BRENDA S. ANDERSON
Brenda Anderson-Koch-Chief Development Officer-Director of Research and Development=Liaison with Department of Agricultural Research Texas A & M University. Ms. Anderson is a business owner, an educator, and a driven professional. She is an advocate for food safety, food production and instrumental in providing educational opportunities for minority farmers. She is passionate about transferring the traditional knowledge of farming to the younger generations in a more technological format that they will find both interesting and challenging to secure a safe food supply for not only the State of Texas, but the country as a whole. She works with local extension services, universities, community-based programs and provides tours for all generations, i.e., elderly to elementary. Prairie View A&M University – MS Agriculture, Graduated, 12/2009 Prairie View A&M University – BS Agriculture, Graduated, 12/2007Texas A&M/HEB – Produce Safety and Training Course Facility Security Officer Training – Department of Defense Communication Skills for Women – Institute for Professional Businesswomen Negotiating Without Giving In – University of Houston Small Business Dev. Center 2015 HEB Woman of Distinction, 2014 HEB Television Commercial, 2011 Christa McAuliffe Teacher of the Year Award, 2011 Spring Branch Good Neighbor Award, Volunteer/Member – YMCA Youth Programs, Volunteer/Leader – Boy Scouts of America
BRENDA S. ANDERSON
SNAPSHOT: Ms. Anderson is a business owner, an educator, and a driven professional. She is an advocate for food safety, food production and instrumental in providing educational opportunities for minority farmers. She is passionate about transferring the traditional knowledge of farming to the younger generations in a more technological format that they will find both interesting and challenging to secure a safe food supply for not only the State of Texas, but the country as a whole. She works with local extension services, universities, community based programs and provides tours for all generations, i.e., elderly to elementary.
VEGOUT! FARMS, LLC
August 2011 – Present
Position Summary: Owner/CFO, Soil, Hydroponic and Aquaponic Vegetable Production Facility.
VegOut! Farms is a 21 acre facility located in Pattison, Texas. Currently housing over 50,000 square foot greenhouse producing 96,000 pounds of premium beefsteak tomatoes, 200,000 pounds of cucumbers, 50,000 pounds of peppers and 120,000 heads of organic lettuce for the local market per year. VegOut! Farms, LLC is a grower/producer for HEB, local restaurants, home delivery companies as well as a voice for the state and local food safety movement. As with any new farming operation, challenges in weather, soil, pest, diseases, etc. have been a challenge in the southern region. With that, understanding these challenges, VegOut! Farms has doubled its capacity increased its revenue, increased our customer base, all while sustaining our original client for the last 10 years. Customer service is paramount in the growing industry as well as continued education and outreach.
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HOUSTON, TX
January 2012-2017
Position Summary: Grants Manager
Currently work with HCC, University of Houston and various other colleges to educate students on farming technologies and food safety programs. Coordinate summer camps and tours for local high schools, and provide internships in the farming community.
January 2012-June 2012
Position Summary: Acting COO
Designated replacement for current COO while on family leave. Worked with 5 Northwest Colleges and various departments during budget cycle to negotiate positive outcomes for the colleges as well as the faculty and staff. Worked with Presidents Council to mutually determine projects and funding to propel our NW campuses to the forefront of technology and STEM programs.
January 2011-January 2012
Position Summary: International Training and Travel Liaison
Coordinate and implementation of agricultural learning opportunity to Vietnam for 20+ faculty and students. Specifically toured Saigon, Dalat and Mui Ne encompassing all facets of agricultural development including coffee, floral, vegetable, seafood, and handmade goods production. Students participated in planting, fertilizing and growing crops as well as harvesting and packing. Presentations to local universities to facilitate relationship development and additional learning opportunities.
January 2009 – August 2012
Position Summary: Horticulture Department Head, Grants Manager & Instructor
Head of the Horticulture Department and managing three USDA grants for HCC. These grants are in conjunction with Spring Branch ISD and the University of Houston Conrad Hilton School of Culinary and Hospitality as well as Dayton ISD. Responsibilities include managing budgets, coordinating student activities, creating student exposure and provide hands-on learning experiences to enhance knowledge in agriculture to underrepresented nationalities. Instruction includes: Principles of Horticulture, Interior Plants, Workforce Development, Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Plant Propagation and Pest Disease and Maintenance. Introduction and curriculum development designing new classes in the designated degree fields.
