We Are H.E.S.T.
Horticultural Environmental Systems Technology
Since 1985, we have pioneered innovative approaches to sustainability.
Our story began when two engineering companies merged to tackle the challenges in third-world greenhouse environments. Over the decades, our journey has been marked by innovation, diversification, and a constant pursuit of knowledge. From developing our own line of energy-efficient heating systems to leveraging the internet for greenhouse design and sales, we've consistently stayed ahead of the curve. Today, H.E.S.T. is a testament to that rich history, building on it to shape the future of farming.
Our Team
Driving Innovation and Efficiency in Agriculture
At H.E.S.T., we believe our team is the backbone of our success. Comprising industry professionals with diverse expertise, our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the agricultural sector.
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Our team is led by Ricardo Garza, who brings his visionary approach to the helm of H.E.S.T., backed by a rich history of farming traditions and horticultural science expertise.
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Terry Jensen, our lead greenhouse consultant and the founder of Duninger Corporation, has over 30 years of experience in consulting on production greenhouse projects in more than 20 countries.
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George Osborne, a professional construction development expert and our H.E.S.T. Consultant, has spent the last six years consulting on large Greenhouse developments across the United States. He is our team’s liaison to governmental agencies.
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Dale Larson, successfully sold his multimillion-dollar start-up company to General Electric Corporation and is now our networker for financial resources.
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Matt Mcllwain, an environmental engineer with firsthand experience in a large-scale American hydroponic operation, is our expert in collating accurate data on existing hydroponic practices.
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Benjamin George, Vice President of new product development for BFG Supply (A large national farming supply company) and greenhouse environmental systems expert. Ben has agreed to share his extensive knowledge and current investigation into the present international competition to drive the narrative regarding the inevitable open farming / greenhouse environment merger on the horizon.
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Due to his experience with emerging technology in AI, Vijay Hattiangadi, will lead the implementation of artificial intelligence for H.E.S.T.
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With years of experience as a full-stack software engineer, Willian Daher joins the H.E.S.T. team with a wealth of technological knowledge.
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Timothy Kowalski has 15 years of experience with databases, SQL, analytics, and visualizations. He’s responsible for creating and managing internal databases, collecting data for model training, and engineering prompts.
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Mechanical engineer investing the last five years in educating and contributing his expertise to hydroponic vertical growing on a large scale. Kai is our in-house consultant on the future of vertical farming technologies.
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Jay is the former Vice President of AI and Machine Learning at JP Morgan Chase. He brings over 15 years of experience and leadership skills to the board at HEST.
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With her background in clinical trials, nutrition, and food science, Tolu brings a unique perspective to the H.E.S.T. team
Past Projects & Initiatives
Our Expertise
Established Electrical Engineering Excellence
Professional electrical engineers with 37 years in business, generating $22,000,000 in annual revenue.
Decades of Greenhouse Engineering
Our team of environmental engineers, consultants, and construction professionals have been developing large horticultural grows since 1985.
Innovative Product Development
Successfully invented, developed and commercialized three original products: The ARK Building, The Garden Grower Greenhouse, and The JakPak.
Revolutionizing Mushroom Production in India
In partnership with Tata Industries, we made significant strides in the mushroom industry throughout India, culminating in the creation of the world's most efficient mushroom production.
Influential Industry Associations
Over 40 years of developing credible associations with industry and political leaders, solidifying our presence in the agricultural and environmental systems technology sector.
Experts in Heat Transfer Engineering
Specializing in HVAC systems and boiler construction to optimize energy use in diverse settings.
Global Educators and Innovators
International educators funded by USAID, teaching greenhouse technology and supplying engineering professionals and inventions to 22 countries across 4 continents.
Strategic Partnership Collaboration
In association with Caltech University, launched a revolutionary advancement in automotive electrical battery charging systems, achieving approvals from state and federal regulators, utilities, and local jurisdictions for commercial installation.
Healthcare Trendsetters
Spearheaded new cutting-edge product development for the aging population, which led to a successful business acquisition by General Electric Corporation.
Minority Business Enterprise
We're proud to be 100% owned by a Hispanic industry professional with a BS in Horticultural Science, championing diversity and inclusion in our industry.
Join Us on Our Journey to a Sustainable Future
We're always looking for partners who share our vision of a sustainable, efficient, and tech-driven future for agriculture. Whether you're interested in collaboration or investment, we'd love to hear from you.