Team

Everyone who is part of the HyTech team is committed to achieving excellence, and works uncompromisingly towards our goals. HyTech Production Ltd. is a family business in many ways. Core values of trust, honesty, integrity, respect, and accountability are exemplified and shared by the talented men and women who you will meet at HyTech.

Senior Leadership Team

Brian McNaughton Image

Brian McNaughton

Co-Chief Executive Officer

Brian McNaughton is the founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of HyTech Production Ltd. Brian has been an innovative leader in the seed industry since 1985, pioneering many processes and methods now standard throughout the industry. Brian is a specialist in seed production process, facility and field operations, his project management experience is international, including the successful startup of HyTech Chile in 2006.

Carly McNaughton Image

Carly McNaughton

Finance Manager

Carly joined HyTech Production Ltd. in January of 2011 in the QMS department managing inventory. Her role eventually morphed into what is now the Finance and Accounting Manager, mostly dealing with Accounts receivable & payable, contracts, financial reporting, and some office administration.

Cameron Van Roon Image

Cameron Van Roon

Co-Chief Executive Officer

Cameron Van Roon is the Co-Chief Executive Officer at HyTech Production Ltd. since August 2022. Cam grew up on a Southern Alberta farm and retired from a leadership role with Lethbridge Police Service after a rewarding 25-year career. Cam is passionate about leading and developing teams, building culture, and establishing meaningful relationships inside and outside of HyTech.

Kevin McNaughton Image

Kevin McNaughton

Chief Operating Officer

Kevin McNaughton is the Chief Operating Officer – Field Production for HyTech Production Ltd. All seed production activities performed by HyTech fall under Kevin’s area of responsibility. Kevin began his career in hybrid canola backpack spraying field bindweed in 2001 and since then, has played a role in all areas of Hybrid Canola Production including parent seed increases, quality assurance, treating & packaging, and large-scale hybrid production.

Scott Horner Image

Scott Horner

Chief Commercial Officer

Scott Horner is Chief Commercial Officer of HyTech Production Ltd., holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan and is a recognized Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.). Scott joined HyTech in 2001 and has focused on customer relationship management and business development.

Rick Bannerman Image

Rick Bannerman

Chief Operating Officer

Rick Bannerman is Chief Operating Officer of HyTech Production Ltd. and holds a Masters of Science in Agriculture Economics from the University of Guelph. Rick grew up on a farm in Southern Ontario and brings a wealth of knowledge from the canola seed industry including product development, parent seed operations and certified seed production.

Department Management

Bradley Martin Image

Bradley Martin

Parent Seed Manager

Bradley Martin is the Parent Seed Manager at HyTech Production Ltd. with over 15 years of experience working internationally. He is a proud alumnus of St. Francais Xavier and UC Davis who has developed a robust working knowledge of chemistry, genetics and plant breeding.

Dallas Engleson Image

Dallas Engleson

Commercial Crop Manager, Canola

Dallas is the seed production manager for the United States and Chile productions based out of Kimberley British Columbia. Dallas started with HyTech Production Ltd. in the spring of 2008 while completing his bachelor’s of science degree at the University of Lethbridge.

Kimiko Epp Image

Kimiko Epp

Parent Seed Facility & Plots Manager

Kimiko is the Parent Seed Facility & Plots Manager based in Lethbridge, Alberta, where she graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She began her career with HyTech Production in 2003 when she was hired to manage the Lethbridge Parent Seed Evaluation site and oversee the Quality Assurance program.

Cristina Alucema Image

Cristina Alucema

General Manager - Chile

Cristina Alucema is the General Manager of HyTech Production in Chile. All activities performed in Chile fall under Cristina’s area of responsibility. Cristina joined HyTech in 2007. Over the years, as the business has grown, she has assumed many new duties and responsibilities which include Admin, Finance, HR and Logistics among others.

Mike Perlich Image

Mike Perlich

North America Production Manager

Mike is the Canadian Seed Production Manager based in Southern Alberta. Mike graduated from Lethbridge College with a dual diploma in Agricultural Technology. He started his career in 2011 producing parent seed, then moved on to produce certified hybrid canola seed in 2016.

Nicolas Cameron Image

Nicolas Cameron

Chile Production Manager

Nicolas is the Production Manager for HyTech Production Chile, based in Chillan. Nicolas graduated as an agronomist engineer in 2008 from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and since that year has worked in seed production in different crops both parental and hybrid seed.

Melissa Smith Image

Melissa Smith

Quality Assurance & Seed Certification Manager

Melissa Smith is the QA and Seed Certification Manager at HyTech. She holds B.Sc. in Agricultural Biotechnology from the University of Lethbridge and brings over 20 years experience in quality assurance and production experience. Melissa has a proven track record in process improvement and optimization and her expertise in working with regulatory bodies ensures that HyTech’s production meet and exceed industry standards.