Subcomittees & Board
Pure Life Carbon is governed by an independent board of six directors. One founder and CEO remains on the board. Three subcommittees support the board’s function, each independently managed.
Finance, Risk, Audit
Governance
HR & Compensation
Mark Starratt
Board Chairman
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.
Mark is a founder of KASTx Ventures Inc. KASTx brings together values-based leaders who not only believe in thinking outside the box but that there is no box to constrain us from the beginning. Currently focused on Life Sciences, KASTx provides strategic advice and governance support to drive inventors and their most significant ideas towards success.
Ryan Rand
CEO, Founder, Director
Ryan is an experienced business and operations leader with a military background, and competitive spirit. Deeply dedicated to freedom, diversity, helping those who are less fortunate, and supporting the international community to create a brighter world future. Driven by passion for the environment and leading people to build companies that play a significant role in positively affecting the earth and all its inhabitants.
He is a skilled entrepreneur with global energy, clean tech, and ag tech experience, having launched and grown leading edge businesses from concept through late growth stages. Ryan is a curious visionary, unconventional problem solver and decisive strategist. He has demonstrated capacity to create successful ventures domestically and on the world stage. Tenacious and capable of successfully navigating through business and people challenges to produce results for investors and other stakeholders.
Gordon 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 is a founder of KASTx Ventures Inc and Founder and CEO of Anchor Wealth Advisory. Currently focused on Life Sciences, KASTx provides strategic advice and governance support to drive inventors and their most significant ideas towards success (visit www.kastxventures.com).
Gord serves on several for profit and not for profit boards and is currently Chapter Chair for YPO Gold Alberta. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), and Corporate Director (ICD.D). Gord also consults in the areas of Aboriginal economic development and UHNW philanthropic planning.
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.
Fred Munn
Director
Fred is a serial entrepreneur and business management professional who accelerates when addressing a customer centric strategic challenge. The focus, creation and curation of the client experience is Fred’s passion and is what drives the business model. Creating customer loyalty in competitive markets is the true reward for businesses.
Obtaining precious operating and investment capital is the key to newly established and growing companies. Fred’s experience in private equity markets can help businesses weed through this difficult terrain.
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.
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.
Executive Team
Kathryn Breaker
Controller
Kathryn is a master collaborator and change catalyst with an expertise in driving the vision to deliver on community and organizational goals. She is a dual citizen having grown up in Texas and graduating from the University of Arkansas with an MBA in International Business. After moving to Calgary, Kathryn earned her Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA) designation and founded Kathryn Breaker Professional Corporation, a financial management and planning consulting firm. With a blended background and demonstrated success serving as an advocate and champion, Kathryn’s focus is on raising awareness to support meaningful initiatives. She is committed to public service and advancing the organizational mission to advance human ingenuity and talents to help solve the tough global challenges we face today.
Tim Hildreth
Facility Manager
Tim Hildreth is PLC’s current Facility Manager for the Red Deer County location. Tim brings over 18 year’s experience in Operational Warehousing Supervision and Supply Chain expertise. He has been instrumental in managing operations, production, and the build out of the Company’s flagship facility. Tim believes in making a difference; whether as a member of a team, or with the Company on a global scale. He’s very proud of what we are all working to achieve and the impact our products are having on the world.
Jim Hole
Director of Product Science
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’s humor and engaging spirit are legendary, making him a highly sought-after speaker across the country. In addition to writing bestselling books, newspaper columns for a variety of major newspapers, Jim can be heard on CBC radio and seen on various TV stations sharing his messages and tips on gardening and horticulture, continuing his family’s legacy.
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.
Fred Munn
VP Stakeholder Relations
Fred is a serial entrepreneur and business management professional who accelerates when addressing a customer centric strategic challenge. The focus, creation and curation of the client experience is Fred’s passion and is what drives the business model. Creating customer loyalty in competitive markets is the true reward for businesses.
Obtaining precious operating and investment capital is the key to newly established and growing companies. Fred’s experience in private equity markets can help businesses weed through this difficult terrain.
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.
Jan Nighswander
Chief Human Resources Officer
Jan Nighswander is an organizational development and human resources specialist with 30 years of experience working in Alberta’s energy industry, private health care businesses and management consulting practices. Through her experience working in and with dynamic companies in senior leadership roles, Jan brings a straightforward, practical approach to helping leaders and organizations find solid solutions that support their business success.
Jan helps her clients mobilize strategy to deliver their business objectives. With over 30 years of experience as an HR strategist and change leader, Jan brings a full spectrum of tools and skills to address the most challenging issues and greatest opportunities that impact success. Jan’s unique, qualitative methodology provides clear insight into what is really driving engagement and performance in the context of the company culture.
Ryan Rand
CEO, Founder, Director
Ryan is an experienced business and operations leader with a military background, and competitive spirit. Deeply dedicated to freedom, diversity, helping those who are less fortunate, and supporting the international community to create a brighter world future. Driven by passion for the environment and leading people to build companies that play a significant role in positively affecting the earth and all its inhabitants.
He is a skilled entrepreneur with global energy, clean tech, and ag tech experience, having launched and grown leading edge businesses from concept through late growth stages. Ryan is a curious visionary, unconventional problem solver and decisive strategist. He has demonstrated capacity to create successful ventures domestically and on the world stage. Tenacious and capable of successfully navigating through business and people challenges to produce results for investors and other stakeholders.
Tim Stephens
VP Sales, Downstream
Tim has 30 years of senior level sales and leadership experience in both the financial services fleet management sector and early-stage tech companies. Living and working in both Western and Eastern Canada while being involved in US and EU sales, Tim brings a regionally appropriate perspective to creating value driven conversations. With a BA and MA from the University of Manitoba and Sales Leadership training from Queens University, Tim’s passion is creating trusted advisor relationships that protect existing business while fueling new growth.
Geoff Thompson
Capital Strategist
A proven team oriented leader who has built and led seven market leading companies at the President/CEO level with a track record that includes: awarded the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2020, the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year and the TechRev awards in 2015, the Executive Coaching Certificate from Royal Roads University in 2012 and the national award as Canada’s leading small/medium employer in 2007; the leadership of companies as the founder, the sale of three companies and the successful turnaround of a near bankrupt company; and the delivery of mission critical projects worldwide.
His broad base of experience is primarily in general management, business development and operations within the high tech, telecom and home construction markets. He has led organizations from founder/start-up to exit, a public company and has profit and not for profit Board experience. His career has been split between public multinational and small private companies.