Ken Schilz joined Nebraska Strategies after serving for eight years as a Nebraska State Senator, representing ten counties in western Nebraska. Senator Schilz was elected Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees and served on the Banking, Commerce and Insurance, Business and Labor, Education, and General Affairs Committees.
Schilz understands the Legislative process in a way that only someone who served in the body can. He is especially skilled at connecting clients with resources across the state. He has worked with various companies to create relationships with communities and other entities to further economic development, entrepreneurship, and job growth within the state. Schilz has excellent relationships with State Senators and is a daily fixture at the Nebraska Capitol.
Before serving in the Legislature, Former Sen. Schilz managed a 20,000 head feed yard for 15 years. He served as president of both Keith County Area Development and Nebraska Water Users and was a member of the Ogallala Planning and Zoning Committee and the Water Policy Task Force representing South Platte Water Users. Former Sen. Schilz received his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Currently the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta is an Agric Advocate, intervener, initiator and implementer. She is a passionate promoter of the Agricultural industry and a tiller of the earth herself.
Alberta is the Founder of Agrihouse Agrihouse Foundation and Agrihouse Communications, and the lead initiator of all the highly impactful interventions that the organization spearheads.
She is passionate and committed to making a sustainable and measurable impact within the sector, and her biggest satisfaction is to see all farmers and value chain actors happy.
Over the years, she has led her organization to make significant contributions to the development of the agricultural sector in Ghana, through her advocacies, youth driven initiatives, competence-based Training programs, leadership development and market linkages interventions.
Some of her initiatives and interventions includes:
Presently, Alberta is leading the conversations on ensuring Agri Input dealer shops, are accessible to farmers within rural communities. She chalked a huge milestone last year, when she got Agromonti, an Input company, to collaborate with Agrihouse Foundation, to jointly drive an intervention and establish Input dealer shops. The first shop has been established for a promising young female student from Adidome Farm Institute – Charlotte Yawa Sodzedo. Charlotte is also a beneficiary of the annual AG-STUD initiative by Agrihouse Foundation.
The World Food Programme, has taken keen interest in this and is presently in discussions with Agrihouse Foundation, on how to expand this intervention
Alberta is not only passionate, but also creative, reliable, committed and offers tested and practical solutions to challenges.
For 11 years, she has been writing consistently as an Agricultural Columnist, with the Business and Financial Times, in her bid to support create awareness and promote the sectors opportunities to attract the youth and drive in investment.
From 2017 until date, Alberta has been serving on the National Planning Committee, for the organization of the Annual National Farmers Day, under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture-Ghana.
From 2017 until date, Alberta has been serving on the National Planning Committee, for the organization of the Annual National Farmers Day, under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture-Ghana.
She is credited for leading, packaging and scaling up, the Exhibitions component of the National Farmers’ Day.
Her works and interventions are continuously making significant contributions to the development of the agricultural sector, ensuring that growth in all facets of the agriculture sector are in tandem; receiving equal attention and resources, as they all deserve.
Alberta and her Team are currently developing a 10-acre land in Bamvim, into a modern and standard Agr-village, which aims at providing shelter and conducive environment, for the preservation of quality and quantity of plants and crops, increase the productivity of animals and farmers, and ensure safety and good working condition of machineries and equipment.
The Project, when completed will be the 1st of its kind in the country, with different types of farms, including seed and Livestock Farms, Laboratories, Training and Conference halls.
It will also have a Research Units, Exhibition stores for agric companies, Exhibition Grounds, Training, Recreational and educational centre, Storage space, Production room, Training and Demonstration Fields, Processing rooms, mechanized centres, library, nursery units and facilities to host agricultural events. It will also serve as an academy for training Ghana’s sustainable farmers and to grow the Agri-tourism industry.
A cattle farmer herself, Alberta is indeed happy to be at the forefront of changing the narrative in Ghana, by making positive contributions and efforts, which ultimately helps to create the needed awareness, sustain thousands of jobs across the agricultural value chain; providing effective training and growth in the agricultural sector in Ghana.
