Mark Benoit Email & Phone Number

Averill Park, Ny

Consulting in the food and fiber industry, specifically hydroponic greenhouse cultivation.Assisting in operation of environmental computers such as priva, hoogendorn, damatex, and autogrow for climate control.Experience in deep water culture, nft, rockwool production of various greenhouse vegetables.Developing budgets, P&Ls, to meet operational goals.Assisting with large scale capital expenditure projects.Greenhouse development and design suggestions and… Show more Consulting in the food and fiber industry, specifically hydroponic greenhouse cultivation.Assisting in operation of environmental computers such as priva, hoogendorn, damatex, and autogrow for climate control.Experience in deep water culture, nft, rockwool production of various greenhouse vegetables.Developing budgets, P&Ls, to meet operational goals.Assisting with large scale capital expenditure projects.Greenhouse development and design suggestions and considerations. Show less

Northern Virginia

Adhering to food safety practices and principles.Carrying over best practices from facility to facility to ensure seamless transitions as we continue to scale nation wide.Managing apprentice grower program to build our bench of ag. staff to ensure our labor needs are met at scale.Advising on building, design, and development of additional greenhouses in conjunction with our Design & Construction team.Managing large scale capital expenditure projects directly… Show more Adhering to food safety practices and principles.Carrying over best practices from facility to facility to ensure seamless transitions as we continue to scale nation wide.Managing apprentice grower program to build our bench of ag. staff to ensure our labor needs are met at scale.Advising on building, design, and development of additional greenhouses in conjunction with our Design & Construction team.Managing large scale capital expenditure projects directly related to innovative ways to improve our growing methods from start to finish. Show less

Elkwood, Va

Involved with the project management and construction and purchasing for of our newest greens and tomato facility throughout the entire design/build phase.Complete controlled climate management through Priva Connext for both tomato and leafy greens ranges. (Heating, venting, chilling, recirculation, co2, irrigation, air flow, crop protection, shade and energy curtains, acid injection, water treatment, etc.) Management of internal improvement projects. Addition of Ozone water… Show more Involved with the project management and construction and purchasing for of our newest greens and tomato facility throughout the entire design/build phase.Complete controlled climate management through Priva Connext for both tomato and leafy greens ranges. (Heating, venting, chilling, recirculation, co2, irrigation, air flow, crop protection, shade and energy curtains, acid injection, water treatment, etc.) Management of internal improvement projects. Addition of Ozone water treatment and autonomous pond control through Priva.KPI Key Performance Indicator and standard norm time establishment for crop labor and processes.GAP Good Agricultural Practices certification process for our facility.P&L forecasting for the year in conjunction with leadership team to identify target margins.Purchasing of all products relating to plant production, working with vendors to reduce overall unit cost.Trial new varieties and densities to identify optimal quality and yield crop specific.Complete control over plant health and fertility based on target nutrient requirements with seasonality built in.Continued integrated pest management strategies focused on biological control of greenhouse pest pressure in conjunction with increased scrutiny of sanitation guidelines. Show less

Bucks County, Pa

Managing a 50,000~ sq. ft. greenhouse growing hydroponic greens in floating raft culture from germination to harvest.Priva environmental controller with a focus on controlled environmental agriculutre is a big part of this job. Maximizing growth while lowering costs and balacing all factors that effect plant development is a big part of this job. CO2 Injection, water heating and cooling, nutrient delivery, air heating and cooling, venting, shade curtains, energy curtains… Show more Managing a 50,000~ sq. ft. greenhouse growing hydroponic greens in floating raft culture from germination to harvest.Priva environmental controller with a focus on controlled environmental agriculutre is a big part of this job. Maximizing growth while lowering costs and balacing all factors that effect plant development is a big part of this job. CO2 Injection, water heating and cooling, nutrient delivery, air heating and cooling, venting, shade curtains, energy curtains, etc.Trialing and comparing new varieties to incorporate into existing production.Sanitation of the greenhouse from head house to greenhouse, walls, walkways, and machinery is my mission.Complete biological approach to pest prevention utilizing beneficial insects and creative strategies to control and mitigate plant diseases.Equipment maintenace and repair on Italian Da-Ros series harvesters, board washers, transplanters as well as circulation pumps and acid injectors.Getting innovative with ideas and approaches to tackle issues that arise with regard to the facility such as delivering dissolved oxygen in different fashions.Meeting and exceeding yield expectations and requirements for given crops in production by tailoring nutrient solution and steering the crop accordingly. Show less

