b'TOP 10 NEXT GEN LEADERSMIKE TREBINOBorn and raised on a vegetable farm in Gonzales, Cali., Mike Trebino, sales representative for Radicle Seed, says agriculture wasnt something he wanted to pursue. Throughout high school and the first half of college, his mind was on becoming an architect. After a summer internship for T&C Supplies, BRIAN SUNDBERG now known as Radicle Seed Company, did he Growing up in Erie, Pa., Brian Sundberg, corn inventory quality coordinator atrealize something: he knew too much about the AgReliant Genetics, says he didnt have a traditional agriculture background.agriculture industry to abandon it. After that, he It wasnt until his time at Penn State University while taking an introductorymade the switch to major in ag business.engineering course on agricultural equipment that he became fascinated withOne thing hes passionate about? Making sure agriculture. After that course, his path was set, and he changed his major toeveryone is passionate about vegetables, espe-pursue a degree in agricultural engineering. cially his specialty, spinach!After college, I moved to central Iowa to work for a seed corn productionVegetables should capture everyones pas-site where I scheduled production and oversaw the quality from field to finalsion, Trebino says. Eat your greens. Especially package, Sundberg says. There, I developed a passion for the supply chainspinach, otherwise, as my grandpa once told me, and quality processes of seed corn production and jumped at the opportunitythe garbage can also be the farms best friend.to join AgReliant Genetics. At the California Seed Association, Trebino While falling into the corn side of things was actually based on luck,works as chairman for the spinach committee. Sundberg says theres a reason hes stuck with hybrid seed corn production. Spinach has been a key focus of ours since day Its a fast-paced industry, and you never stop learning about the crop, he says.one in the seed industry, he says. It was inevitable Often, Sundberg says hes asked by friends and family how he feels notthat I would get involved with the California spinach being in a traditional engineering role. committee as the vice chair and now president. I tell them although I dont have engineer in my job title, I am using thoseI also work closely with the Steering Group that engineer skills every day, he says. Working in corn supply chain involves con- works closely with all researchers and suppliers in stantly trying to problem solve to better serve the customer. Its asking: Howthe spinach industry.can we get the grower what they ordered, how they ordered and when theyAs for what makes the seed industry unique? need it? Trebino says there never is a normal day.His role, Sundberg says, allows him to be a life-long learner, which is a per- Every day brings a new challenge, he says. sonal goal he can accomplish every day.There isnt one day of the week that would be the In the future, Sundberg says the importance of big data and data analyticssame as the previous one.is something hes keeping his eye out on.He also notes getting to travel around meeting It seems like every year more traits are being introduced with newer, bettergrowers has its advantages as well. genetics, improved seed treatments and more customers planting specialtyAnd what makes Trebino as unique as the indus-corn hybrids to meet the needs of a unique grain market, he says. We musttry? He enjoys all things outdoors, including hunting, know where these trends are heading to meet the needs and better serve thefishing and off roading, but in particular, he says: I customer. sometimes put milk into the bowl before cereal.50/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2021'