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
Email: stanvanessen@live.ca
Stan is a partner-owner of AVE Farms Ltd., 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 for independent producers.

Brent Moen (Vice-Chair)
Calgary, AB
Email: balmoen01@gmail.com
Brent is President of Verus Swine Management Services Ltd. in Calgary. Until recently, Verus owned and managed a number of large swine operations in Alberta. Brent is also the nominated company representative for Red Willow Farms in Alberta.
Brent serves the swine industry as Chairman of the Board of Western Hog Exchange (WHE), a position that he has held since April 2011. Brent Moen has over 35 years of feed mill and livestock management experience, obtained while working for world-recognized companies including Maple Leaf Foods, Landmark Feeds, Elite Swine and Cargill.

Jonathan Klok (Treasurer)
Nobleford, AB
Email: klokjonathan@gmail.com
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.

Dan Majeau
Rivière Qui Barre, AB
Email: dan@majeauag.com
Dan is a partner-owner of Majeau Ag Enterprises, a 550-sow farrow-to-finish operation northwest of Edmonton. He has extensive experience in agriculture and has worked on various provincial and national initiatives to benefit hog producers and the broader industry.

Marcel Rupert
Three Hills, AB
Email: marcelrupert@hotmail.ca
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.

Craig Thompson
Acme, AB
Email: Craig.Thompson@sunterra.ca
Craig has worked for Sunterra Farms for more than two decades, with more than 18 years of swine livestock experience, both in Canada and the U.K.
Craig has worked in all areas of swine operations, and has day-to-day management experience of a 500-sow and a 2,500-sow farrow-to-finish unit, boar stud and several farrow-to-wean facilities. He is currently the Financial Controller of Sunterra Farms and uses his practical knowledge of livestock management to enhance this role.
Craig lives in Airdrie with his wife and 14-year-old son. He is proud of the quality pork produced in Alberta and wants to continue supporting the industry in his capacity as a director.

Steven Waldner
Skiff, AB
Email: hog1@fairlanefarming.com
Steven is the hog boss for Fairlane Colony, 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.

Andy Walter
Granum, AB
Email: andywalter47@gmail.com
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.
Staff

Darcy Fitzgerald, Executive Director
Phone: 780-491-3529
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
Phone: 780-469-8982
Email: javier.bahamon@albertapork.com
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
Phone: 780-491-3526
Email: marilyn.griesheimer@albertapork.com
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.

Andrew Heck, Communication Programs Manager
Phone: 780-491-3527
Email: andrew.heck@albertapork.com
Andrew joined Alberta Pork in 2018. He is responsible for managing producer communications; public, government and media relations; marketing and social media initiatives. He is also the editor of the Canadian Hog Journal.

Sarah Masters, Administrative Assistant - Traceability
Phone: 780-440-8462
Email: sarah.masters@albertapork.com
Sarah joined Alberta Pork in 2021. She is responsible for administering various tasks related to traceability, including producer database updates.

Cristina Neva, Quality Assurance and Production Specialist
Phone: 780-440-8458
Email: cristina.neva@albertapork.com
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.

Christina Quinn, Agriculture Education Coordinator
Phone: 780-440-8461
Email: christina.quinn@albertapork.com
Christina joined Alberta Pork in 2007. With previous experience on the traceability and IT sides of our business, she currently coordinates programs related to agriculture education, including the Pig Science Centre.

Jose Rivera, Traceability Administrator
Phone: 780-491-3525
Email: jose.rivera@albertapork.com
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
Phone: 780-474-8288
Email: rawya.selby@albertapork.com
Rawya joined Alberta Pork in 2023. She is responsible for various administrative tasks and supporting other staff members.

Charlotte Shipp, Industry Programs Manager
Phone: 780-491-3528
Email: charlotte.shipp@albertapork.com
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.