The CubicFarm Systems Corp. Strategic Advantage
The same group that developed Bevo Farms is the same group that have now developed CubicFarms SystemsTM. Few people on earth have grown more plants from seed than our Dutch born and trained founders at Bevo Farms. You can access that wealth of experience and expertise as a Cubic Farmer. The combination of our people, processes, and worldwide patented technology, set up our Cubic Farmers for success.
Our business partners, Bevo Agro, developed the patent pending Cubic Farming™ technology. One of North America’s largest propagation greenhouse operations, Bevo’s decades of growing experience has expanded into the next generation of growing technology with the CubicFarm™. When you become a Cubic Farmer, you have the support of Bevo’s world class growing experience.
At CubicFarm Systems Corp., our number one goal is the success of our partner farmers.
Our Team
You won’t find a stronger and more experienced team when it comes to vertical farming systems growing, development and implementation.
Dave Dinesen
CEO
A seasoned CEO, Dave Dinesen founded his first venture, BackCheck, in 1997 and took it from start-up to the largest background screening company in Canada and a leader in the UK. With over 500 employees in three countries, BackCheck served over 15,000 corporate customers and screened millions of people in Canada and the UK. A successful sale and merger with a larger US competitor, Sterling Infosystems, completed in 2012. The merged business became Sterling BackCheck and Dave joined the New York executive committee and led the global business units for Canada, the UK, and Philippines. SterlingBackCheck was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2015 and Dave left the organization and founded WideOcean Strategies Ltd. a boutique venture capital and consulting firm.
In late 2015, Dave was tapped to lead the CubicFarm Systems team as CEO and bring this revolutionary technology to market globally. CubicFarms is quickly becoming a global leader in the controlled environment agricultural vertical farming space.
Dave serves on several for profit and non-profit boards, and lives near Vancouver, BC.
Leo Benne
Chief Innovation Engineer
Leo gained advanced knowledge of modern horticultural methods at Rijks Middlebare Tuinbouw School in Holland. With extensive experience in the application of computer technology to the production of healthy, high-yield plants, he has been a key figure in the development of Bevo Agro. Leo oversees every stage of the company’s operations – from pre-sales to shipping.
John de Jonge
Chief Design & Installation Officer
Recently, John has been active throughout the world as a Dairy Design Consultant. In this time, he’s been instrumental in the design and development of large-scale dairies around the world and has partnered in the creation of the revolutionary Big-Box dairy design.
Dani Palahanova
Chief Financial Officer
At CubicFarms, Dani is responsible for the overall financial strategy and direction, as well as human resources and compliance.
Jo-Ann Ostermann
Vice President
Jo-Ann is one of the few people in North America to have opened and operated a vertical farming operation on a commercial scale. As General Manager for Urban Barns Foods Inc. she led the team that opened the 16,000 square foot facility in Mirabel, QC. Her responsibilities included all aspects of farming operations including ensuring compliance and achieving certification with CanadaGAP food safety. She also conducted cultivar research which led to the expansion of lettuce offerings and development of the microgreen product line.
Prior to Urban Barns Foods, Jo-Ann was the Manager of Business and Technology at The City of Calgary, Roads Business Unit and VP Administration and Corporate Services at Robyn’s Transportation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing with distinction and an MBA from the University of Calgary.
Tommy McCarthy
Mechanical Design Engineer
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cork Institute of Technology and 3D modelling qualifications from City & Guilds. Tommy’s role includes capturing design concepts working with the head of research, modelling large scale farm layouts as per customers requests and working with Manufacturing to relay part & assembly drawings, design changes and new product specifications. Tommy lives in the lower mainland and spends much of his free time with family, playing soccer and keeping up to speed on new technology and advances in food production.
Gabriel Jefferies
Senior Research Grower
Gabriel has been involved in the Food and Agricultural industries for over 10 years, with a wide range of experiences in sustainable food production systems and food chemistry. He has a bachelor’s degree in Gastronomic Science and he completed his master’s degree in Food Culture Communications at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy. During these degrees he spent much of his time combining the theory with the practical side of hands on food production around the world.
