Board of Directors
Donald Bettle, Director since January 25, 2007
Donald Bettle has spent the last 30 years working in the agriculture industry in New Brunswick. He was formerly the chairman of the Canadian Atlantic Dairy Export Co-op, which administers the Canadian Quality Milk Program. His past achievements include serving on a committee to develop Canada's trade position for agriculture and WTO, serving as chairman and director on the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick, and directing the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Agriculture Producers Association.
Jack Christie, FCA, Director since November 27, 2003
Jack Christie is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the general manager and CEO at Northumberland Dairy Co-operative Ltd. in New Brunswick, where he has been for the past 19 years.
Brad Hanmer, Director since January 25, 2007
Along with his parents and two brothers, Brad Hanmer currently owns and operates a commercial grain and pedigreed seed farm and runs a family-owned seed retail and seed processing and exporting business. He has served as president of the Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association, director for the Canadian Canola Growers Association and was the founding chairman of the Biodiesel Association of Canada — fostering the commercialization of biodiesel in Canada.
Ron Hierath, Director since January 25, 2007
Ron Hierath currently works as a realtor in residential and agricultural sales in Lethbridge, Alta. Before this, Mr. Hierath was a member of the legislative assembly for the Government of Alberta, when he chaired the Standing Policy Committee on Agricultural and Rural Development and became a member of the Grain Marketing and Transportation Committee. Prior to that, Mr. Hierath was a thirdgeneration wheat and barley producer for over 25 years, and a pork producer for over 20 years. He has also served as a member of the Alberta Grain Commission, Western Barley Growers Association, and director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.
Caroline Granger, Director since
Caroline Granger was born in North Bay, Ontario and is an honours graduate of the Winery Management and Viticultural program from Loyalist College, Belleville, Ont. She's the founder and CEO of the Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards and Estate Winery. The Grange is Prince Edward County's largest grape grower and winery. Ms. Granger was chosen as the 2006 Business Woman of the Year of Prince Edward County and was a nominee for the Rosemary Davis Award. Ms. Granger is also the Co-chair of the Prince Edward County Tourism Development Alliance and Chair of Alternatives for Women in Prince Edward County.
Marie-Andrée Mallette, Chair, Audit Committee, Director since
Marie-Andrée Mallette participates in a large-scale commercial crops and coloured beans operation in Quebec, with a focus on exporting. A lawyer in the agriculture domain for 18 years,
Russel Marcoux, Director since December 10, 2002
Russel Marcoux is the CEO of the Yanke Group of Companies, a firm that specializes in transportation, employing more than 700 staff and operating a fleet of approximately 1,900 pieces of equipment. Mr. Marcoux owns and operates a Saskatchewan grain farm. He is actively involved in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, Sask., and the Children's Health and Hospital Foundation.
R. Claude Ménard, FCA, Director since March 11, 2005
Mr. Ménard is a chartered accountant with 40 years experience, beginning with a private firm in Montreal, and then with several key senior management roles in the mining, steel and agriculture industries. He was CEO of Agropur, the largest dairy co-operative in Canada, from 1989 to 2003. He has served as chair of the board of directors with NATREL Inc., Aliments Ultima Inc., the George Morris Centre, the National Dairy Council, and sat on the board of the
John J. Ryan, Director since September 1, 1997
Responsible for the strategic leadership of Farm Credit Canada, John Ryan joined FCC as President and Chief Executive Officer in 1997.
Deeply committed to community involvement,
Gill O. Shaw, BScA, MBA, Chair and Director since November 2, 2006
Gill O. Shaw has over 30 years of experience in agricultural and financial management, and is a specialist in large commercial credit administration. From 1991 to 2002, he served as chief executive officer of the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation and, during that time, was a member of the executive committee of the Manitoba Department of Agriculture. From 1989 to 1991, he served as executive director of the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board. He lives in Brandon, Man.
Réal Tétrault, Director since June 23, 2005
Réal Tétrault owns and manages Emerson Milling Inc., a successful oat milling company he started in 1987. Emerson Milling currently exports to the United States, Mexico and South America.
Sharon E. White, Director since December 19, 2006
Sharon White is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. A practicing lawyer since 1981 in the area of corporate/commercial law, she is a partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP, one of British Columbia's oldest law firms, and is head of their Corporate Finance department. She also serves as a director and chair of the Audit Committee of FreshXtend Technologies Corp., a company involved in the development and commercialization of life extension technologies for the fresh produce and flower industries. She is the past chair of the Securities Section of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. She is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association, and a former member of the Bermuda Bar Association and the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals.
