Seed Today - Q1 2009 - (Page 24)

Personal Profile Risa DeMasi Partner/Director of Sales and Marketing Grassland Oregon Salem, OR • 503-566-9900 • www.grasslandoregon.com Hometown: Albany, OR Family: Married 14 years to Michael DeMasi, a professional guitarist. Family background: Raised on the family’s beef farm. Mother was an international concert pianist. Education: Hesston Mennonite College, Hesston, KS. Years in the seed industry: 21 Years at Grassland Oregon: 9 Seed industry experience: Sales and marketing, Olsen-Fennel Seeds, Inc., 1988-1998; AgriBioTech, 1998-2000; Founding partner of Grassland Oregon, 2000. Key to Grassland Oregon’s success: Having a unique product that differentiates us from other grass and forage seed distributors. Our SucraSEED forages, for example, provide distinctive advantages. This takes us from being a commodity supplier trading on price to having something that offers new benefits to our customers the end user. Biggest challenge facing the turf seed industry: Protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. When we market distinct varieties with a known background—a breeding history, a documented performance record and traceable production—our customers benefit. Violating those IP rights harms everyone in the industry from breeders to our customers to the consumer. What brings you to the office every day: My work is a great source of satisfaction. We are a small company where everyone has an input into making management decisions. When changes need to be made, when market conditions change, when our strategy needs to be adjusted—we can make those changes immediately. That is very rewarding. What do you enjoy most about the seed industry: The relationships that develop with our customers, suppliers and competitors. As we develop professional relationships with these people, they become our friends. I do not know of any other industry where personal relationships are as common or as significant. It is also exciting to watch people get involved in our trade associations and make a difference to help develop our industry so that it can prosper into the future. Professional recognition: ASTA Regional VP, 2008-2011; Chair ASTA Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee, 2008-2011; Past Chair ASTA Lawn Seed Division; Oregon Seed Association Board 2008-2011; Atlantic Seed Association Seedsman of the Year, 2007. Response No. 241 Response No. 242 24 First Quarter 2009 http://www.grasslandoregon.com http://www.applewoodseed.com http://www.applewoodseed.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Seed Today - Q1 2009

Seed Today - Q1 2009 Contents Editor’s Notes Tri-State Seed LLC Blue Mountain Seed, Inc. Clearwater Seed According to ASTA Risa DeMasi Crystal Fricker AOSCA AOSA/SCST Oxbo International Hamer LLC Perten Insturments Taylor Products BinMaster Level Controls Dean Cavey Farmer Suicides in India: A Social Concern Unrelated to Bt Cotton Ad Index

Seed Today - Q1 2009

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