GLOBAL AGINVESTING - Key Persons


Greg Mellinger

Job Titles:
  • Strategic Advisory / Consulting

Jared Rose - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Member of the GAI Team
Mr. Rose is Managing Director of Global AgInvesting. He is responsible for the development, production and execution of the preeminent agriculture investment conference series for the global institutional investment and private wealth management communities. Mr. Rose leads a world class management team that consistently delivers to the agriculture investment arena unrivaled events, media, intelligence and community. Prior to joining HighQuest Partners, Mr. Rose spent a decade as Executive Vice President of Opal Financial Group, an investment management industry conference production company. Mr. Rose successfully leveraged his deep knowledge, experience and myriad industry relationships gained in this role to effectively establish the most critical agriculture investment conference series worldwide. Mr. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and Philosophy from Brandeis University.

Kate Westfall - COO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Member of the GAI Team
  • COO in Charge of the Ag Investing
Kate is the COO in charge of the Ag Investing division for HighQuest Group, overseeing Global AgInvesting (GAI) and AgTech Nexus. She manages the team responsible for the successful execution of these events worldwide. Kate runs point on efforts to communicate with our community, engage thought-provoking speakers, drive revenue, generate innovative content and create new products and experiences for the conference series and GAI News. Prior to joining HighQuest, Kate worked as Conference Director in charge of agriculture, water and infrastructure investment events for IIR USA (an Informa company). Before that, she was Managing Director, Marketing and Events with NewSeed Advisors, where she oversaw the planning efforts for the groundbreaking Agriculture 2.0 conference series. Kate graduated with a BA from Lees-McRae College and a Master's degree in Food Culture & Communications from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Bra, Italy.

Kerri Russell

Job Titles:
  • Head of Operations
  • Member of the GAI Team
Ms. Russell is the Head of Operations for Global AgInvesting and AgTech Nexus, responsible for executing the logistics of conference planning including facility selection, contracting, accommodations, food and beverage selections and audio/visual service arrangements. Onsite at each event she liaises with the hotel to ensure proper execution of contracted services and works to make each attendee's experience is a positive one. Prior to joining HighQuest Partners, Ms. Russell enjoyed a career in the hospitality industry working for high-end hotels in all departments and finally as financial controller. Ms. Russell was also the operations manager for a custom boat-building firm where she was responsible for all aspects of finance, operations, marketing, events and customer service.

Lynda Kiernan-Stone

Job Titles:
  • Member of the GAI Team
  • Editor of Global AgInvesting Media
  • Editor, GAI News
Lynda Kiernan-Stone is Editor of Global AgInvesting Media. She has been with GAI Media since July 2013 and is responsible for the origination, writing, editing, and production of GAI News and the GAI Gazette, and is a contributor to a range of GAI Media products and reports, Ms. Kiernan-Stone has more than 25 years of hands-on experience and immersion in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors. After attending SUNY Stonybrook, Ms. Kiernan-Stone helped run a 700-acre dairy farm in Upstate New York, before moving to Massachusetts, where she has owned and managed a cranberry bog operation since 1997 to the present.

Ms. Pelletier Marshall

Job Titles:
  • Member of the GAI Team
  • Marshall
  • Media Passes and Partnerships
  • Senior PR / Media Manager, Managing Editor, GAI News
  • Senior Public Relations / Media Manager for HighQuest Group
Michelle Pelletier Marshall is Senior Public Relations/Media Manager for HighQuest Group, a position she has held since 2011. In this position, she establishes relationships with key media outlets and representatives of the press in the different conference markets, both domestically and internationally, in an effort to secure positive publicity for the firm's various brands. In addition, she manages media inquiries, interview requests and published articles, and evaluates opportunities and develops media partnerships for all the company's events. Ms. Pelletier Marshall writes and disseminates press releases to key contacts for events, consulting and corporate initiatives. As a member of the marketing department, she also works closely with the marketing team on promotional and social media campaigns, company branding issues, corporate communications, and website development and maintenance. Prior to joining HighQuest Group, Ms. Pelletier Marshall was corporate communications manager for nearly a decade with OSRAM SYLVANIA in Danvers, Mass., a global enterprise with more than 13,000 employees worldwide and a division of Siemens. She was responsible for internal and external communications for the company's Automotive and Corporate businesses, and was instrumental in the development of the company's corporate identity and branding, as well as Internet and Intranet sites, including e-commerce applications. In addition, Ms. Pelletier Marshall has worked as a correspondent for The Daily News of Newburyport, Mass., since 2001. Ms. Pelletier Marshall holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., and is a certified Zenger Miller instructor.

Sarah Linn Pepper

Job Titles:
  • Head of Production
  • Member of the GAI Team
  • Registration and General Questions
Ms. Pepper is Head of Production for Global AgInvesting and AgTech Nexus, responsible for organizing the details and logistics necessary to execute the content for the conference series. She serves as a primary point of contact for all speakers and sponsors leading up to and during events. Onsite at each event, she oversees the technical production, running the sessions and directing the audio/visual team. Ms. Pepper is also responsible for managing the website, online registration system, and mobile app for all Global AgInvesting and AgTech Nexus events. Prior to joining HighQuest Partners, Ms. Pepper worked in stage management and company management for live theatre. Ms. Pepper holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon University in North Carolina.