VINELAND - Key Persons
Aaron Morrow joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2022.
Aaron spent the first half of his career working as a Senior Director for a major Canadian bank on Bay Street in Toronto focusing on the Mutual Fund, Brokerage and Wealth Management divisions. After 17 years in Toronto, he moved his family to Niagara and took a role as an executive with a Canadian credit card company where he specialized in process improvement, project management and strategy. While working in the financial services industry, Aaron always felt a desire to give back and help and has held several Board of Director positions at local not-for-profit agencies in the developmental sector.
In 2014 , Aaron made the decision to focus his career on the not-for-profit sector and previously worked for a Niagara-based not-for-profit agency in charge of facilities and projects. He is experienced in investment planning, project management and Lean Six Sigma process improvement.
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- Executive Director, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
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- Senior Research Technician
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- Senior Research Technician
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- Chairman, Ontario Apple Growers
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- Senior Research Technician
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- Senior Research Technician
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- Robotics Engineer / Robotics & Automation / 905.562.0320 X437
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- Technical Assistant / Research & Development
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- President & CEO, BioWorks
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- Senior Research Scientist
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- Genomics Specialist / Platform Genetics Inc.
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- Chairman, Ontario Apple Growers
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- Senior Research Technician
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- Research Scientist
- Vice President / Research & Development
- Vice President of Research and Development
Darby McGrath joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2013 as Research Scientist. In 2018 she was named Program Leader for Plant Responses and the Environment program, also leading Vineland's Greening the Landscape Research Consortium.
In 2022, Darby was promoted to Vice President of Research and Development. In this leadership role, she guides the direction of Vineland's innovation portfolio to maximize real-world impact with a team of more than 50 scientists and technicians.
Darby holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability from the University of Waterloo. She is an Adjunct Professor at Brock University and the University of Waterloo.
Job Titles:
- Director Marketing & Communications
Dieter Jentsch is a former senior executive at Scotiabank with a 35-year career as a banker in corporate banking, capital markets, commercial and retail banking in Canadian and international markets. In addition to being part of the Bank's Operating Committee, he was Group Head of Global Banking & Markets and prior was Group Head of International Banking. Other senior roles include Executive Vice President Latin America and Executive Vice President Canadian Commercial Banking during which time he was accountable for the growth and strategic direction of the bank's agricultural portfolios.
Dieter is now extensively involved in private and public corporate boards and early stage investing in technology start-ups in various industries. He has a passionate interest in digital innovation to foster industrial growth in a sustainable way.
He has an extensive background in horticulture, born and raised in Kelowna, B.C. to well-known leaders in the B.C. fruit industry, he went on to study agriculture/plant science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and followed by an MBA also from UBC. Dieter also holds a diploma in the Advanced Management Program from the European Institute of Business (INSEAD) and a diploma from the University of Toronto Rotman - ICD Directors Education Program.
Job Titles:
- Senior Business Development Advisor
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- Board Director
- President of Koornneef Produce
Fred Koornneef is the President of Koornneef Produce, a supplier of superior vegetables and tender fruits. The company's roots reach back more than five decades, when Fred's father Arie Koornneef began selling choice tender fruit to customers out of a pick-up truck.
From those humble beginnings, Koornneef Produce Ltd. has grown to become one of southern Ontario's premier suppliers of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and tender fruit.
Fred Koornneef also sits on the Ontario Wholesale Produce Association (Toronto Wholesale Produce Association - TWPA) and is currently serving as President.
Job Titles:
- Senior Systems Scientist of the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
Ian Potter - CEO, Chairman, President
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- Chairman
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- President and CEO / Chair, Innovation Advisory Council
Ian Potter is President & Chief Executive Officer of Vineland, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer of Platform Genetics, Inc.
Previous to Vineland, Ian served as Vice President, Engineering and Vice President, Business Management with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and previous to NRC as the Chief Operating Officer at Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures (AITF). During his 10 years at AITF and its predecessor, the Alberta Research Council (ARC), he held several leadership and management positions in energy, environment, greenhouse gas technology and human resources.
