Program Director / Acting facility administrator
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Leanna Sweha has experience in plant biotechnology research, international trade and development, university research administration and technology transfer, state and federal policy, and agrifoodtech startup business development. She is passionate about promoting technology adoption and smart public policy for a sustainable agricultural economy. |
lab manager
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Dr. Le Vuong co-founded Vitalea Science, Inc., the first US CRO providing microdosing AMS services for early drug development. She is the founder and Chief Technology Officer of The Redmelon Company (formerly Fishrock Laboratories), commercializing products from redmelon (Gac) to increase nutrient quality of foods and to replace toxic colorants. Her research focuses on sustainable, food-based solutions to malnutrition and degenerative diseases. She designed and carried out first-in-the-field studies on a rare fruit in S.E. Asia and its application in alleviating vitamin A deficiency, and invented a non-solvent extraction process to improve bioavailability and stability of carotenoids in the fruit. Dr. Vuong has advised many companies in Food and Nutrition, including the Hanoi National Institute of Nutrition, UNICEF, German Cooperation Agency (GTZ), Pharmanex (NuSkin), Eckert & Ziegler and FAMVITAL.
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board of directors
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John Selep serves as President of the AgTech Innovation Alliance, the 501(c)3 non-profit behind AgStart. As a business consultant, investor, and technology executive, John has worked with dozens of startup companies launching new technologies in the Agriculture, Food tech, and other technology domains. John is a frequent mentor at AgStart Office Hours and AgStart founder education workshops. John is also a Board Director for the Sacramento Angels, a regional investor organization, and is a Principal Advisor through LARTA to numerous startup entrepreneurs associated with USDA SBIR awards.
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Ken Hiatt serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Woodland. Ken has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis.
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Ryan Sharp is Associate Director for Economic Engagement for Venture Catalyst at the University of California, Davis. Ryan has a background in economic development, management consulting and technical research. He has a Master's in International Affairs, Public Policy & Administration from California State University, Sacramento.
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Trish Kelly is Managing Director at Valley Vision, leading portfolios in food and agriculture, workforce development and broadband. She has helped elevate the profile of the region’s food and ag economy, from promoting ag tech entrepreneurship and innovation to addressing critical workforce skills gaps and food insecurity and advancing Farm to Fork. She also helps lead Valley Vision’s efforts to develop the Capital Region’s economic prosperity strategy, in collaboration with partner regional leadership organizations.
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Pamela G. Marrone, PhD spent her 30+ year career focused on leading the way to a more sustainable agriculture through discovery and commercialization of biological products for pest management and plant health. She is currently Executive Chair of Primary BioAg Innovations and Global BioAg Linkages, founded to help agtech/bioag innovators scale and succeed in market adoption. She started Davis-based Marrone Bio Innovations in 2006 and was recently named “Most Admired CEO, Distinguished Career Award” by the Sacramento Business Journal. On August 2, 2013, MBI listed its stock as MBII on NASDAQ. On August 2nd 2020, she retired as CEO and continues to serve on the Board and as an advisor. Before Marrone Bio, she started and led the bioprotection company AgraQuest, Inc.
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Jennifer Jackson joined CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) as an employee benefit plan signing director in February 2017. Before joining CLA, Jennifer worked for three years as a senior manager at a regional accounting firm and twelve years at a Big 4 accounting firm. Although she primarily focuses on employee benefit plans, she also has experience in technology, agribusiness and various other industries. Furthermore, Jennifer has spent over eight years auditing public companies making her an exceptional practitioner.
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Jason Petersen is a Partner, Global Tax and Reporting at EY.
Jason holds an MS in Taxation, from Brigham Young University.
He has served clients in many industries including consumer
products, technology, agriculture, cleantech, biotechnology,
manufacturing, and real estate.
MENTORS AND ADVISORS *
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Chris Chediak
has a JD from the University of Southern California and is a leading corporate finance attorney at Weintraub Tobin |
Jack Coots is a Regional Manager of Farm Data Systems, Inc. and previously founded Professional Grower Services, LLC. Jack is a graduate of the California Agriculture Leadership Program, further developing his skills and connections throughout the agriculture industry.
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Patrick Dosier is an Agronomist and the Co-Founder of TransValley AgTech. He is a California State Polytechnic University – Ponoma alumnus who likes to be on the cutting edge of specialty crop science and technology
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Julie Morris is Academic Coordinator, Food and Agriculture Industry Immersion at the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management. With a Harvard MBA, Morris has held the positions of CFO of Marrone Bio Innovations and CFO at SureClinical.
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Chris Russell has a JD from the University of
Pacific – McGeorge School of Law and is Partner at Stoel Rives, LLP in Sacramento |
Joe Schmidt is Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for BioConsortia. With an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School Of Business, Schmidt has over 20 years of experience in business development, strategic planning, and financial management.
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Robert Tse is currently State Broadband Coordinator and Community Planning and Development Specialist at USDA CA Rural Development. His background is in strategic vision and implementation, and technology solutions.
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Dean Andrews is a Business and Accounting Professor at Woodland Community College. With a MBA, MSA, and CPA, Dean has taught for numerous community colleges throughout Northern California.
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*partial list