Harrison joined 1,4GROUP in May 2025 as a Chemistry Laboratory Technician. Before that, he spent two years with the Idaho Department of Agriculture working in plant pathology. Harrison moved to Idaho in 2023 after graduating from Western Colorado University with degrees in Microbiology and Chemistry.
Growing up in a small ranching community, he was active in FFA and 4-H, raising pigs and developing a strong appreciation for agriculture. Outside of work, Harrison is passionate about the outdoors and spends much of his time mountain biking, skiing, and backpacking.
Jennifer is the Global Marketing Communications Manager. She started with 1,4GROUP in 2015, taking on a small role in the family business. After first being brought on to develop the new website, her job evolved into assisting the sales and marketing departments. Before joining 1,4GROUP she worked at the Saint Alphonsus Garrity clinic as a Customer Service Rep and as an administrative assistant for a financial planner. Throughout the years she has also coached high school volleyball and softball at her alma mater – Nampa Christian High School. Jennifer completed an Associates Degree at Stevens-Henagar in 2010.
Jennifer married her high school sweetheart Andrew Bills and together they have 2 kids – Josh and Lexi. In her free time she enjoys playing in the local volleyball and softball leagues. As a family they enjoy movies, video games, going shooting, and are taking up ATV riding.
Jennie joined 1,4GROUP in July of 2022 as an Executive Administrative Assistant. She has over 20 years of experience in administration, primarily in the Aerospace industry.
She is originally from California and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors Idaho has to offer.
Tim joined 1,4GROUP in August 2025 as Chief Financial Officer. He is enjoying a 30+ year career in Finance, working primarily in the agriculture, technology, and consumer products industries. He previously led the Finance team at Pace International, where he professionalized the Finance function and implemented improvements in accounting and financial reporting. Tim also worked for 22 years at Hewlett Packard, where he led Finance for a semiconductor fab within HP’s inkjet printing business, and helped lead the startup of two technology spin-offs. In addition, Tim implemented LEAN improvement initiatives during his time as Finance and Operations Manager at Kimberly-Clark. Tim has an MBA from Oregon State University and is a Certified Management Accountant.
Tim and his wife Carolynn have raised six children and live in Nampa. In his spare time, Tim is found hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and climbing the Cascade mountains.
Steve transitioned to the role of CEO in July of 2021 after joining 1,4GROUP in May of 2020 as Operations Manager. He was raised on a row crop farm in central Minnesota and attended South Dakota State University, majoring in Agronomy while on a football scholarship. Steve joined Green Giant out of college as a Field Rep handling Peas and Sweet Corn in Ripon, Wisconsin. A short 3 years later, he moved into Green Giant Fresh, which was the beginning of his career in potatoes. When Potandon Produce purchased the Green Giant label from Green Giant Fresh in 1995, Steve continued on with them and spent 25 years traveling but mostly residing in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He filled many roles there including Packaging Management, Food Safety, Grower/Owner Relations, Procurement in both the onion and potato business, as well as Sr. Management. That is just to name a few. Steve thrives on designing and launching business solutions to improve efficiencies, engaging teams, empower people and increasing revenues. He continues to excel in building strong relationships with strategic partners as well.
Steve is currently serving on the Potatoes USA promotion board. There he is serving on the Executive Committee and Co-chair on the Domestic Marketing Committee.
He is married to a wonderful lady, Amie Kenyen of 20 years and has two daughters: Ryan, 17 and Madison, 14. Together they love hiking, biking, beaches. Steve likes to hunt, fish and any other outdoor activities when he can.
Lindsey joined 1,4GROUP on July 31st, 2023, as an analytical chemist. Her extensive background in laboratory operations ensures our chemistry department delivers accurate, precise, and high-quality results. Lindsey oversees all laboratory activities, ensuring compliance with GLP standards and regulatory requirements. She is responsible for sample analysis, R&D project support, laboratory management, and many other tasks involved in the innovation and operations department. Her career spans microbiology, chemistry, and laboratory management. This makes her an invaluable asset to our research, chemistry, and technical advisory team.
Lindsey holds a Bachelor’s in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology from Boise State University. She actively contributed to research projects focused on rainbow trout population sustainability and conservation during her time there, reflecting her deep-rooted passion for nature and science cultivated in her hometown of Cascade, Idaho. Beyond her professional achievements, Lindsey finds joy in exploring the outdoors with her dog, Jensen, drawing inspiration from the beauty of the mountains and fostering her deep connection to nature.
Carla joined 1,4GROUP in October of 2018 as our Receptionist and Accounts Payable. She brings a broad range of experience to the accounting department with over 15 years in accounts payable. She graduated in 2003 from Northwest Nazarene University with a BS in Business Administration.
In her spare time, Carla enjoys supporting her daughter’s interests in fastpitch softball, camping, mountain biking, and gardening. Carla and her daughter also enjoy volunteering with Special Olympics Idaho and Upwards Sports Basketball leagues in Boise.
