J. André Leblond

Member of the Board of Directors

Mr. Leblond is the founder of Décisionaide Canada Ltd., a Québec-based business management and transaction firm. He brings an expertise in business and personnel management, labor relations, and human resources. He has worked with a variety of regional and national organizations. During his tenures, he conducted research and coordinated projects pertaining to management and business operations. Mr. Leblond has significant expertise in the manufacturing, industrial, and commercial sectors. His expertise includes management coaching, training in business transitions, and corporate turnarounds.

Mr. Leblond holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Commerce. He is also a certified executive coach.

Réjean Dancause

Member of the Board of Directors

Mr. Réjean Dancause has been a marketing and business strategies consultant for 35 years. He has accomplished many assignments in more than 500 companies and organizations, both in Canada and outside the country.

Before founding the Groupe Dancause et Associés in 1989, he was partner and owner of Gicam Inc., a firm specializing in industrial marketing. He was also a business strategies consultant for Price Waterhouse and Samson Bélair Deloitte Touche at their Quebec City offices.

Réjean Dancause holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from the Université de Sherbrooke. He gives seminars about corporate diagnostics as well as business and export marketing strategies. These seminars are given at the Ministère de l’Industrie et du Commerce du Québec (now MDEIE), Canada Economic Development, and Québec’s Department of Agriculture and International Affairs.

Réjean Dancause sat for several years on the National Research Council Canada IRAP Program advisory council. He is also a member of the Ordre professionnel des administrateurs agréés and a Fellow of the Institut canadien des conseillers en gestion. He holds the Institute of Corporate Directors certification, a certification given by Université Laval and McMaster University.

Jacques Roy

Member of the Board of Directors

Mr. Jacques Roy began his career at Dupont De Nemour, a Shawinigan-based manufacturer of cellophane with over 500 employees. Originally responsible for conducting the environmental inventory, Mr. Roy was soon promoted to Product Development Designer and then Laboratory Manager.

In 1978, he became the supervisor of the pulp selection group and analytical laboratory at ITT Rayoner's plant in Port-Cartier, Québec. Subsequently, Mr. Roy occupied various positions at Imperial Tobacco Canada's facilities in Quebec and Ontario, from 1979 to 2004. He then became the Director of the Quality Management Group, where he supervised three highly specialized groups responsible for quality management and process development. As a member of the senior management in the Operations Division, Mr. Roy was actively involved in establishing a participative management model. This experience has been the subject of many conferences in recent years.

Mr. Roy holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Université Laval. As an involved citizen, Mr. Roy has been a board member for numerous organizations including the Centres Jeunesses de Lanaudière, Association des lndustriels de Québec, Association des lndustriels de Lanaudière, and the Café Rencontre 12-18 in Notre-Dame-des-Prairies.

Claudin Berger

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Berger founded what is known as Berger today in 1980. He has over 40 years experience in the horticulture industry, providing the company with strategic insight into the ever-evolving needs of growers worldwide. He has taken an active leadership role in a variety of non-profit organizations in Québec, such as: the Groupement des chefs d’entreprise du Québec and the Maison de la famille de Rivière-du-Loup.

Régis Berger

Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Berger has worked for the company since he started his career in horticulture over 49 years ago. Thanks to his wealth of management experience and results-driven outlook, Mr. Berger streamlines the company’s product development, implements continuous improvement strategies, and engages the Berger team towards operational excellence.

Valérie Berger

Corporate Director - Sales and Marketing

Valérie Berger holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Science from the HEC, with a major in psychology and a minor in human resources. She began her career in human resources with Berger in New Brunswick, where she spent two and a half years. Ms. Berger then volunteered at an orphanage and spent four months travelling in Bolivia and Peru. She then returned to university for an MBA in international management. She also completed a session at Denmark’s Copenhagen Business School. Ms. Berger then took a position at FritoLay Canada, where she worked as a sales manager for a team of 14 and then as director of human resources for Eastern Canada. She has been at Berger for four years; the first two years, she was as a special projects director. Since then she has worked as the company’s corporate director of sales and marketing.

Mélissa Berger

Corporate Director - Special Projects

Mélissa Berger holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the HEC in Business Administration, Operations and Production Management, with one session completed at EDHEC in Lille, France. She began her career at L’Oréal as a supply manager, where she spent two years. She then spent four months travelling in South America, visiting Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, before going back to school and completing a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Occupational Ergonomics at Polytechnique Montréal. She also completed a session at the University of Hertfordshire, U.K. After graduating, she took a position as supply chain manager at U Logistique, a subcontractor for Bombardier. Ms. Berger was then hired by L’Oréal USA in New York City as market supply manager, where she remained for two years. She then returned to L’Oréal Canada as a launch manager. She has been with Berger for two years as the company’s corporate director of special projects and operations. She is also in charge of integrating Sun Land Garden Products, a California company acquired in 2011.

Marc Bourgoin

Corporate Director – Communications

Mr. Bourgoin is responsible for Berger’s corporate communications in the industry, with the media, and internally. He also oversees the company’s strategic planning sessions, project portfolio management, and operational plans. Mr. Bourgoin represents Berger with its various governmental, business, and networking partners.

Denis Deschênes

Corporate Director – Finances

With over 40 years experience in finance and accounting,
Mr. Deschênes took over the reins of Berger’s Finance Department in 1989. Berger’s rock-solid financial condition is a direct result of his expertise, guidance, and dedication to sound business practices.