Meet the VERDÁNT Team

Mr. Rogers is a seasoned executive having spent 35 years managing large-scale, high-volume USDA-certified food production and cultivation businesses, ranging from frozen pizza to private-label barbeque sauce to award-winning cheesecake. Rogers spent 20 years as an advisor and executive with Terry Farms, at the time the largest mushroom cultivator in the US. After selling Terry Farms to Monterey Mushrooms, Rogers and Terry formed a new venture to cultivate specialty mushrooms and where Rogers, working with Dr. John Holliday, advanced the science of mushroom cultivation using individually controlled, closed-loop, clean indoor growing facilities. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rogers worked internationally as Managing Director of Western Pastries Co. Ltd, a high-volume commercial bakery operation in Bangkok, supplying pastries for Emirates Airlines and sixteen thousand 7-Eleven convenience stores across Thailand. In addition, Mr. Rogers also led Glacial Hills Aquaculture, based in Minnesota, the largest global indoor recirculating aquaculture operation at the time.

Dr. Holliday is the Chief Scientific Advisor to Verdant Organics and is one of the world's leading experts in the use of modern biotechnology techniques for the cultivation of mushrooms, including oyster, Shiitake, and medicinal mushrooms. Dr. Holliday is a 20-year past President and Chief Scientific Officer for Aloha Medicinals Inc., a company he founded in 1999. Aloha Medicinals produces and distributes this immune system-enhancing and infection-fighting mushroom and other medicinal mushroom raw materials to more than 700 drug and supplement companies, and Dr. Holliday was awarded two U.S. Patents for his proprietary process. Dr. Holliday's later work with Mr. Rogers resulted in numerous improvements in the culture of specialty mushrooms at a Terry Farms mushroom operation. In addition, he has designed more than two dozen specialty mushroom-growing facilities. In 1999, Dr. Holliday was awarded an honorary doctorate in mycology from the Chinese scientific community for his research work on the medicinal effects of mushrooms, and he has lectured in more than 20 countries on the topic.

Mr. Borman has spent the last 16 years working globally, automating food production supply chains. Most recently, as Chief Product Officer at Ever.Ag, he developed and executed the company's strategy to acquire and integrate portfolio technology companies focused on automating food production supply chains, including the application of AI and machine learning to optimize supply chain efficiency. In 2011, Mr. Borman co-founded Conservis, a leading AgTech ERP platform for large-scale agriculture, which was named one of Minnesota's fastest-growing companies for 3 years in a row and was later acquired by TELUS and Rabo Bank. His unique blend of experience in technology, product management, business development, marketing, and general management makes him a results-driven leader with a proven ability to create value both in large corporations (Accenture, Pillsbury/General Mills) as well as early-stage companies like Conservis. Mr. Borman has an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a BS in Econometrics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Most recently, Mr. Haugen was a principal and served as the Chief Investment Officer at Global Access CSG, an independent global operating partner, strategic advisor, and private direct investor. In addition, Mr. Haugen was a founding senior partner at CarVal Investors, a $12 billion Value Fund where he led teams in various companies and portfolios of distressed consumer, real estate, and residential assets in the U.S. and internationally. Before co-founding CarVal, Mr. Haugen worked at Cargill, where he was a Principal in their Value Investment Group, responsible for residential and consumer investment strategy. Mr. Haugen is an Angel Investor and active board member in the technology and financial sectors. Mr. Haugen began his career as a CPA with KPMG in Minneapolis. Over his career, Mr. Haugen has developed strong leadership, strategy, partnering, and financial execution skills. Mr. Haugen received an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS in Business Administration from Boston University.

Willard D. Velie brings over 35 years of business experience across multiple industries, including financial services, agribusiness, AgTech, and sustainability. Mr. Velie holds FINRA Series 6, 7, and 24 securities licenses and has held senior leadership roles within both global financial institutions and dynamic, growth-stage companies, including Franklin Templeton, Prudential International Investments (London), Accelerando Associates (Valencia, Spain), and Ever.Ag. With over 18 years of direct experience in agriculture and AgTech, Mr. Velie has led initiatives in capital raising, commercial execution, and strategic planning and has served in senior advisory roles with multiple AgTech companies. He is currently a principal and founder of Access Alpha Worldwide LLC and a founding board member of Echos of the Forest, a 501c3 non-profit based in North Carolina.

Michael Macaluso is a Principal and Founding Member of Global Access CSG, an independent global operating partner, strategic advisor, and private direct investor. For more than two decades, he has successfully managed billions of dollars in both cross-border and in-country transactions for projects across the globe, in the U.S., China, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. Previously, as a practice leader and partner with Faegre Benson, a global law firm, he pioneered the practice of integrating business and legal advisory services within a single firm, serving companies like GMAC, Cargill, HSBC, and private equity firms with assistance with foreign direct investments, acquisitions, and establishing joint ventures. Mr. Macaluso received his JD and MBA from the University of Chicago and his BA from Lehigh University. Mr. Macaluso sits on the Verdant Board of Directors and serves as the company's legal counsel.

