The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Alberta Barley will be spending the next few months in a trial period operating with a shared management structure.
Tom Steve, GM of the Alberta Wheat Commission & Interim GM of Alberta Barley. (Photo/Alberta Farmer Express)
Tom Steve, the General Manager (GM) for the AWC, has now also been appointed as Interim GM for Alberta Barley. He replaces Rob Davies in the latter position; The post’s been empty since September 6, 2017.
Each group says that the move is aimed at streamlining the commissions’ collaborative relationship, adding that it’ll increase efficiencies to better serve Alberta’s wheat and barley producers.
Alberta Barley Chair Jason Lenz says their board saw it as an excellent opportunity to leverage the group’s strong working relationship with the AWC.
“By exploring the idea of a single management team, we hope to identify ways to provide greater value to the province’s wheat and barley farmers,” Lenz said in a press release.
Kevin Auch from the AWC says that the two have collaborated on a variety of projects since the commission was first formed in 2012.
“Now, with a shared management structure, we believe we can operate with maximum efficiency and provide the best possible return on investment to farmers,” Auch said.
Both also pointed out that Alberta Barley and the AWC already share office space, as well as accounting and administrative staff.
Both will decide later on whether or not they’ll formalize an integrated management structure once the trial period for a single GM ends in early 2018.
– Posted by BET
