The Advancing Eco Agriculture Team

John is a leading crop health consultant and designer of innovative soil and plant management systems. John is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, and his mission is to provide support to the world’s farmers and our food supply.

Dr. Kavanaugh worked for 20 years at NASA mission control in Houston, before getting her PhD in genetics and shifting her focus to the next great frontier: soil biology. She leads AEA’s team of researchers and scientists in our constant quest to create more effective products that can produce powerful effects on farms.

She’s had success at organizations like Union Grove Farm, Syngenta Biotechnology, Genome Insights, United Space Alliance, and Duke University where she received her Ph.D.

Lissy is an experienced sales and marketing professional with a background in organic agriculture, specialty food and beverage, and international trade. Her role at AEA combines her skill set and dedication to human rights and regenerative agriculture.

Mike has 25 years of experience leading finance teams in companies ranging from $20 million to $1 billion in annual revenue in the manufacturing, distribution, construction, and healthcare industries.

Eric joined AEA in 2016 after 20 years of operations management and experience in supply chain management, problem solving and budgetary controls. He has a passion for empowering individuals and teams to develop transformational, sustainable change.

Jason joined AEA in 2011 and leads the team with strong data analysis, management, and farming expertise. He is a passionate agronomist, and a respected crop advisor, with 20 years in agriculture and a dairy farm in Indiana.

With 13 years of experience at AEA, David is one of our most expert agronomists and crop advisors. He currently designs and implements our controlled field trials. David also leads the education of new agronomist hires, which is a rigorous process to give them the necessary skills to help farmers succeed.

Lester joined AEA in early 2015 following a four-year enlistment in the Marine Corps. Quickly gaining traction in operations management, logistics, and manufacturing practices, he has a passion for helping others and providing support for the team.

As Sales Director at Advancing Eco Agriculture, Park leads and manages the sales team to drive business growth and achieve strategic objectives. With a diverse career in the agriculture and coffee industries, Park has progressed from retail and company training to regional, territory, and organization-wide management roles. He focuses on cultivating new customer relationships, implementing educational and technical service strategies, and managing existing partnerships with an emphasis on growth.

As the Human Resources Director at Advancing Eco Agriculture, David oversees all aspects of human resources, including performance management, employee relations, talent acquisition, change management, and team development within our organization. 

David’s diverse background, which includes experience as a Division 1 Football Coach, an Iron Worker, and a Public School Teacher, equips him with a unique skill set. These varied experiences have honed his communication, strategic, and problem-solving abilities, making him an effective HR leader in a range of situations.

Partnerships – Kish spearheads AEA’s international expansion, working with farmers, investors and companies throughout the supply chain in 10+ countries abroad. Kish also directs our strategic partnerships, including spearheading the Integrity Grown regenerative verification program.