Joe Kloepfer

Vice Chair

Joe was a founding member of the Board in 2002 and has held the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and Vice Chair. Joe was born and raised on the family farm, Lola May Farms, in Brant County. Along with his family they operate a cash crop, cattle and grain elevator operation. In the early 70’s, Joe and his brothers launched Titan Trailers, a highway trailer manufacturing business that continues to flourish under the ownership of his brother. He is an active member of the Burford Lion’s Club.

Brad Sheeler

Treasurer

Brad is an equity partner and member of the Executive Management Team at Huron Tractor Ltd, an eleven store John Deere Dealer in Southwestern Ontario. Brad is the Controller and Treasurer of the organization and is responsible for overseeing all finance, accounting, and tax functions. Prior to joining Huron Tractor Brad spent several years working in public accounting providing audit, tax, and consulting services to a wide range of both public and private clients. Brad spent his early years in a Canadian Tire store and had the opportunity to live in several locations across Canada, spending much of his time in rural Ontario. Brad graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business in 2010 with his HBA and obtained his designation as a Chartered Accountant in 2013. Brad was elected to the IGPC Board of Directors at the 2017 AGM and began the Treasurer position in 2020.

George R. Alkalay

Secretary

George Alkalay was an advisor to Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative from its formation in early 2002 up until project commissioning in 2008. As Project Manager, George had primary responsibility for arranging project financing of the Aylmer ethanol plant; developing and implementing the comprehensive government relations strategy which led to the Co-operative obtaining its various federal and provincial Government capital grants and operating grants; negotiating all key project agreements including property purchase, EPC, corn procurement, and offtake agreements; and developing the capital structure and obtaining the regulatory approvals for the Co-operative to raise member equity from its approximately 900 community investors.

George is the principal of Northfield Ventures Ltd., which he formed in 1996. Northfield Ventures is a consulting firm providing a wide range of agricultural, food-processing, biofuel and renewable energy co-operatives, farm marketing boards, and private companies with business/strategic planning advice, assistance in financing, development and implementation of member/community investment campaigns, support with government regulatory approvals and funding, governance and management support, and project management.

Prior to forming Northfield Ventures, George held a senior management position at the Credit Unions and Co-operatives Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Finance and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (1991-1996) and was responsible for both the development of co-operative policy and the regulation of co-operatives.

Cassandra Loomans

As General Manager, Sylvite Agri-Services East and Sylvite Industrial Chemicals, Cassandra’s primary role is implementing the long-term divisional strategic plan for the Retail Business and the Industrial Business. Cassandra oversees all branch operations and coordinates with branches to facilitate sales goals, staff growth and a culture of collaboration.

In her role as Vice President, Sylvite, Cassandra plays an active role on the leadership team developing the strategic vision and growth of Sylvite as a whole. Cassandra also manages all branding, marketing, and communications for the company. Since joining the company in 2007, Cassandra has held progressively senior roles, overseeing strategic planning, customer service and key divisional accountabilities for Sylvite Sales and Sylvite Industrial Chemicals. She has also held the position of Vice President of Sylvite Insurance Group and Business Development Coordinator, Sylvite Financial Services. Early on, she gained valuable insight and experience as a customer service representative, fertilizer and industrial management intern and a crop scout. Cassandra has also worked with Marsh Canada Limited and Lloyds of London working on her insurance knowledge.

Cassandra holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) from the University of Guelph and is a graduate of the Agri-Food Management Excellence Executive Development Program. She is currently a board member and Past President of the Ontario Agri Business Association (OABA), board member of Fertilizer Canada, board member of The Fertilizer Institute, and member of the Fertilizer Canada Nutrients and was a previous board member with the charity, Halton Food for Thought.

Cassandra lives in Puslinch with her husband, two children and dog. Cassandra enjoys family time, hiking, skiing, and traveling.

