meet the people

Jessica Moore
Chief Wrangler, Founder, CEO

Jessica Moore founded Philly CowShare in 2010 after 6 years of organizing her friends to share a purchase of a locally-raised, grass-fed steer. Her family of five eats a Quarter CowShare a year. Each time she needed to restock her freezer, she put the call out “Who wants in on a cow?” The interest was overwhelming so Jessica started Philly CowShare to help other people buy cows from local farmers and experience the pleasure of sharing food with your community. Prior to buying cattle and selling beef, Jessica created a new web-based video product line, Xfinity TV Online, for Comcast. She has a bachelor degree in Computer Science from DePauw University, a masters of science degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and--much to her mom’s dismay--is a Ph.D. drop-out from the same school. Isn’t that just standard behavior for entrepreneurial-minded folks?
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Kevin Tucker
Farm Manager, Logisitics Guru, and generally Quality Guy

Kevin joined Philly CowShare in 2013. His unusual approach to meats came after breaking 8 years of veganism in 2004 by butchering roadkill game. Grass-fed and pastured meats were a natural transition from there which encompass his ecological drive, passion for all things hunter-gatherer, desire for humanely raised and butchered meats, and a smaller carbon footprint. He previously developed a local, pasture-based meat program with Amish and Mennonite farmers in Lancaster County where his BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh was employed daily. Kevin is a self-described wanna-be chef/butcher. His wife and twin daughters have the misfortune of eating his trials and errors, but fortunately they approve of their mutual love of hiking and wild edible mushroom hunting.

Jon Moore
Tech Lead

Let’s face it. When you have extensive experience architecting and building consumer web products and your wife starts a business selling beef online, you’re going to be involved! This was the situation facing Jon Moore, husband of Jessica Moore, back in 2010 when she said “Honey, can you make me a quick website? I’m going to buy some cattle and sell the beef.” When he’s not updating to the latest and greatest designs, Jon is the Chief Software Engineer for Comcast’s web products division. Unlike his wife, he did finish his Ph.D in Computer Science at University of Pennsylvania and got several other degrees along the way.
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Elena Laskin
DigitaLegal LLC

Inspired by Jessica’s entrepreneurial spirit, in 2011 Elena left corporate life to start DigitaLegal, a law firm dedicated to serving the needs of digital businesses. Since working with Jessica, Elena has converted her home to grass-fed beef, and regularly enjoys the beef raised by the Philadelphia CowShare farmers. Elena has a bachelors degree in Anthropology and Political Science from Tufts University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She has never attempted to obtain a Ph.D. in any subject.
DigitaLegal
215-520-5500

Jay S. Brightman, CPA
Acting CFO

Jay is a results-oriented Senior Financial Executive. His experience extends to a variety of industries including technology, manufacturing, health-care, real estate, services and diversified financials. He currently operates his own financial consulting practice. His services include providing de Facto CFO/Controller roles for several early stage companies including: strategic consulting, preparation of projections, monitoring financial results, assisting in structuring financing arrangements as well as capital raising. Additionally, he is actively engaged in SOX 404 and Internal Audit co-sourcing projects. During his career he has successfully been involved with S-1, S-4 and 10-K filings, $35MM capitalization of an internet aggregator and general financial management and accounting process improvement. He began his career in public accounting with PwC and has an active CPA license. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Ted LeBow
JRI Consulting

Ted is a serial entrepreneur. In 1980, he bought his first tractor, signed his first loan with the Production Credit Association, and started waking up in the middle of the night worrying about the rain ruining his hay crop. He grew up in Idaho, on a 10-acre farm. His parents, a physician and professional educator, owned the property, rented it to him, cosigned on the loan(s), and the rest was up to him. Over the last nearly 30 years, he's spent his life learning, growing and helping others learn from his experience. Ted graduated in 1989 from Cornell University School of Agriculture with a Business Management Degree. He's run eight companies from $1MM in annual sales to $50MM in annual sales, five of which he owned all or part of. Ted has worked in corporate America, in privately-owned, family-owned and private equity-owned companies, and for himself. Since 2009 he has run his own private consulting practice focusing on small businesses from start-up to 50 employees. Ted lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania with his wife of 22 years; they have three daughters and two dogs.