Christopher I. Cook is the Center’s Executive Director. He is an agricultural enterprise development advisor with a broad range of skills and expertise including business creation and strategic planning and development. In addition, Mr. Cook has over twenty-five years of agricultural experience including the organization, financing, and development of farmer-owned start-up businesses. Having assisted more than 20 businesses, Mr. Cook has a strong background in facilitating agricultural, value-added entities through strategic planning. 

In the past few years alone, he has completed  feasibility studies looking at the viability of ethanol production, pork processing, bio-methane production, and meat processing in Virginia; and provided assistance on other studies regarding beef processing, bio fuels, pelletizing DDGS, and wine marketing .He is currently leading efforts for other feasibility studies regarding wine production, bio-digesters, and local meat initiatives. He has assisted in the organization of New Generation Cooperatives by providing advice on the complex issues involved in their formation and governance, as well as aiding in the development of marketing plans for nine nascent enterprises.

His work experience covers two continents. He farmed in the United Kingdom and was Managing Director of a 1,000 acre farm producing beef and small grains. 

His education includes the Certified Economic Development Financial Professional from the National Development Council; a Masters in Business Administration from the College of William & Mary; and a graduate certificate in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Spencer Neale has more than 17 years experience in agricultural business development. Mr. Neale’s areas of emphasis are from a commodity specific standpoint. In the past year alone he has prepared and analyzed the results of a survey for a steering committee for a micro enterprise, provided facilitation for planning of several beef producer groups, helped write three business plans, assisted in development of two marketing plans, advised at least 20 client groups on financing, and spent substantial time in meetings with groups of all sizes in all stages of the development process. He has conducted multiple strategic planning seminars and assisted with producer surveys, as well as working with producers in the organization of food hubs. In addition to his agricultural business work, he also represents the Center on numerous local, regional and statewide committees. Mr. Neale works directly with producers to resolve a wide range of issues regarding promotion legislation, agricultural value-added development projects, and federal regulatory and legislative issues that pertain to agriculture business enterprises.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Neale was directly involved as a decision maker for an agricultural business enterprise; for 15 years, he was a managing partner of a large, diversified family farming operation in Orange County, Virginia, involved with timber, and the raising of beef cattle, sheep, and horses. Mr. Neale attended Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and has completed numerous business, economic, and accounting courses through the community college system.

Tony Banks has served for more than 13 years in his current position. He specializes in producer trainings, surveys, and workshops. In the past three years he has facilitated strategic discussion of market conditions among fresh produce market stakeholders in southwest VA; assisted cooperatives with feasibility studies and the creation of business plans; mentored small businesses during their formation by assisting them in the solution of by-law creation issues; assisted in creating a strategic plan for the Virginia Wine industry; and helped organize three cooperatives. Mr. Banks has created and analyzed eight producer and marketing surveys since 2007 reaching more than 20,500 respondents. He also has expertise in dealing with agricultural value-added development projects, emerging markets and direct marketing.

Previously, Mr. Banks managed several environmental programs and grants for the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation, and worked for a wholesale/retail fertilizer and farm supply firm. Mr. Banks has earned a B.S. in Agronomy and Agricultural Economics from Virginia Tech University.

Jonah Bowles serves as the Risk Management Coordinator for the Center. It is a role that he has held since 1999. The area of risk management and hedging is a complex one; during the past year, he has conducted more than 90 meetings. This work has resulted in the formation of more than nine micro marketing groups. He specializes in options and futures contracts education, and assisting producers with hedging strategies in the commodity market. He writes a weekly newsletter, Commodity Comments, reaching out to over 2,000 producers offering advice on commodity marketing strategies, and has presented his approach in multiple states.

Mr. Bowles’ experience includes 25 years of complex marketing analysis as a stockbroker specializing in hedging agricultural products in the commodities futures markets.