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
January 2006 – December 2009
Position Summary: Research Associate
While completing my Undergraduate and Graduate degrees, worked as a research associate in the Agricultural Department. This was a challenging university requiring patience, tenacity, teamwork, negotiation, and networking and time-management skills in order to navigate the system. Worked closely with Department Head and Professors to accomplish final goals.
MS Agriculture – Agronomy Major, 3.7 GPA, Graduated magna cum laude
BS Agriculture - Animal Science Major, 3.8 GPA, Graduated magna cum laude.
WALLER COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE, PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
June 2007-August 2007
Position Summary: County Extension Agent Intern
Worked closely with Extension Agents for various counties in Texas. These Agents exposed various duties, responsibilities, and opportunities within the Extension program. Developed an off site seminar and worked on developing a web page for the various producers in Waller County.
APQC CONSULTING GROUP, INC., HOUSTON, TX
February 2000 – June 2005
Position Summary: Office Manager and Facility Security Officer.
Office Manager: Handle all Human Resources issues, hiring, training, retention, awards; Plan and coordinate annual offsite meetings; Work proposals and Request For Quote’s (RFQ’s); Assist sales staff with Contracts; Process payroll and print reports; Review all company insurances, 401K information, and process quarterly tax reports; Audits – Workers’ Compensation, Errors & Omissions, Liabilities, etc.
Facility Security Officer: Responsible for securing a facility clearance with Department of Defense (DOD) in order to obtain classified work within the various governmental agencies; also processed and cleared individuals through the EPSQ/DOD system regularly for individual clearances. Responsible for training, securing all paperwork, and fingerprinting staff. Completed quarterly and bi-annual training through DOD directly and was also a cleared employee.
APQC ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Computer Skills: Implemented and installed Microsoft Office ’00 Edition on all office computers and external sales laptops. Began online scheduling and data retrieval systems. Updated online file/sharing systems. Obtained classified facility clearance. Cleared over 30 office/sales staff concurrently, each taking approximately 6-8 months. Trained directly with Department of Defense personnel at various locations including San Antonio, California and NASA, Clear Lake, TX.
EDUCATION: Prairie View A&M University – MS Agriculture, Graduated, 12/2009
Prairie View A&M University – BS Agriculture, Graduated, 12/2007
Texas A&M/HEB – Produce Safety and Training Course
Facility Security Officer Training – Department of Defense
Communication Skills for Women – Institute for Professional Businesswomen
Negotiating Without Giving In – University of Houston Small Business Dev. Center
OTHER: 2015 HEB Woman of Distinction, 2014 HEB Television Commercial, 2011 Christa McAuliffe Teacher of the Year Award, 2011 Spring Branch Good Neighbor Award, Volunteer/Member – YMCA Youth Programs, Volunteer/Leader – Boy Scouts of America
TRADE SHOWS: Texas Nursery Landscape Association, Viva Fresh Expo, United Fresh Expo, PMA Summit, and Cultivate.
BRENDA S. ANDERSON
SNAPSHOT: Ms. Anderson is a business owner, an educator, and a driven professional. She is an advocate for food safety, food production and instrumental in providing educational opportunities for minority farmers. She is passionate about transferring the traditional knowledge of farming to the younger generations in a more technological format that they will find both interesting and challenging to secure a safe food supply for not only the State of Texas, but the country as a whole. She works with local extension services, universities, community based programs and provides tours for all generations, i.e., elderly to elementary.
VEGOUT! FARMS, LLC
August 2011 – Present
Position Summary: Owner/CFO, Soil, Hydroponic and Aquaponic Vegetable Production Facility.
VegOut! Farms is a 21 acre facility located in Pattison, Texas. Currently housing over 50,000 square foot greenhouse producing 96,000 pounds of premium beefsteak tomatoes, 200,000 pounds of cucumbers, 50,000 pounds of peppers and 120,000 heads of organic lettuce for the local market per year. VegOut! Farms, LLC is a grower/producer for HEB, local restaurants, home delivery companies as well as a voice for the state and local food safety movement. As with any new farming operation, challenges in weather, soil, pest, diseases, etc. have been a challenge in the southern region. With that, understanding these challenges, VegOut! Farms has doubled its capacity increased its revenue, increased our customer base, all while sustaining our original client for the last 10 years. Customer service is paramount in the growing industry as well as continued education and outreach.
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HOUSTON, TX
January 2012-2017
Position Summary: Grants Manager
Currently work with HCC, University of Houston and various other colleges to educate students on farming technologies and food safety programs. Coordinate summer camps and tours for local high schools, and provide internships in the farming community.
