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Brian Carroll
Helping build the Grand Farm
Brian Carroll is a seasoned leader in the technology and agriculture innovation sectors, currently serving as the Chief Innovation Officer at Emerging Prairie and co-founder of Grand Farm. Here's an overview of his professional background and accomplishments:
Professional Experience
Brian Carroll assumed the role of Chief Innovation Officer at Emerging Prairie in July 2023.1 Prior to this, he held several key positions:
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Co-Founder of Grand Farm (September 2018 - Present): Carroll has been instrumental in establishing and growing Grand Farm, an initiative focused on solving major challenges in the agriculture industry.12
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Director of Grand Farm (September 2018 - July 2023): He led the organization for nearly five years before transitioning to his current role.1
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Chief Operations Officer at Emerging Prairie (March 2021 - February 2022): Carroll contributed to the strategic operations of the organization during this period.1
Previous Career
Before his involvement with Emerging Prairie and Grand Farm, Brian had an extensive career in the technology sector:
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Director of Advanced Engineering and Launch at HERE Technologies (April 2010 - March 2018): He led operations for over 300 associates across four countries.1
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Various roles at Nokia and NAVTEQ (1996 - 2010): Carroll progressed through several positions, including Production Manager and Project Leader, where he was involved in creating some of the first navigable digital maps for European countries.1
Education
Brian Carroll holds a Bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University, which he earned between 1989 and 1995.1
Impact and Vision
As a co-founder of Grand Farm, Carroll has been pivotal in developing a hub for agricultural technology innovation. He describes Grand Farm as a place "where we bring people together to collaborate on some of the biggest issues facing the agriculture industry".2 Under his leadership, Grand Farm has grown from a regional initiative to a global leader in AgTech innovation, attracting significant investments and partnerships.2
Brian Carroll's expertise in technology, operations, and agriculture, combined with his leadership roles at Emerging Prairie and Grand Farm, position him as a key figure in driving innovation and economic development in the agricultural technology sector.
Highlights
Agriculture is a cornerstone of our state's economy, contributing nearly a quarter of its value. Mark Watne, President of North Dakota Farmers Union, underscores the importance of investing in agricultural research to keep the U.S. competitive on the global stage. During a recent U.S. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee field hearing at Grand Farm Innovation Campus, industry leaders emphasized the strong bipartisan support for ag research. With a 24% ROI on every dollar spent in North Dakota, it's evident that funding ag research isn't just beneficial—it's vital for our future NSF ENGINES: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
This week, we had the honor of hosting a Senate Field Hearing at the Grand Farm. When we first set the vision for Grand Farm, it was weeks like this that envisioned - where policy makers, growers, researchers, and corporations come together to learn from each other and develop collaboration pathways that drive innovation
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Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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