|
 |
Martin Bartels
President and CEO
728 Catoctin Circle NE
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
USA
Tel: 703-774-5470
Email:
martinbartels1@me.com
|
An avid home gardener, Martin is a recognized leader
in nonprofit transformation. In 2004, he rebranded the Appalachian
Trail Conservancy as director of marketing and communications,
developing a new website and membership magazine, and cultivating
numerous additional corporate partners.
He later took on the role of executive director at
the 132-year-old American Canoe Association, where he applied his
skills to cultivating the organization’s marketing, communications,
and strategic development. Prior to his nonprofit career, Martin was
a successful journalist and published author whose work appeared in
newspapers and websites around the world.
Martin was born in the north suburbs of Chicago and
grew up in the rural mountains of Colorado where growing seasons
were short and soils challenging. He now lives in northern Virginia
where he spends his time discovering new products from local farmers
and exploring the region’s viticulture. |
|
|
Dave Bender
with his grand-daughter Abby |
Dave
Bender
Vice President
General Manager
7913 Vicksburg Ave.
Lubbock, Texas 79424
USA
Tel:
+1-806-698-6527
Fax: +1-806-698-8393
E-mail:
bender.spi@nts-online.net
|
Dave grew up in
western
Pennsylvania
on a small farm with several large gardens. After majoring in
biology at Goshen College, he received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in
horticulture from Virginia Tech.
For 19 years Dave
headed the vegetable research program at the Texas A&M Agricultural
Research and
Extension
Center
at Lubbock, Texas. This program focused on production practices,
plant physiology, integrated pest management, cultivar adaptation
evaluations, and sustainable systems.
Dave has been
active in professional societies, serving as chair of several
working groups and committees, a professional horticulture journal
reviewer, and an active member of commodity research groups. He has
published numerous research journal articles, grower publications,
and book chapters. |
|
 |
Sharon Gutormson
Manager, Seed Quality and Support Services
20659 471st Avenue
Brookings, SD 57006
Tel: +1 605 693 4279
Fax: +1 605 691 4166
E-mail:
Sharongutormson@hotmail.com
|
Sharon grew up on a farm is
southeastern South Dakota. In addition to corn, soybean, and alfalfa
production the family also raised seed corn, popcorn, cattle and
horses. This led to her interest in Agronomy and eventually a
Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy at Montana State University.
She has worked in the fields of weed science, entomology, ground
water quality, meteorology, soil testing and seed testing. While
co-owning and working 14 years in a seed laboratory she obtained her
Registered Seed Technologist and Certified Genetic Technologist.
She now spends her time with her children, volunteering with their
projects in school, 4-H, church, sports and camps. Being very
grateful for what she has received in life and work from others she
believes in giving back. She works as a volunteer for SPI. |
|
|
|
Karl Fiander
Manager, Canadian Operations
491 Hunter St West
Peterborough, ON. K9H 2M9
Canada
Tel: +1 705 742 5141
Mobile: +1 705 930 2245
Email: kfiander@cogeco.ca
|
Karl has worked in the Canadian seed
industry for 29 years. He has a Bachelor of Science, (Botany) from
Carleton University. He currently holds the position of Vice
President with Pickseed Canada Inc of Lindsay, Ontario which is the
largest turf and forage seed company in Canada and the Pickseed
Group is one of the top four forage and grass seed companies in
North America. Responsibilities have included turf seed procurement
and contract production, management of seed processing and blending
facilities, marketing and distribution of forage, turf and
reclamation seed, and product development.
Karl has sat on the Presidential Advisory Committee for Carleton
University, and currently acts as President of the Federation of
Ontario Cottager’s Associations, a not-for-profit group promoting
sound environmental stewardship and advocacy interests for Ontario
cottage groups.
Karl has also worked with USC Canada in furthering their Seeds Of
Survival program in Central America and is currently steering Seed
Programs Canada through the registration process with Canada Revenue
Agency for Canadian charitable status. |
|
 |
Timothy J.
Batcha
Chief Financial Officer |
Tim has been Chief
Financial Officer since SPI started in 1998.
He is a
graduate of Miami University (Ohio) with a Bachelor of Science
degree in accounting and Wake Forest University with an MBA degree.
He is a Certified Management Accountant. He worked 6 ½ years for
Andersen Consulting designing financial systems and 4 years for Sara
Lee corporation in financial services. He has worked 13 ½ years for
FedEx as Manager, Finance and Accounting at FedEx Trade Network in
their Atlanta, Georgia office. |
|
John Batcha in his garden with grand-daughter Nicole |
John A. Batcha
Chairman of the BoardTel: +1 704 655 1611
E-mail:
jbatchaseeds@bellsouth.net |
John was raised on a vegetable farm in New Jersey and received a
Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Rutgers University.
He received a Masters of Business Administration degree from the
Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration and
worked 28 years for Asgrow Seed Company in a wide range of
assignments retiring as Executive Director in 1990.
After retirement he worked eight years for Partners of the Americas,
the largest volunteer organization in the Western Hemisphere, building
and operating a program that distributed over 6,500,000 packets of
garden seed in 29 countries. He founded Seed Programs Inc. in 1998 and
served as its President until June 2009.
|
|
