Our seasoned management team brings a track-record of excellence in execution, and successfully bringing disruptive technologies to market.
Hortense Dodo PhD, Co-Founder and President
She leads the company with a wealth of experience in a variety of crucial fields. Her expertise spans peanut tissue culture, immunology, allergen analysis, food science, molecular biology, and genetic engineering. She was previously in academia, as a Tenured and full Professor of Food Biotechnology and Plant Molecular Biology at Alabama A&M University, where she developed the first of its kind successful research and teaching program in Food Biotechnology at an HBCU. Dr. Dodo obtained her PhD in Food Biotechnology and Molecular Biology from Penn State University, a Master’s in Food Science from the University of Georgia, another Master in Animal Sciences and a bachelor in Biological sciences both from the University of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire). She is a co-inventor on 4 patents. At LinkedIn
Koffi Konan PhD, Co-Founder and Director of R&D
He spearheads the research activities at IngateyGen. With previous affiliations at the Scripps Research Institute and the Danforth Plant Science Center. He brings invaluable insights to peanut tissue culture and transformation, as well as gene editing. His research leadership drives the company’s innovation forward. Koffi has a PhD in Plant Biotechnology and a Master of Science in Enzyme Engineering both from the University of Picardie Jules-Vernes in Amiens France, and a Master of Science in Animal Sciences and a bachelor in Biological sciences both from the University of Abidjan Cocody (Cote D’Ivoire).At LinkedIn
John Salmeron PhD, Director of Operations
He is instrumental in ensuring the operational success of IngateyGen. His deep expertise in gene editing, both in technology development and licensing CRISPR IP, is a cornerstone of the company's capabilities. With a background that spans multinational agribusinesses and emerging enterprises, Dr. Salmeron's leadership is invaluable. John draws on more than two decades of experience managing research teams and project portfolios at multinational and startup companies such as Syngenta, Intrexon and Precision Biosciences. John completed his A.B. degree in Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, his Ph.D. in Botany and Genetics at Duke University, and carried out postdoctoral work at the University of California at Berkeley. At LinkedInAt LinkedIn
Hal Burns
He is the Manager of Jimbo’s Jumbos of Hampton Farms, located in Edenton NC. Hampton farm is a 100-year-old family business and today the leading roaster of in-shell peanuts in the US. Hal was born on a tobacco farm in Robeson County, NC. He attended NC State University, where he earned a BS in Agricultural Engineering. Hal has worked for Planters Peanut-Standard Brands, Archer Daniels Midland, and Jimbo's Jumbo/Hampton Farms. Since 1986, he lives in Edenton, NC, with his wife Carolyn. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. Hal is a member of the American Peanut Council and the Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association.
Todd Abraham PhD
He was the Senior Vice President of Research and Nutrition for Mondelēz International (formally Kraft Foods), a $35B multinational food company with internationally known brands such as Oreo, Trident, Cadbury, Milka, Sour Patch Kids. He was responsible for worldwide technology development and strategy, long term cross category Research Programs, Analytical Sciences, Open Innovation, Consumer Sciences and Knowledge Management across the enterprise as well as having accountability for the Reading Scientific Services LTD business in Reading, UK. Before moving to Mondelēz International as Sr. Vice President, Product Development, Nabisco Foods Company, he held previous leadership positions in Marketing, General Management and R&D at Pillsbury and Procter and Gamble with both North American and International experience. Todd completed his Sc.B. in Chemistry at Brown University in Providence, RI. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981 and his M.B.A. in Strategic Planning from The Wharton School also in May, 1981.At LinkedIn
Dr. Kelly Smith
She joined IngateyGen as an advisor to assist with fundraising, technical milestones, and investor due diligence. Kelly’s background is in R&D, IP strategy and management, regulatory strategy, fundraising, scale-up and commercialization. Kelly has over 25 years of experience building companies in Ag biologicals. As CEO and CTO, she was instrumental in taking a 3-person company (Pasteuria Bioscience) to a successful $113 million acquisition by Syngenta in 2012, subsequently moving into leadership at AgBiome. She then built Joyn Bio’s fermentation and formulation capabilities from the ground up, while also overseeing Joyn’s regulatory affairs and DEI work. Most recently she served as VP of R&D at DMC Biotechnologies, before moving into ag biotech startup. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Science (Applied Microbiology) from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. M.S. in Environmental Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, and a CA. B.S., in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI.At LinkedIn
Lee Palles
He joined IngateyGen as a Financial Advisor to assist with drafting financial projections and revenue models for IngateyGen’s Hypoallergenic peanuts and the oil modified peanuts. He will assist with developing, refining, and updating a comprehensive forecasting tool for cash flow, management decision and GAAP consolidated financial projections and a revenue model. Lee was previously CFO of many Biotech companies such as Benson Hill Biosystem and 3 Cultivate. His educational background includes a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from Mississippi State University and a CPA. At LinkedIn
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