Leadership
Board of Directors
Board Committees

  • Village Farms International

    Michael A. DeGiglio

    President & Chief Executive Officer

    Stephen Ruffini

    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

    Ann Gillin Lefever

    Ann Gillin Lefever

    Chief Operating Officer

    Lofton Barnes

    Vice President Corporate Human Resources

    John P. Harloe, J.D., Ph.D.

    General Counsel – Global Cannabis

    Patti Smith

    Vice President Corporate Controller

    Michael A. DeGiglio

    President & Chief Executive Officer

    A former U.S. Navy aviator, Mike is a pioneer of the North American Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry. He founded greenhouse technology company, Agro Dynamics, acquired by Nasdaq-listed EcoScience, becoming CEO. In 1989, he founded Village Farms, serving as CEO since inception, and building it into one of North Americas largest greenhouse produce growers.
    Today, Mike remains a significant shareholder of Village Farms and is chief visionary for the Company. He has led its evolution to a plant-based consumer products company, focused on new, large market, high-growth cannabinoid opportunities around the world. He envisioned, and has directed, the execution of an aggressive growth strategy that has resulting in the creation of Canada’s premiere cannabis supplier and brand, acquisition of one of the U.S.’s top cannabinoid platforms, and international investments, while continuing to optimize the U.S. operations for cannabis optionality.

    Mike has long believed in sustainable agriculture practices and early on recognized the importance of CEA in this regard, driving Village Farms to be a pioneer and innovator. He has also been instrumental its use of alternative renewable energy sources, which led to founding Village Farms Clean Energy.

    Prior to his business career, Mike served on active duty in the U.S. Navy as an officer and jet aviator from July 1976 through January 1983, and the Naval Air Reserves from 1983 to 2001, retiring at the rank of Captain with the United States Naval Reserve. Michael received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science and Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

    Stephen Ruffini

    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

    Stephen began with Village Farms on January 5, 2009. Since joining, the Company, he has assisted the Company’s produce division with developing proprietary brands, as well as being instrumental in the transition into cannabis in Canada. He is also very involved with our business development team as well as with hemp regulatory matters in the U.S. Previously, Stephen served as the Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of Performing Brands, a small cap US publicly traded CPG company in the energy drinks segment.
    From 2001 until October 2005, Stephen served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hit Entertainment, plc a publicly traded (FTSE-250) UK-company. Hit Entertainment was the preeminent young children’s entertainment company owning such brands as Barney the Dinosaur, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine. From 1993-2001, He served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Lyrick Corporation and RCL Enterprises, Inc. privately-held companies based in Allen, TX owning both entertainment properties, as well as commercial printing and publishing operations. From 1984 to 1993, Stephen was a Senior Tax Manager at Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Ruffini has an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BBA from Southern Methodist University. Stephen is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
    Ann Gillin Lefever

    Ann Gillin Lefever

    Chief Operating Officer

    Ann Gillin Lefever is an accomplished business, financial and capital markets executive, who has leveraged her deep experience in equity analysis, capital markets, governance and business strategy for a successful career as an advisor to C-level and board leadership on structuring businesses to create a foundation for positive long-term operating performance, strategy and communications.
    "Village Farms' has had the benefit of Ann's expertise and experience for several years as a consultant to the Company, throughout which time her counsel has been integral to our strategic planning, analysis, capital markets strategy and communication. She brings a unique and valued perspective to the team that is firmly aligned with our evolution to a vertically integrated plant-based consumer products company, focused on cannabinoids and related health products, with opportunities in North America and around the world.” said Michael DeGiglio.

    In addition to Village Farms, Ms. Gillin Lefever advised several other organizations on governance and financial strategies while dedicating time to her family, whom she describes as her life-mentors. Her prior professional experience includes roles in the Equities Division management teams of Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers, where she was Head of the Institutional Sales Team for four years. She also developed a business model, Desk-Based Analytics, that created synergies between equity traders and institutional clients and led to increased market share and profitability through innovative content. As a Senior Equity Research analyst covering Consumer Products at both Lehman Brothers and Sanford Bernstein, Ann won many awards for ground-breaking coverage. Ms. Gillin Lefever holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Georgetown University and an MBA from The Wharton School. Currently, she sits on Georgetown University McDonough School's Board of Advisors as a member of its Executive Committee.

