The AIS Team:
Autonomous Mobile Robot Experts

Debra Hadden has more than 20 years of international experience positioning, branding and growing complex businesses in the agri-tech, biotech, software, telecom and functional food industries. Prior to establishing Debra Hadden Communications, Ms. Hadden served as Vice President, Marketing and Communications at Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. Ms. Hadden also led the marketing/communications team for B.C. at TELUS Mobility, and started her career as an Account Director at BC’s top public relations agency, Hoggan & Associates, where she provided public relations counsel for companies such as CENTURY 21 Canada, QLT, Ballard, Inex, YWCA, B.C. Literacy and Capers Markets.

Robert Lando is the founder and President of AgriNomix, North America’s largest supplier of automation to nurseries and greenhouses. Prior to AgriNomix, Rob served as Sr. Vice President responsible for Sales and Service at Bouldin & Lawson of McMinnville, TN. Rob started his journey in the horticulture industry with Langley Peat Moss of Fort Langley, BC in 1980. He is currently a Board of Directors member of the industry’s largest trade association and advocacy group AmericanHort, and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Greenhouse Grower Technology.

Daniel Veniez is a senior executive and entrepreneur in sectors ranging from technology, commercial real estate development, forest products, transportation, finance, and strategy consulting. He has served on numerous private and public boards and was a senior officer of a NASDAQ and TSE listed corporation. Dan has led and participated in trade missions throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. His opinions on various public policy and economic issues have been published in newspapers and policy journals around the world.

John Schmeiser is the CEO of the Western Equipment Dealers Association, and prior to its establishment, served as the CEO of the Canada West Equipment Dealers Association since 1996.
John also serves as the Secretary / Treasurer of the Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation and the Western Equipment Dealers Foundation. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation where he is the Chair of the Human Resources & Governance Committee. He is Past Chairman of the Board for IRON Solutions; Past President of the NA Equipment Association Executives; and, Past Chair of the Board for the Saskatchewan Scrap Tire Corporation.

John is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Arizona, McMaster University and Western Academy Broadcasting College.

Heather Carter is the principle at Digital Punch. An accomplished, results-driven business executive, Heather has more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing and operations in sectors ranging from technology, packaged goods, SaaS, government, financial, telecom and health. Prior to establishing Digital Punch, Heather was the Managing Director at Publicis Modem Vancouver and Vice President Marketing Services at Radiant Communications. Here she worked with clients such as Rogers, Purolator, Telus Business and Robert Mondavi Winery. Heather is a graduate of Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Peters is the CEO of Strategic Exits Corp, a firm specializing in optimum exits for technology companies, and is an M&A advisor, exit coach and angel investor. Dr. Peters has managed three top performing funds, a hedge fund, a venture capital fund and an angel fund, and has served as a CEO for technology companies in both Vancouver and Silicon Valley.  His first book: Early Exits – Exit Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Angel Investors (But Maybe Not Venture Capitalists) was selected by Inc. Magazine as one of the ten best business books of the year. Basil has a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in Electrical and Computer Engineering and has received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Canada Awards Silver Medal in Entrepreneurship, BC Science and Engineering Gold Medal and Business Leader of the Year Award.

Jonathan Saperstein is the CEO of one of America’s largest nurseries, TreeTown USA. Saperstein became CEO of Treetown after leading a management buyout in January 2015. After assuming the role of CEO, acquisitions and strong organic growth. Today TreeTown and its subsidiaries, Village Nurseries and Hines Growers, produce on over 6,000 acres split amongst 15 facilities located in Florida, Texas, California and Oregon while producing over 30 million plants a year and employing over 2,000 team members.

Shahram Tafazoli is the Founding CEO of Motion Metrics International Corp.
Motion Metrics is developing AI-based reliable and cutting-edge monitoring solutions for mines and quarries and has deployed its innovative solutions in more than 65 mines around the world digging copper, iron, gold, diamond, coal and nickel. Shahram is an Adjunct Professor with UBC ECE department and has a passion for technology and space exploration. He is an angel investor in 20+ Canadian startups.

Gerald Clancey is the founder and CEO of Valid Manufacturing Ltd., one of Canada’s leading manufacturers of innovative and cost-effective solutions for industrial, commercial and recreational vehicle applications. Working directly with customers such as AIS, Valid’s engineering and design teams utilize game-changing innovation and proven technology. Gerald founded Valid in 1991, which operates as a privately owned and operated Canadian company. Valid is located in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, and employs more than 100 team members throughout four facilities.