ACS Directors are representatives from our member organizations. They are elected to three year terms, and may serve up to two terms consecutively before taking at least one year off before running again.
Vacant positions on the Board of Directors are filled annually by election (voted on by ACS member representatives) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The ACS Board Executive consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary-Treasurer. These positions are elected by the Directors following the Annual General Meeting each year.
We are very pleased to have Mehmet join the ACS Board of Directors as our Chair. Mehmet Tulbek is the President of Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre and is responsible to the Board of Directors for the strategy, planning, management, control and the evaluation of The Centre.
Mehmet has been a research, technology, and innovation leader with over 25 years of pulses, cereals, oilseeds and plant-based foods’ global research & development, technical services, business development, international technical education, and management experience. Mehmet completed his B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering with emphasis in Food Science and Technology at Ankara University, and his M.Sc. in Food Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in Turkey. He then moved to the United States to pursue his Ph.D. in Cereal Science at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.
Before joining Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, Mehmet served as the Director of Research and Development at AGT Food and Ingredients in Saskatoon, SK Canada; and worked at Northern Crops Institute (NCI) at North Dakota State University as Crop Quality Specialist and then as Technical Director. During his tenure at NCI he delivered international technical short courses and programs on pulse and specialty crops market development, pulse protein manufacturing, end market utilization, quality, and product development programs over ten countries. During graduate school Mehmet also founded Great Plains Roasting Inc. an organic roasted flaxseed startup company which was acquired later by Heartland Flax Inc. in North Dakota. Mehmet previously served as a board member on Ameriflax, Northern Pulse Growers Association, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre and Red River College Prairie Research Kitchen organizations. Mehmet is a sought-after presenter at global industry and academic gatherings, and has authored several journal articles, book chapters, proceedings and six patents. Mehmet is a member of multiple organizations including Institute of Food Technologists, American Oil Chemists Society, Canadian Nutrition Society, Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists and Cereals & Grains Association (former AACC). He currently serves as a Process Authority at Association of Food and Drug Officials; as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan Food and Bioproduct Sciences Department and the University of Manitoba Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences.
Blair has served on the ACS Board of Directors for three years, and he is currently the ACS Vice-Chair. Blair is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask. Wheat), a member of ACS.
Blair grew up in Eston, SK and continues to be actively involved in the family farming operation. He completed a B.Sc. in Agriculture in 1987, majoring in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and pursued graduate studies prior to joining the Animal Biotech Group in the Dept. of Animal Science. In 2004 Blair was employed by the ACS as a Senior Project Officer where he assisted in the promotion, delivery and administration of federal AAFC programs. In 2012, Blair took over as the Executive Director of ACS.
In October 2014, Blair accepted a position with Sask. Wheat as the Research Program Manager. In this capacity Blair was responsible for managing and administering the research funding activities of Sask. Wheat through development of a research portfolio that maximizes direct financial benefit to Saskatchewan producers through yield gains and stability, improved quality characteristics and agronomic efficiencies. In October 2021 Blair accepted the position of Executive Director of Sask. Wheat.
Tracy has served on the ACS Board of Directors for two years and is currently the ACS Secretary-Treasurer. Tracy represents the Saskatchewan Oilseed Development Commission (formerly SK Canola Development Commission and SK Flax Development Commission) on the ACS Board. Tracy is the Executive Director of Saskatchewan Oilseed Development Commission.
Tracy grew up on a mixed farm in southwest Manitoba, and has spent the better part of her life living in Prairie cities. She earned a BSc in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba, with a special focus on economics.
Tracy’s career experience has been in the barley industry, research administration, as well as canola policy and producer relations. She currently lives in Saskatoon with her husband and two sons. In addition to being a politics and news junkie, Tracy enjoys cooking everything from scratch, hiking and gardening.
Sav has served on the ACS Board of Directors for 5 years.
Sav Bellissimo is the Senior Manager, Product Development for Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) for the past 11 years.
Sav has been in the food industry for over 30 years with a key focus product and brand development. A graduate of the University of Guelph, Sav has a reputation as an adaptive strategic leader with a proven ability in identifying and capitalizing on emerging market trends.
Sav is passionate about local producers and the importance of establishing closer ties between the products on the shelf and the farmers who grow the ingredients.
Think Local, Act Local – FCL’s Farm-to-Fork strategy is a business ecosystem that adds value and enables innovation through local products using farm sourced ingredients from Western Canada. Farm to Fork accelerates local programming, enhances the Co-op brand promise, and differentiate local and sustainable products on Co-op store shelves across Western Canada.
Charles has served on the ACS Board of Directors for two years. Charles is the current President of the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association, a member of ACS.
Charles completed his formal education in Civil Engineering Technology in the 80’s. He retired in 2020 with almost 37 years of service. During these years, he worked for: Dam Safety Tech (Regina office) doing inspections, investigations, mapping, CAD, etc.; Water Development Tech (Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Weyburn) with expertise gained in hydrology, groundwater, water quality, CAD, GIS, program management and more.; Geotechnical Tech (Saskatoon) gaining experience with instrumentation, soils and concrete. A rich career blending Agriculture and Engineering while traveling much of the prairies and into BC.
Since career retirement Charles owns and operates a Market Garden near Avonlea, where he produces strawberries, raspberries, melons and more. He is also a Consultant in the areas of inspection services (construction); soil testing; surveying, and mapping.
Denver joined the ACS Board of Directors at our AGM in November, 2024. Denver is the representative of Saskatchewan Bison Association, a member of ACS.
George joined the ACS Board of Directors at our AGM in November, 2024. George is the President of Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association, a member of ACS.