    Lofton Barnes

    Vice President Corporate Human Resources

    Lofton provides executive-level leadership and guidance to the organization in all areas related to Human Resources strategy that support the achievement of corporate business objectives. He began his tenure in 2012 and has been instrumental in Recruitment, Training and Development, Labor Relations, Benefits Administration and overall Organizational Culture.
    As a performance driven professional with more than 25 years of extensive experience with multiple Fortune 500 companies and industry giants such as Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels as well as big-box retail experience with The Home Depot, Lofton continues to deliver corporate HR solutions for Village Farms in his current role.

    He holds a Master of Business Administration from Stetson University and has been certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) as well as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from the Society for Human Resource Management. He is the recipient of various academic awards by Alpha Sigma Lambda, Alpha Chi National Honor and Scholarship Society and Beta Gamma Sigma for his outstanding academic achievements where he was ranked in the upper 7% of graduate business students worldwide.

    He currently is an active member of many local and national organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Central Florida Human Resource Association (CFHRA), the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) as well as the National Black MBA.

    John P. Harloe, J.D., Ph.D.

    General Counsel – Global Cannabis

    John Harloe is General Counsel at Balanced Health Botanicals (BHB). John joined BHB in 2019 and has since been involved on the board of the Hemp Round Table, as a representative for Colorado’s CHAMP program, and as Vice-Chair of the ABA’s cannabis practice section.
    He is a member of the State Bars of Colorado, Texas, and Oregon, and maintains membership in the International Cannabinoid Research Society, and the International Cannabis Bar Association. After graduating from Furman University in South Carolina, he attended VCU Medical Center’s department of Pharmacology & Toxicology in Richmond, Virginia, where he spent the next five years doing cannabinoid and endocannabinoid research. Successfully defending his dissertation on the endocannabinoid system’s role as a potential therapeutic target for disorders of learning and memory, John was awarded his Ph.D. Subsequently, John attended SMU law school in Dallas, Texas, and graduated cum laude in 2011. After graduation, he spent the next few years practicing drug and device litigation, during which time the firm settled over $800M in claims and obtained numerous nationally recognized trial verdicts. He lives with his wife and two pugs in Denver, where they take every opportunity to hike, fish, and camp.

    Patti Smith

    Vice President Corporate Controller

    Patti has overall responsibility for the controllership and financial reporting activities of the Company and its subsidiaries.
    Prior to joining the Company, Patti held a variety of senior financial management positions with U.S. public companies listed on both the NYSE and NASDAQ, most recently as the CFO of The LGL Group, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of highly-engineered electronic components. Her industry background includes technology, hospitality, telecommunications, and consumer goods. She is a seasoned professional with expertise in SEC rules, regulations and required filings, US GAAP, IFRS, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and technical accounting research.

    Patti, a Certified Public Accountant, began her career as an auditor with the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse in Rochester, NY. She earned a BS in accounting from St. John Fisher College

    Orville Bovenschen

    President - Pure Sunfarms & Leli Holland Divisions

    As Vice President, European Business Development and Operations at Village Farms, Orville leads new business and operational activities in Europe. The European cannabis market is a core focus of Village Farms International’s cannabis strategy, and it is Orville’s deep cannabis experience and extensive relationship-building capabilities that are integral to identifying and nurturing opportunities in this nascent market.
    Bringing more than 15 years of international business experience to Village Farms through his previous roles working in Europe, the Middle East, and North America, Orville credits his ability to work with and build relationships with people of various nationalities to having an open mind to diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. It is this respect for our differences, not to mention his knowledge of various regulatory regimes and approaches to cannabis legalization, that he believes is key to fostering a sense of understanding and working towards a common goal for everyone in this business. Orville’s financial experience is an added benefit for his role with Village Farms, which for a new industry such as cannabis, is integral for success in any market.

    His operational expertise honed through his role in the success of Village Farms’ Canadian cannabis business further strengthens Village Farms’ competitive advantage as the company expands cannabis operations to international markets. Working as a global conduit, Orville’s unique skillset gives him the ability to translate and drive concepts in a way that creates excitement around the future state of an emerging industry.

    Orville holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands.

    Paul Furfaro

    President - Global Medical Cannabis Division

    Paul joins Village Farms with a depth of experience in strategic planning and business development. As legalization continues to unfold in the US and globally, Paul will develop and support new market entry strategies for Village Farms in his role as the Senior Vice President of Strategy.
    In his previous roles as Vice President of Operations, and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at the Société Quebecoise du Cannabis (SQDC), Paul was responsible for implementing operations infrastructure for the new provincial corporation at the beginning of cannabis legalization in 2018. His contributions lead to the establishment of a high performing, operationally disciplined organization, growing the SQDC to 90 dispensaries, over 1000 employees, and generating over $1 billion in economic benefits at the provincial and federal level. Prior to his cannabis-specific roles, Paul was the Director of Business Development for British American Tobacco Canada, where he was responsible for improving the organization’s performance and competitiveness.