Pam joined 1,4GROUP in October of 2021 and is the Human Resources Director.
Pam is a professional with 25+ years of human resource management experience and worked with Fortune 500 companies such as Republic Services, Alcoa, Northrop Grumman, Marconi Dynamics, and Boeing Corporation. Over the course of her career, Pam has supported over 1,700 employees throughout the US.
She brings vast experience in performance management, staffing, federal and state law compliance, employment contract negotiations, employee relations, employee benefits, compensation, recruiting, training and development, and management coaching.
Pam holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Management from Woodbury University in Burbank, CA. She also has a certificate in Human Resources from the Learning Tree in Woodland Hills, CA.
Pam has been married for 24 years to her husband Jim. They have two daughters, Alexandria who attends Boise State and is studying Psychology. Amanda is married and has blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren. Sebastian and Camila Valentina that keeps us all on our toes.
As a family, they love Sunday dinners when Jim cooks his authentic Italian meals passed on from his grandmother and when time permits, many outdoor activities. Currently, Pam is training to do her second 5k run and then a 10k with her friends from the gym.
John began working in 1965 with his father, Darol Forsythe, the founder and previous owner of Industrial Ventilation, Inc. John’s job responsibilities began with sweeping floors and receiving freight. He progressed to servicing ventilation and refrigeration equipment. Later he moved into sales and finally became President. John and his father later sold their interests in IVI and began pursuing another passion – sprout control for potatoes.
John was involved in the design and manufacture of many of the early thermal fogging machines used today for both CIPC and 1,4SIGHT®. In the mid-1990’s, he spearheaded the first registration of 1,4SIGHT® (1,4-DMN), working with the US EPA BPPD. He became one of the pioneers of 1,4SIGHT® commercial application as the product was brought to market. He later added Canadian, New Zealand and European registrations. Today 1,4SIGHT® is the clear product of choice in Europe for potato sprout control.
John is a potato storage expert with a firm understanding of ventilation and refrigeration as well as storage treatments. He has visited storages in Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and throughout North and Central America. Nothing surprises him, as there are so many ways to store potatoes. Solving a storage problem and finding ways to improve the existing systems with appropriate technology gives him great pleasure.
John’s other passion is flying. In his younger days he spent five years with Mission Aviation Fellowship as a pilot/mechanic. He flew Cessna 185’s, both on wheels and floats, in the remote jungles of Irian Jaya (now Papua), Indonesia. He has an AA in Aerospace Technologies from Portland Community College with an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic’s Certification. He also has Multi-engine Airline Transport Pilot and Instrument Flight ratings.
John’s overarching passion today is helping to feed the world by providing Safe, Affordable and Abundant food. He works to accomplish these goals by reducing post-harvest waste through the application of science and technologies.
Andrew joined 1,4GROUP in July 2025 as Meridian’s Maintenance Technician. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, he spent much of the past decade living and working throughout the Western U.S. Andrew’s background spans several industrial fields, including heavy civil construction, tool making, equipment repair, controls engineering, and custom fabrication.
Andrew holds a degree in Advanced Mechatronics Engineering and is an ASME-certified welder as well as an ETA-certified electronics technician. He also maintains numerous certifications across disciplines such as electrical systems, machining, automated systems, electric motor control, pneumatic power, logic controllers, and robotics. He’s passionate about building, innovating, and solving problems with his hands.
Andrew moved to the Treasure Valley about five years ago after visiting a friend and meeting the woman who is now his wife. They recently welcomed their first child in September 2025. Outside of work, Andrew is an avid college football fan, snowboarder, BBQ snob, and motorcycle enthusiast. He also enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, daughter, and two dogs: Bernard, a Bernese Mountain Dog, and Georgia, a rescue.
John started with 1,4GROUP in September of 2022 and is the Global Sales & Marketing Director. He brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously been the North American Director of Sales for Biobest. Before that, he was Specialty Materials Business Manager for Mineral’s Technologies and Global Business Manager – Microbials for Valent BioSciences.
John attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received a Bachelors degree in Chemistry.
John and his wife Jo Lynn have 4 children who they enjoy spending time with. In his free time, John enjoys fishing and walking his mini schnauzer, Jellybean.
Eric joined 1,4GROUP in December of 2018 where he took over the role of Logistics Coordinator. He brings a wealth of knowledge from the logistics and transportation industry. For the last 5 years he has been working in the LTL (less-than-truckload) industry as an Operations Supervisor. He also brings experience in operational and warehouse management. Eric served 6 years in the United States Air Force. In 2011 he finished his Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Boise State University.
Eric grew up on the family farm and ranch in north eastern Oregon. He is an avid golfer and loves the great outdoors. In 2017 he was married to his wife Amy and her two children, Riley and Jaden. They enjoy playing games, watching movies, and grilling good food with family and friends.
