University in Hamilton, Ontario. From 1999 to 2003, Bechtel served as general manager of the Agricultural Biotechnology Initiative at the Centre for Human Resource Development in Molecular Agriculture and Applied Biotechnology at the University of Saskatchewan.
Among his achievements was the
development of The Entrepreneurial Scientist ™, a series of 25 business training modules geared towards the scientist-turned-entrepreneur in need of business skills and knowledge. “There was nothing like it in the world at the time,” Bechtel said. The modules have had world-wide influence with groups from South and Central America, India and Europe wanting to set up satellite centres. Subsequent to his ABI appointment, Bechtel served as general manager of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers’ Marketing Board.
From 2008 to 2012, he was director of the Farm Business Programs for the Farmers of North America. During this time he developed a partnership with major Canadian insurance companies to provide completely new insurance programs to the agriculture community. With Bechtel’s arrival, Nick Ibuki, who had served as acting general manager since last summer, resumed his duties as operations manager. Developing an even stronger horticultural staff ranks high on Ibuki’s priority list.
The horticultural technician team recently grew to four when Graham Karner joined Dan Gregory, Ken Cook and Rajiv Dasanjh.
“Starting at the budwood orchard this team will learn the ins and outs of the over 500 different varieties we grow,” Ibuki said.
The technicians will also become skilled at running a small nursery, spray applications, IPM, pathology and plant disease identification and replant management.
“As we take over the test orchard and continue to manage grower test plots throughout Canada, the horticultural team will also become experts in new varieties and a great resource for the grower community,” Ibuki said. In October, Jodie Shupe was hired to help with administration and auditing. She assists with drafting agreements between SVC and its partners and related financial arrangements, and keeps tabs on whether or not partners are keeping to the terms of their agreements.
16 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2015
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