Archives: Speakers

Vice President, Field Development, Certis USA

Mike Dimock leads product development and technical support at Certis USA, a global leader in development and manufacturing of biopesticides. He has devoted over 30 years to research, development, and commercialization of a broad range of biopesticide technologies. Dr. Dimock holds Ph.D. (Cornell University) and MS (North Carolina State University) degrees in Entomology, and conducted postdoctoral studies at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research before entering the biopesticide industry.

Certis USA is a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of biopesticides and “soft” chemistries for plant protection in diverse markets worldwide. A subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. (Tokyo), the company is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland with manufacturing sites in California and Montana, and field sales/technical staff throughout the US and Mexico. Certis USA is a founding member of the Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA).

Field Solutions Director, Specialty Agriculture – North America

Lallemand Plant Care

Matthew has over 20 years of research and development experience in biological and integrated plant and soil health management. He graduated from The Ohio State University with MS and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology and a BS degree in Agricultural Economics. Within Lallemand Plant Care Field Solutions, he and his team are responsible for near-market development and post-market technical support of proactive microbial products and approaches that effectively control diseases and improve productivity and quality of greenhouse and specialty agriculture crops, and promote the establishment and health of urban trees. Prior to joining Lallemand Plant Care, he led similar programs in the US and Europe to develop microbial tools and technical resources for successfully managing diseases of horticultural crops.

Haydn Christensen grew up on an alfalfa and small- grain farm in southern Colorado. He always had a natural attraction to vegetable production and expressed this early with gardening and indoor hydroponic/aquaponics experiments. After earning a degree in soil and crop science, he started his own vegetable operation as well as participating in other partner businesses. After years of constant self-education, he found a fast-paced and challenging position as the Senior Grower in charge of Integrated Pest Management implementation at Plenty Unlimited.

Plenty is a new kind of farm for a new kind of world. We’re on a mission to bring fresh, local produce to communities everywhere in a way that’s better for the environment. Our local field-scale indoor farms are creating a healthier, more delicious and sustainable future.

Dr. Shimon Steinberg, Entomologist, holds a B.Sc. in Biology from Tel Aviv University and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in agronomy and plant protection from the Department of agriculture at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Steinberg was also a Postdoc scholar with the Wageningen Agricultural University of the Netherlands. He is the head of R&D at BioBee Sde Eliyahu Ltd. for nearly three decades where he specializes in developing systems for mass rearing and field application of beneficial arthropods (insects and mites) for biological pest control, pollination and recently for feed and food.

BioBee Sde Eliyahu Ltd., founded in 1983, is one of the premier producers of beneficial insects and mites in the world.

BioBee’s range of products includes:

• Bumblebees for natural pollination
• Beneficial insects and mites for biologically based integrated pest management
• Sterile males for Mediterranean Fruit Fly control
• Black Soldier Fly for animal feed

BioBee has 340 employees, 6 subsidiaries, 5 production sites, and is active in over 100 markets through its various distribution channels. ‏‏

Dean Emeritus, University of British Columbia

Murray Isman was a Professor of Entomology and Toxicology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and former Dean of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.  He performed extensive research for over 35 years in the areas of insect toxicology and behavior, with particular emphasis on the discovery and development of botanical insecticides.  He has authored over 200 refereed publications (cited >17,000 times).  He received a doctorate in Entomology from UC Davis in 1981.  He is currently a science advisor to KeyPlex.

KeyPlex serves the agricultural and the mosquito abatement community with highly-effective plant nutritionals and bio-control products. Founded in 1980, KeyPlex provides the number one product(s) growers can trust.  Through KeyPlex’s ongoing research and development programs with our customers, scientists, science advisory panel (SAP) and leading research universities worldwide, we enjoy a reputation for a heritage of excellence.  An in-house manufacturing facility, built in 2011, helps maximize KeyPlex’s supply chain relationship.