Bill started in the sprout inhibitor application industry quite by accident. After college, he worked for a tree care company and sprout inhibitor applications was their fall area of business. That was before the VFD was introduced into the application process in Canada. He continued on in the industry for 14 years, quickly moving to doing applications, then technical training for applicators, then to managing the entire application process, and finally to owning his own sprout inhibitor application company. His application experience has allowed him to do applications in all 3 of the Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). Bill enjoys all the dynamics and challenges of the sprout inhibiting industry.
Bernie started with 1,4GROUP in May of 2023 as Eastern Sales. His potato industry experience began at Max Herbold in Rupert, Idaho in 1994. He has worked in sales, sales management, and new business development in the fresh potato and onion market.
Bernie graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.
He resides in Hollidaysburg, PA with his wife and 2 kids. Flyfishing and fly tying have been lifelong passions, but he enjoys anything outdoors. He volunteers with the Hollidaysburg Arts & Music Parent Assocation (HAMPA) as concessions co-manager helping cook up fries for football games.
Chad accepted the position of North America Sales Manager in November of 2021 and has been with 1,4GROUP since August 30, 2019. He started out as the Western U.S. Technical Sales Rep. Before that, he was employed by Potandon Produce LLC for about 12.5 years. During that time he was involved in their sales team and then as a Variety Operations Manager for the last 7 years. Chad oversaw joint ventures and dedicated partners in WA, AZ, TX, ND, MN, VA and FL and has had the opportunity to work with co-packers all over the county. Before his time in potatoes, he was in corporate finance and mortgage lending with ICCU, AIG and HSBC.
Chad has a degree in Accounting from Montana State University with a minor in Economics. He has two beautiful girls, ages 13 & 10. He says it seems like life keeps them pretty busy but he does love his football, especially his Chicago Bears. They love going to the movies as a family and traveling when they can.
Hamed started at 1,4GROUP in July of 2022 as a warehouse assistant. He helps with the pouring, packing, shipping, and receiving of products. Since being at 14GROUP, he has received his forklift certification.
Hamed is originally from Afghanistan and spent 9 years as a military pilot. He worked as a squadron commander, operations officer, and deputy commander. He moved to Boise, ID, in 2021 with his wife, son, and brother. In 2022, Hamed and his wife welcomed a second son.
He enjoys going to the gym and hanging out with his family and friends. And of course, Hamed’s favorite thing is still flying.
Luke started at 1,4GROUP February 2024 as a Mechanical Engineer. He is a proud graduate of Boise State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he embarked on a journey that led to unique opportunities with additive manufacturing, human space flight, and laser jet printers.
Luke’s journey came back full circle rejoining the company. 1,4GROUP is where Luke started his engineering career, during the summer of 2016 he joined as a research and development engineering intern.
Outside of work, he immerses himself in the world of robotics, droid building, and the endless possibilities of 3D printing. Enriching his perspective of the world, he likes to travel and experience new adventures. Luke and his wife are often with their beloved beagles Penny and Gimli, that brings endless joy and laughter into their life.
Billie Jo started at 1,4GROUP on July 5, 2022 as Inventory Procurement Specialist and Accounting. She has over 15 years of accounting and purchasing experience as well as a legal background, having worked as a paralegal at a law firm for 6 years. Previously she lived in North Dakota for 5 years, working for an electrical company as their Inventory Procurement Specialist.
Billie Jo worked a lot in potatoes growing up in Ashton, Idaho. She inspected potatoes and also rogued them. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree at BSU for Business and Finance.
An Idaho native, she likes to spend time with her family camping, fishing, and hiking. They also enjoy doing puzzles and playing card games.
Andy started working at 1,4GROUP as a Regulatory Specialist in August of 2021.
He began his career as an analytical chemist working in a toxicology lab. Andy has 6 years of experience working with various instrumentation including GC-MS, HPLC, FTIR, SEM/EDX, ICP, IC, and microscopic analysis. He transitioned into Regulatory Affairs in 2018, working with both the EPA and FDA.
Andy graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry.
He was born and raised in Tennessee and enjoys being out in nature. History and biographies are his favorite genres to read. Andy has a growing family and loves spending time and volunteering at church.
Brian is the Controller of 1,4GROUP, Inc. Meridian and oversees the company’s global finance and tax structure, banking relations, manages the company’s international and domestic cash, as well as foreign exchange, GAAP reporting requirements, information systems, and human resources. Brian joined 1,4GROUP, Inc. in October 2004.
With over 22 years of experience in accounting, Brian brings a broad range of experience in financial reporting, retail accounting, construction accounting, real estate accounting, accounting software implementation, cash management, inventory flow, corporate and individual tax, and benefit plan administration.
Brian has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Boise State University, a Master’s of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Phoenix, and he is currently working towards his CPA.