Two people -- Gordon Cove and Meghan Dear -- have joined the Olds College board of governors.
The pair were recently appointed by the Ministry of Advanced Education and bring to the board experience and expertise within the agriculture and food production industries.
With more than 30 years of food-industry experience, Cove is well recognized in the agriculture and food production communities.
He was previously president and chief executive officer of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, worked as the branch head for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and spent 21 years as general manager of Fletcher’s Fine Foods, now known as Olymel.
Cove has an extensive background serving on boards and community organizations, including the Red Deer & District Community Foundation and the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
He graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science in 1978. In 2010 Alberta Venture Magazine chose him as one Alberta’s 50 most influential people.
Dear is a biologist.
Her career has always revolved around agriculture, including farming Strawberry Creek Gardens with her family, working on agriculture development in Ghana, West Africa, and a prior career in agriculture research at the Alberta Research Council.
Dear is also the founder of Localize, an Edmonton-based technology business that is changing the way people explore information behind the food they shop for in grocery stores.
She has a received a lengthy list of awards, including being recognized as Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2016 by Avenue Magazine. She also received the Alberta Venture grand prize in 2014.
“We welcome Gordon and Meghan to the Olds College Board of Governors. They both bring extensive experience from the agri-food sector,” Olds College chair Leona Staples says.
“Their understanding of innovative food production and awareness of the issues facing agriculture and food production both domestically and internationally will provide great strategic insight to the college.”
