Company Overview Farm 360

Transcription

1 Company Overview Farm 360 Farm 360 was formed in 2015 to spur both sustainable employment opportunities and healthy food production within urban neighborhoods in need of both. At each indoor growing site, Farm 360 will utilize a vertical growing system and climate controlled environment to produce a high and predictable yield of year around natural and organic produce. Farm 360 is a for profit company that utilizes technology, the latest in LED lighting and alternative energy as a means to deliver high quality and cost effective local produce by the local community for the local community. Farm 360 is developing a system that can be replicated throughout the Indianapolis metro area as well as a regional model that will be implemented in other communities. Farm 360 uses growing systems that were developed by an Ohio based company, Crop King, as its base hydroponic growing systems. Farm 360 integrates LED lighting and environmental efficiencies to produce an efficient optimal growing environment for the production of produce that can be harvested year around. Farm 360 utilizes a completely natural growing process using an NFT technology for the production of greens and a Bato bucket vertical growing system for fruiting crops. Our process ensures that our produce is planted, grown, picked, and processed in the local community by members of the local community. Farm 360 will serve as a commercial scale grower and partner with other local growers to aggregate local food supply. In order to service retail contracts, which continue to demand a more local product, Farm 360 will supply its retail customers in Indiana with a truly Indiana grown product. It is a member of the State of Indiana s Indiana Grown program. Farm 360 will also service local customers through Caito Foods, Green Bean Delivery, and local markets such as Pogues Run Grocer and institutional partners including Eskenazi Health and Indianapolis Public Schools. Currently in process of redeveloping a 61,000 square foot formerly vacant warehouse in Indianapolis with approximately 35,000 square feet to be converted into 5 indoor environmentally controlled growing units producing produce 12 months a year near downtown Indianapolis. Approximately 15,000 square feet to be developed on site in modified green /hoop house for year around vine crop production. Plans to expand to second site in East Side of Indianapolis in Approximately three times the growing area. Plans to set up local distribution to convenience stores located in food deserts in the city. Plans to sell to local health institutions and to supply local educational facilities. Plans to be organically certified.

2 Leadership Chris Arnold General Manager Chris brings over 25 years of leadership experience as a senior level executive, coach, and consultant. As a strategic implementer and coach, he is particularly gifted at leading teams in the process of moving from vision to reality. Chris oversees all day-to-day aspects of Farm 360 with an emphasis on the business operations. Chris was born and raised in Indiana and grew up in family owned business. After graduating from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he spent 18 years of progressive leadership in manufacturing environments. Most notable milestones of teams led during this time period are two manufacturing facility financial turnarounds and the construction and start-up of a new $50MM manufacturing facility. In 2008, Chris transitioned out of his corporate role to start his own coaching and consulting business. Along the way, he partnered with Truth At Work to facilitate advisory boards for business owners, executives, and key leaders. Primarily focused in the areas of leadership, team alignment, strategy, and executive coaching, Chris has served the organizations in the areas of: manufacturing, construction, engineering, automotive, national service providers, HVAC, professional services, printing, digital marketing, real estate, insurance, start-ups, churches, notfor-profits, as well as others. When Chris was approached about the Farm 360 leadership opportunity, he was particularly excited about the Farm 360 team's vision. Farm 360 is looking to have much more than an economic impact with it's focus on social and Kingdom impact as well. To the point of Kingdom impact, Chris and his family reside on the northwest side of Indianapolis and are active members of Trader s Point Christian Church where they are working with a team to launch a new Downtown Indianapolis campus. Jim Bloom Farm Manager The concept of a sustainable local farm utilizing empty warehouses in urban areas came from Jim Bloom s desire to use food production, in a for profit format, to help create sustainable employment in urban environments. Jim owned and operated several service companies including a vocational rehabilitation division. Mr. Bloom became increasingly aware of how hard it was for individuals with historic background issues to find meaningful employment in the communities and neighborhoods that they wanted to live in. Jim believed it was the responsibility of business men, particularly faith based business men to address this issue and help bridge this ever widening gap. A solution to this problem was posited through the development of producing healthy year around food within the communities that consume the majority of the produce. Through Mr. Bloom s years in education, service and business, Jim has seen an increasing need to foster and promote local growth industries that create not only products but also value for those who are associated with the operation and the community it affects. Jim has successfully worked with individuals with disabilities, veterans, individuals with mental health issues,

