Regina
Saskatoon
General Inquiries
[currently hidden] Notice:
Nominations are open for four (4) Member Director positions to be elected this fall. For more information and to apply see the STEP Board of Directors Call for Nominations.
Who We Are
Our dedicated team members bring a wealth of expertise and experience in international trade and business development.
With a passion for supporting Saskatchewan exporters and promoting economic growth, our team is committed to providing outstanding services and programs to help businesses thrive in the global marketplace.
Get to know the individuals who make STEP’s mission a reality and discover the collaborative and innovative spirit that drives our organization forward.
Marlin Stangeland
Vice-President of Business Development, Pisimuk Power Management Ltd. – Saskatoon
About Marlin
Board Chair
Marlin Stangeland is Vice-President of Business Development to Pisimuk Power Management Ltd. (“Pisim”). Pisim is a Canadian Indigenous Corporation established to create a world class clean energy & transportation nexus across Canada. It is focused on clean energy, critical minerals and critical transportation infrastructure. The goal is to collectively acquire meaningful equity stakes in the future energy and infrastructure revolution, securing multi-generational wealth for Indigenous people across Canada.
Prior to joining Pisim he worked in the private equity and venture capital industry with Westcap Mgt. Ltd., a leading private equity and venture capital Fund Manager having completed over $1 Billion in transactions in more than 200 companies. Mr. Stangeland holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA-CA) designation and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan. He has served on several corporate and not for profit boards.
Trevor Thiessen
President and Co-Owner, Redekop Manufacturing – Saskatoon
About Trevor
Board Vice-Chair
Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee
Trevor Thiessen is President and Co-Owner of Redekop Manufacturing, based in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Redekop specializes in crop residue management solutions for farmers. Prior to that, Trevor was President of Novozymes BioAg where he led the team responsible for the strategy and direction of the agricultural activities for Novozymes.
With a background in agriculture spanning more than 30 years, Trevor has been involved in marketing, sales, production, and research and development throughout his career. Trevor’s work in the industry has taken him to North America, South America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Trevor has a Degree in Finance and Marketing as well as an MBA, both from the University of Saskatchewan.
Jodi Banks
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development – Regina
About Jodi
Board Member
Jodi Banks is the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Trade and Export Development.
Jodi has over 27 years of experience in the public sector. She has worked in the Livestock and Policy Branches of Saskatchewan Agriculture, as well as in the Canadian Intergovernmental Relations Branch of Intergovernmental Affairs, Saskatchewan Executive Council.
Jodi received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Regina in 1991 and a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson-Shoyama School of Public Policy, University of Regina in 2006.
Mark Cooper
President & CEO, Prairie Clean Energy – Saskatoon
About Mark
Board Member
Mark Cooper is the President and CEO of Prairie Clean Energy, a Saskatchewan-headquartered bioenergy company that specializes in converting agricultural waste into bioenergy fuel pellets for the world market. Previously, Mark served as the President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Construction Association, where he represented Saskatchewan’s 9,000+ construction companies. He also served as Director of Policy and Communications for the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and worked for the governments of both Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Mark received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Regina and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Royal Roads University. He is a certified negotiator and mediator, a Project Management Professional, and recently concluded the Director’s Education Program with the Institute of Corporate Directors, achieving the ICD.D professional designation. Mark has a LEAN Yellow Belt and is a trained adult educator.
Mark currently sits on the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Board of Directors where he chairs the Audit and Finance committee. He is also a Board member of Prairie Clean Energy. He’s previously served on the boards of the Regina Food Bank, the Canadian Construction Association, the Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Government House Foundation and the Al Ritchie Community Association.
Mark and his wife Kimberley, a high school teacher, live in Regina raising their two-year-old daughter Isabella, and trying to keep up with their crazy golden-doodle dog Wallace.
John Cote
Owner & Founder, Black Fox Farm & Distillery – Saskatoon
About John
Board Member
Chair of the Governance & Human Resources Committee
John Cote, together with his wife Barbara, operate a unique farming operation in the prairie region. Black Fox Farm and Distillery focuses on the creation of high-quality whisky and gin and using their knowledge of agriculture to produce many of the ingredients they use. With their companies focus on the export market, John is keenly aware of the importance of creating linkages between the various industries in the province to create opportunities in the wider world.
John is a Professional Agrologist as well as a Nuffield Scholar and has worked and studied in the agriculture industry in many parts of the world. He is happiest either creating new things or fixing old ones and spending time with his family cooking.
