125 S Lexington Ave, Suite 101 - 11, Asheville, NC 28801
SEED PROGRAMS INTERNATIONAL
Leadership team
SPI was founded on the notion of enabling others to improve their local circumstances. As such, SPI’s organizational structure and team philosophy is focused on enabling in-geography implementing partners to support and empower end-user beneficiaries.
We have a small leadership team that is highly integrated with a high-level of cross-training and mutual responsibility. When you talk to one of us you can feel assured you are talking with all of us. Our leadership team mobilizes first-in-class expertise that resides in our supporting technical partner network to address the continually emerging and evolving needs of our implementing partners.
Keep it focused, keep it LEAN, keep it timely. This is how SPI operates to ensure that every dollar we receive generates maximum benefit for families around the world who are using vegetable production as part of their approach to improve their livelihoods.
ROBYN LOVE
CEO and President
Robyn is an ecologist with over 15 years of experience in environmental consulting, ecological restoration, and program management. She has experience leading and executing complex, multi-stakeholder projects to protect and enhance our environment. Robyn understands the importance of agriculture in developing resilient environmental systems that sustain humanity. Robyn has overall responsibility for SPI’s management. In her free time Robyn enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and hiking.
GEORGIA BEASLEY
Programs and Partnerships Director
Georgia brings a decade of project management, development, and fieldwork experience to the administrative branch of SPI. Georgia has worked in East Africa and Latin America, with a particular focus on the intersection between healthy food systems, economies and communities, and on creating strategies to cultivate climate resilience. She has a BA in Global Studies with a focus on International Development. Georgia has responsibility for Program Development, Donor Relations, and Day-to-Day Ops. You’ll likely find her catching waves on her surfboard in her free time.
BRIAN LOVE
Strategy and Operations Director
Brian has over 20 years of experience in academia, philanthropy, and the private sector including previous stints at Land O’Lakes, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and CIMMYT. With an Anthropology degree and a doctorate in Plant Sciences, Brian’s interests focus on the need for combining technical and social solutions to seed sector challenges. He discovered his passion for seeds and working with smallholder farmers while learning from highland farmers in Mexico and Panama. Brian is responsible for seed logistics and technical contributions to Partnerships, Programs, and Projects. In his free time Brian enjoys a good game of pick-up futbol as well as improvement projects around the house.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jack Bernens
SPI Chair
JTB Ventures, Inc.
Retired: Head, Enogen Business at Syngenta
Pete Perez
SPI Vice-Chair
Retired: EVP Human Resources, ConAgra Foods
Jason Nickerson
SPI Treasurer
Principal @ Context Network
Thomas Tolman
SPI Secretary
Retired: President, Condor Seed Production
Milcah Kigoni
SPI Board Member
PhD Candidate, Crop Science
University of Illinois
Alan Krivanek
SPI Board Member
Retired: Tomato Breeder, Seminis
June Lavelle
SPI Board Member
Owner and Chief Consultant,
Lavelle & Associates, Inc.
Antonius Van Der Velden
SPI Board Member
Retired: President and CEO,
Enza Zaden USA Inc.
BOARD EMERITUS AND LEGAL COUNSEL
Tim and John Batcha
Tim Batcha (left), Board Emeritus, CFO, Standard Holding Company; John Batcha (right), Board Emeritus, Post-humous, Founder, Seed Programs International
Gary Kushner
Legal Counsel to the Board, Hogan Lovells Law Firm
Seed Programs International is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates globally.
Our EIN/Tax ID is 56-2092576. Thank you for your support!
