Paul Frey has been appointed President and CEO of Cal/West Seeds, effective June 1, 2000. Frey has served as Vice President Marketing of Cal/West Seeds for the past eight years, operating from the company’s West Salem, Wisconsin office. In that capacity, he was responsible for the marketing of Cal/West’s proprietary products worldwide.

Paul began his agricultural career on the family seed production farm in Iowa. After working part-time for O's Gold Seed Company for several summers, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Iowa State University where he received a degree in Agronomy. He subsequently joined O's Gold Seed Company as a Seed Production Agronomist, and was later promoted to Product Manager for Forages and Sorghum. In 1983, Paul joined W-L Research in Bakersfield, California serving as Vice President of Marketing. In 1991, he joined Cal/West Seeds as Vice President of Marketing and relocated to Wisconsin. Frey has twenty-five years of successful experience in the global seed industry.

Throughout his career, Frey has been active in various seed organizations including the California Seed Association, Board of Directors for the Pacific Seed Trade Association, President of the Industry Extension Forage Advisory Council, Chairman of the ASTA Alfalfa Committee and President of the Northern Seed Trade Association. He is currently serving as the American representative on the Board of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. Paul and his wife Kate as well as their two daughters Rebecca and Amanda will be relocating to California in the near future.

Bill Fife has been named Senior Vice President and CFO of Cal/West Seeds by the cooperative’s Board of Directors. Fife has previously served as Vice President Finance and Assistant General Manager since 1991 and as Vice President Finance since 1975.

Fife was born in Sacramento, California, June 1, 1942. He grew up on a small dairy farm and attended school in Elk Grove, California. He served in the United States Air Force from 1962 – 66 and graduated from California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1969. Fife worked 3 years for Gallo Winery in Modesto, California before joining Cal/West Seeds in May 1972. Fife is married and lives with his wife Judi in Woodland, California where his outside interests include golfing, fishing, and traveling.

Dr. Jonathan Reich was promoted to Executive Vice President and COO by the cooperatives Board of Directors. Jon has been with Cal/West Seeds for over 16 years working previously as plant breeder, Director of Research, and Vice President – Research. In his new position he will be responsible for all plant operations and play a key role in safflower marketing. Dr. Reich will continue to be responsible for Cal/West’s ongoing and extensive worldwide research programs.

Dr. Reich received his B.S. degree in Agronomy from the University of Missouri (1978), M.S. (1980) and Ph.D. (1983) degrees in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin. He has been active in variety development research for the past 25 years working with alfalfa, several clover species, sudangrass, safflower, and small grains. He has served the seed industry and alfalfa research community on various boards including National Alfalfa Variety Review Board, National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders, and North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Jon and his wife Linda reside in Woodland, CA with their two daughters, Anna and Emily.

Mr. Leon Herried has been promoted to the position of Marketing Manager – North America. Previously Leon served as Marketing Specialist focusing on developing new accounts for Cal/West Seeds, primarily in the Upper Midwest. Over the next several months, he will be taking over responsibilities for domestic accounts previously managed by Paul Frey. Plans are currently being made to add an additional person in the Domestic Market.

Leon began his agricultural career on a Wisconsin dairy farm and holds a degree in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin. He started his career conducting alfalfa yield trials and quickly rose to the position of Vice President of Marketing for a major US seed company. He subsequently launched and operated his own seed company specialized in alfalfa, and just prior to joining Cal/West managed the startup of another company. Leon's unique background combined with his affinity for alfalfa qualify him as a valuable resource for Cal/West's North American customers. Leon and his wife Carolyn live in West Salem, Wisconsin very near to the company's state of the art research facility.

Cal/West Seeds is a world leader in both the development of improved forage varieties and the production of top quality seed. The company operates a research and development program in California and Wisconsin, with satellite research locations at many locations throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe and South America. Cal/West owns and operates six seed conditioning facilities throughout the western United States.

Cal/West is basic in alfalfa (all dormancies), ladino clover, red clover, Berseem clover, sudangrass, hybrid sudangrass, strawberry clover, vetch, safflower and Dichondra. Cal/West's proprietary products are marketed under private label via exclusive licensing arrangements with independent seed companies worldwide.