    The ambiguity and complexity of a completely new and highly regulated industry is what originally attracted Paul to the cannabis sector. For him, everything has yet to be defined, and he is excited by the prospect of charting a course forward and having a direct impact on what the industry could look like in the future. He is hyper-focused on creating winning scenarios for his team, partners, and stakeholders, as he continues to pursue Village Farms’ recognition and performance on a global scale.

    Paul holds a Master of Business Administration from McGill University and HEC Montréal, and a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University in Montreal, where he majored in international business and minored in finance. He currently serves as a mentor for McGill University’s Integrated Management Student Fellowship and is a member of the Circle of Presidents of Quebec Marketing Network.

    Bill Stoufer

    President - Balanced Health Botanicals Division

    Bill Stoufer is the Chief Operating Officer at Balanced Health Botanicals. He has been with the company since 2019 and has over 30 years’ experience in the food safety and processing, sales, logistics, and consumer packaged goods industries. A driven leader, Bill is engaged, customer-focused, and agile, providing data-based, strategic results. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Transportation and Logistics from Iowa State University College of Business, in 1990.

    Davide Zaffino

    President & CEO - Rose LifeScience Division

    A relationship builder, Davide leads the ROSE family by putting people first. It’s a trait he brings as a company co-founder, along with 20 years of banking, development, and risk-management expertise.
    Over his career, Davide has developed prosperous companies with an emphasis on strong brand appeal. Today, ROSE relies on him to provide the tools, resources, and support needed to take responsible cannabis into the future, alongside its much-valued partners.

    His highly valued leadership expertise in banking and real estate has helped ROSE to quickly evolve into a company with robust services in the cannabis industry, including commercialization, marketing, distribution, and logistics — in addition to growing and developing remarkable products. By merging this experience with his passion for Québec values, Davide is creating a company culture at ROSE which is advancing the cannabis business in that province. A Montréal native, Davide holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, he is a father of two and adores ‘the beautiful game’ (AKA soccer).

    “Yes, at ROSE we have institutional knowledge and world-class expertise in getting terrific, regulated products to the shelf. What’s better, is that we love what we do,” says Davide. “Working among experts who truly care is a pleasure. It gives me great confidence in our industry.”