Dr. Potter has a successful track record in innovation and strong experience developing and collaborating with a broad network of stakeholders. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary.
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- Grower 's Manager, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
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- Laboratory Supervisor, Soils & Substrates
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- Senior Research Technician
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- Controller
- X / Controller 905.562.0320 X761
Joanne Tessier joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2013 and was appointed Controller in 2019.
Joanne began her career in her family's management accounting firm and gained experience in a diverse range of businesses and industries including small proprietorships, public accounting firms, international corporations and large municipalities. She has a strong background in systems implementation, strategic planning, managerial finance and financial reporting.
Joanne is a Certified Management and Chartered Professional Accountant in Ontario and holds diplomas in Management, Municipal Administration and a certificate in Public Purchasing.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Landscape Ontario
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- Board Director
- President, JRG Consulting Group
John operates JRG Consulting Group, a Guelph-based management consulting firm that has been in business for more than two decades. JRG Consulting Group focuses on the agriculture and food sector and provides consulting services in areas such as business strategy, sector competitiveness, economic assessments and policy. Dr. Groenewegen has conducted a number of projects in various segments of the horticulture sector.
Previously, John was a Partner in a major management consulting firm and was also employed by Agriculture Canada and worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the early part of his professional career.
Mr. Groenewegen has a doctorate in agricultural and applied economics from the University of Minnesota, with his first two degrees from the University of Guelph. In addition to his professional focus, John is a farm owner in a share-cropping operation in southwestern Ontario.
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- Business Development Director
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- Chief Technology Officer, NGen Manufacturing Canada
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- Research Technician / Genomics
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- Chairman of the Board
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Shared Services West
Karen Belaire is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Shared Services West, a shared service organization specializing in supply chain optimization in the not-for-profit sector. Karen has held such roles as the Chief Operating Officer at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Chief Operating Officer at the London Health Sciences Centre and at St. Joseph's Health Care London, Vice President Administration for McMaster University and Vice President of Finance and Administration for St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton and for Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.
Karen holds a CPA/CGA designation and an MBA and she is a Chartered Director (C. Dir.). Her board experience includes current: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, GS1 Canada, Csii, St. Joseph's Health System (International Outreach Program), and past: Horizon Utilities, Theatre Aquarius, St. Peter's Hospital, CIMTEC, Trillium Gift of Life Network, McMaster Innovation Park, Gore District Land Trust, McMaster Museum of Art, HSCN, Kids Health Links Foundation and CAA Southwestern Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Research Accountability
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- Group General Manager, Marketing & Innovation
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- Board Director
- Chairman
- Board Director / Chair, Stakeholder Advisory Council
Ms. Ego MacPhail holds a BSc in agriculture from the University of Guelph. She is Director of the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association and Past Chair of Agricultural Adaptation Council.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Specialist
Liz Stokes Bajcar is a specialist in the human resources field with over thirty years of experience in energy (Enbridge and IESO), insurance (Prudential of America and CGU) and media (TVO).
Previously, her roles included Senior Manager Total Compensation for Canada and Director Compensation for North America. Liz's focus was on program design and development, employee services and compliance.
After retiring from corporate life, she and her husband joined the agricultural community and are now enjoying owning and operating Ridgecrest Vineyards located in Stoney Creek, ON. In addition to growing grapes, there is a pear orchard on the property.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Partner at Gowling WLG
Lori Hall is a partner at Gowling WLG, an international law firm with 18 offices across the globe.
Distinguished among the world's top trademark professionals, Lori focuses her practice exclusively in the area of trademark prosecution. Over the course of her 14-year career, she has helped countless clients - from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations - protect and maximize their brands at home and abroad.
