Board of Directors
Jim Grey
Board President (Chair), Member Director, Ex Offico Member of All Committees
Jim received his degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. Since then he has spent his entire career in Agricultural processing. His background includes technical, plant management and senior executive roles in Canada, the US and Europe, primarily with IGPC Ethanol Inc. as CEO, Casco, Inc. as President and its parent Corn Products International (now Ingredion Inc.) as Executive Vice President, North America. Jim served on the Board of Directors of Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative Inc., IGPC Ethanol Inc., Canada Starch Inc., Commercial Alcohol Inc. (Greenfield Energy), GTC Nutrition Inc., Renewable Industries Canada (formally the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association), and now as the Vice Chair of the Ag Energy Co-operative Board of Directors, Chair of the Ag Energy Co-operative Corporate Governance Committee and is a member of BioIndustrial Innovation’s Canada Board of Directors and a member of its audit committee. Jim is the Principal at JG Grey Consulting Inc. and is the former Chief Executive Officer of IGPC Ethanol Inc. Jim was the inaugural CEO of the company during its initial start-up and through many technological advancements. In 2017, Jim led the $120 MM plant expansion to double its capability. Jim has received the Chartered Director’s (C.Dir) designation from The Directors College (a joint venture of McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada). Jim joined the Ag Energy Co-operative Board of Directors in December 2012.
Pierre Bocti
Vice-President, Independent Director; Corporate Governance Committee Chair, Risk Committee, Finance Committee
Pierre Bocti was vice-president of tax at Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. He has worked in the oil and gas industry with Ultramar Canada, in various financial and management positions. Pierre holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). He is a fellow and was Director of CPA, CGA. In 2013 he obtained the Chartered Director (C. Dir.) designation from The Directors College. He was previously president of Tax Executives Institute, and the recipient of their International President Award. Pierre served on various tax committees to the federal and provincial governments. Pierre Bocti was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his service to the profession, his community and Canada. Pierre joined the Ag Energy board of directors in November 2013.
Roman Golovchenko
Treasurer, Member Director; Finance Chair, Risk Committee
Controller, Aldershot Greenhouses Limited
Roman was born in the Ukraine and moved to Canada to pursue his undergraduate studies. While studying accounting at Redeemer University College, Roman had the privilege to work at Rosa Flora Limited and the Ministry of Revenue as a co-op student. After graduating in 2008, Roman joined Aldershot Greenhouses as a Controller. In 2010, Roman graduated from the Strategic Leadership Program and obtained his Certified Management Accountant designation. Roman joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in December 2011. He looks forward to new learning opportunities offered by the Ag Energy Board.
Jeff Newhouse
Secretary, Member Director; Finance Committee
Walden Gardens
Jeff grew up on the family-owned vegetable farm and began working at Waldan Gardens in 1999 when the company was established. Waldan Gardens grow indoor potted flowers specializing in kalanchoes. His current role in the company is in administration. Jeff has completed a Business Administration, Accounting, Advanced Diploma at Niagara College and a Business Management, Finance and Accounting, B.Comm at Ryerson University. Jeff joined the Ag Energy Board as an apprentice in December 2011 and became a director in August of 2014. In 2019 Jeff was selected as a “Top 4 under 40” winner by Greenhouse Canada. Jeff and his wife Kaitlyn have 2 children Everly and Lyndin.
William Ravensbergen
Member Director; Corporate Governance Committee
General Manager, P. Ravensbergen & Sons Ltd
William grew up in his grandfather’s floral greenhouse business near Smithville. He graduated as a Horticultural Technician in 1992 from Niagara College and has been General Manager at Ravensbergen since 1997. His focus as General Manager has been finances and the day-to-day business of this family run company. William joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in 2006 and became president in 2009.
Peter Zammit
Member Director; Risk Committee, Finance Committee
Gay Lea Foods Co-operative
Peter Zammit has an accounting diploma from Humber College and thirty-nine years of accounting and supply chain management experience. Peter worked for Gay Lea Foods, an Ontario/Manitoba based dairy co-operative that operates eleven manufacturing plants. Over the course of his career there, he has held many positions in the Supply Chain and Finance Department including procurement manager, production planning manager, long-life plant controller, and inventory control. He is recently retired from full-time work at Gay Lea but continues to support their need for the procurement of energy resources for all Gay Lea properties, which amount to an annual volume of 500,000 GJ of natural gas and 10 million kWh of hydro. Peter joins Ag Energy’s Board of Directors with several years of board experience under his belt. He was a director of Pace Credit Union from 1988-1995 and of the Ontario Packing Association from 2007-2010. Peter joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in November 2015.
Theo Slaman
Member Director; Corporate Governance Committee, Risk Committee
Slaman Greenhouses
Theo Slaman is the 3rd generation at Slaman Greenhouses in Burford Ontario. He is currently working alongside his father Brian Slaman in the daily operations of the 3-acre facility that produces cut flowers year round. Theo has been involved in the family business since a very young age and his commitment level and interest in the floral industry continues to grow each day. Theo graduated the Architectural Construction Engineering Technology program at Conestoga College in 2013. Theo joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors as an apprentice in November 2017 and became a Board Director in November 2018.
Joey Groot
Member Director; Risk Committee, Finance Committee
Hensall Co-operative
Joey Groot is currently the Corporate Operations Manager at Hensall District Co-operative. He has worked in the grain, processing, and fertilizer industry for 30 years where he has held various roles in maintenance, logistics, production, and operations management. He was previously the General Manager of ThirdCoast (Goderich Elevators). During this time he worked with multiple locations, specialty food products, and worked closely with many government regulatory parties. Joey holds an Interprovincial Millwright Certificate and has been active in local minor sports associations for many years acting in roles such as board member, liaison, trainer, manager, and assisting in coaching. He is still active in farming today with a small cash crop operation. He joined the board in November 2019.