Andrew Zimmern has built a career on the belief that food tells the world's most important stories. As the Emmy-winning creator, executive producer, and host of several acclaimed shows, including Bizarre Foods, The Zimmern List, What's Eating America, Family Dinner, and Wild Game Kitchen, he's spent decades exploring how food can bridge social divides and foster change. Through his extensive travels, Zimmern has become one of television's most trusted voices on global food systems, and his work has earned him four James Beard Awards. Beyond television, Zimmern is the founder of Intuitive Content, named a top 100 production company by Realscreen, and Passport Hospitality, and he's authored five books.

John brings decades of experience leading one of the world's most respected food supply chains. As the former Chief Supply Chain Officer at General Mills, John oversaw global manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, and sustainability for some of the most trusted brands in the industry with direct responsibility for over 22,000 employees. His leadership helped the company modernize its operations and strengthen its commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship, all while delivering consistent quality and performance at scale. John's passion for innovation in food production and sustainable agriculture aligns perfectly with the company's mission. He's excited to help Verdant reimagine how fresh, organic produce is grown and brought to market, using his deep experience to guide strategic growth, operational excellence, and long-term scalability.

Eric is a technology entrepreneur and engineer who co-founded Sentera and served as its Chief Technology Officer, helping the company grow into a leader in drone and sensor-based agronomic analytics. Under his guidance, Sentera developed an end-to-end precision-ag platform that combined aerial imaging, advanced sensors, and real-time field data, earning adoption across hundreds of dealer locations, including deep partnerships within the John Deere network. Following Sentera's acquisition by John Deere, Eric now plays a key role in integrating Sentera's imaging and analytics capabilities into Deere's digital agriculture ecosystem. His experience, from aviation and defense to ag-tech and large-scale equipment systems, gives him a unique perspective on how data and automation can transform agriculture. That blend of technical depth and real-world scaling insight makes him a valuable advisor as Verdant continues to advance its innovative growing platform.

Dave brings over 25 years of leadership experience at the intersection of technology, product strategy, and marketing. He's helped companies grow from early-stage to IPO success, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer at Jamf, where he led global marketing and product through the company's expansion from 300 to 2,000 employees and a record-setting IPO in 2020. Earlier in his career, Dave held executive roles at venture-backed startups and global software firms, managing international teams and leading numerous acquisitions. A self-described "business leader who happens to specialize in marketing and product," Dave blends data-driven strategy with hands-on execution and collaboration. He began his career in technology consulting with Accenture before earning his MBA from the University of Minnesota and joining Pillsbury (now General Mills) as a brand manager.

Michael brings a unique, hands-on yet strategic approach to leadership. As president and founder of Vekich Chartered, he has built a management advisory practice rooted in his background as a Certified Public Accountant. His business experience spans from running complex organizations to serving on multiple corporate boards. Outside the private sector, Michael has made a strong impact in Minnesota. Since 2017, he has chaired the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which oversees the state's ownership interest in U.S. Bank Stadium, one of the largest civic-infrastructure ventures in the state. He was also brought in to turn around the Minnesota State Lottery during a turbulent period, winning praise for restoring trust and delivering a 26 percent profit boost to the agency. Whether it's in the public or private sphere, Michael's hallmark is bringing clarity, discipline, and integrity to complex problems with a genuine belief that well-run institutions both serve and reflect their communities.

Dan is a seasoned executive in the agri-business sector. He has extensive experience in business development and innovation, primarily focused on advancing new technologies that improve crop production with a lower environmental impact. A former manager of multiple seed businesses, Dan's early career centered on driving growth for local growers by introducing cutting-edge technologies. Throughout his career, Dan has maintained an unwavering focus on the entire food chain, guided by a grower-centric approach.

His deep knowledge and extensive work with numerous crops have given him a valuable perspective on creating value across the entire value chain. One of Dan's most notable achievements is his leadership in forming and launching Dulcinea Farms, a vertically integrated produce company that successfully introduced the mini watermelon to the market.

Today, Dan brings his expertise and counsel to several transformative companies, serving on the board of Nature Sweet Tomatoes and Plant Path Stevia, and supporting several early-stage Ag Tech and Food Tech firms. When not dedicated to his work, Dan enjoys the natural beauty of North Carolina's hiking trails.

Becky Lauseng has over 20 years of experience with a heavy focus on technology startups and has supported two companies through successful exits. She enjoys partnering with senior leadership to design and build out the HR foundation while supporting rapid growth and agile teams. She coaches leaders to create talent strategies and engaged cultures based on trust, empathy, and development. Currently, Becky Lauseng is the VP of People Operations at Anno.ai, Inc., a growing startup in the defense technology space.

Becky graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth and double majored in HR and Organizational Management. She minored in Psychology. Becky is SHRM and HRCI certified. She loves to give back to the HR profession. She is a former President of Twin Cities SHRM (TCSHRM), a current co-host of What the HR!, a TCSHRM Podcast, a founder and co-lead of an HR department of 1 networking group, a current board advisor for People Operations Professionals of MN, and a mentor for younger HR professionals.

Becky enjoys reading, cooking, and any physical activity outdoors, and enjoys spending time with her husband and son, gardening, hunting, fishing, and boating in northern Minnesota at their family cabin.