09-14-2021
Local Bounti CEO Interview
Co-Founder, Co-CEO Craig Hurlbert, discusses the importance of unit economics, transparency for consumers, and reducing waste in the food industry with Seeking Alpha.
CRAIG HURLBERT
CO-CEO
Craig is a seasoned entrepreneur with a 30-year track record of building successful businesses with strong leadership teams. Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 in the Houston and Gulf Coast Area, he was inducted into the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame that same year.
Most recently, Craig served as Managing Partner and Co-Founder at BrightMark Partners, a growth equity and management firm providing capital and resources to venture, growth phase and middle market businesses. Previously, he was President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of TAS Energy – the leading provider of high efficiency and modular cooling and energy systems for the data center, commercial, industrial and power generation markets. During Craig’s leadership at TAS, the company shipped more than 2,000 modules to over 30 countries worldwide. TAS was sold to publicly traded Comfort Systems (FIX) in April of 2020.
Current Chairman of the Board at Clearas Water Recovery – which uses patented, sustainable and proprietary technology to solve high nutrient municipal and industrial wastewater challenges – Craig has also held leadership roles at GE, North American Energy Services, Pratt & Whitney P2 Energy Power Systems, and PIC Energy Group.
As General Manager of Global Sales for GE’s Contractual Services (GECS), he was integral in expanding the business from a “start-up” to more than $7 billion in backlog in just 24 months. Leading the team that pioneered the LTSA (long term service agreements) product line for GE’s gas turbine technology, he grew the global sales team from 15 to more than 150 employees.
Craig has also sat on over 15 company Boards, including: Prostar Geocorp, a leader in geospatial intelligence technology in the energy and transportation markets; ATR SmartProcedures, a pioneer in SaaS cloud-based digital transformation; and Loenbro, Inc., a diversified energy services and construction company. He earned a BS in Finance from San Diego State University and an MBA from California State University – Long Beach.
TRAVIS JOYNER, JD, PH.D.
CO-CEO
Travis has extensive experience in growth businesses, with a proven track record of helping companies springboard to the next level.
Prior to co-founding Local Bounti, he was the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at BrightMark Partners, a growth equity and management consulting firm dedicated to providing capital and resources to venture, growth phase and middle market businesses. In this position, he was an active director for many portfolio companies, driving growth plan execution, building core business infrastructure and leading many successful debt and equity transactions.
Previously, Travis had a career in management consulting and market research, consulting to a broad range of companies, from Fortune 500 to start-ups. His areas of expertise include quantitative analysis, corporate strategy, technology development, organizational design and structure, market strategy, branding and capital campaigns
Travis earned a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, where his graduate focus was market research and statistics. He also studied at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Certificate of Finance, and received his J.D. from the University of Montana, earning a Certificate in Mediation and serving as the Managing Editor of the Montana Law Review. He earned his B.A. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, graduating with Distinction.
B. DAVID VOSBURG
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER
With two decades of international financial, business development and technology experience, Dave has spent his life career founding, growing and scaling technology businesses that create social value.
He previously served as the CFO of Sensei Ag, a market changing AgTech venture, founded by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and physician and scientist Dr. David Agus. Dave was also Head of Business Development and Chief Financial Officer of Crop One Holdings, Inc., a vertical farming company. As CFO, he created a $50MM joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering to construct one of the world’s largest vertical farms. He also secured $134MM in the first Take-and-Pay contracts in the vertical farming industry and co-founded Conception Nurseries, a technology licensee to expand Crop One into new verticals.
In his early career, Dave founded and grew Ed-Tech and Fin-Tech companies in Zambia, working in C-suite roles. He earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.
KATHLEEN VALIASEK
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
An entrepreneurial executive, Kathleen brings a 30 year record of driving profitable growth in public and privately held companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, within the biotech, retail, telecommunications, real estate and healthcare markets.
Most recently, Kathleen served as CFO and CBO of Amyris, Inc., a publicly traded biotech and commercial stage manufacturing company with global operations. She closely partnered with the CEO to expand product offerings in B2B and consumer markets. Kathleen raised over $1B in debt and equity financing while simultaneously reducing debt and attracting institutional investors. As CBO, Kathleen led the strategic market entry into the pharmaceutical industry. During her tenure Amyris’ market cap grew from $300M to $5B.