    • Division Heads

    Orville Bovenschen

    President - Pure Sunfarms & Leli Holland Divisions

    Paul Furfaro

    President - Global Medical Cannabis Division

    Bill Stoufer

    President - Balanced Health Botanicals Division

    Davide Zaffino

    President & CEO - Rose LifeScience Division

    Michael A. DeGiglio
    President & Chief Executive Officer
    A former U.S. Navy aviator, Mike is a pioneer of the North American Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry. He founded greenhouse technology company, Agro Dynamics, acquired by Nasdaq-listed EcoScience, becoming CEO. In 1989, he founded Village Farms, serving as CEO since inception, and building it into one of North Americas largest greenhouse produce growers.
    Today, Mike remains a significant shareholder of Village Farms and is chief visionary for the Company. He has led its evolution to a plant-based consumer products company, focused on new, large market, high-growth cannabinoid opportunities around the world. He envisioned, and has directed, the execution of an aggressive growth strategy that has resulting in the creation of Canada’s premiere cannabis supplier and brand, acquisition of one of the U.S.’s top cannabinoid platforms, and international investments, while continuing to optimize the U.S. operations for cannabis optionality. Mike has long believed in sustainable agriculture practices and early on recognized the importance of CEA in this regard, driving Village Farms to be a pioneer and innovator. He has also been instrumental its use of alternative renewable energy sources, which led to founding Village Farms Clean Energy. Prior to his business career, Mike served on active duty in the U.S. Navy as an officer and jet aviator from July 1976 through January 1983, and the Naval Air Reserves from 1983 to 2001, retiring at the rank of Captain with the United States Naval Reserve. Michael received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science and Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
    Stephen Ruffini
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
    Stephen began with Village Farms on January 5, 2009. Since joining, the Company, he has assisted the Company’s produce division with developing proprietary brands, as well as being instrumental in the transition into cannabis in Canada. He is also very involved with our business development team as well as with hemp regulatory matters in the U.S. Previously, Stephen served as the Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of Performing Brands, a small cap US publicly traded CPG company in the energy drinks segment.
    From 2001 until October 2005, Stephen served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hit Entertainment, plc a publicly traded (FTSE-250) UK-company. Hit Entertainment was the preeminent young children’s entertainment company owning such brands as Barney the Dinosaur, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine. From 1993-2001, He served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Lyrick Corporation and RCL Enterprises, Inc. privately-held companies based in Allen, TX owning both entertainment properties, as well as commercial printing and publishing operations. From 1984 to 1993, Stephen was a Senior Tax Manager at Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Ruffini has an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BBA from Southern Methodist University. Stephen is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
    Ann Gillin Lefever
    Ann Gillin Lefever
    Chief Operating Officer
    Ann Gillin Lefever is an accomplished business, financial and capital markets executive, who has leveraged her deep experience in equity analysis, capital markets, governance and business strategy for a successful career as an advisor to C-level and board leadership on structuring businesses to create a foundation for positive long-term operating performance, strategy and communications.
    "Village Farms' has had the benefit of Ann's expertise and experience for several years as a consultant to the Company, throughout which time her counsel has been integral to our strategic planning, analysis, capital markets strategy and communication. She brings a unique and valued perspective to the team that is firmly aligned with our evolution to a vertically integrated plant-based consumer products company, focused on cannabinoids and related health products, with opportunities in North America and around the world.” said Michael DeGiglio. In addition to Village Farms, Ms. Gillin Lefever advised several other organizations on governance and financial strategies while dedicating time to her family, whom she describes as her life-mentors. Her prior professional experience includes roles in the Equities Division management teams of Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers, where she was Head of the Institutional Sales Team for four years. She also developed a business model, Desk-Based Analytics, that created synergies between equity traders and institutional clients and led to increased market share and profitability through innovative content. As a Senior Equity Research analyst covering Consumer Products at both Lehman Brothers and Sanford Bernstein, Ann won many awards for ground-breaking coverage. Ms. Gillin Lefever holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Georgetown University and an MBA from The Wharton School. Currently, she sits on Georgetown University McDonough School's Board of Advisors as a member of its Executive Committee.
    Lofton Barnes
    Vice President Corporate Human Resources
    Lofton provides executive-level leadership and guidance to the organization in all areas related to Human Resources strategy that support the achievement of corporate business objectives. He began his tenure in 2012 and has been instrumental in Recruitment, Training and Development, Labor Relations, Benefits Administration and overall Organizational Culture.
    As a performance driven professional with more than 25 years of extensive experience with multiple Fortune 500 companies and industry giants such as Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels as well as big-box retail experience with The Home Depot, Lofton continues to deliver corporate HR solutions for Village Farms in his current role. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Stetson University and has been certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) as well as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from the Society for Human Resource Management. He is the recipient of various academic awards by Alpha Sigma Lambda, Alpha Chi National Honor and Scholarship Society and Beta Gamma Sigma for his outstanding academic achievements where he was ranked in the upper 7% of graduate business students worldwide. He currently is an active member of many local and national organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Central Florida Human Resource Association (CFHRA), the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) as well as the National Black MBA.
    John P. Harloe, J.D., Ph.D.
    General Counsel – Global Cannabis
    John Harloe is General Counsel at Balanced Health Botanicals (BHB). John joined BHB in 2019 and has since been involved on the board of the Hemp Round Table, as a representative for Colorado’s CHAMP program, and as Vice-Chair of the ABA’s cannabis practice section.
