A leader in the horticulture sector with over twenty-three years of experience in people and plant management, including both photosynthesize plants and non-photosynthesize matter such as fungi. Seeking eagerly to share my extensive knowledge and continue developing personally and professionally as a crucial and integral part of a team at a company who also values and recognizes family, loyalty, and dedication in their workforce.
Skill Set
· Managed and mentored culturally diverse staff of up to 75 bodies at any given time, including individuals with disabilities.
· Utilized simple and advance climate automation programs such as Rockwell PLC, Dalsem, FanCom, Certhon San Scada and PRIVA.
· Competent in regulations such as Health Canada, GMP, HACCP, OSHA, ISO and ACMPR.
· Operated heavy equipment such as front-end loaders, tractors, telehandlers, skid-steer, lift trucks (outdoor, indoor, gas, oil, battery and LP), custom giant scale hydraulic equipment, NUHN Vac truck and PTO attached equipment, DZ tri-axle on the yard and various small petrol-powered equipment.
· Familiar with Computer hardware, networking, WordPress web development, software suites such as Office, Adobe, Wondershare and others.
· Operated, maintained and tested generators, glycol and water-based chillers, compressors as well as low and high-pressure steam boilers.
· Coordinated both conventional and organic feed programs for different stages of growth using a proprietary bio-reactor and largest holding tank in N.A.
· Familiar with various types of water meters, low and high-pressure liquid form pumps along with positive and negative pressure air pumps.
· General knowledge and uses of arc welder, oxy acetylene gas for brazing/solder as well as micro soldering smaller PCBs on Lithium based batteries.
· Accustomed to the extraction of various polar and non-polar compounds using organic solvents along with the equipment pertaining to that process.
Education & Training
- W.D. Lowe Technical S.S.
- Attended numerous leadership camps, FISHBONE (cause and effect), LEAN, European growers master-class, BIG 5 traits lessons and cultural mentorship programs.
- Personal tutorage with the late Dr. R. Pitblado, Dean of Guelph University – Ridgetown campus
- Formerly trained in WHIMIS, OSHA, JHSC working on heights, grower pesticide license, confined space, respirator fit test, first aid and CPR.
Employment History
2022-Current – Self-employed @ Corporation (2670758) – WordPress E-commerce
- Local Ai server, Product design, inventory, shipping and all other aspects of the website.
2019-2022 – Cultivation Manager > Operations Manager > Master Grower
Sunens Farms Ltd. (Formerly J-V of Nature Fresh, S.E.F and Auxly)
- Managed climate (temperature, RH, PAR, CO2, air velocity & exchange) and fertigation programs for all stages of plant growth along with drying chambers.
- Control and monitored standard and HVAC greenhouses along with 100% indoor HVAC grow chambers.
- Coordinate blue print of crop work from propagation > transplant > vegetation > flower > harvesting > trimming > drying > curing
- Governed current and projected labor staffing with the supervisory team.
- Conduct daily discussions with office management, grow team, IPM, sanitation and labor manager.
- regulated the use different trimming machine by Trim-Pro, Centurion, Twister and Mobius.
- Handled and catalogued R&D trials for hundreds of cultivars.
- Exercised diverse types of growing media (or absent of media) such as RDWC, hydroton, aggregates, casting, living soil, rockwool, peat, coco and many hybrid mixes of the mentioned with perlite and vermiculite.
2010-2019 – Grower Manager
Highline Produce Ltd. (aka Highline Mushrooms)
- Oversaw and monitored entire growing climate and cultivation operations from time of chamber fill to daily harvesting.
- Executed daily meetings in regards to production forecast, staffing requirements, disease control along with harvesting methods for each chamber.
- Managed casing operations for two facilities using giant scaled cement mixers.
- Complied with all company GMP Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations.
- Heavily involved in internal audits and external audits by applicable governing bodies.
- Operated automated pneumatic package folding equipment.
- Main backbone for associate support with true open-door policy.
2000-2010 – Floor Runner > Lead Hand > Supervisor > Assistant Grower > Grower Manager
Rol-Land Farms Ltd. (later acquired by Highline Produce Ltd)
- **In addition to similar responsibilities leading to my 2010-2019 work history
- contributed to first mushroom farm to achieve ISO 9000’s Certification.
- Proud to have worked all entry level floor position starting from the wharf mixing straw and poultry manure before becoming a grower. My mentor was passionate for the appreciation of each intricate process and it’s roll in the big picture of success.
- Operated a variety of heavy equipment including home size custom hydraulic units.
- Provided training, scheduling, and delegated duties to over 75 employees, including the supervisory staff.
References
Available upon request