Management Team

Mark J. Mueller, President

Mark Mueller, a life long student of botany, is one of the founders of the Company and has served in his current capacity as President since 2003. With a Masters of Science Degree in Water Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin, Mark gained extensive experience in rural business innovation and technology programs, working for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Center for Economic Development, the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC) and the Wisconsin Business Innovation Corporation (WBIC). As executive director of NWRPC and most recently as a consultant to that organization, he has been involved in strategic direction, development of a regional network of business enterprise centers and the formulation of equity financing fund.

John S. McKeon, Vice-Chairman

Jack McKeon retired in 2005 from ConAgra Foods where he served as president of the Venture Development Group. In that position, he was responsible for identifying emerging food and food-related investment opportunities for ConAgra and managing the company's interests in those enterprises. One of the opportunities that caught his eye was Botanic Oil Innovations. Jack joined ConAgra in 1993 as president of its Golden Valley Microwave Foods unit, a leading manufacturer of microwave popcorn and went on to lead the consolidated ConAgra Snack Foods Group. Prior to joining ConAgra, Jack was a principal for seventeen years in an investment banking business that specialized in mergers and acquisitions in the food industry. He was also a founding partner of The Food Fund, a venture capital company. An alumni of the University of Minnesota and General Mills, Jack also serves on a number of boards including that of Hawkins, Inc., a publicly-owned distributor of chemicals and pharmaceuticals in Minneapolis, where he is chairman.

Gregory R. (Greg) Palen, Chairman

Greg Palen has enjoyed a long and successful career as executive, entrepreneur and investor in companies spanning several industries. Botanic Oil Innovations and the Immuno-Viva line of products hold special importance to Greg. Having lost his mother to cancer, he is acutely concerned about advances in cancer research. Currently Greg is the CEO of the Palen/Kimball Company, chairman/CEO of Spectro Alloys Corporation and a managing partner of Palen Property Management. He serves as chairman of the Board for Polaris Industries, Inc. He also serves on the board of directors of a number of other corporations including Opus Northwest, LLC, Valspar Corporation and Fabcon, Inc. He holds a B.A. from St. John's University and a M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Michael P. Schall, Board Member & Business Advisor

Mike Schall is an experienced packaged goods executive with a strong track record in sales, marketing, operations and executive management of branded natural, specialty and snack food companies, from entrepreneurial initiatives to large national brands. Currently, Mike is president of Strategic Marketing Methods, a consulting firm that provides marketing and business development expertise to food companies. Prior to that, Mike was Senior Vice President at Wise Foods Company, president/CEO of The B. Manischewitz Company and president/CEO of Guiltless Gourmet. Mike earned his MBA in Marketing at the Marshall School of the University of Southern California.

David R. Lumley, Business Advisor

David Lumley brings considerable experience of the dietary supplements category to Botanic Oil Innovations as well as a wealth of general and executive management expertise. From 1999 to 2003, Dave served as president and CEO of EAS, turning a niche provider of supplements to body builders into a powerhouse lifestyle nutrition company with multiple product lines and enviable growth and margin performance. Currently, Dave is co-COO of Spectrum Brands, as well as president of its Global Batteries and Personal Care division. A graduate of Western Illinois University, Dave earned a Masters of Journalism and an MBA from Northwestern University.

David K. (Dave) Hopkins, Business Advisor

Dave Hopkins is an accomplished business leader with over 20 years of experience in the development and application of corporate strategy, brand management, innovation and operations improvement. Possessing a broad industry background, Dave has co-founded his own companies, and worked with emerging growth companies as well as Fortune 500 corporations. Currently, Dave is managing director of Carlson Brand Enterprise at the University of Minnesota, after stints at MRM Partners, Grant Thornton, Aegis Consulting and Saatchi and Saatchi. Author of several published business articles, Dave earned a Masters in strategy and industrial organization at the University of Utah.

Robert (Rob) White, Business Advisor

Rob brings nearly thirty years of marketing and business experience to the Botanic Oil team. An internationally recognized brand strategy expert, Rob is one of the founders of Zeus Jones, a marketing innovation firm based in Minneapolis which has been working with Botanic Oil Innovations to re-launch the product line as an Immuno-Viva portfolio and build this new web site. Prior to starting Zeus Jones, Rob was president of Fallon, one of the leading advertising agencies in the U.S. Rob has strong personal reasons for wanting to help Botanic Oil — one of his good friends had a very serious form of cancer abated in part by her daily use of Immuno-Viva Core.