Prior to Amyris, Kathleen provided strategic and financial consulting services through Lenox Group, Inc., the company she founded in 1996. Clients included Fortune 500 companies such as Albertsons, CVS, Gap, Kaiser Permanente and Softbank, as well as smaller clients preparing for IPOs. She was typically engaged for critical roles on multi-year assignments including M&A transactions, debt and equity financings, IPOs and spin-offs.
Kathleen earned a Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
JOSH WHITE
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Josh, an award-winning innovator, has spent more than two decades helping brands find their secret sauce. With a background in marketing, design, film, production and manufacturing, he has a unique perspective that challenges the status quo on everything he touches.
His ability to combine breakthrough strategies, brand positioning, product invention, packaging and digital solutions has consistently garnered Josh acclaim in the food, technology, finance and entertainment sectors. He has worked and grown with some of the world’s iconic brands – from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, including Chobani, Jordan, Maple Hill Organic, FedEx, Popcorn Indiana, Curaleaf, Muuna Cottage Cheese, 16 Handles, and Nightfood Ice Cream – and has been fortunate to see “lightning in a bottle” successes. Most notably for Chobani, he pioneered marketing, creative development and design, helping drive explosive sales from the brand’s humble roots past the $1 billion mark in just under four years, cementing Chobani as the #1 yogurt in the industry.
The recipient of numerous international communication, packaging and design awards and U.S. product patents, Josh is an industry thought leader, regular guest speaker and contributor to numerous business and industry media outlets.
MARK MCKINNEY
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Mark is a highly experienced executive and a global food industry leader with over 30 years of domestic and international experience with premier food companies such as Sunkist and Dole Food Company.
He has more than two decades of executive level experience in the food industry with a solid track record of achievement. He previously served as COO of Fruit Growers Supply (a cooperative of Sunkist Growers) where he managed six business verticals as well as all supply chain operations to support 39 packinghouse customers and thousands of Sunkist growers. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Al Ghurair Foods, where he managed nine business lines with manufacturing operations in four countries in the Middle East, including the largest poultry operations and flour mills in the UAE.
Previously, he held key executive management roles with Dole Foods, including as President of Dole Packaged Foods Asia, President and Managing Director of Dole Thailand, and earlier in his career held senior global supply chain management positions with Dole for its Europe, North America and Asia operations. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (minor in Chemistry) from California Polytechnic University and an M.B.A. in International Business/Corporate Finance from Claremont Graduate University, Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management Center.
GARY HILBERG
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
Gary Hilberg is an experienced leader with an extensive background in growing and developing innovative technologies and companies. Gary held leadership positions at innovative infrastructure companies such as TAS Energy and Everest Sciences. As Chief Sustainability Officer, he is responsible for developing and implementing Local Bounti’s sustainability program, and ensuring we are a world leader in efficient and sustainable CEA. Gary earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
CLARENCE FOSTER
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
Clarence is an experienced leader with 25 years experience in Human Resources, including Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Total Rewards, Training, Talent Acquisition and EHS.
Clarence has experience in high growth companies, having built HR infrastructure and compliance in the cannabis/cultivation industry, as well as having experience in managing a company with 10K employees operating in both domestic and international operations. His experience spans companies such as Medmen, Nissan, Yamaha, L’Oreal & Exxonmobil.
He received his Bachelor degree in Business and Master’s in Human Resources Management. Clarence is also a board member at several non-profit institutions such as Big Brother Big Sister, Boys & Girls Club & Alumni Assoc.
BRIAN COOK
PRESIDENT
Brian Cook has served as Local Bounti’s President since April 2022. Previously, Mr. Cook served as Chief Executive Officer of Pete’s/Hollandia Produce, a leading produce company specializing in hydroponic greenhouse-grown lettuce and cress, from November 2017 to March 2022, when Local Bounti acquired Pete’s/Hollandia Produce.
Mr. Cook also served as Vice President of Sales of Hollandia Produce from February 2016 to November 2017. Prior to joining Hollandia Produce, Mr. Cook served in various sales roles at several produce and retail advertising companies.
Mr. Cook currently serves as a Member of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council Board and the Ventura College Agriculture Advisory Board.