    He is a member of the State Bars of Colorado, Texas, and Oregon, and maintains membership in the International Cannabinoid Research Society, and the International Cannabis Bar Association. After graduating from Furman University in South Carolina, he attended VCU Medical Center’s department of Pharmacology & Toxicology in Richmond, Virginia, where he spent the next five years doing cannabinoid and endocannabinoid research. Successfully defending his dissertation on the endocannabinoid system’s role as a potential therapeutic target for disorders of learning and memory, John was awarded his Ph.D. Subsequently, John attended SMU law school in Dallas, Texas, and graduated cum laude in 2011. After graduation, he spent the next few years practicing drug and device litigation, during which time the firm settled over $800M in claims and obtained numerous nationally recognized trial verdicts. He lives with his wife and two pugs in Denver, where they take every opportunity to hike, fish, and camp.
    Patti Smith
    Vice President Corporate Controller
    Patti has overall responsibility for the controllership and financial reporting activities of the Company and its subsidiaries.
    Prior to joining the Company, Patti held a variety of senior financial management positions with U.S. public companies listed on both the NYSE and NASDAQ, most recently as the CFO of The LGL Group, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of highly-engineered electronic components. Her industry background includes technology, hospitality, telecommunications, and consumer goods. She is a seasoned professional with expertise in SEC rules, regulations and required filings, US GAAP, IFRS, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and technical accounting research. Patti, a Certified Public Accountant, began her career as an auditor with the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse in Rochester, NY. She earned a BS in accounting from St. John Fisher College
    Orville Bovenschen
    President - Pure Sunfarms & Leli Holland Divisions
    As Vice President, European Business Development and Operations at Village Farms, Orville leads new business and operational activities in Europe. The European cannabis market is a core focus of Village Farms International’s cannabis strategy, and it is Orville’s deep cannabis experience and extensive relationship-building capabilities that are integral to identifying and nurturing opportunities in this nascent market.
    Bringing more than 15 years of international business experience to Village Farms through his previous roles working in Europe, the Middle East, and North America, Orville credits his ability to work with and build relationships with people of various nationalities to having an open mind to diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. It is this respect for our differences, not to mention his knowledge of various regulatory regimes and approaches to cannabis legalization, that he believes is key to fostering a sense of understanding and working towards a common goal for everyone in this business. Orville’s financial experience is an added benefit for his role with Village Farms, which for a new industry such as cannabis, is integral for success in any market. His operational expertise honed through his role in the success of Village Farms’ Canadian cannabis business further strengthens Village Farms’ competitive advantage as the company expands cannabis operations to international markets. Working as a global conduit, Orville’s unique skillset gives him the ability to translate and drive concepts in a way that creates excitement around the future state of an emerging industry. Orville holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands.
    Paul Furfaro
    President - Global Medical Cannabis Division
    Paul joins Village Farms with a depth of experience in strategic planning and business development. As legalization continues to unfold in the US and globally, Paul will develop and support new market entry strategies for Village Farms in his role as the Senior Vice President of Strategy.
    In his previous roles as Vice President of Operations, and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at the Société Quebecoise du Cannabis (SQDC), Paul was responsible for implementing operations infrastructure for the new provincial corporation at the beginning of cannabis legalization in 2018. His contributions lead to the establishment of a high performing, operationally disciplined organization, growing the SQDC to 90 dispensaries, over 1000 employees, and generating over $1 billion in economic benefits at the provincial and federal level. Prior to his cannabis-specific roles, Paul was the Director of Business Development for British American Tobacco Canada, where he was responsible for improving the organization’s performance and competitiveness. The ambiguity and complexity of a completely new and highly regulated industry is what originally attracted Paul to the cannabis sector. For him, everything has yet to be defined, and he is excited by the prospect of charting a course forward and having a direct impact on what the industry could look like in the future. He is hyper-focused on creating winning scenarios for his team, partners, and stakeholders, as he continues to pursue Village Farms’ recognition and performance on a global scale. Paul holds a Master of Business Administration from McGill University and HEC Montréal, and a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University in Montreal, where he majored in international business and minored in finance. He currently serves as a mentor for McGill University’s Integrated Management Student Fellowship and is a member of the Circle of Presidents of Quebec Marketing Network.
    Bill Stoufer
    President - Balanced Health Botanicals Division
    Bill Stoufer is the Chief Operating Officer at Balanced Health Botanicals. He has been with the company since 2019 and has over 30 years’ experience in the food safety and processing, sales, logistics, and consumer packaged goods industries. A driven leader, Bill is engaged, customer-focused, and agile, providing data-based, strategic results. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Transportation and Logistics from Iowa State University College of Business, in 1990.
    Davide Zaffino
    President & CEO - Rose LifeScience Division
    A relationship builder, Davide leads the ROSE family by putting people first. It’s a trait he brings as a company co-founder, along with 20 years of banking, development, and risk-management expertise.
    Over his career, Davide has developed prosperous companies with an emphasis on strong brand appeal. Today, ROSE relies on him to provide the tools, resources, and support needed to take responsible cannabis into the future, alongside its much-valued partners. His highly valued leadership expertise in banking and real estate has helped ROSE to quickly evolve into a company with robust services in the cannabis industry, including commercialization, marketing, distribution, and logistics — in addition to growing and developing remarkable products. By merging this experience with his passion for Québec values, Davide is creating a company culture at ROSE which is advancing the cannabis business in that province. A Montréal native, Davide holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, he is a father of two and adores ‘the beautiful game’ (AKA soccer). “Yes, at ROSE we have institutional knowledge and world-class expertise in getting terrific, regulated products to the shelf. What’s better, is that we love what we do,” says Davide. “Working among experts who truly care is a pleasure. It gives me great confidence in our industry.”