Harold Stanislawski
AURI

Harold Stanislawski is the Business and Industry Development Director for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). Stanislawski works with AURI staff and clients to further the development of agricultural commodities, coproducts, renewable energy, food and biobased materials.

Dr. Rich Fletcher
New West Genetics

Rich is the Director of Breeding and a co-founder of New West Genetics. His interest is in utilizing technology to develop and bring to market cultivars with traits that benefit both the producer and consumer. Rich was a part of Cargill’s hybrid canola breeding program for more than 18 years, most recently leading the North American breeding and genetics program. He also worked as an agronomist where he gained a practical working knowledge of field crop production. During his Ph.D. work at Colorado State University, Rich utilized genetics and genomics approaches to identify genes underlying drought adaptation in Brassica napus. 

Matt Marino
Homeland Hempcrete

Matt Marino is co-founder and president at Homeland Hempcrete, a Structural Hemp-Insulated Panel manufacturing company. He has an extensive background in operations with a primary focus on supply chain efficiencies. Early in the hemp industry he realized the amazing potential of industrial hemp in construction. He and his wife, Samantha (co-founder) along with their two kids moved back to their ‘Homeland’ of Bismarck, ND in 2018 to found Homeland Hempcrete, and began the mission of constructing better built homes;  utilizing locally-sourced materials that perform better, last longer, and provide a healthy indoor environment for its occupants. They're focused on making hempcrete more accessible,  scalable, and accelerating the adoption of healthy and resilient building materials.

Clarence Shwaluk
Fresh Hemp Foods / Manitoba Harvest

Clarence Shwaluk is Sr. Director of Operations for Fresh Hemp Foods Ltd., which manages the brand name Manitoba Harvest for its consumer-packaged goods and sells bulk hemp food ingredients under the Hemp Oil Canada name, in addition to packaging private label hemp food products for many retailers.  The company has manufacturing facilities in Winnipeg and Ste Agathe, MB, and markets its products throughout North America and overseas. 

Clarence’s responsibilities include leading the company’s Farm Operations team for seed genetics production and distribution, entering into production contracts with farmers, agronomic support, as well as overseeing logistics and distribution of all inbound and outbound products. 

Since 2018 Clarence has served on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) and is the current Board Chair.  Part of his committee work is to lead the Canadian hemp feed registration initiative, which will be submitted for review to Canadian regulators at the end of January 2025.

Julia Silvis
Greater MSP Economic Development

Julia Silvis is the Managing Director of Research and Intelligence at GREATER MSP. In this role, she supports the business investment team, GMSP’s strategic initiatives, and shapes regional strategy. In addition, Julia supports the Sustainable Aviation Hub and other decarbonization and sustainability related efforts. Prior to GMSP, Julia was with McKinsey & Company, where she served clients on a variety of decarbonization topics. Prior to that, she supported the Itasca Project, a virtual roundtable of CEOs, non-profit, and civic leaders of the greater Minneapolis-St Paul region. Its mission is to advance regional economic competitiveness and expand prosperity for all residents.

Joshua Erickson
US Commercial Service - Rural Export 

With more than seven years of experience in international market research, Joshua was a founding member of the Rural Export Center (REC) team and brings an intimate knowledge of the Commercial Service to support rural U.S. companies around the country. As Director of the Rural Export Center, Joshua oversees the fulfillment and delivery of international market research, website globalization reviews, and company background research.  He also leads the development and execution of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service’s rural strategy.

Since its inception, the Rural Export Center has provided customized market research and training to companies from 36 states, helping them target 50+ industries in more than 80 countries.

Andrew Bish
Hemp Feed Coalition & Bish Enterprises

Andrew Bish is a passionate agricultural innovator and advocate, with deep roots in the farming community and a strong commitment to advancing sustainable practices. As President of the Hemp Feed Coalition, Andrew has led groundbreaking efforts to secure federal approvals for hemp as a viable livestock feed, expanding opportunities for farmers to adopt this versatile crop. His leadership has been instrumental in the approval of hemp seed meal for poultry, a milestone that paves the way for broader agricultural applications.

In addition to his role with the Coalition, Andrew is the Chief Operating Officer of BISH Enterprises, a leader in agricultural manufacturing, and the founder of Hemp Harvest Works, a company specializing in innovative equipment for hemp cultivation and processing.

David Boehm
Northern Crops Institute

As Director of NCI, David’s responsibilities include:

Provide administrative leadership for Institute’s fiscal, personnel, and program efforts

Secure state and private funding

Lead public relations efforts with regional, national and international partners

Maintain contact with commodity groups, food processing industries, trade organizations, professional organizations, private sector representatives

Consult with Northern Crops Council (NCC) for Institute direction

Implement policies and procedures to comply with Institute, state and federal regulations

Brian Gion
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives

Brian Gion is a Cooperative Development Specialist at the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC). In this role, he supports rural development through research, analysis, and other initiatives

Albert Dun
Dun Agro Hemp Group

Albert is the Founder of  Dun Agro Hemp Group Inc.  He was introduced to the hemp plant in 1994, and he immediately saw potential in this strong crop. Since 1999, he and Dun Agro have been focusing entirely on hemp cultivation and the processing of primary fibres.  

The Dun Agro Hemp Group (DHG) is a collaboration of professional companies from the hemp industry who combine their expertise. With over 25 years of experience in the hemp industry, Dun Agro Hemp Group covers all aspects. From agriculture to primary processing to the production of end products in both the food and fibre sectors. We have developed our own technologies, and are proud to be at the forefront of hemp industry innovation.

Niki Vandenburgh
Dun Agro USA

Niki is the CoCEO of Dun Agro Hemp Group Inc., where she is dedicated to advancing the hemp industry in the United States, having lead the launch of the US company in 2021. Niki is focused on growing the US domestic markets for sustainable building solutions.  With over 20 years of experience working with Tribal Governments, Niki has led community projects focused on economic development, housing, agriculture, and tribal sovereignty. Her expertise spans strategic corporate structure, operational management, regulatory oversight and federal grant program management.  She also holds a Master of Education (MA.Ed.), 2004 and is an MBA Candidate at Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Class of 2025.

Alan Doering
AURI

Alan Doering began his tenure as a senior scientist for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) over 15 years ago. In this position, he is in charge of managing client projects and the coproducts pilot plant, collecting and reporting on data related to applied research and product development, and presenting AURI’s project initiatives at industry conferences and tours.

Doering’s extensive experience consists of testing and cultivating products utilizing crop residues, food processing waste, biomass and more. His testing at AURI has led to the awarding of several client patents, as well as to collecting leading‐edge information on energy values of Minnesota‐grown agricultural projects.

Matthew Leiphon
AURI

Matthew Leiphon is a Project Manager for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) in Crookston, MN.   Before joining AURI, Matthew was a field representative with the Office of U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp in northeastern North Dakota.  His areas of focus included agriculture, rural issues, economic development, small business, infrastructure, housing, and military and veterans affairs.

Anthony Cortilet
Minnesota Dept of Agriculture

Plant Protection

John Mortenson
North Dakota Dept of Agriculture

Plant Protection Specialist

Derek Schiefelbein
South Dakota Dept of Agriculture

Plant Protection

David Ladd
Minnesota Hemp Association

Minnesota Hemp Association Management