Executive
OEF Operational segments are led by professionals who bring both business and cultural knowledge to their areas of expertise. The resulting organizational structure integrates the best of all perspectives within a sustainable agribusiness model.
Larry Ruud
President, CEO
Larry Ruud has been actively involved in farming for more than 20 years with positions in the ownership, management and operations of a farm. Mr. Ruud is a current Director of Viterra, the largest grain company in Canada, and a member of both Viterra’s Audit Committee and Safety, Health and Environment Committee. He is also a member of the University of Alberta President’s Think Tank. Before joining One Earth Farms, Mr. Ruud was a partner with Meyers Norris Penny, where he led their Agriculture Management Consulting Team in Alberta and was also Director of Practice Development.
Mr. Ruud brings 15 years of experience as an active management consultant for farmers in areas such as commodity price risk management, capital investment decisions, growth management, process improvement, management transition, and ownership transition, and in developing joint farming agreements (mergers, joint ventures and partnerships). He is a regular speaker at industry events on the future of farming and on areas of management improvement, as well as a past Director of a regional Credit Union. Mr. Ruud has a MSc in Agriculture Economics from the University of Alberta.
Derrek Wong, CFA, CMA
SVP, CFO
Derrek Wong is a finance professional with 25 years of broad-based experience across a number of industries, including financial services, distribution, retailing and energy. Mr. Wong’s most recent role was as Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions with ING Canada Inc.
Throughout his career as a CFO, Mr. Wong has had extensive experience in developing business strategies, refining financial management and controls, budgeting, acquisitions and capital market development. He is known for streamlining operations and optimizing financial performance to achieve profitable growth. Mr. Wong is a Certified Management Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst with a BComm Degree from the University of Calgary and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada.
Fred Siemens
VP Business Development
Fred Siemens has been an active participant and leader in the agricultural community for more than 20 years, holding a wide variety of roles including President and Chief Executive Officer of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange, co-owner of an Alberta-based commodity brokerage firm that specialized in agricultural risk management, Supervisor of Grain Futures Trading for Canada on behalf of the Canadian Grain Commission, and, most recently, consultant with Meyers Norris Penny.
Mr. Siemens has played an active role in numerous agribusiness organizations, including board service on the Canada Grains Council, the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists, the Canola Council, the Flax Council, and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Committee. Mr. Siemens attained an Honours degree in Commerce from the University of Manitoba. He is also a licensed commodity broker trading on behalf of the retail public.
Jason Beaman
VP Human Resources
Jason Beaman is a human resources professional with twelve years of experience in increasingly senior roles. Upon graduation, Mr. Beaman started his human resources career with Reid’s Construction Group, followed by Flint Energy Services and Agrium, and was most recently the Human Resources Manager with Maple Leaf Foods. His expertise lies with building HR best practices within growing organizations.
Mr. Beaman has extensive experience and knowledge in HR and Labour Relations in both union and non-union environments. His experience includes knowledge in organizational development, employee relations, recruitment and selection, labour relations, compensation, and training and development. Mr. Beaman holds a BComm in HR Management, a BA in Psychology and Sociology, and maintains a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.
Bryan Peat
Director of Cropping Operations
Bryan Peat has been involved with the farming industry throughout his life. His experience includes participating in all facets of farming, from hard labour to buying grain, to managing an operation and its employees.
Most recently, Mr. Peat managed Menzies Farms in Provost, Alberta. He began managing Menzies in 1988, at which time Menzies seeded 4,000 acres. Under Mr. Peat’s management over 22 years, the farm grew to 20,000 acres. One of Mr. Peat’s major achievements at Menzies was to manage the building of their grain system. He has also participated in all aspects of agribusiness and total farm planning.
Don Ross
Director of First Nations Business Development
Don Ross is a member of the George Gordon First Nation. Mr. Ross has more than 25 years of experience in business development, Federal/Provincial Government relations, and First Nations and Aboriginal community development. He has four years of direct experience working for First Nations and First Nations Corporations through the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and is currently the President of RES Managements Ltd., Premier Aboriginal Enterprises Ltd., and the Aboriginal Investments Fund.
Mr. Ross is a past Staffing Consultant with the Public Service Commission, where he was instrumental in developing an Aboriginal Employment Inventory. He was also a founding member of the Saskatchewan Government’s Aboriginal Employee’s Network. With more than nine years of experience in the public sector, with the City of Regina, the Provincial Government and in Ottawa, Mr. Ross has an extensive network of government and industry contacts, as well as a strong knowledge of First Nations issues and internal politics. Mr. Ross completed the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Internship Program and attended the University of Regina as well as the First Nations University of Canada.
