David J. Rowntree - Chairman

Managing Director, Tricor Pacific Capital Inc.

David is a founder and principal of Tricor Pacific Capital, a private equity investment firm.  David holds a B.A. from the University of B.C. and a Bachelor of Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario.

Richard T. Mahler

Corporate Director

Richard was Executive Vice President and CFO of Finning International Inc., the world's largest Caterpillar dealer, from 1990 until his retirement in 2003.  In addition to serving on our board of trustees, Richard is Chair, Partnerships BC, Chair, Sterling Shoes Income Fund, and Chair of the VGH/UBC Hospital Foundation.  He holds an M.B.A. from McMaster University, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computing Science from the University of Waterloo.

Diane Fulton

Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of the Vancouver Foundation

Ms. Fulton is Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of the Vancouver Foundation and is responsible for the investment of its substantial endowment fund. Previously, she was Executive Director of Investments for the University of British Columbia’s Faculty Pension Plan. In addition, she spent 11 years at Scotia McLeod Inc., most recently as Director and Vice President of Corporate Finance, as well as several years as a corporate finance consultant for companies such as Westcoast Energy (now Duke Energy) and Belkorp Industries. Ms. Fulton is a member of the board of directors of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., an advisor to the investment committee of Pacific Blue Cross, and a member of the investment committee of the Vancouver Opera Foundation. She holds an honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from York University. In 2008, she completed the Directors Education Program offered by the Institute of Corporate Directors and earned the ICD.D designation.

 

Alton McEwen

Corporate Director

Alton is an experienced business executive with an excellent reputation in the worldwide specialty coffee industry.  He was CEO of The Second Cup Ltd., Canada’s leading specialty coffee retailer, from 2000 until his retirement in 2004, previously serving on the company’s board and overseeing its U.S. operations.  In addition, he brings strong packaged goods and food service expertise gained through prior senior management positions with mmmuffins Ltd., Rowntree Canada, Laura Secord, and Catelli Ltd. Alton is a graduate of McGill University.

Roland W. Veit

Chairman, Paragon Coffee Trading Company

A native of Switzerland, Roland Veit is the principal owner and Chairman of Paragon Coffee Trading Company Ltd. (Paragon), a large US green coffee trading house.  Roland has been involved in the coffee business since 1972, when he started his career at Nestle's world headquarters in Switzerland.   In 1978, Roland left Nestle to work as a coffee trader in Johannesburg and New York, before co-founding Paragon in 1986.  He served as a board member of the Green Coffee Association of New York (GCA) from 1998 until 2007, including two terms as Chairman.  Roland serves as a quality and technical arbitrator for the GCA, and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). Previously, he was the Chairman of the SCAA’s International Relations Committee.

Frank Dennis

President and CEO, SWDCC

Frank has led SWDCC since it separated from Kraft Foods in 2000.  A proven brand-builder, Frank has worked within the coffee industry for more than 10 years.  Past positions include Business Director of Kraft Foods Coffee Division, where he oversaw the growth of the SWISS WATER® Process brand and the development of brands such as Nabob and Maxwell House.  Frank holds a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto.

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