PAMI strengthened with new board and wider role
HUMBOLDT, Saskatchewan, January 26 — The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI), the innovative prairie research and testing organization, is preparing for the post-COVID recovery with a strong new board of directors to oversee a streamlined, expanded growth strategy.
The new seven-member board provides a wide range of business acumen and experience. With their leadership, they are anticipated to help refine and strengthen PAMI’s strategic plan at this critical period and once the coronavirus crisis subsides, PAMI President and CEO Leah Olson said.
The new board members announced late last week by Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister David Marit includes:
1. Carmen Sterling, Owner, Shady Lane Farms Inc. (Chair)
2. Gunter Jochum, President, Blue Diamond Farms Ltd. (Vice-Chair)
3. Grant Adolph, Chief Operating Officer, Buhler Industries
4. Gene Fraser, Vice President, Business Development, MacDon Industries
5. Jonathan Gruel, Executive Director, Policy, Government of Saskatchewan
6. Kendra Mueller, Senior Relationship Manager, Farm Credit Canada
7. Jared Nelson, General Manager, Nelsons Roxboro Farm
“The new board will help us move forward with our strategic plan to expand research and testing services, which will enable the agriculture, mining and transportation sectors in North America to maximize their innovative capacity in the years ahead,” Olson said.
New strategic plan, streamlined operations
PAMI has also completed the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of WESTEST, an organization whose board in November 2020 decided to dissolve to enable a stronger PAMI that could better serve clients, particularly those in mining and transportation. This decision strengthens PAMI’s sales opportunities and its balance sheet. PAMI has been providing managerial and technical services to WESTEST since 1991. No jobs will be reduced as a result Olson confirmed.
This new, streamlined operating model reflects PAMI’s five-year strategic plan, which targets service excellence and increased revenues for testing, research and engineering. PAMI chose to focus on the transportation and mining sectors to complement its existing services for producers and the agricultural industry. These two sectors align not only with the organization’s core skills, but also with the forward-looking economy focused on autonomous machinery and the integration of electronics with other machine operating systems.
Key growth factor for Western Canada
A leader in innovative solutions for agricultural production since 1975, PAMI offers professional science and engineering services at its operations in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Research and up-to-date testing capacity have been recognized by successive provincial and federal governments for their valuable contribution to western Canadian economic growth and job-creation through the development of productive farm capacity and cutting-edge agricultural equipment and heavy machinery.
PAMI promotes the adoption of technology by innovative small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing them with access to scientific, technical and business advice, and short-term technical services in support of advancing research and development activities.
“Over the last five years, PAMI has received funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), which we have used to support more than 50 innovators who are making a difference in agriculture, mining, and transportation.” Olson said.
PAMI also provides clients access to first-rate testing equipment, including its Arctic Test Center for extreme temperature testing, force simulation testing equipment, and a heavy-duty vehicle performance testing center.
Olson said the new board of directors and strategic advances announced will bolster PAMI’s priorities, which are summed up as enhancing sustainability and profitability in agriculture, mining, and transportation through research, innovation, adaptation, and knowledge transfer.
For additional information, please contact:
Leah Olson, President/CEO
Email: lolson@pami.ca
Phone: 1-800-567-7264 ext 247
