Meet our Founders
Steve Jackson
Co-Founder & Head of Water Policy and Land Use
Steve Jackson is a third-generation farmer, growing up in the Kingsburg area. After acquiring a CPA and law degree from Southern Methodist University, Steve moved back to the valley to join the family farming operation in 1993.
As federal and state policies continued to shift water away from agriculture production, Steve has worked to support balanced water policies while serving on over fourteen water boards in Kings, Kern and Tulare counties for the past twenty years. Steve was the co-founder of the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta and is the founder and President of Next Gen Water, offering strategic consulting services for clients navigating the diverse California water environment. Steve continues to farm almonds in Tulare County while working to ensure that we preserve our agriculture production base for the next generation.
Doug Brunner
Co-Founder & Head of Business Development and Strategy
Doug is a third-generation dairyman and farmer and has spent the last decade pushing entrepreneurial boundaries.
While completing his degree at Fresno State, Doug made the decision to expand beyond his family’s dairy operation, venturing into diverse agricultural opportunities. His ambitious endeavors led to the establishment of his farming operation spanning over 10,000 acres, diversified in both permanent and row crops across four counties in the Central Valley.
With a keen eye for vertical integration and a knack for understanding people, Doug founded The Ag Center in 2019, based in Merced, CA. Since its existence, The Ag Center has made a significant impact and truly embodies Doug’s vision and care for the industry as a whole — continuously innovating solutions to cater to the ever-evolving agricultural landscape and the needs of growers across the industry.
SEAN HAYNES
CO-FOUNDER & HEAD OF FINANCING AND DISTRESSED ASSETS
Sean Haynes leveraged his extensive production ag experience and formal Agricultural Economics education (completing a B.S. in Agribusiness at Cal State Fresno) into a successful 15 year Food and Agribusiness Executive banking career
This includes financial analysis, commodity risk, portfolio management, and building a well performing $800 million debt portfolio. His long standing client relationships span the entire food chain from production of numerous ag commodities to food processing & distribution managing transactions ranging from $10 million to $500 million.
Always a client advocate and enjoying the financial advisory and risk management portion of his career the most, Sean took the opportunity to focus 100% of his work solely for his clients as their “in the pocket risk & finance expert”, co-founding AgriCFO in 2015 and becoming a principal in Nova Asset Management. In his “spare time”, Sean also owns and operates Haynes Land & Livestock, a livestock and hay operation located in Oakdale, California.
Mike Alamari
Co-Founder & Head of Human Resources
Born and Raised in Madera, California, Ahmed Alamari has rooted himself in his hometown and surrounding areas.
Before receiving his high school diploma from Madera High School in 2008, Mr. Alamari was accepted to various prestigious universities and institutions however, Ahmed wanted to say local. He decided to attend the new University Of California-Merced. In 4 years, Mr. Alamari was able to receive not one but two bachelor degrees. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Sciences in Management. Ahmed graduated Cum Laude in May 2012 and immediately began his own business, CalPacific Supply Inc.
In just a small span after college, Mr. Alamari has been able to establish himself as a prominent agricultural business leader receiving the praise and admiration of many experienced individuals around him. Ahmed is very knowledgeable in a vast amount of subjects and topics related not only to agricultural commerce, but in government laws, regulations, and economics. Looking ahead, Ahmed is committed to a long-term vision of continuous improvement and innovation, aiming to enhance the business landscape for years to come.
KEITH YAMAMOTO
Co-Founder & Head of Operations
Keith is a 3rd Generation California farmer. He has invested his career in entrepreneurship and farm production.
Keith has Co–founded and directed multiple companies including Central Irrigation, Inc., Cal Coast Commodities, LLC, CalCoast Freight, LLC, and Blue River Orchards, LLC while contributing as the Business Manager for his family’s farming operation in Westley, CA.