Our People

Ceres Organic Harvest has been built and managed by a team of experienced food and grain executives, some with over thirty years experience in the natural and organic foods industry. They have honed their expertise and knowledge of the marketplace, and have maintained key contacts amongst growers, manufacturers, traders, customers, and prominent industry players.

Brittin Eustis
President and Chief Executive Officer
Britt Eustis is the Company’s CEO and has over thirty years experience in the organic and natural foods industry, both in management and field operations. Over the years he has worked in retail natural foods, wholesale distribution, food processing, as well as organic agriculture. In the mid-70s he manufactured and distributed organic apple juice from organic apples grown on the western slopes of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Later he owned a regional organic grain processing operation in Henderson, Colorado. Over the next 15 years he helped develop a wholesale natural foods distribution company in the Rocky Mountain Region, specialty and organic crop production for the wholesale trade, as well as organic certification standards for food processing. In 1992 he started Ceres Organic Harvest, Inc. to provide certified organic semolina and durum patent flour to the pasta industry. Britt is well-known and highly respected by both organic growers and members of the industry.

Dean Chapla
Vice President, Corporate Counsel
and Director of Elevator Operations
Dean Chapla grew up farming and began working in the organic food business in 1989. While attending college he operated an organic foods business, share-cropping small certified organic almond and orange orchards and selling to stores and distributors in the Pacific Northwest and Colorado. He earned a BA degree in Rural and Small Town Planning from California State University, Chico and worked in planning from 1989 through 1992, all the while keeping his foot in the organic foods market place. In 2000 Dean obtained a law degree from the University of Denver.

Steven Young
Executive Team Member and Director
Steven Young has worked as a consultant in the natural foods industry for over 25 years and has a deep commitment to providing people with healthy choices in what they eat. Steven believes an organization that works to provide organic grains to companies and healthy food to consumers should itself be healthy.
Steven is the founder and director of Peoplemaking of Colorado. His work is anchored in the principles of Virginia Satir’s Human Validation Process Model. His more than 20 years experience as a communications consultant has proven to be a tremendous asset to Ceres Organic Harvest. Steven also brings the resources of three generations of grain farming in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado.

Don Carpenter, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Don Carpenter has been a certified public accountant since 1973. He is the managing partner at Carpenter, Evert & Associates Ltd., was formerly a management consultant and audit senior accountant for Deloitte & Touche and has chaired a number of Minnesota accounting practice committees. Don has been working with Ceres for a number of years providing leadership and financial counseling as necessary.

Jill Kohl
Director of Accounting Services
Jill Kohl attended the University of Wisconsin and received her accounting degree from Chippewa Valley College. Her 32 yr. accounting career has ranged from a 21,000 employee Health Care Corporation to various small business clients as the owner/operator of her own accounting services business. Jill has worked in the organic industry since 1998. Her affiliation with Ceres Organic Harvest began in the year 2000. Her contributions to Ceres Organic Harvest, Inc. and Organic Grain and Milling include the oversight and management of all aspects of both business’ accounting and financial needs.

Abby Kohl
Accounts Payable
Abby joined us in March 2007 as our Accounts payable clerk. Abby is studying law and Business Management at Chippewa Valley College. She is taking a hiatus from classes this year to be with her new son Logan. Abby has worked in the accounting field for 2 years.

Jo Elliott
Director of Operations - Industrial Ingredient Production and Sales
Jo Elliott graduated from Valparaiso University with a BA degree in 1979. Her history in the natural and organic foods industry has spanned 25 yrs and has included operations, management, organic compliance oversight and sales in distribution, retail and manufacturing. She has been with Ceres Organic Harvest, Inc. since December of 2001 where her duties and contributions have been concentrated in operations, toll processor management, and sales of industrial ingredients. She has a personal commitment and passion for the organic food industry.

April Deinken
Organic Compliance and Grain Handling Services
April grew up on a small hobby farm in Southern Minnesota. She spent four years stationed in Grand Forks, ND where she served in the Air Force as a purchasing agent and contracts administrator. Since then she has traveled internationally studying organic horticulture and agriculture. April spent a summer working for the University of Minnesota on their organic farm where she learned firsthand the joys, and trials, of growing food organically. Her current responsibilities include traffic management, inventory control, and maintenance of all organic compliance procedures for the company.

Greg Jarrett
Manager, Technical Services
Greg Jarrett graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Engineering. He chose the organic foods industry over other career paths and it has been not only his job, but his way of life for many years. From working with an organic growers' cooperative in Kansas in the late '80's, he moved on to help manage an organic flour and oat processor during a time of extraordinary growth. He also initiated a new European export program for that company, and later used that experience to develop a large Asian export joint venture in the late '90's and early '00's. That work led to his current position with Ceres where he is able to use his experience and engineering training to manage areas of quality assurance, processing, logistics, import and export. While spending most of his eighteen-year career working with organic grains and milling, Greg has also worked with organic poultry and vegetable marketing. Greg enjoys solving problems and developing new projects. He brings a wide range and depth of experience to bears.

