Board of Directors

Mackey, Glen E.

Board Chairman

As chairman of the board, Glen Mackey has oversight responsibility for all corporate functions, including governance and executive management. Mr. Mackey has also served as an adjunct professor in Applied Mathematics at Rutgers University, a member of the U.S. Commodity Futures and Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Market Risk Advisory Committee, and continues to hold board and board advisory positions for several commodity related organizations.

Mr. Mackey retired in 2021 previously serving as the Chief Risk and Procurement Officer of NRG Energy, Inc., a US fortune 500 energy company. Responsibilities included governance, risk management, commodity trade compliance, cash management, derivative clearing, insurance, retail costing and structuring. Prior to joining NRG, Glen held senior commercial and commodity management positions, in agriculture, energy, and financial services sectors with KPMG, Nexen, EnCana, Duke Energy Marketing, Koch Energy Trading, Engage Energy, Natural Gas Exchange, and TD Bank.

Mr. Mackey was born and raised on a mixed cattle and grain farm in northern Alberta. Upon graduation from the University of Lethbridge, he was recruited into TD’s agribusiness team in Alberta. Glen holds undergraduate diplomas in accounting and finance, in addition to a master’s degree in business administration, all through western schools.

Mackey, Duncan

Board Member

Duncan was born and raised on a mixed cattle and grain farm in northern Alberta.

Medical Doctor
Graduated from the University of Alberta with an MD in 1991, UBC’s Family Medicine Residency Program in 1993, and UBC’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program in 1994
Has practiced full-time Emergency Medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, and Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, AB
Assistant Residency Director then Residency Director of the UofA’s CFPC Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Was an Associate Professor of Medicine with the UofA.
Founded and operated Lethbridge Emergency Research Network involving authoring research protocols, coordinating an ED-based research team, and publishing the results of completed trials.

Cor Van Raay Farms Ltd.
CEO from 2007-2012 of Cor Van Raay Farms Ltd.
Responsible for Cattle purchasing, feeding, and marketing.
Responsible for hiring and terminations of all feedlot employees.
Oversaw the modernization of operations involving computerized tracking of: feed mixing and delivery, cattle processing, growth metrics, and feedlot performance and feedlot financial metrics
Introduced Risk Management strategies involving cattle and FX futures
Oversaw the development and Implementation of standardized practices for; feeding, animal health, food safety, cattle production, and employee training across all feedlots

CTEAM 2007-2009
Participant in the 2-year off-site and on-site Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management (CTEAM) management education program offered through the George Morris Centre (University of Guelph)
Past Director, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

Van Raay Paskal Farms
2020 – Director, Van Raay Paskal Farms Ltd.

Paskal, Craig 

Board Member

Mr. Craig Paskal is the Feedlot Operations Manager of VRP Farms with oversight and management responsibility for the feedlot operations for VRP’s feedlots and livestock operations. With the amalgamation of the Van Raay and Paskal cattle operations, Mr. Paskal is a member of VRP Farms’ management team and board of directors.

Prior to VRP Farms, Mr. Paskal has been a key member of Rick Paskal Livestock, Butte Grain Merchants, and Paskal Cattle organizations. Mr. C. Paskal has also cultivated industry relationships within the cattle and agri-business sectors and has served on industry boards including the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, NRCB Policy and Guidance committee, as well as local community boards like Picture Butte Minor Baseball, Picture Butte Minor Hockey, Prairie Baseball Academy Alumni Association, Picture Butte Rec Society, and the 4-H Club.

Craig grew up in the family cattle business in southern Alberta, and his passion is Agri-business. After receiving an Ag Science diploma from the Lethbridge Community College, his focus has been on cattle feeding, understanding all aspects of agriculture, and has fed his own cattle for 15 years.

Paskal, Kevin

Board Member

 

Van Raay, Darren

Board Member

Darren grew up on the family cattle and grain farm. Darren obtained his BSc in Agriculture/Food Business Management from the University of Alberta in 1999 with a passion for farming. Upon graduation, he worked for B and D Walter Harvesting overseeing operations and equipment maintenance.

Cor Van Raay Farms Ltd:
Darren then transitioned back to the family farm as a feedlot foreman. After this role he moved on to farm manager looking after all aspects of farming.

In 2009, a majority of the farm was sold to Darren, Colleen, and his siblings, which he managed and had oversight for with his promotion to president in 2010. In this role he was responsible for all aspects of the grain, land, cattle and feedlot operations as a co owner and president.

Van Raay Paskal Farms Ltd.
Former Farm Manager responsible for proper and safe operation of the farming activities. This included all cropping, rotation, and production management related to silage and grain crops for the farm operations.

Board of Directors:
-Current Director- Van Raay Paskal Farms Ltd.
-Current Director-North County Potable Water coop
-Past Director-Alberta Beef Health Solutions

Van Raay, Michelle

Board Member

Michelle was born and raised on the original family farm and feedlot operations in southern Alberta. She obtained her undergraduate degree at McGill University (1994) followed by medical school (1999) and a family medicine residency (2001) at University of Alberta.  Michelle has practiced as a family physician in Alberta for 20 years. She also currently works for two online medical clinics based in Ontario. She has acted as medical director for two esthetic clinics in Calgary (2019-2021). She is a former co-owner of Cor Van Raay Farms Ltd. With the amalgamation of the Van Raay and Paskal cattle operations, Michelle is actively engaged as both a shareholder and board member.