Our Team
Ryan Rand
Chief Executive Officer, Director
Ryan is an experienced operations and project management professional whose military background and competitive spirit have taught him the value of teamwork and leadership. His work in the global energy industry and as a serial entrepreneur gives him the experience needed to guide companies from development through to the growth stages. Ryan’s passion for the environment and awareness of the growing need for healthy, locally produced food fuel his goal of building Pure Life Carbon into a business that he hopes will play a significant role in positively affecting climate change and food security.
Fred Munn
Vice President of Stakeholder Relations, Director
Fred is a former banker by trade and held senior positions at ATB Financial for over 17 years before starting his entrepreneurial journey. Now a successful serial entrepreneur, Fred focuses on creating exceptional client experiences and loyalty in competitive markets. Along with his duties as VP, Business & Governance for Pure Life Carbon, Fred co-owns Charity Solutions Inc., assisting charities and non-profit organizations across Western Canada. He also sits on the National Board for the Canadian Security Association (CANASA), which provides leadership to its Canadian membership of security professionals.
Hadi Feltham
Vice President of Business Development
Hadi has 25 years of sales training and business management experience, focusing on alternative agriculture methods, construction, and retail environments. Hadi is passionate about sustainability and has extensive public speaking experience in the financial, technology, and cannabis industries. As President and Owner of SQFT Grow Systems Incorporated, Hadi helps businesses with sustainability and facility risk management when growing quality, affordable and clean products. With four-years sitting on the Crossfield town council, Hadi is responsible for many sustainability initiatives such as a significant community garden for local residences and promoting healthy living.
Mark Starratt
Board Chair
After 25 years in the financial services industry, Mark retired from the wealth management industry in December 2018. Prior to that he had worked as a Partner, Director Wealth Management and Portfolio Manager with Richardson GMP Ltd. Mark was also First Vice President with a major bank-owned brokerage firm for more than a decade. Outside of work, Mark served on the Board of Governors at the University of Calgary and was Vice Chair of the Investment Committee and member of the Executive Committee in 2016. Mark recently completed a four-year term as a Director of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada and currently sits on both the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation and the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Cumming School of Medicine. In April 2013, Mark and his wife Jennifer formed The Starratt Family Foundation to advance neuromuscular disease education and research and to help improve accessibility for those with disabilities.
Gord Anderson
Director
Gord has over 30 years financial services experience with his last role as President of Cidel Trust Company, a national trust company and asset management firm. Other senior positions with CIBC and RBC included senior leadership, corporate strategy, corporate services, governance, sales management, investment management, fiduciary services, philanthropic planning, cross border structuring, risk management, and training and development.
Gord serves on several for profit and not for profit boards and is currently Chapter Chair for YPO Gold Alberta. Gord is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), and Corporate Director (ICD.D).
Shawn Graham
Director
The Honorable Shawn Graham is recognized as bringing a distinctive insider’s viewpoint to the world of business and politics and understands the interdependent relationship between the two. As President and CEO of G&R Holdings Inc., he and his team develop and implement global projects and business alliance strategies, with a special focus on globalizing with China. Shawn is considered an expert on the new global economy and global business development and has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of New Brunswick. He was named Visionary of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum in New York City and served as the 31st Premier of New Brunswick 2006-2010. As Premier, Graham was committed to putting New Brunswick on the road to self-sufficiency by turning the province into a leader in energy conservation and generation, building the best education system in the country, and making job creation a priority.
Bruce Picton
Director
Bruce has a history of driving growth through his leadership roles in accounting and advisory firms. His client-centric perspective, combined with his team building and leadership skills, have been key to his success. Bruce has extensive public company and non-profit governance experience and has provided trusted advice to successful businesses across a wide spectrum of industries. Corporate governance, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and taxation advice, all delivered with a strong relationship focus have been hallmarks of Bruce’s career. Bruce is a graduate of the Directors Education Program (ICD.D) and received his Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA, FCA) designation in 2020.
Jim Hole
Horticulture Advisor, Director
Jim is a well-known and knowledgeable Alberta horticulturist. He is ardent about plants, the environment and business. As the founder and former co-owner of Hole’s Greenhouses Ltd., explaining what makes plants tick is Jim’s specialty. Jim is also the VP of cultivation with Atlas Biotechnologies, a licensed producer of medicinal cannabis. The entire facility is dedicated to
‘Controlled Environment Cannabis,’ where every parameter—from growing to curing and processing—is tightly controlled. Jim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Alberta, is a Certified Professional Agrologist, a Certified Professional Horticulturist with the American Society for Horticultural Science, and a Certified Arborist.
Nick Savidov
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Nick Savidov is the Senior Research Scientist and CCA NSERC Aquaponics Project Lead, and a trusted advisor to Pure Life Global. He is an internationally recognized expert in integrated food production systems, such as aquaponics and agro-ecology. A plant physiologist and biochemist, Dr. Savidov trained at some of the world’s most respected institutions for science and agriculture, including Russian State Agricultural University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and the University of Alberta. Dr. Savidov has a long history of published papers, grants and patents related to his work. His experience includes greenhouse crop production such as drip irrigation, Deep Flow Technique, Nutrient Film Technique, and aeroponics.