| JEFFREY E. ENGELS International Development Specialist |
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| Armenian Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan awarded Jeffrey Engels with the Ministry's Gold Medal for assistance to Armenian agriculture, November 2005. From 2003 to 2005, Jeffrey served as the last Director of the United States Department of Agriculture's Marketing Assistance Project in Armenia. |
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| Jeffrey E. Engels www.jeffreyengels.com jeffrey_engels@yahoo.com SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS •An international development executive with twenty-four years of experience in private and public sector project management across 26 countries. •Extensive work experience in agribusiness development, value/supply chain management, capacity-building, global trade, and business management. •Specialized in all aspects of international poverty reduction project management, value-chain development, strategic analysis and planning, domestic and international marketing, export promotion, and operations/logistics. •Founded and directed the Center for Agribusiness & Rural Development (CARD), an annual USD$6.4M NGO originating from and assuming the activities of the United States Department of Agriculture's award-winning Marketing Assistance Project (USDA-MAP). •Managed and directed USDA-MAP, an annual USD$7.5M agribusiness development initiative providing technical, marketing, and financial assistance to the Armenian agricultural sector. •Owned and managed an annual USD$7M export management company specializing in the procurement/supply of infrastructure products for large-scale projects in developing countries. Concurrently oversaw two U.S. offices and foreign operations in Asia and Latin America. •Designed and implemented national development strategies for international agro-food marketing programs, food security, food safety, and export promotion for value/supply chain efficiency. •Analytical strategic thinker adept at quick problem identification and solutions, efficiently handling multiple projects under strict time constraints while consistently reducing expenditures. •Country experience: Angola, Armenia, Belarus, Chile, China, Georgia, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Vietnam. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Rural Development & Senior Technical Specialist, CNFA (USAID), Nametil, Mozambique (September-October, 2011) •Built technical capacity of African and international NGOs and the Nampula District Economic Activity Services (aka Extension) in production, harvest, and post-harvest handling of legumes. Prepared a Groundnut Grower's Guide for Mozambique: production, harvest, and post-harvest handling, with emphasis on aflatoxin containment. •Designed and conducted a train-the-trainer program covering all aspects of groundnut plant cultivation through harvest and post- harvest handling to increase productivity and reduce losses due to poor cultivation and traditional post-harvest practices. GlobalGAP Trainer, CNFA (USAID), Boma Ng'ombe (Kilimanjaro), Tanzania (July-August, 2011) •Provided technical assistance to all-women small-scale growers in horticultural production, harvest, and post-harvest handling through a comprehensive science-based training program specifically created for African vegetable-growing cooperatives that supply local traders who export to fresh markets in the U.K. and Continental Europe. •Delivered detailed training modules covering cultivation through post-harvest handling of two vegetable groups, trade compliance issues, and a complete GlobalGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) program for vegetable crops. PowerPoint presentations were complemented with specifically created training manuals--Green Bean and Pea Harvest & Post-Harvest Handling Handbook and GlobalGAP Handbook for Small-Scale Growers in Tanzania. Competititiveness Consultant, Chemonics (USAID), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (April-June, 2011) •Developed a national business development and marketing strategy fo the horticultural sector of Kyrgyzsan. Conducted a com- prehensive assessment of market needs--analyzed constraints, competition, distribution channels, pricing formulation, and export potential to enhance competitiveness through opportunities to increase sales transactions, commercial contracts, and business investments. Designed interventions for the USAID Local Development Program (LDP) to address key problems throughout the agricultural production and processing value chain to increase the yield and improve the quality of raw materials for fresh and processed markets, and boost the volume of existing and create new products for the processed market. Created Action Plans with delivery schedules, costs, outcomes, outputs, impacts, and investment multipliers. Aid Programs Scale-Up Consultant, Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Canberra, Australia (April, 2010) •Provided resource support for AusAID 'Rural Development & Social Protection Scale-Up Workshop' for Canberra and overseas staff. As member on the 'Lessons from Wider Experience' panel, introduced the role of aid project exit strategies as a form of scaling up. Facilitated discussion of the role of institution-building as perpetuating development. Assisted with outlining the vision, key drivers, and milestones for scaling up AusAID's Livelihoods & Rood Security Trust Fund (LIFT) in Burma. Rural Development Advisor, CNFA (USAID), Melbourne, Australia (February-March, 2010) •Assisted small-scale grower groups in Arusha, Tanzania by designing a post-harvest handling handbook for various legumes to improve product quality and increase sales/incomes. Advised on best practices for horticultural production, harvesting, grading, packaging, and storage in preparation for export to EU markets. •Created comprehensive food production/safety training modules for smallholder African farmers on GlobalGAP Control Points and Compliance Criteria. Modules covered GlobalGAP plant protection, soil & water, hygiene, and environmental & social issues. Public-Private Partnerships Consultant, Chemonics (USAID), Washington, D.C. (November-December, 2010) •Identified key Diaspora organizations in the United States (Washington, D.C., New York, and California) that could play pivotal roles as investors in developing country businesses, buyers of products, and business mentors. Conducted interviews with key informants in four U.S. cities to leverage Diaspora