Bill Rupp
Mr. Rupp spent 25 years with Cargill, the last ten as President of Cargill Beef. He oversaw Cargill’s global beef business operations that did over $25 billion in annual sales in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and Australia. Mr. Rupp also served five years as President of JBS Beef, where he led JBS’s North American beef business that did approximately $20 billion in sales. In 2021, Mr. Rupp was inducted into the National Provisioners’ Meat Packer Hall of Fame. Bill recently joined Bion’s Board of Directors.
Steve Sands
Mr. Sands most recently served as President of Protein Brands for Performance Foodservice, one of the largest food service distributors in the U.S. Steve joined Performance Food Group in 2009 as Vice President for Protein and brings to Bion a NYSE-traded (PFGC) public company perspective. Steve is a highly regarded foodservice industry veteran with over 40 years of experience in all phases of the meat business.
Chris Cook
Mr. Cook brings almost 30 years of experience in production agronomy, the last decade in leadership roles with Syngenta, focused on business strategy, profitable sales growth, stakeholder relations and business development. Syngenta AG, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is an agricultural science and technology provider. Chris currently serves as Head of Business Development for Syngenta Seeds, North America, responsible for identifying and developing market opportunities for the North American seeds business.
Lily Edwards-Callaway
Dr Edwards-Callaway received a PhD in Animal Sciences/Livestock Behavior from Colorado State University, where she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences focusing on livestock behavior and welfare. She will oversee development and implementation of the animal health and welfare program for Bion’s sustainable beef projects.
Matthew Lamb
Mr. Lamb is a third-generation dairy farmer in Upstate New York with extensive experience in agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy production, and beef-on-dairy. Lamb Farms is focused on sustainable dairy production at six locations, with a milking herd of more than 7,000 cows, as well as crop farming that provides feed for the cows and cash crops.
Dennis Tristao
Mr. Tristao spent almost 33 years, last as the Environmental Affairs Officer, at J.G. Boswell Company, a large California agricultural producer and processor. He advises Bion on environmental regulations and policy, agricultural tech and engineering, and air quality issues, and he is experienced with California Air Resources Group (CARB), San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, and the California State Water Resource Control Board.
Dennis Bracht
Mr. Bracht is the President at Seitec Genetics, an independent technology-based seed company that provides maximum flexibility in seed traits and genetics across all leading developers. He will advise Bion on organic seed, corn and feed grain cultivation, and related matters.
Stan Rapp
Mr. Rapp is the Senior Partner at Greenlee Partners, LLC, a prominent government affairs and lobbying firm in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has worked with Bion for several years on environmental and clean water policy related to PA and the Chesapeake Bay and will continue to advise Bion on government affairs at both state and federal levels.