David E. Miller
Co-Founder and CEO
“We built our business to support the businesses of our farmers.”
Rooted by heritage in Iroquois County, Illinois, Dave returned to his native farming community in 2005 after a 30 year career in banking and real estate financial management. Purchasing a small 10 acre family farmstead, he re-connected with local relatives farming organically. In 2007 he started Iroquois Valley Farms LLC by connecting a small group of family and friends to a 142 acre farm.
Prior to seeding sustainable farmland ventures, Dave held executive positions at Bank of America, Santa Fe Southern Pacific and First Chicago Corporation. His extensive experience in structuring alternative real estate investments led to the formation of Iroquois Valley, the first private company in the United States to integrate farmland and organic food production, utilizing mostly mid-size family farmers.
An MBA graduate of Columbia University’s School of Business and 1975 graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, Dave views education as the primary key to changing the nature and health of our current food production system. In this regard, Dave is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Environmental Studies at Loyola and was recently honored by the University (Damen Award) for distinguished services in the field of environmental sustainability. He resides nearby in Winnetka, Illinois along with his wife and three children.
Mark Schindel
Chief Financial & Investment Officer
As Chief Financial and Investment Officer, Mark has responsibility for financial systems and reporting, budgeting and forecasting, reviewing new funding opportunities, monitoring and tracking the investment portfolio, and evaluating new deals. Mark sees Iroquois Valley as a great vehicle for improving the health of the planet and raising awareness of the multitude of benefits achieved through farming organically. And with farmers in his family, the company’s mission is a personal one.
Mr. Schindel received his BS in Finance from the University of Illinois, and his MBA from Northwestern’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Before joining Iroquois Valley, Mark spent most of his career in the private equity business; and as a financial consultant and private investor. Mr. Schindel lives in Chicago, and enjoys tennis, downhill skiing, and hiking around the world.
Arnold Lau
Chief Operating Officer
Arnold (“Arnie”) has several areas of responsibility including multi-year budget modeling, long-term planning for the company and evaluating new business/geographic opportunities as well as management of specific programs including the Young Farmer Land Access Program and a farmland ownership transition program. He also monitors and evaluates developments in such areas as climate change and the environment, capital markets, regulation, and technology for factors that may have long-term implications for the Company and its farmers. Arnie reports directly to the CEO; and coordinates his duties with the CFO and Managing Director of Business Operations. Arnie also supports development of offering materials, investment sales and investor relations.
Arnie has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Economics from Lawrence University, and a Masters of Management from Northwestern University. He was previously a member of the Chicago Board Options Exchange from 1983 until 1999, and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade from 1985 until 2007. He is a life member of the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy.
Fany Bortolin
SVP, Secured Lending
As SVP, Secured Lending, Fany is responsible for managing organic farming lines of credit and creating tailored business and regenerative plans aimed to improve financial and environmental sustainability.
Fany has a Bachelors degree and Masters in Accounting and Financial Management and an additional BA in Social Psychology. Her strengths lie in driving financial & operational improvements in both growth & challenging economic environments, as well as creating environments that fosters engagement, commitment, and collaboration.
Her uncompromising commitment to environmental issues, organic farming, and health brought her to join Iroquois Valley in 2019.
Susan Stenander
SVP, Marketing
At Iroquois Valley, Susan’s work centers around marketing and strategic planning. Susan is passionate about sustainability, and brings experience as an entrepreneur and investor. Previously, Susan spent 13 years at Henry Crown & Company where she worked in its corporate development group. During that time, she wrote the business plan for a successful commercial composting business that sparked her interest in building profitable businesses, at scale, with social impact. Susan started her career at Arthur Andersen LLP. Susan received her undergraduate degree from Drake University in Accounting and Finance and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Susan lives in Evanston where she enjoys cooking, documentaries and urban gardening.
John Steven Bianucci
Director of Conservation
As Director of Conservation, John Steven leads conservation initiatives for the Company, including grants, collaborations, and integrated fundraising. He advises the CEO and Board Chair on conservation finance, strategy, policy, communications, public-private partnerships, and select companies. John Steven has long been passionate about food sovereignty, social justice, health, organic farming and agroforestry. He has extensive corporate experience in branding, marketing and sales. John Steven has co-founded publications and been a successful researcher, advisor, and trader. Computer User magazine was the country’s first regional computer publication and published monthly for 24 years. John Steven graduated from Harvard College.
