Ben Mates is a community activist involved with creating and sustaining healthy, resilient communities.  Ben is the Operations Manager for The Robert G. Hemingway Foundation, a private family foundation. Ben’s work with the Hemingway Foundation has brought him into partnership with non-profit organizations such as The Hunger Project and Berkana Institute and their initiatives to empower communities to use available resources to create their desired future. Ben is Director of Sustainability Initiatives for the Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community and has participated in hosting an annual Sustainability Summit in Salt Lake in 2008 and 2009. Ben is a long-time student of whole systems thinking, sustainability, and human and environmental health. Ben has a BA in English from the University of Utah and a Legal Assistant Certificate from Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Ben’s work experience includes four years in Sao Paulo, Brazil as an English teacher, two years as a paralegal in a personal injury law firm, and nine years as a regulatory analyst in the interstate natural gas pipeline business. Ben lives in Salt Lake City, takes frequent bicycle rides, and enjoys skiing and hiking in the mountains around Salt Lake. He is a vegetarian and a vegetable gardener. Ben is a long-time member and organizer of food co-ops, food buying clubs and community-supported agriculture. Ben is married and has two college-aged children. He has participated in the annual Bioneers Conference each year since 2001, and was on the Salt Lake Bioneers Conference Planning Committee in 2009.

Mrs. Ramirez is President and Chief Executive Officer of Maria Fiorini Ramirez, Inc., an independent global economic and financial consulting firm formed in August 1992. Mrs. Ramirez served on the Board of Directors of Independence for six years. Since April 2000, Mrs. Ramirez has served as a director of the Independence Community Foundation. In February 2006, Mrs. Ramirez was appointed to the Board of Directors of Security Mutual Life located in Binghamton, New York. In April 2005, she was appointed a director of AMF Funds Chicago, a family of fixed income funds, and, in February 2004, she was appointed a director of Schroder Hedge Funds based in Bermuda. Mrs. Ramirez was appointed a trustee of Pace University in May 2002.

In February 1996, she was appointed to the Investment Policy and Product Review Committees of Edward Jones & Co., an investment firm based in St. Louis. Mrs. Ramirez served as a director of Arlington Capital, London, a private equity firm, from 1991 to 2000. From 1996 to 1998, she served as a director of the mutual funds group of Security Benefit Life Insurance Company in Topeka, Kansas. From 1989 to 2000, Mrs. Ramirez served as a director of Statewide Savings Bank, S.L.A. in New Jersey. In 1974, Mrs. Ramirez joined Merrill Lynch where during her 10-year tenure she was appointed First Vice President and Senior Money Market Economist. Mrs. Ramirez became a Senior Vice President and Senior Money Market Economist at Becker Paribas in 1984 when the firm was acquired by Merrill Lynch. From 1984 to 1990, she was a Managing Director and Money Market Economist for Drexel Burnham Lambert.

M.B.A. Since 2005, Mr. Jensen has served as the Vice President of Business Development for Liberty Pioneer Energy Source, Inc. with responsibility for raising investment capital and managing investor relations for Liberty’s oil and gas ventures.  Mr. Jensen also worked as a landman in Texas and in Utah and successfully secured thousands of acres of mineral leases.  He has over 20 years management, finance, accounting and business experience.  Prior to joining Liberty, he served as the CFO and MIS director for Lehi Roller Mills Co., Inc.  During his last five years at Lehi Mill he shifted into marketing and launched a retail and mail order division which he grew at a rate of over 100% per year for five consecutive years.  Cory was also the CEO of Paragon Quest, a information systems consulting firm.  Prior to that he worked as a Software Development Manager and Application programmer for companies including The EPCOT Center, Hyatt Hotels, and Illinois Telecommunications. Mr. Jensen received a B.A. in European Studies from Brigham Young University and a Masters of Business Administration from Brigham Young University where he graduated with honors at the top of his class.  He is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, and MENSA.

In March of ‘03 Brad founded and was President for AAA Hoist and Crane Co. supplying the western US with overhead bridge cranes engineered specific to jobsite parameters. AAA became one of the premier crane manufacturers in the Intermountain West for over 13 years.

In ‘00 Brad cofounded AAA Supply Co., a successful sling, rigging, and light construction equipment supply center that continues to grow each year.

Along with his wife Heidi, they founded The Place to Bead, a successful retail store where patrons create their own beaded jewelry.

As a seasoned investor, Brad was involved in very successful start-ups such as Xango, MonaVie, and several oil and gas ventures. Brad has raised significant dollars for several company start-ups as well as oil/ gas projects by subscribing angel investors into those lucrative ventures.

MonaVie requested Brad to serve on their Board of Directors until summer of ‘07 and he has been a board member of the MORE Project, a humanitarian project in Niteroi, Brazil serving to educate and thus help free the peoples of the slums from the evils of the drug gangs that have taken control of their village.

Age 51, married to Heidi Johnsen, raising combined families of 8 children. Residing in Eaglewood Cove and St. George, Ut. Active in family, church, community and sports/ recreation.

— Sergio Ponce, MORE Project Brazil

Background

Ms. Barnes has been working in the fundraising arena since 1985 and currently owns the fundraising and marketing consulting company AB Funding Solutions. She has served in a variety of development leadership positions including: Senior Vice President for Globus Relief; Director of Development for the Waterford School and the Pioneer Theatre Company; and as General Manager of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation.