Gordon Butcher, P.Ag.
President
Gordon Butcher is responsible for leading the strategic direction and operations of Growth Stage. He is keenly interested in developing Growth Stage technology and how data and information can be turned into decision making knowledge and delivered real time to those decision makers and other stakeholders.
Following 14 years with Union Carbide Ag as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Research he started a first of its kind peer to peer sales, service and educational company, AgCall, in 1988. The company has continued to prosper under his leadership.
In 1999, a sister company, AgCall HR, was formed to supply executive search services and other human resource capabilities to the Ag sector. Three years later, AgCall JobAds was added to supply a much needed web advertising medium for employers to advertise job positions and job seekers to find ag related positions.
In 1995, Gordon’s entrepreneurial drive attracted him to partner with a small start-up company, Growth Stage, that he felt had future potential to help stakeholders from primary producers to basic manufacturers make better decisions and provide a better experience. Initially, he grew the business rapidly by changing the business model, finding new larger clients, adding the necessary staff and technology to gain efficiencies and scope to the operations.
Gordon has continued to support and lead the Growth Stage team in new directions and into new geographic regions. Most recently, Growth Stage has developed a new product, SIERRA, for use in the Environmental areas of oil and gas, irrigation, all other water users and government environmental departments.
Gordon Butcher grew up in Manitoba and graduated from the U. of Manitoba and now resides in Calgary, AB.
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Michael K. Giles
Business Development Manager
Mike Giles has more than 17 years of successful business management experience in various roles for multi-national corporations throughout North America. Mike's employment history includes Monsanto; Sandoz Agro; BASF, and of course, Growth Stage.
Mike has held several key roles including Research and Development, Product Management, Sales Management, Business Development, Client Management and Marketing/Public Relations. Mike has worked closely with senior management teams on product line extension strategies and Channel/Distribution initiatives. Over time time he advanced from territory manager to Global Business Development Manager and is currently an Owner/Partner/Director in Growth Stage Consulting Inc.
Mike manages all North American Business Development activities for Growth Stage, including a team of five Business Development Consultants. Mike's team delivers innovative solutions to clients including John Deere, Bayer CropScience, DuPont, Alberta Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and Cargill Animal Nutrition among other industry leaders.
Mike has always been drawn to unique entrepreneurial business opportunities. He built his first company at fifteen: designing and building custom furniture. Mike owned a golf range and custom golf club manufacturing/distribution business for 5 years following the completion of his Bachelors' degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1990. Mike has several strategic business management certifications from leading academic institutions including York and Purdue Universities.
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Ken Robertson, MCP
Manager of IT and Product Development
Ken has been with Growth Stage since its inception in 1995. Ken designed and developed the initial technologies used by Growth Stage, and has since moved into the role of Manager of IT and Product Development. Ken currently oversees all current development incorporating the Growth Stage technologies, as well as new product and model development.
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