Paul Hazzard

Paul has been involved with the grain trade for over 40 years. This has included holding various roles including general manager, CFO, and grain merchant. He is currently the general manager for the Ontario country elevator operations of Sollio Agriculture. Formerly, he was the general manager and CFO of South West Ag Partners, Inc a Cargill JV (grain and crop inputs) with a head office in Chatham, ON.

Paul has served on various industry boards including the Ontario Agri Business Association (Past President, Soyfood Canada, Chair (formerly Canadian Soybean Export Association). He is a director and chair of the finance and audit committee for a Western Canada based grain and crop inputs business.

Outside of agriculture responsibilities, he teaches finance and accounting at the college and university level. As well, he has been active with health charities currently serving as the treasurer for Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.

Paul is a CPA and has earned his MBA from the University of Guelph.

Eric Van Moerkerke

Eric is president of Willow Hawk Farms Inc. located North of Tillsonburg. The farm produces a variety of cash crops. The company also owns Doerksen Country Store in Port Rowan. Eric is also Vice Chairman of Ingreen Valley Foods Co-operative, a supply co-op for Bonduelle Foods. Eric attended the University of Guelph and graduated with a diploma in agri-business.

Eric is married to his wife Carol. They have 3 children, all married with 5 grandchildren and counting.

Denis Gagnon

Denis Gagnon grew up in a bilingual (French/English) community in Sarnia, Ontario. He then moved to London, Ontario and earned a Construction Technician Supervisor diploma from Fanshawe College. His formal career started by moving to Alberta in 1980 to join a Western Canada contractor. In 1986 Denis was promoted to a Branch Manager and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to launch their U.S. Operations. Denis’ passion for construction and management prompted him to utilize his entrepreneurial skills and, in March of 1993, co-founded North America Construction (1993) Ltd • NAC Constructors Ltd. (“NAC”). The business was established as a small contractor pursuing construction projects of $10M in value and has grown its current capacity of single-sized projects of $250M. Today, NAC operates an employee-owned diverse national general contractor organization, providing heavy construction services to the municipal, civil, energy and biofuel marketplaces. Currently, Denis is the Chairman of the Board and the major shareholder.

Denis has served on various boards, including his current position as a Director on the board of Rockex Mining Corporation and previously ten years as the Chairperson of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada.

Denis also enjoys spending time with his treasured wife of 32 years, three adult children and one grandchild (so far). Denis has many hobbies, some of which include golf, fishing and playing cards. He and his wife recently moved to a new home next to his daughter, where he actively supports their small grass-fed beef cattle operation.

Stephanie Bird

A CPA CA and ICD.d with over 25 years of leadership, Stephanie is an accomplished finance expert with executive risk and operations experience in services industries.  Her passion for the environmental sector coupled with hands on service industry knowledge in in technology, energy, travel and loyalty has gained her valuable knowledge and experience of the fluidity of needs of a fast growing private companies and the requirements for public entities. Stephanie has extensive M&A experience in transactions ranging from $10MM to $400MM and valuable experience in navigating several regulatory environments.

 BOARD EXPERIENCE

• Board and Audit Committee Member for IIBA (International Institute of Business Advisors)
• Board Member and Chair of Finance Committee for Mind Your Plastic
• Board Member Bruce Trail Conservancy
• Chair Finance & Audit Committee
• Chair Risk Committee
• Chair Finance & Risk Committee
• Board member of various subsidiary companies of a TSXV listed entity
• Keystone development of governance practices in a TSXV listed start up
• Regular Presenter to Risk Committee and dotted line reporting relationship with Risk Committee Chair of the Board of Just Energy Group of Companies
• Regular Presenter to Audit Committee and dotted line reporting relationship with the Audit Committee Chair of the Board of Just Energy Group of Companies
• Treasurer – Toronto Ultimate Club

 EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

• CFO, UGE International
• CFO, Cloud DX
• SVP Operations, Kognitiv Corporation
• VP and Global Head of Finance, G Adventures
• SVP and Chief Risk Officer, Just Energy