resources--be that private capital, established business networks, new ideas and expertise, or innovative technologies.. •Building on Diaspora's willingness to form public-private partnerships, proposed specific opportunities for collaboration/develop- ment initiatives to expand pre-existing program(s) in operation or create new, co-designed programs that leverage resources to boost economic competitiveness in agriculture, tourism, IT, financial, and commercial sectors. Horticulture Value Chain Consultant, CNFA (USAID), Huambo, Angola (September, 2010) •Synthesized existing knowledge of Angola's horticulture value chain from academic research, farm-site visits, and stakeholder interviews. Conferred with smallholder farmers and agricultural cooperative members to propose competitive strategies to improve value chain capacity, accelerate growth, and introduce innovative processing techniques for value-added marketing. •Designed a comprehensive horticultural marketing plan and marketing manual to increase the quality and quantity of fresh vegetable production through improved agronomic practices, post-harvest handling, and to launch new products through vegetable processing. Recommendations made for enterprise branding and products promotion. Created a training program for value chain strengthening to increase farmers' knowledge of marketing management and processing technology. Enterprise Development Senior Advisor, ACDI/VOCA, Yerevan, Armenia (July, 2008) •Assessed current operations of boutique winery in Ararat Valley and the tourism market in Armenia. •Developed an agro-tourism development plan to allow an Armenian winery to capitalize on opportunities for greater financial security and growth by delivery of higher returns through improved products and services and heightened awareness: provided strategies to develop on-site facility, create linkages with tourist agencies, operators, and guides, and produce high quality promotional materials to position the winery to be a leader in agro-tourism for local visitors and international tourists. Country Director, Center for Agribusiness & Rural Development (CARD), Yerevan, Armenia (April, 2005-December, 2006) •Directed USD$6.4 million local Armenian NGO dedicated to reducing rural poverty and increasing the standard of living of its clients by offering a comprehensive, integrated package of market- and farmer-driven services. •Responsible for fulfilling CARD’s Mission (to assist farmers and agribusinesses in the production and marketing of food and related products to increase incomes and create jobs) as well as all administrative and financial functions of the organization. •Provided day-to-day leadership and guidance to CARD’s Management Team-comprised of Armenian and international experts--to ensure proper strategies, financial resource planning, and internal controls in compliance with Armenian law. •Organized, planned, established, and implemented new and innovative development projects, including procedures, regulations, policies and program operations. Managed and adjusted project budgets as required to accomplish overall goals within established timeframes. •Prime liaison with primary funder (the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service), pertinent U.S. and local government agencies, and Armenian and international development organizations to develop and strengthen collaborative arrangements for innovative development programs. •Ensured comprehensive monitoring and evaluation for timely reporting to the CARD Board of Trustees, donors, partners, and collaborators on changing political, budgetary, programmatic, and administrative circumstances influencing implemented projects. Presented new funding and project proposals to donors and negotiated new partnership arrangements. Director and Project Coordinator, USDA MARKETING ASSISTANCE PROJECT, Yerevan, Armenia (October 2003 - March 2005) •Managed/coordinated annual USD$7.5 million Freedom Support Act (FSA)-funded international agribusiness development project, providing project leadership, administrative oversight, and program guidance. •Coordinated staff of 100 personnel, including U.S. consultants from land grant universities and local Armenian staff. Supervised USDA/International Programs’ American technical advisors. •Represented USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) in-country to both senior-level U.S. and Armenian agricultural, diplomatic, and political entities. •Served as U.S. Mission expert on agriculture in Armenia, collaborating projects with UNDP, UMCOR, ACDI/VOCA, DAI, etc. Provided on-time and on-budget delivery of project deliverables. •Led program initiative to transition USDA-funded project to a private sector, locally owned/managed legacy NGO. Marketing Manager, USDA MARKETING ASSISTANCE PROJECT, Yerevan, Armenia (February 2002-September 2003) •Managed and mentored local marketing team, the core component of MAP; strategically coordinated the work of U.S. consultants, worked closely with NGOs and international organizations to effectively implement marketing assistance to farmers and SMEs/agribusinesses. Focused on high value horticultural products and value-added processing. •Implemented marketing strategies for Armenian agribusinesses to assist them to compete in/penetrate regional and international markets such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltics, the European Union, and the United States. Conducted R&D on products and quality improvement, provided market intelligence, developed domestic and export promotion, and overcame transportation/logistics obstacles. •Responsible for all reporting to donor (USDA) and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia. •Developed marketing materials for the project and its clients, as well as an 'Economics Primer' for Quality Schools International (QSI) high school economics curriculum. International trade and marketing specialist, Fairfax, California (2001 - 2002) •Completed assignments in Armenia, Chile, Russia, and the Ukraine on international trade, business development, and marketing for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance competitiveness. •Developed global marketing/business plans for agro-processors and an Agricultural Marketing Center. •Provided in-depth country and market research, analyzed existing business operations (marketing, sales, logistics, and distribution) and developed value-added programs for maximum operational efficiency and increased revenue. •Consulting services extended to export strategies and