Donna Holmes
VP, Investor Relations
In Donna’s role at Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, she shares the Company’s vision and investment strategy with investors and prospects. She is responsible for expanding our investor base by building a community of like-minded investors. Donna is passionate about creating an opportunity for all people to reap the health benefits of nutritional food, grown in a sustainable and socially just society. Using her knowledge of finance and investing, Donna structures investment vehicles to address investors’ different needs and goals. She believes in Iroquois Valley’s triple bottom line principles, actively securing social, environmental, and financial returns for our investors.
Prior to joining Iroquois Valley, Donna served in business development and investor relations roles at three alternative asset management firms. Before working in finance, she practiced law, specializing in tax and ERISA matters.
Donna earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Syracuse University, a Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University, College of Law, and a Master of Law in Taxation from New York University. She is a CAIA Charter-holder and an FSA Level 1 Certificate Holder.
Claire Mesesan
VP, Farmer Relations
Claire serves as VP, Farmer Relations where her work centers on process, program development, and resource-building. She is broadly focused on Iroquois Valley’s farmer-facing work to ensure that partnerships are successful. Claire also works on impact strategy, evaluation, and reporting in support of the company’s efforts to create public benefit.
Claire joined Iroquois Valley in 2015 as Communications Director where she created mission-driven, data-informed content across platforms. Claire gravitated toward stakeholder engagement as she connected with farmers to tell their stories, which led to her transition to farmer relations in 2021.
Claire completed her bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and French from Loyola University Chicago. Within philosophy, Claire was interested in the ways that land stewardship and land-based ethics intersect with social and political movements. After graduation, she spent a year in Madison, WI working as an AmeriCorps Farm-to-School educator. Claire lives in southern California where she enjoys gardening and all things outdoors, especially camping.
Lacey Benz
Investment Coordinator
Growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota, Lacey couldn’t wait to trade in the cornfields and cattle pastures for the hustle and bustle of a big city. After graduating with a degree in Economics and Finance, she achieved her goal and spent one year as an analyst at JPMorgan in New York City. Missing the wide open spaces of the Midwest and discovering her passion for organic and regenerative agriculture, Lacey moved back to the Corn Belt and joined the Iroquois Valley team in 2020 as Investment Coordinator.
In this role, Lacey manages the investment process for the equity and debt issued by the company. She loves to brainstorm new ways to make the systems more efficient, streamlined, and organized… all while helping the firm grow its capital base. When she isn’t working at Iroquois Valley or helping out on her family farm, Lacey enjoys gardening, practicing yoga, and traveling.
Raya Carr
Relationship Manager
Raya joins Iroquois Valley’s team with more than two decades of exposure to organic & diversified farming through the midwestern seasons of North-Central Illinois. Raya grew up a shepherdess and farmhand on Mint Creek, her family’s farm, and transitioned into a management capacity in 2010, continuing in this for 8 years. Raya successfully completed the 2015 Good Food Business Accelerator Program by Family Farmed, and holds a liberal arts degree with great distinction from Shimer College. Raya sees natural continuity from working in organic farming to working with Iroquois Valley. On her family’s farm, Raya witnesses how organic, regenerative farming can work to heal the whole farm ecosystem–not just the land, but the animals and people involved, too. On a larger scale, Raya is excited to support farmers across the U.S. as a relationship manager and farmer liaison for Iroquois Valley, helping organic farmers get the financing & land access tools they need to thrive.
On weekends, Raya still organizes a seasonal farm dinner & tour series as well as other projects for her family’s farm. When she can find time, she writes poetry & lyrics, sings, and plays folk music on the guitar.
Meg Santisi
Office Manager
Meg has a background in non-profit development, working on behalf of art and ecology non-profits. Currently she fundraises on behalf of two artist residency programs: ACRE Residency, located in the Driftless Region of WI, and Ox-Bow School of Art, an 100+ year old residency located on a 112 acre conservation easement in Western Michigan. Prior to this, Meg worked in programming for the Graham Foundation, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and as Sales Manager for Mint Creek Farm, where she managed on-site farm dinners and Mint Creek’s CSA program. She holds an MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where her studies focused on the intersection of art, ecology, and architecture. She is very pleased to be working with the incredible folks at Iroquois Valley.
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