She is committed to making farming lucrative; making farmers happy, and ensuring that her initiatives and every project she embarks on, have a positive influence socio-economically, whiles having a human and environmental impact on the overall agricultural agenda.
Her Foundation’s drive and commitment is to contribute to mind-set change and create a more desirable sector that is open to learning, to create, to innovate, to lead, to share, to impact to grow, to invest and to expand, through an all-inclusive approach, where creativity and innovation takes the centre stage.
Her organization employs about 86% women and 4% men with zeal, who support her, run the daily activities of the foundation.
Alberta is excited about her work; she believes it is her Calling and her Purpose here.
She is motivated by her “New age of Leadership slogan: No age, No Degree, No Race, No Excuse, Only the Courage to be the change and act with care and Compassion
A Before Alberta’s Agric path:
Alberta, before establishing Agrihouse Foundation, Agrihouse Communications and Shaping Conversations Africa, worked as the Co-Founder of FAGRO (A food and agricultural exhibitions program).
She was also the General Manager of Infocus PR, where she was engaged in in-depth public relations and corporate communications consultations, Government Relations, Project Management, strategy Development, communications strategies, both in Ghana and across the continent for over 17 years, providing clients with market relevant communications services in over 25 African markets.
She has a long record of accomplishment, of credible and successful management across diverse sectors.
Alberta’s experience also includes issue and reputation management, communications strategy development, crisis communications, public affairs, CSR, brands positioning, investor and media relations.
A strategic communications practitioner, Alberta has had the opportunity (both past and present), to partner Arcay Burson Marsteller, South Africa, where she led and worked from Ghana, on key communications and projects with brands including YARA Ghana, The Economist, Nokia, Samsung, Puma Energy, General Electric (GE), Alcatel-lucent and managed Research works for Drysvale in Guinea Conakry.
She has also managed communications strategies and events for OCP Ghana, IE Signagore and Cocoa Processing Company (CPC).
She has also worked on programs for GIZ, National Communications Authority (NCA), AGRA, USDA-GPP, USAID ADVANCE, FAO, Barclays (now ABSA), VIVO Energy, Embassy of Brazil, Israel Embassy, Norwegian Embassy, Agritop, and the Africa Green Revolution Forum, among others.
Alberta, prior to her works at Infocus PR and the FAGRO Secretariat, worked with Global Media Alliance, where she led and assisted in the implementation of some key projects including the AU Summit, UEFA Champions League and CAN 2008. She also worked on the then annual CNN African Journalists of the Year Awards, in South Africa . She also worked on the Later Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s project – Campaign for Greater Discipline – Do the Right Thing!!
Alberta has through her works with Arcay Burson Marsteller, consulted, led and managed communications and events in other countries including Kenya, Benin, South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Cote d’ Voire, Guinea, Guinea Conakry and Nigeria, among others.
Alberta also works on the promotion of Trade, Investment, Business to Business Matchmaking related and Learning programs, within other countries including Brazil, Rwanda, Slovenia, Spain, Israel, USA, etc
She has championed the establishment of over twenty – sevent(27) rural women in farming cooperatives, farmers’ associations, Agric Business clubs and Advocacy networks across the country.
Alberta continues to train and facilitate trainings for Beginner Agribusinesses, Groups, Associations,, among others.
She is a Human Behavioural Science DISC Trainer and Consultant.
She’s a Fellow Chartered Banker, holds an MBA Finance, BSc. Finance and Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment UK Associate membership.
Prior to co-founding Crescendo Consult Ltd, a financial advisory, executive coaching and consulting firm and Mondia Longlivety, an organic farming business, Doris was the Country Director for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants-ACCA GLOBAL and Vice President at the Databank where she led financial advisory & Corporate Finance transactions, Macro-Economic & Equity Research and founded the Group’s Pensions business. She was on the team of advisors to the Government of Ghana for the issuance of one of Ghana’s Eurobonds raising $1billion on the international markets.
She, her husband and their four sons love travel adventure.