Kevin France
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment – Regina
About Kevin
Board Member
Kevin France has worked in the Government of Saskatchewan for over 10 years and spent 8 years with the Government of Alberta. In addition to Deputy Minister, he has been the Vice President of Agriculture and Economic Development with the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. He has also served as Executive Director of Regional Services with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Kevin has a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Natural Resource Science degree from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Bill Greuel
Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture – Regina
About Bill
Board Member
Bill Greuel was raised on a mixed grain and livestock farm near Bruno, Saskatchewan. After attending the College of Agriculture at the U of S, Bill began his career with Zeneca / Advanta Seeds. He first joined the Ministry of Agriculture as the Oilseed Specialist and also worked in the Agriculture Research Branch before joining BASF’s agricultural marketing group. After six years at BASF, Bill returned to the Ministry as the Executive Director of the Crops and Irrigation Branch and later as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Regulatory and Innovation.
In 2018, Bill became the first CEO of Protein Industries Canada, where he remained until his appointment as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture for the Province of Saskatchewan in August 2024. In addition to the Board of Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, Bill is a director of ACS, GIFS and the Saskatchewan Crops Insurance Corporation.
Bill and his partner have three children, two of which are attending the University of Regina and one attending the University of Ottawa.
Kari Harvey
CEO, Innovation Saskatchewan – Saskatoon
About Kari
Board Member
Kari Harvey is CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan where her responsibilities include working with community partners to nurture an environment that supports the success of startup tech companies in the province, and with the research community to ensure Saskatchewan research and commercialization interests are maximized.
Her 30-year public service career includes senior leadership positions in the Ministry of Agriculture such as Director of the Agri-business Development Branch, Executive Director, Capital and Regional Services with the Saskatchewan Ministry Health, and Executive Council and Office of the Premier as Assistant Deputy Minister, International Relations and Protocol. Kari is currently a board member with the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), the Canadian Light Source (CLS), Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), and the NRC-IRAP Advisory Council.
Kari holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration, both from the University of Regina, as well as the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Kurtis Hinz
CEO, TAM International LP – Saskatoon
About Kurtis
Board Member
Kurtis Hinz is the CEO of TAM International LP, an International Nuclear Logistics firm with its headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. One of the founding members of the company, Mr. Hinz has been with TAM since 2005. Mr. Hinz was named President of the company in 2011 and CEO of TAM International LP following the strategic partnership established with PFM Capital in 2019. Mr. Hinz brings nearly 20 years of experience in International Nuclear logistics and high consequence transports. He has represented TAM International in organizations such as the World Nuclear Association (WNA), the World Nuclear Transport Institute, the Canadian Nuclear Association along with other global logistic organizations as both an industry participant and speaker. In 2019, he was named Chairman of the World Nuclear Association Transport Working Group. In his role at the WNA, he continues to work collaboratively with various nuclear industry professionals to address and mediate various issues in the transportation of nuclear material.
Muaz Sheriff
Director of Operations, RAYHAWK Technologies – Saskatoon
About Muaz
Board Member
Muaz Sheriff is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in operational management, business development, and technical leadership. As the Director of Operations at Rayhawk, he oversees multiple departments and drives strategic initiatives to fuel the company’s growth across international markets.
Muaz holds a Bachelor of Technology in Technology Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, where he also serves on the advisory board. Previously, he led Positioning Technology operations for Brandt in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, playing a pivotal role in boosting net profits and expanding market share.
At Rayhawk, Muaz and his team are advancing product innovation and expanding the impact of safety-focused autonomous rail loading solutions across the industry. Recognized for optimizing efficiency, managing diverse teams, and driving significant revenue growth, he has a proven track record of leading successful business expansions. His strengths include strategic leadership, financial management, and the strategic execution of the company’s vision.
Tabetha Stirrett
Vice President, RESPEC – Saskatoon
About Tabetha
Board Member
With over 26 years of experience in geoscience, Tabetha Stirrett has made significant contributions to the potash, oil-and-gas, gold, and coal industries. In 2009, she was part of an all-female team that acquired North Rim Exploration, which they successfully sold to RESPEC in 2016. Following the acquisition, Tabetha took on the role of Business Development Lead for mining and energy opportunities in Canada and served as a Senior Geologist. In 2019, she was promoted to Vice President, where she continues to expand RESPEC’s mining and energy group in Canada.
Tabetha’s extensive experience has enabled her to focus on the global nature of mining, assessing potash properties in many of the world’s evaporite basins, including those in North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia. She is passionate about showcasing Saskatchewan’s mining expertise on an international stage, and RESPEC has been a proud member of STEP for many years.
In addition to her professional achievements, Tabetha is deeply committed to her local community. She was a founding member of Saskatchewan Women in Mining, serving as vice-chair for five years. She also served on the Women in Mining Canada board for six years, including a term as president from 2013 to 2016. Recently, she completed a term as a board member for SIMSA and currently sits on the board for RESPEC’s Canadian entity.