A sought-after thought leader in her field, Lori is the author of the trademark prosecution section of LexisNexis Practice Advisor, one of Canada's premier legal resources. Lori's past board experience includes The Goodwill Amity Group (Hamilton and Halton) and The Innovation Factory at the McMaster Innovation Park.
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- Owner, Hoogenboom Farms / Board Member, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
An early career that began in the family's food retail boutique, organically evolved to educator, chef and vineyard proprietor. Mark Picone currently teaches at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College, noting the engagement of students reinforces the role of mentorship.
While maintaining his creative eye and with a pulse of Niagara regional cuisine, the approach to sustainable farming led to his prized vineyard that is nestled in the Vinemount sub-appellation and parlays into his spirit of social gastronomy.
Mark is a graduate of the University of Guelph (B Comm) and Niagara University (MBA).
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- Technical Assistant / Research & Development
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- Board Director
- Executive
- Vice Chair of the Board
May Chang is an executive who has spent 25 years in the healthcare sector in leadership roles at large community hospitals and major multi-site hospitals. She is currently the Principal of May Chang Consulting, offering executive leadership strategies.
Prior to starting her own consulting firm, May was the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Markham Stouffville Hospital, where she strategically created and promoted the Office of Innovation, engaged partners for an Information Technology Hub and successfully mentored upcoming executives. May is sought after for her sound financial planning and fiscal expertise, as she is renowned for her ability to help organizations become financially successful.
Prior to joining Markham Stouffville, she served as Interim Chief Executive Officer at Shared Services West. May also held various senior executive portfolios at Trillium Health Partners and spent nine years in managerial positions in the private sector with Harry Rosen Inc.
She graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto and holds the prestigious Fellowship designations from both the CPA and CMA.
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- Head, Genomics Services / Platform Genetics Inc.
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- Research Technician / Software Engineering
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- Board Member, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
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- Consumer and Market Researcher
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- Advisor / Communications & Public Relations
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- Telleen / Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens
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- Project Accountant / Administration
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- Coordinator / Administration
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- Manager / Building Operations
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- Genomics Laboratory Supervisor
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- Board Director / Chair, Business Development Committee
- Director of the Board for the Canadian Meat Council
- President of the Sunterra Group of Companies
Ray Price is President of the Sunterra Group of Companies including Sunterra Meats, Sunterra Markets and Sunterra Farms based in Alberta and the Midwest U.S.
Ray is Director of the Board for the Canadian Meat Council and has also served on the Board of the Government of Canada's Council of Science and Technology Advisors.
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- Director / Plant Responses & the Environment
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- Owner, P.G. Enns Farm / Secretary / Treasurer, Wine Growers Ontario
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- President, National Association Flowers Canada Growers
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- Vice - Chair, Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
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- Associate Professor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
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- Manager, Ontario Tender Fruit Growers
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- Acting Director, Harrow, London & Ontario, Development & Technology, Agriculture & Agri - Food Canada 's Harrow Research & Development Centre
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- Project Management Business Advisor
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- Senior Research Technician
Tony DiGiovanni retired from the role of Executive Director of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, one of the world's largest and most active Horticultural Associations. He also serves as a Director of the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation and Executive Director of Canada Blooms Flower and Garden Show.
As of 2022, Tony is serving on a number of committees including Deans Advisory Committee at Humber College, Chair of Green Infrastructure Ontario, Chair of the Development Committee at Toronto Botanical Garden, Board member of the Toronto Botanical Gardens, Director Maple Leaves Forever, Director Highway of Heroes Living Tribute, Director Smart about Salt Council, Director IPM Council and Director Trees for Life.
He has also held advisory board positions at the University of Guelph, Seneca College, Ryerson University, Humber College and the Industry Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Colleges Training and Universities.
Tony received many awards including the Humber Alumnus of Distinction in 2002 and an Honorary Degree in 2011. He is thrilled to be an honorary member of the Niagara Parks School Alumni.
Job Titles:
- Global Sensory Director, MMR Research Worldwide Inc