In 2007, he rejoined Multichoice Africa, with the responsibility of the Business development in 5 Francophone and 2 Anglophone MultiChoice Agent countries in West Africa. In late 2010, Cecil moved to become the General Manager and then Managing Director of MultiChoice Ghana Limited (DStv).
He also served on the Boards of MultiChoice Ghana, MIH and GOtv Ghana Limited as a Director till June 2021. He also sat on the Council of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) of Ghana with oversight on pay-tv sector during that period.
Cecil currently is the CEO of T&C Farms Limited and Executive Director of NTSS Ghana Limited and President of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and also represents GIBA as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Board of the Ministry of Information, Professional Advisory Committee of the Ghana Institute of Journalism Committee and member of the Land Sector Multi-Stakeholder Platform. He also supports a few other businesses in various capacities.
He has a vast experience in media consulting, agribusiness, business strategy, quality service and at different stages of his career.
Cecil holds an Executive MBA (Marketing) from the University of Ghana and is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana. He attended Mfantsipim and Achimota Secondary Schools and also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of Ghana, Legon.
He has also completed numerous courses including the Naspers & Harvard Master Class in e-Commerce and Media Industry Programme for Middle Managers, the Euro Money Banking Strategy Master Class and many Leadership Programmes.
He loves playing music, dogs, action movies and watching soccer.
Ato Brown is a development specialist with over 30 years of global experience. He retired from the World Bank in December 2019 after 25 years of service. He currently resides in Ghana and he is the Co-founder and CEO of Albert’s Haven Autism Foundation which also manage a 100 acre farm estate.
His last position at the World Bank was Country Manager of the World Bank for Kazakhstan in the Europe and Central Asia Region (2016- 2019). He had oversight over an IBRD portfolio of around USD 4.0bn together with significant annual Analytical and Knowledge Products (RASs) in this transition economy with a challenging client. Before this assignment, he was the Country Manager for Sierra Leone in the Africa Region (2012-2015) engaged in strategic country dialogue with Government, Development Partners and the Civil Society as well as supervised the preparation and management of a broad range of development projects. He also successfully led the World Bank Group’s response to the Ebola Pandemic in the country.
Prior to above assignments, he was Sector Manager for the Water Sector in the Middle East and North Africa Region of the World Bank (2009-2012) in charge of water resources management, water supply and sanitation services and irrigation development.
He has over 25 year working experience with the World Bank and other donor financed projects including working across the aisle with IFC and other IFIs (AfDB, AsDB, IsDB, EBRD, EIB, AIIB) and engaged on several development topics including infrastructure development and utility reforms, private sector engagement in services delivery, innovative financing of services, urban and rural development and social protection in Middle East and North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran); Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Guinea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique, Lesotho, and South Africa); Asia (Vietnam, India and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) and Latin America (Brazil).
He is a Ghanaian national with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and a master’s degree in Infrastructure Planning and Management from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He comes to table with strong management and communication skills, strategic visioning and client orientation as well as excellent interpersonal and engagement skills.
Professional Title: President of Ghana Livestock Breeders and Traders Association
Contact Information: (akakademoro@yahoo.com, 0244670117)
Professional Summary:
President of Ghana Federation of Livestock Inter-Professionals(GHAFLIP),
President of West African Association for Cross-Border Trade, in Agro-forestry-pastoral and Fisheries Products-Ghana(WACTAF),
Work Experience:
I have in the livestock sector close to 4 decades both as a farmer and a trader in the sector. I was selected to lead GLIBTA and subsequently GHAFLIP. I have attended workshops both locally and abroad to discuss issues pertaining to the sector. Namely;
Skills:
Achievements:
I was the leading charge to curb road harassment
lead the charge against to reduce the monies to be paid before bringing livestock into the country
I made sure the Ashaiman cattle market was fenced
I introduced IF cards for traders, breeders etc at the market.
Certifications: I received the certificate of recognition for the part I played to birth the COFENABVI-AO
Professional Memberships:- COFENABVI-AO – WACTAF
Projects:
Founding member WACTAF
Trained 100 Women in Cattle Fattening.
Trained 100 youth(50 males and 50 females) in record keeping.
Trained 70 traders in Proper Trading and Records keeping.