promotion, Supply Chain Management (SCM) improvement, and a range of global trade issues. LOCKWOOD INTERNATIONAL, Mill Valley, California (1987-2000) President & Partner (1994-2000) •Managed fast-paced USD$7.0 million leading West Coast export management company specializing in the procurement and supply of infrastructure products to international architects, contractors, engineers, and planners for projects in developing countries. Offices in Denver/Dayton and overseas offices in Hong Kong and Mexico. •Developed long and short-term global trade/marketing plans to tactically respond to large volume procurement demands for construction materials for hospitals, schools, banks, low-cost housing, government buildings, and rail systems. •Drove sales/trade team planning and marketing analysis, including research, competitive product evaluation, and sales techniques for a variety of levels of distribution/channel sales. •Analyzed and provided solutions for complex trade finance and operations issues. •Led business development programs to build brand awareness and create product competitive images abroad. •Expanded product lines by broadening partners and customer portfolio, and geographic sales regions with extensive travel throughout Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. Vice-President, Global Marketing & Sales (1991-1993) •Global trade team management, cross-training and co-ordination of California, Colorado, and Hong Kong offices. •Supervised USD$5.0 million budget; cash flow; payroll; and financial expenditures. •Expanded product presence that led to awarded contracts on high profile infrastructure projects via continual travel to Asian markets. •Developed new secondary markets in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Middle East. •Introduced and applied IT solutions to increase organizational and global Supply Chain Management (SCM). Global Project Manager (1989-1990) •Supervised and trained California office staff in all aspects of international trade and Supply Chain Management (SCM). •Reduced back-office procurement costs 20% through competitive multi-vendor bidding. •Built relationships with key prime manufacturing and contracting organizations that were experts in their focus areas and drafted and implemented exclusivity agreements for overseas presentation. •Augmented accounts service with overseas on-site product consultation. Operations/Logistics Manager (1987-1988 ) •Sourced wide range of multi-industry infrastructure products from specified bill of materials lists. •Negotiated ocean freight rates for 2000 40’containers on behalf of clients. •Devised economical and custom loading plans for outbound shipping container consolidations. •Procured USD$3.0 million materials annually for high profile Hong Kong/Asian projects and arranged air/ocean shipments of export cargo to meet tight deadlines. •Provided all necessary trade finance documentation for open account; sight draft and letter of credit payment. Appellate Level Clerk for the Attorney General, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, San Francisco, California (1986) Wrote respondent briefs for filing in California Court of Appeals. EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia, Ph.D. (Development Studies), 2010. Dissertation: 'Aid Project Exit Strategies: Building strong sustainable institutions'. UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX, INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (IDS), Brighton, UK IMA International’s 'Development Planning & Management' short course, April, 2006. INSTITUTION ON INTERNATIONAL & COMPARATIVE LAW, Moscow, Russia and Warsaw, Poland, University of San Diego Summer Program, 1985. UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF LAW, San Francisco, California, 1984-86, Self-financed. DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY, San Rafael, California, B.A. Cum Laude, 'International Studies', 1982. HONORS AND AWARDS Research Grant, Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy, Rutgers University, June 2008. Research Grant, Travel for Research in Postgraduate Study (TRIPS), University of Melbourne, June 2008. Ph.D. Fieldwork Grant, School of Social & Environmental Enquiry, University of Melbourne, December 2007. Certificate, United Nations Global Compact, Communication onf Project Review (COP) Project, July 2007 Certificate of Appreciation, Ministry of Agriculture of Republic of Armenia Agricultural Support Center, Yerevan, Armenia, 24 December 2004 Honorary Doctorate, Armenian Agricultural Academy, Yerevan, Armenia, conferred 30 October, 2004. Republic of Armenia Gold Medal 'For Achievements in Agriculture', given by the Ministry of Agriculture to the USDA Marketing Assistance Project, Jeffrey E. Engels, Project Director, 28 October, 2004. Moot Court Case Winner, 1986, University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Member, Country Team (Ambassador’s Cabinet), US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2006. Member, Assistance Coordination Group (ACG), US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2006. Member, Save-The-Children Community Self-Help Fund Working Group, US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2006. Founder and Member, Armenian Organic Agriculture Foundation (AOAF), 2004-Present. Member, US-Armenian Task Force (USATF), US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2005. Advisor, Organic Agriculture: Vegetable Growing, Book I. By Sarukhanyan, Nune. Aut-Graph Press, Yerevan, Armenia, 2005. Member, Steering Committee, New Embassy Compound (NEC), Armenia, 2004-2005. Member, International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) Council, US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2005. Member, Coordinating Council of 'ArmAgroForum' First International Conference, Armenia, 2004. Chair, First Plenary Session. Armenian Agricultural Academy International Scientific Conference. Yerevan, Armenia. October 28-30, 2004. Co-Chair, National Organic Action Plan (NOAP) Committee of Armenia, 2002-2003. PUBLICATIONS Available upon request PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Available upon request MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Association for International Agriculture & Rural Development (AIARD) European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) IAMA (International Food & Agribusiness Management Association), 2004-Present Slow Food International World Affairs Council of Northern California |
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