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Personnel
Steven Smith
Steve Smith has a variety of experience in the development of new crops, biobased products, and new agricultural technology. He has been involved with the development of AgroTech's websites and other education projects since the company formed in 2000 including data gathering, strategic planning, sales and special projects. He has also worked on a large row crop farm, been involved in several startups, worked with new crops and related R&D, and has operated his own business. Mr. Smith took over the full-time management of BiobasedNews.com and Biobased Information System in January of 2007.
Jay Witherspoon
Jay Witherspoon specializes in targeting audiences through digital means. He has worked since 1998 on a variety of projects helping to define the digital infrastructure for biobased products in the United States and Canada. His experiences have brought him face to face with exciting prospects for coordinating the flow of information between ever-expanding stakeholders. He is currently employed as Retail Internet Director with Cellular Sales, Verizon Wireless' largest authorized reseller. He graduated in 1997 from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee with a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature.
Company Advisors
Joseph Dales
Joe Dales is Senior Vice President and Director of Farms.com. In this capacity he oversees the planning, communications and implementation of the company's business strategies in conjunction with senior management. He was founder and CEO of eHARVEST.com, one of the predecessor companies to Farms.com. During his three years of leadership, the company became one of the leading agri-food B2B e-commerce players and subsequently merged with Farms.com in March, 2000. Mr. Dales has over 15 years of agri-marketing and management experience with leading companies such as Pfizer, United Agri-Products, Novartis Seeds and Cyanamid Crop Protection. He holds a Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Masters in Business Administration (Marketing and Finance) degree. Mr. Dales serves on the Board of Directors of several agriculture, food and technology companies and associations.
Kenneth "Pete" Moss
Pete Moss became President of FBA through a transition plan developed in 2006. He has over eighteen years of professional experience in oilseed processing, biodiesel commercialization, marketing, business plans and financial analysis. Mr. Moss has a comprehensive understanding of the Biofuels industry, feedstock and product value analysis and and by-product streams and frequently speaks at financial summits and Biofuels seminars. He earned his bachelor's degree in management/marketing, and his masters of business administration (Executive MBA) from the University of Memphis.
Peter Nelson
Peter Nelson is a principal in BioDimensions which provides services and makes investments in startup companies developing new green technology, a field he has been involved in since 1996. He is an advisor to companies including Arkansas-based Infinite Enzymes and Ontario-based Stemergy which are both working to introduce new agricultural-based opportunities. Mr. Nelson was one of six initial steering committee members for the Southeast Sun Grant Initiative based at University of Tennessee which has received over $40 million in Federal funding for university research. Mr. Nelson was one of three original founders of the Biobased Manufacturers Association (BMA) which helped influence key components of Title IX of the 2002 Farm Bill related to biobased products and renewable energy. He has been invited to participate on key steering committees and think tanks in the Southeast U.S. and wrote the "Tennessee Biobased Products for Farmers and Rural Development Act of 2000." Mr. Nelson has worked extensively with Tennessee State University, an 1890 Land Grant University, to develop opportunities for minority students to participate in new agricultural-based technologies. These programs have been successfully funded by DOE and USDA. Mr. Nelson is also a published writer and a frequent speaker at conferences related to biobased products and renewables. He is currently a founding board member for the West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition and a member of the Communications Committee for ACORE's Biomass Coordination Council. Among other projects, he is working on deploying new farming methods in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan where he has worked for two short terms. Mr. Nelson is a graduate of University of Memphis.
Maury Radin
Maury has over 30 years of experience in business operations and management. A native of Memphis, Tennessee Maury attended the University of Memphis before beginning his career. In 1972, Maury joined the staff of Manpower Employment Services as a Service Representative. He served Manpower in a variety of positions including Branch Manager, Area Manager, Vice-president of Operations, General Manager and President/Chief Executive Officer. During this period, the Company grew from one office to seven offices in three states. Working with a permanent staff of over 50 people, Manpower eventually employed over 10,000 temporary and contract workers annually. Maury was instrumental in the formation of AMIC, a captive insurance company providing employee insurance coverage to Manpower operations throughout the United States. He served two terms as the first President of AMIC and also served as Secretary and Vice-president of the Board of Directors. Additionally, Maury is an active community leader serving on the Boards of a number of non-profit organizations in the Memphis area.
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