Languages: French, English, Hausa,Mossi, Twi, Frafra
Interests and Hobbies: Sleep and Listening Quran recitation and teachings
Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah assumed the position of the Director of Crop Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture which is under the Ghana Civil Service since August, 2022. As a Director of Crop Services,
Dr. Ansah oversees the activities of the Tree and Industrial Crops Development Unit, Seed and Adaptive Research Unit, Food Crops Development Unit, Horticultural Development Unit as well as the Environment, Land and Water Management Unit of the Directorate. Dr. Ansah was the Deputy Director of Crop Services and Head of the Seed and Adaptive Research Unit at the Directorate of Crop Services from 2013 to 2021. He holds a doctoral degree in Plant Breeding. He is a member of the National Seed Council and the Chairman of the National Variety Release and Registration Committee. He is also a Management Committee member of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana as well as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Governing Council. He is the focal person for AfricaSeeds and the Coalition of African Rice Development (CARD) in Ghana. Dr. Ansah is the lead person in the development of the National Rice Development Strategy II
He has been instrumental in the development of the National Seed Policy and its implementation plan. He is quite exposed about the seed sector issues in Ghana and West Africa.
He was an advocate in creating the public awareness towards the passage of the Plant Variety Protection Act, 2020 (Act 1050).
Specifically, his area of expertise is in
A consummate Marketing and Communications professional with over fifteen years’ experience with comprehensive business insights spanning various sectors. His experience encompasses Media, Public Relations Agencies, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) Companies and the Financial Sector.
He began his career as a Journalist with the Public Agenda Newspaper with special interest in Environmental and Court reporting and worked as a Public Relations Executive with Global Media Alliance in charge of the Public Relations activities of Vodafone Ghana Limited.
His working career also includes his role as the Foundation/ Sponsorship Coordinator for the Finatrade Group of Companies where more than 100 brilliant but needy students from the then Four major public Universities were granted scholarship to pursue courses in agriculture.
At present he works with the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) Plc and has held positions including Head of Marketing & Communications, Unit Head, Events & Protocol and is currently the Manager in charge of E-Business Sales.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Marketing from the University of Ghana Business School(UGBS) and also a Master of Arts (MA) Public Relations from the Ghana Institute of Journalism where he also obtained his First Degree in Communications (Public Relations Option). For his secondary education he attended Ghana National College, a proud Nananom.
He is a devout Christian.
He is an entrepreneur who has established the following companies: Zeotec Limited, a manufacturing company; Aca-City Farms, a Commercial farm; Pathos AIB Limited, a manufacturing company; Biazo Realtors, a real estate company; Pathos Agro Limited, a Commercial farm; and AFMREC, a natural resources research firm etc.
Eben is the Deputy PEMEM Director, National Secretary, and Greater Accra Chairman for the Church of Pentecost (COP) Business Network.
He is also an accomplished writer with two published books. He has a BSc in General Agriculture from the University of Cape Coast, and an M.Sc. in Socio-Economic of Rural Development from the University of Gottingen, Germany. He also has a lot of certificates for training undergone in public procurement.…
Eben is married to Abena Konadu Acheampong and has been blessed with four (4) children. Two girls and two boys.
Ebenezer is a Kingdom Entrepreneur and a Procurement Consultant.
Ebenezer has been nominated by the Pentecost Church of Ghana, to serve on the GNEBCHAM Board
Prior to that, he was the Ag. Head of Procurement at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Procurement Consultant- in charge of World Bank Funded Projects at the same Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
He has developed an extensive experience in procurement by serving as a specialist on a number of public projects in partnership with Development Finance Institutions like World Bank and African Development Bank and UN- World Food Programme.
Aside from other leadership positions he has occupied, Eben is the immediate past Assistant Area PEMEM Leader for La Area and Presiding Elder of PIWC-Accra, Kokomlemle, and also sits on the boards of COP Chairman Education Foundation, Pentecost Social service (PENTSOS), Zeotec Limited, Biazo Realtors Limited, Pathos AiB Limited, Arima Farms and Pathos Agro Limited.
