Lindsie McCabe is a Research Entomologist for the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit. Lindsie’s research includes understanding the behavior and ecology of Osmia lignaria to ensure a sustainable population for pollination and to conserve natural resources for this species.

Nina Tran works at Rent Mason Bees as logistics manager, shipping region appropriate mason bees to home gardeners across the country and hand cleaning mason bee cocoons returned from farms and hosts, up to three million cocoons every year. With a BS in environmental science from the University of Washington, Nina works on educating hosts about sustainable practices as well as sustainable gardening by traveling to local nurseries and hosting mason bee events. 

I have worked with blue orchard bees for the past 41 years. 1980-2011 I worked at the Logan bee lab to develop the blue orchard bee into an accepted orchard pollinator. From 2011-2015 I worked on a large farm in the Central Valley of California to develop a program of alternative pollinators to supplement honey bees in almonds and blueberries. Since retiring, I run my own company (Pollination Systems) providing consulting services, and I am the Certification Manager OBA, ensuring sustainable production of orchard bees.

Abigail is a PhD candidate in Entomology at UC Davis. Her dissertation investigates the impact of the newly introduces parasite, the Houdini fly, on blue orchard bees. Her previous work primarily focused on bee community ecology. She completed her BSc in Biology at Union College in 2018, and studied bee communities in native and restored habitats at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. She then completed her MSc in Biology at Utah State University in 2022. Her Masters work examined how bee diversity has changed over time at Pinnacles National Park.

Bri works at the Washington State University Bee Program and does extension and outreach about honey bees and other pollinators through seminars, workshops, bee program blogging, attending bee association meetings, and writing factsheets. She is also a part-time Ph.D. student working on various projects examining how extension efforts can lead to adoption of pollinator best management practices.