Troy DeSmet
Vice President, Director of Grain Procurement
Troy DeSmet has been managing growers and grain purchasing for the past 15 years. He has worked for successful grain companies including Harvest States, Barkley Seed (Yuma, AZ), and Northland Organic Foods. Troy developed the desert durum program and grower outreach program. He has been an important contributor to the development of crop plan production programs for key customers such as Homegrown Natural Foods. Troy’s down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach with growers and customers makes him a respected force in the organic grain markets.

Tom Stadler
Elevator Operations Manager and Feed Sales
Tom Stadler worked in certified organic elevator operations for eight years prior to coming on board with Organic Grain and Milling. He was an independent inspector for third-party organic certifying agencies and became an authority in the organic regulations for both farm and processors. Prior to his involvement in elevator operations he was a dairy and grain farmer. His farming background gives him a unique ability to develop personal relationships with growers and understand their concerns and needs. His philosophy is: keep the people on the family farms and they will be there for you tomorrow. His experience in the dairy feed market has added an important element to the operation of the facility in Clyde, ND.

Tina Koehn
OGM Office Manager
Tina Koehn comes to Organic Grain and Milling Inc with 13 years of experience in the conventional and organic office management. She holds a degree in Business Management from Northern State University in Aberdeen SD. She began working for OGM part time while attending Lake Region State College in Devils Lake ND. In 2006, after graduating with a degree in Computer Technology, Tina went full time for OGM. Tina also has held position as computer club secretary, computer support at LRSC, Sunday school teacher and is currently a Co-Leader of the local 4-H Club. Her and her husband Charles have 2 daughters, Corrina age 12 and Mandy age 4. She looks forward to learning more about the organic markets.

Paul Schneider
Elevator Grain Manager
Paul Schneider grew up in the rural North Dakota. With a background in organic and conventional farming, he has gained valuable knowledge working with a variety of farmers, equipment and land management techniques. Paul also holds a degree in welding from ND State College of Science. He has 15 years experience in processing. Paul oversees all management of grain products in and out of the elevator.

Jesse Eustis
Retail Products Customer Service and Creative Director
Jesse grew up on a biodynamic CSA farm near Ann Arbor Michigan. In his youth he spent many summer months working on the farm, picking produce, building a chicken coup and tending to beehives. He graduated Alfred University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. After graduating he moved to New York City and spent 4 years honing his communication skills working as a graphic designer and political organizer for 1199 SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East. He is currently managing creative communications for Ceres as well as attending to customer service for the retail products.

