Experience

Finistere Ventures

• United States
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Agonomist

  • Dec 2018 - Present

  Responsible for agronomic evaluations of potential investment target companies, identifying potential investment leads and directly assisting existing portfolio companies in their agronomy activities, particularly trial design and execution. Companies currently being supported include Biolumic, Taranis, CropX and Grower's Edge Financial. Responsible for agronomic evaluations of potential investment target companies, identifying potential investment leads and directly assisting existing portfolio companies in their agronomy activities, particularly trial design and execution. Companies currently being supported include Biolumic, Taranis, CropX and Grower's Edge Financial.



Granum Services, LLC

• Morgan Hill, CA

• Principal Consultant

  • Feb 2016 - Present

  In addition to continuing the services previously described (see below), I am also now providing and offering services in biofuels crops agronomy, seed production and general agricultural development. Through this consultancy, I am also working with the Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis as an instructor for their courses "Seed Production" and "Seed Business 101". In addition to continuing the services previously described (see below), I am also now providing and offering services in biofuels crops agronomy, seed production and general agricultural development. Through this consultancy, I am also working with the Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis as an instructor for their courses "Seed Production" and "Seed Business 101".



Seed Biotechnology Center

• UC Davis

• Instructor

  • Feb 2016 - Present

  Co-instructor for Seed Business 101 short course for seed industry and agricultural professionals. Coordinating Instructor for Seed Production short course for seed production and seed industry professionals. Co-instructor for Seed Business 101 short course for seed industry and agricultural professionals. Coordinating Instructor for Seed Production short course for seed production and seed industry professionals.



SGB Inc.

• United States
• Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Agricultural Operations

  • Sep 2014 - Feb 2016

  Responsible for all agricultural aspects of Jatropha worldwide with a special emphasis on its commercialization in Guatemala, with additional emphasis in India and Southeast Asia.

• Director, Seed Supply Chain

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2014

  Responsible to develop and direct the global seed supply chain for Jatropha, a perennial shrub as a source of biodiesel and jet fuel. Main responsibilities are to create and manage the seed multiplication activities, and the plantation agronomy research associated with plantation scale up.



Granum Services, LLC

• Principal

  • Jun 2009 - Jun 2012

  Granum Services, LLC is a consulting firm focusing on seed production. Specifically, designing and improving seed production schemes, assuring a solid business framework in seed production, process control improvements, contract seed production field inspections, and optimizing cross-cultural business interactions. Services are also provided for interim seed production management, due diligence for acquisitions,and for technical expertise in product liablility relative to seeds. Granum Services, LLC is a consulting firm focusing on seed production. Specifically, designing and improving seed production schemes, assuring a solid business framework in seed production, process control improvements, contract seed production field inspections, and optimizing cross-cultural business interactions. Services are also provided for interim seed production management, due diligence for acquisitions,and for technical expertise in product liablility relative to seeds.



Mendel Biological Solutions

• United States
• Farming
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Production and Quality

  • Jul 2010 - May 2012

  Responsible for establishing a commercial scale seed production, operations and quality system for Miscanthus, a feedstock for biofuels. This includes establishing growing locations, grower base, harvest system, operations site, quality testing, control and assurance processes and related staffing. Responsible for establishing a commercial scale seed production, operations and quality system for Miscanthus, a feedstock for biofuels. This includes establishing growing locations, grower base, harvest system, operations site, quality testing, control and assurance processes and related staffing.



HM.Clause

• Global Head of Production

  • May 2008 - May 2009

  Established integrated production organization for business unit of Harris Moran and Clause created in July 2008. Consolidated individual production activities in South America and also initiated HM.Clause production center in India. Oversaw consolidation of relationships with contracted production companies. As a member of Executive Committee, actively participated in creation of the business unit and established the business interfaces between Production and the other key functions. Provided interim leadership for the local research laboratories. Responsible for leading and directing all production activities worldwide, with extensive activities in China, India, Thailand, Viet Nam, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, France, and Spain. Show less



Harris Moran Seed Company

• Farming
• 1 - 100 Employee

• VP, Production and Quality Assurance

  • May 2003 - Apr 2008

  Reorganized functions with significantly more diversified global focus. Established on-site production management in South America and established production center in Peru. Drove down contract prices with production companies up to 25%. Created and staffed new position of production seed physiologist to improve results of refined genetic varieties. Improved seed testing capabilities with regard to seedborne diseases and vigor. Provided interim leadership for the product development function. Show less



Syngenta

• Switzerland
• Farming
• 700 & Above Employee

• Global Head of Small Seed Vegetable Production

  • Jan 1998 - Apr 2003

  Created and implemented global production organization within matrix business structure across four geographical marketing organizations. Established Syngenta Seeds production centers in Peru and China, as well as regional production organization for Asia. Expanded production into India and Vietnam. Created and implemented global production organization within matrix business structure across four geographical marketing organizations. Established Syngenta Seeds production centers in Peru and China, as well as regional production organization for Asia. Expanded production into India and Vietnam.



Rogers NK Seeds

• Gilroy, CA

• Director, Small Seed Production and Operations

  • Jan 1993 - Dec 1997

  Global management of Production activities and Gilroy Operations site. Established production center in Chile and built it into an $8 million enterprise. Directed a significant successful shift of China production from traditional Northeastern areas to the underdeveloped Northwest areas over two years. Consolidated production activities in Thailand and initiated production in Viet Nam. Global management of Production activities and Gilroy Operations site. Established production center in Chile and built it into an $8 million enterprise. Directed a significant successful shift of China production from traditional Northeastern areas to the underdeveloped Northwest areas over two years. Consolidated production activities in Thailand and initiated production in Viet Nam.