"This a chance to work with people who serve humanity from a foundation of love and sprit, and to be part of helping those people help others.” Frank Foti
One America Movement Board Members
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Frank Foti
Frank Foti
Frank embodies joy and love and does his best to bring these qualities into his life, his work, and the world every day. His journey has been one of exploration and evolution—of businesses, landscapes, and lives. Over decades, he has revitalized struggling enterprises, championed industrial jobs and the people that perform them, and is now applying that same vision to The Ground, a regenerative ecosystem dedicated to expanding consciousness, fostering human potential, and reconnecting people with nature.
Raised in a hardworking immigrant family, Frank’s early experiences in his father’s construction business were formative, though not always welcome. Seeking his own path, he pursued leadership roles in AIESEC U.S., an international student business organization, and worked in language training and telecommunications before returning home to take over the family business when his father became terminally ill. He transformed the company, learning to value the brilliance of the artisans in the building trades.
With that success, Frank sought a new challenge, ultimately acquiring and revitalizing several struggling shipyards. As President and CEO of Vigor Industrial, he expanded it into a diversified industrial leader with 2,000 employees across seven locations and over $700 million in annual revenue. His leadership was guided by the values of Truth, Responsibility, Evolution, and Love and the belief that industrial jobs matter.
Frank continues the work of grounding himself and others. There is a common thread between his work at Vigor and The Ground: centering and honoring the humans who do the work. Whether creating the things we use or nurturing and preparing the food that nourishes our bodies, Frank recognizes the importance of those who sustain us. He is now channeling his lifelong passion for exploration and evolution into The Ground, a project he co-founded with his wife, Brenda Smola-Foti.
Built on the foundation of Tabula Rasa Farms and rooted in Oregon Wine Country, The Ground is a multi-dimensional enterprise that weaves together regenerative agriculture, human connection, hospitality, and education. At its core is a farm dedicated to enhancing biodiversity and restoring balance through regenerative practices, while its hospitality network offers guest stays, a farm store, a restaurant, and curated experiences that foster connection through food, nature, and shared wisdom. Beyond agriculture and hospitality, The Ground cultivates programming designed to deepen self-awareness and strengthen the human-nature relationship, all within a business model that prioritizes the long-term well-being of people, the planet, and all species.
At the heart of The Ground is Frank and Brenda’s shared vision: to provide hospitality to all species. With Frank’s passion for the evolution of human nature and Brenda’s expertise in holistic land stewardship, they have created a space where people can reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world. Whether in nature or human nature, Frank’s mission remains the same: to build, nurture, and create spaces where truth, love, and evolution guide the way.