Rebecca L Nelson is co-founder and chief executive officer of Nelson and Pade. Rebecca, a lifelong entrepreneur, is passionate about fresh, local food, good health and sustainable living and business practices. All of these things dovetail into the goals, vision and mission at Nelson and Pade, Inc., where Rebecca oversees the business operations, marketing and customer experience. With an emphasis on excellence and achievement, Rebecca provides guidance and leadership to the management team and employees and engages with customers at all levels.

Involved in sustainable agriculture for nearly 40 years, Rebecca embraces the science behind aquaponics and indoor farming to help people around the world grow fresh, nutritious fish and vegetables. Rebecca is the author of the first and primary book on aquaponics, Aquaponic Food Production, as well as school curriculums, videos, training manuals, operation manuals and many articles on aquaponics. She published and edited the Aquaponics Journal®, from 1997-2013 (62 issues).

Rebecca has created the curriculum for and co-teaches the Aquaponics Master Class®, which to date has had attendees from 110 countries, all 50 US states and 3 US territories. Rebecca is an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and she co-developed and co-teaches the first full semester University course on aquaponics.

She was recently inducted into the NZ4 Global Alliance and has previously served on the Boards of the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association and the Hydroponics Society of America. Rebecca served on the Certified Naturally Grown Aquaponics Advisory Council from 2014-2015 and was appointed to the WI Aquaculture Advisory Council in 2013. Rebecca has been an invited speaker at conferences and events around the world and is a featured authority on local and national radio, TV, magazine and newspaper coverage of aquaponics.