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OUR MISSION OUR HISTORY OUR PEOPLE BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS	Our People Ceres Organic Harvest has been built and managed by a team of experienced food and grain executives, some with over thirty years experience in the natural and organic foods industry. They have honed their expertise and knowledge of the marketplace, and have maintained key contacts amongst growers, manufacturers, traders, customers, and prominent industry players. Brittin Eustis President and Chief Executive Officer Britt Eustis is the Company’s CEO and has over thirty years experience in the organic and natural foods industry, both in management and field operations. Over the years he has worked in retail natural foods, wholesale distribution, food processing, as well as organic agriculture. In the mid-70s he manufactured and distributed organic apple juice from organic apples grown on the western slopes of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Later he owned a regional organic grain processing operation in Henderson, Colorado. Over the next 15 years he helped develop a wholesale natural foods distribution company in the Rocky Mountain Region, specialty and organic crop production for the wholesale trade, as well as organic certification standards for food processing. In 1992 he started Ceres Organic Harvest, Inc. to provide certified organic semolina and durum patent flour to the pasta industry. Britt is well-known and highly respected by both organic growers and members of the industry. Dean Chapla Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Director of Elevator Operations Dean Chapla grew up farming and began working in the organic food business in 1989. While attending college he operated an organic foods business, share-cropping small certified organic almond and orange orchards and selling to stores and distributors in the Pacific Northwest and Colorado. He earned a BA degree in Rural and Small Town Planning from California State University, Chico and worked in planning from 1989 through 1992, all the while keeping his foot in the organic foods market place. In 2000 Dean obtained a law degree from the University of Denver. Steven Young Executive Team Member and Director Steven Young has worked as a consultant in the natural foods industry for over 25 years and has a deep commitment to providing people with healthy choices in what they eat. Steven believes an organization that works to provide organic grains to companies and healthy food to consumers should itself be healthy. Steven is the founder and director of Peoplemaking of Colorado. His work is anchored in the principles of Virginia Satir’s Human Validation Process Model. His more than 20 years experience as a communications consultant has proven to be a tremendous asset to Ceres Organic Harvest. Steven also brings the resources of three generations of grain farming in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. Don Carpenter, CPA Chief Financial Officer Don Carpenter has been a certified public accountant since 1973. He is the managing partner at Carpenter, Evert & Associates Ltd., was formerly a management consultant and audit senior accountant for Deloitte & Touche and has chaired a number of Minnesota accounting practice committees. Don has been working with Ceres for a number of years providing leadership and financial counseling as necessary. Jill Kohl Director of Accounting Services Jill Kohl attended the University of Wisconsin and received her accounting degree from Chippewa Valley College. Her 32 yr. accounting career has ranged from a 21,000 employee Health Care Corporation to various small business clients as the owner/operator of her own accounting services business. Jill has worked in the organic industry since 1998. Her affiliation with Ceres Organic Harvest began in the year 2000. Her contributions to Ceres Organic Harvest, Inc. and Organic Grain and Milling include the oversight and management of all aspects of both business’ accounting and financial needs. Abby Kohl Accounts Payable Abby joined us in March 2007 as our Accounts payable clerk. Abby is studying law and Business Management at Chippewa Valley College. She is taking a hiatus from classes this year to be with her new son Logan. Abby has worked in the accounting field for 2 years. Jo Elliott Director of Operations - Industrial Ingredient Production and Sales Jo Elliott graduated from Valparaiso University with a BA degree in 1979. Her history in the natural and organic foods industry has spanned 25 yrs and has included operations, management, organic compliance oversight and sales in distribution, retail and manufacturing. She has been with Ceres Organic Harvest, Inc. since December of 2001 where her duties and contributions have been concentrated in operations, toll processor management, and sales of industrial ingredients. She has a personal commitment and passion for the organic food industry. April Deinken Organic Compliance and Grain Handling Services April grew up on a small hobby farm in Southern Minnesota. She spent four years stationed in Grand Forks, ND where she served in the Air Force as a purchasing agent and contracts administrator. Since then she has traveled internationally studying organic horticulture and agriculture. April spent a summer working for the University of Minnesota on their organic farm where she learned firsthand the joys, and trials, of growing food organically. Her current responsibilities include traffic management, inventory control, and maintenance of all organic compliance procedures for the company. Greg Jarrett Manager, Technical Services Greg Jarrett graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Engineering. He chose the organic foods industry over other career paths and it has been not only his job, but his way of life for many years. From working with an organic growers' cooperative in Kansas in the late '80's, he moved on to help manage an organic flour and oat processor during a time of extraordinary growth. He also initiated a new European export program for that company, and later used that experience to develop a large Asian export joint venture in the late '90's and early '00's. That work led to his current position with Ceres where he is able to use his experience and engineering training to manage areas of quality assurance, processing, logistics, import and export. While spending most of his eighteen-year career working with organic grains and milling, Greg has also worked with organic poultry and vegetable marketing. Greg enjoys solving problems and developing new projects. He brings a wide range and depth of experience to bears. Troy DeSmet Vice President, Director of Grain Procurement Troy DeSmet has been managing growers and grain purchasing for the past 15 years. He has worked for successful grain companies including Harvest States, Barkley Seed (Yuma, AZ), and Northland Organic Foods. Troy developed the desert durum program and grower outreach program. He has been an important contributor to the development of crop plan production programs for key customers such as Homegrown Natural Foods. Troy’s down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach with growers and customers makes him a respected force in the organic grain markets. Tom Stadler Elevator Operations Manager and Feed Sales Tom Stadler worked in certified organic elevator operations for eight years prior to coming on board with Organic Grain and Milling. He was an independent inspector for third-party organic certifying agencies and became an authority in the organic regulations for both farm and processors. Prior to his involvement in elevator operations he was a dairy and grain farmer. His farming background gives him a unique ability to develop personal relationships with growers and understand their concerns and needs. His philosophy is: keep the people on the family farms and they will be there for you tomorrow. His experience in the dairy feed market has added an important element to the operation of the facility in Clyde, ND. Tina Koehn OGM Office Manager Tina Koehn comes to Organic Grain and Milling Inc with 13 years of experience in the conventional and organic office management. She holds a degree in Business Management from Northern State University in Aberdeen SD. She began working for OGM part time while attending Lake Region State College in Devils Lake ND. In 2006, after graduating with a degree in Computer Technology, Tina went full time for OGM. Tina also has held position as computer club secretary, computer support at LRSC, Sunday school teacher and is currently a Co-Leader of the local 4-H Club. Her and her husband Charles have 2 daughters, Corrina age 12 and Mandy age 4. She looks forward to learning more about the organic markets. Paul Schneider Elevator Grain Manager Paul Schneider grew up in the rural North Dakota. With a background in organic and conventional farming, he has gained valuable knowledge working with a variety of farmers, equipment and land management techniques. Paul also holds a degree in welding from ND State College of Science. He has 15 years experience in processing. Paul oversees all management of grain products in and out of the elevator. Jesse Eustis Retail Products Customer Service and Creative Director Jesse grew up on a biodynamic CSA farm near Ann Arbor Michigan. In his youth he spent many summer months working on the farm, picking produce, building a chicken coup and tending to beehives. He graduated Alfred University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. After graduating he moved to New York City and spent 4 years honing his communication skills working as a graphic designer and political organizer for 1199 SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East. He is currently managing creative communications for Ceres as well as attending to customer service for the retail products.


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