3 individuals re-entering the community from incarceration and individuals that those displaced due to economic down turn. In 2011, Jim made a full time commitment to leaning all he could about the process of indoor commercial crop production and how to integrate energy efficiency and technology in combination with a natural growing process to change the supply of food to metropolitan areas. As the Director Business Development for an Ohio based grower, Jim personally oversaw the construction and daily management of a successful 20,000 square foot indoor farm at the Toledo Urban Market in Downtown Toledo from 2012 to In 2015, Mr. Bloom agreed to join a group of local Indianapolis partners to form the operation now known as Farm 360. Currently, Jim serves as Farm Manager and is daily responsible for the continued growth at 201 South Rural Street, while assisting Farm 360 in pursuing new farm opportunities throughout the Indianapolis area. Englewood Community Development Corporation Job Creation/Community Benefit The ownership of Farm 360 is a unique collaboration between local entrepreneurs, as summarized below, with decades of relevant experience and a high capacity nonprofit, Englewood Community Development Corporation (ECDC). Englewood CDC maintains a focus on job creation and community revitalization in urban Indianapolis with offices just two blocks from the farm at 201 South Rural Street. Englewood CDC s presence within the ownership ensures that Farm 360 stays true to its stated mission. Given ECDC s nonprofit purpose, proceeds from this social enterprise will be reinvested toward community and economic development in this same community. With over 18 years of experience in this community, and a staff of 12 full time and 10 part time, Englewood CDC provides a myriad of institutional supports and meaningful connection to the local community. Key organizational staff from ECDC includes Joe Bowling. Joe Bowling, Co-Executive Director for Englewood CDC, serves as the organization s main point of contact for Farm 360. Bowling has served as the Director of the East Washington Street Partnership for Englewood CDC since In this time, Bowling has been directly responsible for the recruitment of approximately 20 new businesses, the increase of over 700 new jobs, and over $20 million worth of new direct investment. Bowling previously had over 10 years of experience as a commercial/industrial real professional. From 2007 to 2012, Joe worked for the John H. Boner Community Center and served on the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee staff. Through the Near Eastside Super Bowl Legacy Project, Bowling helped to secure approximately $153 million in new investment for the Near Eastside of Indianapolis.

4 Dale Needleman Business Operations Dale has spent over 30 years in manufacturing operations, engineering and R&D from multiple environments and industries. He has held Executive level positions in such companies as Shoney s, Inc., Red Gold, Redcats USA and Heritage Foods as a principle partner and VP of operations. Positions held include President, COO, VP of Engineering and Facilities, VP of Manufacturing as well as director level operations and plant manager. Most recently, Dale is the COO at Truth at Work, a not for profit Christian ministry. Dale is also a founding partner of Technology recyclers, a technology recycling company located in Indianapolis. Dale continues to work as a consultant to a wide range of operations. Significant experiences include funding and raising capital, operational takeover of multiple Merger and Acquisition projects. He enjoys the hands on approach with startups and entrepreneurial engagements to workforce and systems efficiency improvements. He has also taken on business development and social media networking as a part of branding. Dale was trained at the Tuck School of Business of Dartmouth University to provide consulting services as well as The Center for Creative Leadership, and the University of Wisconsin. Dale and his wife, with one child left at home reside in Fishers Indiana and attend Grace Community Church. Matt Peelen Financial Matt Peelen is a co-founder of Truth at Work. His servant s heart and time commitment to Truth at Work are utilized primarily through mentoring young business men and women with their companies, and providing encouragement and development through Truth at Work s several monthly Business Executive Roundtable groups and other activities and events. Besides his involvement with Truth at Work, he also serves on the Board of Directors for three organizations. Matt was blessed with a highly successful career in the packaging industry prior to co-founding Truth at Work. He served as Vice President of Sales for Stewart-Sutherland Bag Company in Kalamazoo, MI, and Vice President of Marketing for Bessire & Co., Inc. in Indianapolis prior to launching his own business, Marketing Concepts, LLC. As Owner/CEO, he grew the packaging company substantially over a number of years before selling the successful business in A native of Kalamazoo, MI, Matt is a graduate of Hope College in Holland, MI. He and his wife, Sandy, have been blessed through 59 years of marriage. Greg Wohlleb Contracts Greg Wohlleb has had a distinguished career in the food and packaging industries. Greg is currently based in Louisville, but is active throughout the Midwest. Since 2005, Mr. Wohlleb works as the Vice President of Sales, Food Processor Division, for the Bunzl Corporation. Prior to his career in retail packaging with Bunzl, Greg has founded or co-founded several successful companies such as ProMark, Inc. and Marketing Concepts Group. Wohlleb was a board member for the United Fresh Produce Association from and served as the first Chairman of Center for Small Business, Louisville Chamber of Commerce, from

5 Jeff Pinyot Lighting / Marketing Jeff was asked to join Farm 365 for his knowledge of sophisticated and efficient LED lighting systems, his marketing and sales ability and prior success with a startup business. With no prior lighting experience, Pinyot has taken his startup lighting company, ECO Lighting Solutions, to one that is nationally recognized and was recently featured within Parking Magazine. ECO Lighting Solutions is a leader in sustainable lighting for parking garages and other applications. Under Jeff s leadership, ECO has created an agricultural LED called the ECO Grow for use in indoor farming. ECO has completed lighting projects from coast to coast including such marquee projects like the new Charlotte Douglass International Airport parking garage, the campus of Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, and 16 parking garages at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Jeff has a civil engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Upon graduation, Pinyot settled in Indianapolis and was a perennial Top Ten salesman as an Account Executive with Trane Air Conditioning for many years prior to starting ECO Lighting Solutions and joining Farm 360.