Allamuchy, Nj

• Managed cultural and nutritional requirements of annual Chrysanthemum crop of plants over 500,000 in quantity spanning over 20 acres.• Implemented and analyzed Integrated Pest Management techniques across a broad variety of greenhouse and field crops resulting in increased marketable yield and quality. Conducted weekly scouting and analysis throughout entire crop. Collated and analyzed data in computer modeling to accurately apply necessary preventative measures.• Constructed,… Show more • Managed cultural and nutritional requirements of annual Chrysanthemum crop of plants over 500,000 in quantity spanning over 20 acres.• Implemented and analyzed Integrated Pest Management techniques across a broad variety of greenhouse and field crops resulting in increased marketable yield and quality. Conducted weekly scouting and analysis throughout entire crop. Collated and analyzed data in computer modeling to accurately apply necessary preventative measures.• Constructed, maintained, and troubleshot multiple irrigation systems such as watering booms and curtains, field drip lines, fertilizer injectors, and broadcast systems.• Administered preventative and reactionary agricultural chemicals such as: pesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, and fungicides in compliance with state and federal guidelines while subscribing to good agricultural practices (GAP). • Formulated fertilizers based on given plant nutritional requirements throughout plant life cycles whilst adapting applications based on climate considerations to improve vegetative or generative response throughout the year.• Germinated and propagated plants from seeds and cuttings in high humidity environment to ensure maximum success percentages are met.• Extensive greenhouse engineering experience relating to proper sizing and installation of key greenhouse components such as: heating and cooling systems, environmental controllers, irrigation controllers, fan sizing and circulation, and misting and fogging systems.• Controlled greenhouse pests through strict biological controls utilizing beneficial insects and nematodes resulting in a quality crop that meets rigorous company guidelines. Introduced banker and guardian plants to sustain beneficial insect lifecycles. Experience with all biobest and bioline beneficials, their feeding habits, lifecycles, and environmental reqs.• Use of farm equipment such as tractors, forklifts, sprayers, for a variety of different tasks. Show less

Cobleskill, Ny

• Studied Agricultural Business Enterprise Management. Operations; Marketing; Finance; Accounting; Management; Credit; Policy; Sales, etc.• Focused concentration in Plant Science with a particular affinity for Vegetable Production through hydroponic growing techniques in a greenhouse environment.• Engineering and design of greenhouse structures. Passive/Active Heating & Cooling; Irrigation Controllers; Environmental Controllers; Fertilizer Injector Systems; Watering Techniques.

Afghanistan, Khost Province

• Responsible for tasking and managing three subordinate Liaison Officers in the leveraging of assets to interface with coalition forces throughout the battle space. • Ensuring unity of effort with local, regional, and national development strategies to include USAID, which serving Louis Berger Group’s and Safenet’s needs.• Effectively communicated and synchronized all Safenet’s operations to associated counterparts by brokering integrated security solutions and interfacing… Show more • Responsible for tasking and managing three subordinate Liaison Officers in the leveraging of assets to interface with coalition forces throughout the battle space. • Ensuring unity of effort with local, regional, and national development strategies to include USAID, which serving Louis Berger Group’s and Safenet’s needs.• Effectively communicated and synchronized all Safenet’s operations to associated counterparts by brokering integrated security solutions and interfacing with Afghan National Security Forces, Coalition Forces, and Safenet personnel throughout the country. Show less

Afghanistan, Khost/Paktya Province

• Monitored movement and operations among thirteen teams during kinetic and non-kinetic missions with coalition forces and company personnel. • Established, implemented, and maintained company wide standard operating procedures for personal security detachment teams and managed systems to support, pay, equip, and train multi-national security consultants. • Developed, revised, and reviewed force protection standards and contingency plans for entry control point operations… Show more • Monitored movement and operations among thirteen teams during kinetic and non-kinetic missions with coalition forces and company personnel. • Established, implemented, and maintained company wide standard operating procedures for personal security detachment teams and managed systems to support, pay, equip, and train multi-national security consultants. • Developed, revised, and reviewed force protection standards and contingency plans for entry control point operations resulting in no successful attacks against our facility. Show less

Afghanistan, Paktya/Khost Province

• Equipped, trained, and led 8 to 30 men mounted (mobile) and dismounted reconnaissance and close protection teams, consisting of multi-national personnel. • Signed and maintained team’s sensitive items, vehicles, materials, uniforms, and equipment. • Operated under a vast variety of mission templates including but not limited to: low and high profile escorts, VIP escorts, resupply convoys, advanced site assessments, and route reconnaissance.

Afghanistan, Paktya Province

• Shaped, integrated, and mentored a regiment of Afghan National Police and more than one thousand patrolmen across the Paktya Province. • Lived with, slept amongst, and ate with ANP and ANA, operating out of district centers for extended periods of time.• Regularly enacted troop leading procedures, pre-combat checks, and inspections, while upholding individual infantry soldier standards.

Bachelor Of Technology (B.Tech.), Agricultural Business And Management

Activities and Societies: Plant Science Club

Associate Of Science (A.S.), Agricultural Business