO, and is currently the Conservation Planning and Education Project Manager for the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS) at Chico State. After graduating from the University of Denver with a B.A. in Environmental Science, Lindsey spent time in the U.S. and Peru, working in environmental education and protection, as well as community development. Her time in Peru reignited her passion for ecological agriculture, so she made the move to Turrialba, Costa Rica to earn her M.S. in in Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture from Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE).
During her two years at CATIE, Lindsey worked with various farmers in different production systems to integrate agrobiodiversity into their work and measure the social, ecological, and economic results. After leaving Costa Rica, Lindsey returned to Missouri where she managed an organic elderberry farm, and later worked as an Agronomy and Horticulture Specialist for the University of Missouri Extension. Before coming to Chico State, Lindsey also spent four years as the Education Director at Tres Estrellas Organic Farm and Garden, a diversified farm in Tecate, Mexico where she developed the curriculum and led student groups.
In her free time, Lindsey enjoys adventuring in the mountains with her husband and two pups.
Melissa Boren
Melissa is a long-time member of the Golden State Linen community. Her interest in natural fibers stems from her time on an alpaca ranch in Northern Arizona. After relocating to California in 2011, she found her way to West Marin where she fell in love with the pastoral landscape of foggy rolling hills dotted with grazing sheep. During these years, she remained connected with her love of gardening. She began experimenting with the paper-making process using garden debris, and quickly discovered a passion for plant-based fibers and textiles. In the winter of 2022, Melissa attended the Fibershed Holiday Fair where she met Sandy and Durl, and was immediately intrigued by their work with flax and linen.
Melissa relocated to Chico in 2023 and has been an enthusiastic participant in all aspects of the process. She’s excited to continue this support as a member of our board, helping us grow into leaders of the linen revival in California.