FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Lacombe, AB – March 10, 2025] – In a mutual decision by the Interim Board of Western Crop Innovations and Mr. Mark Olson, Mr. Olson has stepped down from his position as Interim Executive Director of WCI ahead of the one-year anniversary date of his contract, April 1.
“My role with WCI was always to lead and manage all aspects of our transition from the former FCDC residence at Olds College the previous three years. Working with a fantastic team of passionate individuals along with our Minister-appointed board, we accomplished our mission and brought renewed focus and credibility to the program,” said Mark Olson.
“The recent multi-year funding announcement by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and the performance of our plant genetics at this year’s Prairie Grain Development Committee meetings are a tribute to the meaningful research WCI is conducting to the economic benefit of Prairie producers. Now, other work is needed to secure additional funding and enhance member engagement.”
With WCI’s AGM scheduled for June, the Board and Olson mutually agreed that a fresh perspective would further strengthen WCI’s business plan as the organization continues recruiting for a full-time permanent ED and preparing for Board nominations and elections. WCI’s Board has conducted due diligence in selecting the incoming Interim ED, whose details will be announced next week.
“The Interim Board hired Mark Olson as Interim Executive Director of Western Crop Innovations to lead the development of a renewed Crop Research Program here in Lacombe that will provide positive results for Western Canadian farmers,” said Jason Lenz, Interim Board Chair for WCI. “Mark’s tireless effort and commitment to the job at hand got us to a point of successful transition and a renewed focus for a research centre with a 52-year history. Mark’s management expertise is appreciated by our Interim Board and the Staff at WCI through a very complex amount of work over the past 11 months. The Interim Boards’ work is not done yet, and we thank Mark for his time with us.”
“I wish the organization the best of success going forward and will always look back on this past year with pride and admiration for the men and women of Western Crop Innovations,” stated Olson.
For more information, please contact:
Jason Lenz – Interim Board Chair – Western Crop Innovations – board@westerncropinnovations.com | (403) 358-8876