Retired Directors
2012 - Forward
Peter Kuivenhoven
Member Director; Risk Committee, Corporate Governance Committee
Co-Owner, P.H. Kuivenhoven Greenhouses
P. H. Kuivenhoven Greenhouses in Otterville, ON are a family greenhouse operation that was established in 1991. The business primarily focuses on cut gerbera. Peter and his wife married in 2000 and are blessed with 5 children; 2 boys and 3 girls. Peter and his wife, Melanie, along with his brother Gilbert and his wife, Wilma, have taken over the family operation, which has expanded to 5 acres over the years. Peter joined the Ag Energy Board as an apprentice in November 2010 and became a director in November 2013.
Gillian Cuthbert
Member Director; Audit Committee
Meridian Credit Union
Gillian spent 5 years as a Business Development Manager at Meridian Credit Union. She worked within the Cash Management and Investments department with an investment portfolio in the region of $100 million. Her focus has been on commercial business development and institutional investing. In the past, she spent 15 years working in the human resources and business recruiting sector and 5 years within Public Relations and Marketing sector. She has experience working with small businesses, local government and her local community. She moved to Canada seven years ago from the UK with her husband and three children. Gillian joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in November 2016.
Mike Slaman
Member Director; Corporate Governance Committee
Nith Ridge Angus
Mike grew up working at the family business. In addition to his childhood training, Mike has over 29 years of experience in the cut flower industry. With over three acres of year-round production, he was very involved in that “hands-on” operation. He is well known in his community as a volunteer firefighter of 20 years, a minor sports team coach for 12 years, and for his 7 years on the local minor hockey executive. Mike lives on the farm with his wife, Linda, and their three children. In 2012, they started Nith Ridge Angus, a purebred cow-calf operation in Richwood. Mike is looking forward to the new challenges offered by the by the cattle industry as well as attaining his Electrician’s designation. Mike joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in 2008.
Bernie Renkema
Member Apprentice (Jan. 2016)
Nanticoke Greenhouses,
Bernie Renkema graduated from Calvin College with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1988 and started as president and partner at Nanticoke Greenhouses Limited in 1989. In his time at Nanticoke Greenhouses, the greenhouses have more than doubled in size, from 68 000 ft² when he started, to 170 000 ft² today. Currently, Nanticoke Greenhouses has partnered with Costco, Metro and independent garden centres in Ontario to supply their spring hanging baskets, fall garden mums, and planters. Bernie previously served on the Ag Energy Board of Directors from 2001-2008. During this period, the organization experienced a significant transition from a small co-operative which operated under Flowers Canada with one employee and virtually no assets, to a strong well capitalized Ag Energy. During his Board of Director service, Bernie held the post of secretary and treasurer. Bernie passed away suddenly on May 27, 2016. Bernie was married to Maria Renkema and together they had 5 children.
Rob Bigley
Director
Director of Canadian Operations, Keepsake Plants Ltd. (Formerly known as Yoder, pre-acquisition)
Rob was born and raised in Leamington, Ontario and has been working at Yoder Canada since 1976. He started in the soil room and has held many different positions in the company. Now he sits in the boardroom, having held the position of Director of Canadian Operations since 2006. His knowledge of the floral greenhouse industry is extensive and has developed from several years of experience. He serves on the Board of Directors of Yoder Canada. Over the years Rob has been a very active member in the local community. Rob joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in 2007 as an apprentice and became a Director in 2008. He retired from the Board of Directors in December 2012.
Jamie Van Spronsen
Director
SVS Greenhouses
Jamie grew up in his family’s greenhouse business. He graduated in 1983, with a BA in Business and Economics at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He worked in the marine and transportation industry through to 1999. Since then, he and his sister Annette have managed his father’s greenhouse, SVS Greenhouses. This flower growing business now stands at 3 acres in two locations in the Brantford, Ontario area. Jamie joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in 2007 as an apprentice and became a Director in 2009. Jamie retired from the Board of Directors in November of 2013.
Jan VanZanten
Director
Senior Manager, Van Zanten Greenhouses
Jan was born in the Netherlands and moved to Canada at a young age, where his parents began VanZanten Greenhouses. He started working in the family business, as a child, by planting bulbs by hand and keeping the walkways clean. For the last 10 years, Jan has been working on expanding the business. Currently, he manages sales and operations, which produce speciality cut flowers such as freesia and hydrangea year round with 60,000 square feet of greenhouses. When not working, Jan helps his wife with their five lovely young daughters. He joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in 2007. Jan retired from the Board of Directors in November of 2013.
Anthony Lanni
Director
Vice President, Beaverbrook Group of Companies
Anthony is primarily engaged in the development of residential and commercial properties across North America for Beaverbrook, a family owned firm based in Toronto. With responsibility for Project and Corporate performance, as well as management of Treasury and Development functions, Anthony is involved in all facets of the development process. After graduating with a MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 2000, Anthony joined the New York office of a global investment bank where he developed debt and equity solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Anthony is the treasurer of Ontario Flower Growers Holdings Limited and is Special Advisor to The Stephanie Lanni Foundation. He joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in November 2009. Anthony retired from Ag Energy’s Board of Directors in August of 2014.
Arjan Vos
Secretary / Treasurer
Controller, Rosa Flora Limited
Arjan has had the opportunity to work at Rosa Flora Limited for over 15 years. Since university, he earned his Certified Management Accountant Certification. He employs these skills daily at Rosa Flora. He looks forward to continuing his work within the greenhouse industry, and helping the larger agricultural community. He joined the Ag Energy Board of Directors in 2003. Arjan retired from Ag Energy’s Board of Directors in November of 2014.