Director, Field Trials and Nutrition, Concentric

Dr. Waltz is an accomplished agronomist and agrotechnologist, with expertise in crop protection, plant breeding, transgenic traits and chemical manufacturing (adjuvants) with leading agriculture companies Exacto, Inc., DuPont Pioneer and American Cyanamid. During his nine years as a senior research manager at DuPont Pioneer, he led field evaluations and germplasm characterization for transgenic corn herbicide traits. Dr. Waltz grew up in rural Nebraska, working on his uncle’s corn, soybean and farrow-to-finish hog farm. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees in agronomy and horticulture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Concentric is an agri-tech company that develops biological and essential plant nutrient inputs for specialty and broadacre crops. Its products target the entire phyto-microbiome: the seeds, plants, root systems and the soil surrounding them. Concentric is headquartered in Centennial, Colo. Its Canadian headquarters and Technical Center of Excellence is located in Montreal. Its commercial business unit, ATP Nutrition, is based in Manitoba, Canada. For more information, visit www.concentricag.com and follow Concentric Ag on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

Professor and D.C. Kiplinger Floriculture Endowed Chair, The Ohio State University

Dr. Michelle Jones studied agricultural biochemistry at Iowa State University for her BS and received her PhD in Horticulture with an emphasis in molecular physiology from Purdue University in 1997.  She was on the faculty at Colorado State University and moved to The Ohio State University in 2001.  She is currently a Professor in the Horticulture and Crop Science Department and the D.C. Kiplinger Endowed Floriculture Chair. She works with the Greenhouse Industry as a Floriculture Extension Specialist and conducts research in Horticultural Crop improvement.

Director of Partnership/Co-founder, CropWalk/CropTalk

Charlie is a former grower and proud UGA bulldawg. After managing a “big-box” bedding plant operation, he entered the cannabis industry and spent time managing a high CBD greenhouse and field operation in Colorado. During his time as a grower, he found that helping other growers better understand how to use and implement biocontrol was his ultimate passion. While working for Biobest USA as a technical advisor in the South East, Charlie had the opportunity to work with and learn from many talented growers and knowledgeable industry colleagues. Since December 2018, Charlie has focused his time on the company he co-founded, CropWalk, an integrated pest management services company. Charlie also hosts CropTalk, a podcast for the agriculture and green industry, featuring innovative members of the community. #startcleanstayclean

CropWalk is an integrated pest management services company with the core values of being founded for growers, by growers and a company that evolves as it listens to its customers needs. Through innovative beneficial insect application techniques, improved scouting and monitoring efficacy and environmental sensing, CropWalk delivers unparalleled support and insight to growers seeking assistance with their pest management program or crop environmental management. 

Buglady Consulting

Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, a graduate of the University of FL and has been working in the horticulture industry for more than 28 years.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture.  Her focus has been on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She has worked throughout the United States and internationally consulting to greenhouses, nurseries, theme parks and gardens.   She is the owner of Buglady Consulting, now in business 18 years.

Buglady Consulting provides consulting services on pest issues to many areas of the horticulture industry.  Specializing in biological control as part of an IPM program, all client recommendations are made to manage pests while being financially and ecologically minded.  18 years in business the customer base includes greenhouse operations, botanical gardens, theme parks, nurseries, interiorscape, aquaponics, hydroponics and cannabis. It is owned by Suzanne Wainwright-Evans

Senior Research Scientist, Westbridge Agricultural Products

Andy has worked for Westbridge for seven years as a Senior Research Scientist and Director of Quality Control.  Andy received his doctorate in Plant Pathology from Ohio State University and has been involved in product development of organic and natural products for over 30 years.  Some of the specific active ingredients Andy has helped to develop and formulate include fungi for microbial herbicides and fungicides, as well as Bt’s and nematodes for insect control.

Westbridge Agricultural Products has been a leading manufacturer and distributor of effective biopesticides, plant nutrients and specialty inputs since 1982. From its Organic TRIGGRR^®, Organic BioLink^®, SUPPRESS^® Herbicide EC, Earthtrend^® and SUNBurst^® brands to Botector^® and Blossom Protect™ biocontrol products, Westbridge provides a portfolio of high quality products designed to meet every grower’s crop production needs.