January 2012-June 2012
Position Summary: Acting COO
Designated replacement for current COO while on family leave. Worked with 5 Northwest Colleges and various departments during budget cycle to negotiate positive outcomes for the colleges as well as the faculty and staff. Worked with Presidents Council to mutually determine projects and funding to propel our NW campuses to the forefront of technology and STEM programs.
January 2011-January 2012
Position Summary: International Training and Travel Liaison
Coordinate and implementation of agricultural learning opportunity to Vietnam for 20+ faculty and students. Specifically toured Saigon, Dalat and Mui Ne encompassing all facets of agricultural development including coffee, floral, vegetable, seafood, and handmade goods production. Students participated in planting, fertilizing and growing crops as well as harvesting and packing. Presentations to local universities to facilitate relationship development and additional learning opportunities.
January 2009 – August 2012
Position Summary: Horticulture Department Head, Grants Manager & Instructor
Head of the Horticulture Department and managing three USDA grants for HCC. These grants are in conjunction with Spring Branch ISD and the University of Houston Conrad Hilton School of Culinary and Hospitality as well as Dayton ISD. Responsibilities include managing budgets, coordinating student activities, creating student exposure and provide hands-on learning experiences to enhance knowledge in agriculture to underrepresented nationalities. Instruction includes: Principles of Horticulture, Interior Plants, Workforce Development, Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Plant Propagation and Pest Disease and Maintenance. Introduction and curriculum development designing new classes in the designated degree fields.
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
January 2006 – December 2009
Position Summary: Research Associate
While completing my Undergraduate and Graduate degrees, worked as a research associate in the Agricultural Department. This was a challenging university requiring patience, tenacity, teamwork, negotiation, and networking and time-management skills in order to navigate the system. Worked closely with Department Head and Professors to accomplish final goals.
MS Agriculture – Agronomy Major, 3.7 GPA, Graduated magna cum laude
BS Agriculture - Animal Science Major, 3.8 GPA, Graduated magna cum laude.
WALLER COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE, PRAIRIE VIEW, TX
June 2007-August 2007
Position Summary: County Extension Agent Intern
Worked closely with Extension Agents for various counties in Texas. These Agents exposed various duties, responsibilities, and opportunities within the Extension program. Developed an off site seminar and worked on developing a web page for the various producers in Waller County.
APQC CONSULTING GROUP, INC., HOUSTON, TX
February 2000 – June 2005
Position Summary: Office Manager and Facility Security Officer.
Office Manager: Handle all Human Resources issues, hiring, training, retention, awards; Plan and coordinate annual offsite meetings; Work proposals and Request For Quote’s (RFQ’s); Assist sales staff with Contracts; Process payroll and print reports; Review all company insurances, 401K information, and process quarterly tax reports; Audits – Workers’ Compensation, Errors & Omissions, Liabilities, etc.
Facility Security Officer: Responsible for securing a facility clearance with Department of Defense (DOD) in order to obtain classified work within the various governmental agencies; also processed and cleared individuals through the EPSQ/DOD system regularly for individual clearances. Responsible for training, securing all paperwork, and fingerprinting staff. Completed quarterly and bi-annual training through DOD directly and was also a cleared employee.
APQC ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Computer Skills: Implemented and installed Microsoft Office ’00 Edition on all office computers and external sales laptops. Began online scheduling and data retrieval systems. Updated online file/sharing systems. Obtained classified facility clearance. Cleared over 30 office/sales staff concurrently, each taking approximately 6-8 months. Trained directly with Department of Defense personnel at various locations including San Antonio, California and NASA, Clear Lake, TX.
EDUCATION: Prairie View A&M University – MS Agriculture, Graduated, 12/2009
Prairie View A&M University – BS Agriculture, Graduated, 12/2007
Texas A&M/HEB – Produce Safety and Training Course
Facility Security Officer Training – Department of Defense
Communication Skills for Women – Institute for Professional Businesswomen
Negotiating Without Giving In – University of Houston Small Business Dev. Center
OTHER: 2015 HEB Woman of Distinction, 2014 HEB Television Commercial, 2011 Christa McAuliffe Teacher of the Year Award, 2011 Spring Branch Good Neighbor Award, Volunteer/Member – YMCA Youth Programs, Volunteer/Leader – Boy Scouts of America
TRADE SHOWS: Texas Nursery Landscape Association, Viva Fresh Expo, United Fresh Expo, PMA Summit, and Cultivate.