Alberta Pork has a dedicated and democratically-elected board of eight directors. Each director comes to us with a unique perspective on the pork industry, and they are all committed to upholding and promoting the standards and values of Alberta Pork.
Board of Directors

Stan Vanessen (Chair)
Picture Butte, AB
Stan is a partner-owner of AVE Farms near Picture Butte – north of Lethbridge – which has been producing hogs for more than four decades. Stan sees a real need for changes to the current pork pricing situation and marketing model to help improve profitability. Stan has been a director since 2019.

Jonathan Klok (Treasurer)
Nobleford, AB
Jonathan is a partner with Outlook Farms near Nobleford, a 1,900-sow, farrow-to-finish operation, as well as part-time accountant at a public accounting firm. Jonathan hopes he can contribute to the hog industry and ensure its longevity in Alberta.

Steven Waldner (Vice-Chair)
Skiff, AB
Steven is the hog boss for Fairlane Colony near Skiff – southeast of Lethbridge – a 380-sow, farrow-to-finish operation. Steven cares deeply for independent farmers and wants to help build up the hog industry to continue producing safe, delicious pork to feed the world.

Alastair Bratton
Airdrie, AB
Alastair is the head of production for Sunterra Farms. He has previously managed farms and oversaw multiplier sites for Maple Leaf Farms, Verus Alliance and, more recently, Olymel.
Originally from the U.K., his first experience was as a part-time worker on a 600-sow multiplier farm. This is where his interest in animal science and husbandry began, leading him to complete a Degree in Animal Science at Harper Adams Agricultural University. After graduating, he worked on a variety of farms covering both indoor and outdoor production, including organic units.
Alastair has served as Chair of the Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop since 2016, is President of Alberta Pork Congress and serves on the Pork committee for the Calgary Stampede.

Marcel Rupert
Three Hills, AB
Marcel is a partner in an 850-sow farrow-to-finish operation near Three Hills. He feels strongly that the existing western Canadian hog pricing model, based on the U.S. price, does not bring fair value to producers. Marcel is an outspoken supporter of Alberta producers on this matter.

Sandra Spruit
Red Deer County, AB
Sandra and her husband own and operate Spruit farms, a 2,100-sow unit in Red Deer County, with several grow-to-finish locations in central Alberta.
With her previous experience of other board positions and being a hog farmer for more than two decades, she brings a lot of knowledge to the table and is looking forward to even more learning opportunities.
Originally from the Netherlands, she and her husband have raised five kids, and now that they have become more independent, she is ready to take the next steps to make a positive difference in the industry.
She is passionate about engaging younger generations interested in hog farming, not only within the agriculture community, but along with other non-farming populations in Alberta.

Andy Walter
Granum, AB
Andy is the hog boss for Granum Colony and has been in the hog industry for more than four decades. He and his wife, Becky, have three sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.

Mike Wurz
Eaglesham, AB
Mike is the hog boss for Birch Meadows Colony, a 500-sow, farrow-to-finish operation. He has been in the hog industry for more than three decades and hopes to add to the positivity and passion at Alberta Pork. He believes we need to work towards a fair pork price that’s sustainable and transparent between producers and processors.
Staff

Darcy Fitzgerald, Executive Director
Darcy joined Alberta Pork in 2010. He has spent much of his career in the agricultural industry, including working for the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, the Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and Esso Chemical.

Javier Bahamon, Quality Assurance and Production Manager
Javier joined Alberta Pork in 2014. He has been involved with the swine industry for many years, working in different capacities across the value chain. Javier leads the Alberta Pork Production Team, working closely with Cristina Neva to serve producers with the best biosecurity, animal welfare and quality assurance practices.

Marilyn Griesheimer, Office and Finance Manager
Marilyn joined Alberta Pork in 1977. She oversees many aspects of office administration, including payables and receivables, financial records, personnel files and a wide range of other tasks.

Charlotte Shipp, Industry Programs Manager
Charlotte joined Alberta Pork in 2007. She works directly with producers on a wide range of programs. In the course of her work, she has liaised with producers, government and industry partners. She supports our producers through helping grant applications and managing labour initiatives.

Cristina Neva, Quality Assurance and Production Specialist
Cris joined Alberta Pork in 2017. She has worked within the agriculture Industry in many different positions, from livestock production to research, and brings a broad set of skills to the Alberta Pork Production Team, working closely with Javier Bahamon.

Sarah Masters, Administrative Assistant - Traceability
Sarah joined Alberta Pork in 2021. She is responsible for administering various tasks related to traceability, including producer database updates.

Jose Rivera, Traceability Administrator
Jose joined Alberta Pork in 2020. He previously spent seven years working in environmental sciences, with a focus on laboratory work and customer service. He works closely with the traceability program and the producers to meet their needs.

Rawya Selby, Administrative Coordinator
Rawya joined Alberta Pork in 2023. She is responsible for various administrative tasks and supporting other staff members.