Our TEAM Members

Shay Byrne is an Irish technology executive based in Toronto, Canada, with over 25 years of global technology leadership experience in companies such as Intel, Microsoft, consulting firms, and startups. Currently, as Chief Information and Technology Officer at CubicFarms and Hydrogreen, Shay drives organizational change and technology restructuring, focusing on optimizing operations and enhancing customer and employee experiences. His expertise in technology innovation, cloud services, and infrastructure optimization has led to successful digital transformations across various industries.
Shay has managed large-scale projects, including the transformation of Microsoft Canada’s Headquarters, and is known for his ability to align technology with business objectives to create value and drive growth.
Outside of work, Shay is a passionate woodworker, home automation enthusiast, and chef. His creative and technical pursuits reflect the same curiosity and problem-solving skills that define his professional approach.

Before HydroGreen, Ryan was an Engineer for Northman snowplows, Red Devil snow blowers, and Design Tanks. He started a HydroGreen in 2016 as VP of Operations where he led the design the of HydroGreen system we know today. As VP of Operations, he was also in charge of purchasing, production, and scheduling all the system installs that he oversaw onsite. In 2020 with CubicFarms purchase of HydroGreen he took the Role of Director of Engineering and designed the GLS 808. Over the past years, he has grown his team while making the DGS & GLS line commercially ready. 

Matthew Jude, P.Eng. is a dedicated electrical engineer with a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia. Currently serving as a Senior Project Manager at CubicFarm Systems Corp., he specializes leading projects from concept to commissioning, effectively managing resources, and ensuring client satisfaction.
With a strong background in product management and electrical engineering, Matthew has successfully overseen multi-million-dollar projects within various industries, where he honed his skills in project oversight, technical decision-making, and team leadership. He is a registered Professional Engineer with expertise in PLC programming, automation, and project development.
Passionate about leveraging technology to transform agriculture, Matthew is committed to driving innovation that enhances food production and sustainability.

Kurt has an extensive background in the design, manufacturing, and maintaining of specialty equipment. This ranges from grout mixing plants for mining and tunnel boring equipment, to water retention devices for local municipalities, to semi-automated labor-saving devices for a local greenhouse. Kurt’s career began when he started working at a leading-edge plant propagation greenhouse while he was going to trade school for both welding and fabricating certificates. Kurt worked there for 5 years when he decided to move on and started working for a specialty fabrication facility. Kurt spent 15 years working on an extensive variety of equipment which has given him the ability to pull knowledge from every industry to create a well-rounded solution to the most challenging problems. Through this process Kurt also went to school to learn the mechanical design software to aid the engineering teams in designing better equipment. Kurt has been involved in a variety of fields with HydroGreen and CubicFarms from the machinery research and development to installation and upgrades, to the engineering team, and most recently to managing the commissioning of HydroGreen projects. Kurts vast experience gives him the ability to be an asset to the company in each department that he works with.  

James Eckhardt has been a Plant Scientist with HydroGreen since 2024. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College and completed his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology at the University of California, Riverside, where he focused on enhancing seed germination traits. At HydroGreen, James is driven by his passion to advance understanding of seed growth and feed nutritional value. 

Lindsay Dodds is the Head of Grow Operations at CubicFarms, where she has been a dedicated team member since 2020. With a background in Sustainable Agriculture, Lindsay has rapidly advanced through the ranks, initially joining the company as an R&D Grower and subsequently serving as the Lead R&D Grower before stepping into her current leadership role. 

Her expertise lies in plant science and the cultivation of crops within controlled environments, particularly in vertical farm operations. Lindsay is passionate about leveraging innovative agricultural practices to enhance sustainability and efficiency in food production. 

With her extensive experience and commitment to advancing sustainable farming techniques, Lindsay continues to drive growth and innovation at CubicFarms. 

Tomi Odunsi is a Chartered Accountant with over 9 years of experience in financial reporting and compliance, specializing in IFRS, ASPE, and US GAAP. He has a proven track record of leading teams in fast-paced environments, managing complex financial processes, and delivering accurate and timely financial statements. Currently as the Finance manager, he oversees the finance and accounting team, oversees audits, and drives process improvements that enhance financial accuracy and operational efficiency. 

Harneet has an extensive background in Human Resources, with over 7 years of experience. Her expertise includes talent acquisition and management, employee relations, policy development, compliance, training, and performance management. Her work is driven by a commitment to fostering employee growth and engagement, building diverse teams, and driving strategic HR initiatives that align with both organizational goals and the well-being of employees. 

Dana Wollman joined the HydroGreen team in 2021 bringing with her over thirty years of accounting experience from small business startups to large corporations. She has worked in Banking, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Agriculture (industries) for public as well as private entities. Dana graduated from the University of Phoenix and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting as well as her Bachelor of Science in Business. Dana is a driven and dedicated leader who takes great pride in working for HydroGreen and believes in its mission to make a difference in the world for farmers, especially those in drought stricken in desperate need of a solution.     

Katie Lease received an associate’s degree in accounting from Colorado Technical University in 2004.  She has spent the last 20 years working in the accounting field; joining the Hydrogreen team in February of 2024.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son as well as a large extended family and friends. 

As HydroGreen’s HR Coordinator and Administrative Support professional, JoAnn brings a blend of skills and experience to ensure smooth and efficient operations within the organization. In her role as an HR Coordinator, she handles various HR activities including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, and benefits administration. She is passionate about creating a positive work environment and supporting our team members every step of the way. On the administrative side, she supports the executive team and other departments. Her responsibilities include managing schedules, coordinating meetings, preparing reports, and handling correspondence.

Fareeha Tahir, BBA, CPHR, has a strong background in Human Resources, with over a decade of experience leading HR and Health and Safety operations across Canada and the US. Her expertise in employee engagement, talent mobilization, and business strategy has made her a key contributor at CubicFarm Systems. Recently, she has expanded her expertise by partnering with the finance team to enhance operational efficiency and support strategic initiatives. Driven by a passion for fostering inclusive, innovative work environments, she supports CubicFarms mission to transform global food production through advanced technology. 

Josée Gagné recently joined the HydroGreen team as the Sales and Project Coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience in sales and project management. With a background in structural engineering and project management, she excels at managing projects that yield positive outcomes and foster customer satisfaction. Josée holds a diploma in Civil Engineering Technology from La Cité collégiale and is fluent in both French and English, allowing her to communicate effectively with diverse clients and stakeholders. She is enthusiastic about using her expertise to promote innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector.  

Brad Donovan has been with HydroGreen since 2022. Brad is the Production Manager in our Sioux Falls, SD manufacturing facility. Brad started with HydroGreen as the Quality Control/Inventory specialist. Brad has been married to his wife Ashley since 2011, and they have 2 kids. Brad and his family enjoy fishing, hunting and playing softball/baseball, all, together as a family.  

Jared Hofer is the Purchasing manager at Hydrogreen Inc. He studied business management and economics at Augustana University. He has 10 years of experience in the supply chain world. In his free time Jared likes hiking and coaching tennis. 

Jonah Peters is an Installation Technician at Hydrogreen. He is from Sioux Falls and has spent most of his life there. He has an extensive background in the printing industry focusing on leading Process Improvement projects both at department and companywide levels. He attended Augustana University where he met his now fiancé, Stephanie. In their spare time they love to travel both domestically and abroad, most recently taking his parents to Germany and Italy!