Rylan Benne
Systems Installation Engineer
Rylan Benne has spent his entire life in and around the agricultural industry. He recently graduated from Trinity Western University with a BBA specializing in leadership and management. His education, coupled with the hands-on skills gained through work in the greenhouse industry makes him a valuable and versatile member of the CubicFarms team. Rylan is leading the installations of CubicFarms Systems and is also involved in research and development.
Andrei Ostermann
Sales Engineer
As Facilities Manager for Urban Barns Foods Inc. he set up and maintained the 16,000 square foot commercial Cubic Farming facility in Mirabel, QC. Prior to getting into indoor agriculture, he worked at High-Tech Assembly Systems as an Account Manager in a manufacturing environment.
Rubén Arias Pinazo
Chief Manufacturing Engineer
Rubén manages CubicFarm’s manufacturing in China as the Co-Owner of Agrigreen Manufacturing Ltd. He brings his extensive knowledge in engineering, technology and industry to CubicFarms. His background includes degrees in Industrial Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Scheduling from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain. He has worked for almost two decades in management, development, design, quality control, and industrial planning in Spain, Australia, and China.
Tim Ansley
Director of Marketing
A creative marketer, Tim joined BackCheck in 2003 and helped develop a start-up brand that became the largest background screening company in Canada and a leader in the UK. After a successful merger with a large US competitor, Tim assumed the role of Marketing Director for Sterling Infosystems, based out of New York. He worked closely with Sterling’s M&A division while they continued to blend brands, process, advertising and marketing strategies and campaigns.
After the sale to Goldman Sachs, Tim took on a new role with Mindfield in the Talent Acquisition industry leading the Marketing, Advertising, and overall brand management and strategy.
Currently, with a focus on strategy, creativity and process, Tim strives to help build the organization’s brand value through relevant design and messaging, combined with a strong technology backbone and a vision for growth.
Robyn Bate
Controller
Robyn is an energetic accounting professional with a background in financial policy and management. She came to CubicFarm Systems from BackCheck where for 14 years she assisted in establishing, maintaining and updating the financial policies and procedures while managing the international accounting department. Her contributions helped to grow the company from a start up status to the global industry leader in background checking, Sterling Talent Solutions.
Robyn’s experience in a fast-paced, growing corporate environment will help CubicFarms, through financial management and planning, support their business strategy and surpass their business growth goals.
Tony Li
Product Engineer
Tony came to Canada in 2006 for post-graduate studies. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical and Material Engineering from the University of Western Ontario. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical design and Manufacturing from NCUT, China. Tony has over 10 years of experience in the Advanced Design & Manufacturing industry. Experienced and specialized in Advanced Product Quality Planning, Tony has helped many companies bring product concepts to market through detailed design, prototype building and testing, manufacturing set-up, and product launch phases.
Rohan D’Souza
Operations & Project Manager
Rohan’s career began at the Culinary Arts Program of Dubrulle Culinary Arts. He worked as a chef in the Vancouver food scene for 5 years and is still actively involved. Rohan completed his Bachelors of Business Administration at BCIT and continued to work in food manufacturing at Purdy’s Chocolatier, looking after the production team. His passion for food and technology makes him a perfect fit at CubicFarms as the company grows and expands.
Jordan Dinesen
Business Development & Marketing
Experienced in retail, sales, account management, and marketing, Jordan is responsible for the development of CubicFarm System projects worldwide. Jordan has a Diploma in Business Management from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is currently finishing up his Bachelors in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Jordan is a firm believer that the unparalleled CubicFarm technology will be a ‘game-changer’ worldwide with feeding the world with predicatively-grown and quality produce.
Jack Benne
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor
A graduate of the Netherlands’ Agricultural College—designed, built and operated a 10,000 square metre greenhouse, one of Holland’s most successful operations. In 1987 he established Bevo Farms, forerunner of Bevo Agro Inc. Combining his traditional Dutch training with advanced technology, he made Bevo Agro North America’s leading supplier of propagated plants.