Andy Bentz has 30 years of experience in Municipal, County and State government and is part of the third generation of a south east Oregon ranching business family.
Andy was the elected Sheriff of Malheur County in Oregon for the last 15 years of his public service.
Andy is the Managing Member of Bentz Solutions, LLC and is pleased to offer his skills and talents along with independent team members to assist you with any of your needs. His passion is the development of people and organizations that fit the true definitions of Stewardship. Which is to “leave everything and everyone better then you found them.”
Andy has experience with Organizational Reviews and Assessments, Public Policy, Board Membership and Chairmanship, Conflict Facilitation, Governmental Relations Management at the Local, State and Federal Levels as well as being an accomplished Trainer for Leadership and Management. He has clients in the Mining Industry, Telecommunication Technology Field, Bio-mass Energy, Public Affairs and Marketing, Habitat Improvement, Economic Development, Juniper Removal as well as Private and Government Sector Training.
Jim L. Neal, independent team member, is part of an Oregon pioneer family that came to Oregon before the Civil War. Jim was raised in his grandfather’s logging camp in Western Oregon and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Engineering.
Jim has spent his career on the cutting edge in logging and natural resource management, implementing sustainable practices to make the world a better place for future generations.
The majority of his work has been in the private sector. He has held management positions within corporations and partnerships. He has owned his own consulting/contracting business for many years.
His work includes a broad range of “on the ground” experience in cruising, silvicultural systems, riparian management, habitat restoration, fire protection, and every phase of Ground Based, High Lead, and Helicopter logging operations. His expertise is Project /Operations Management, Trouble Shooting, Operational Reviews, Appraisals, Contracting, Stewardship project design/implementation, and Training.
The cornerstone of his success is his ability to see the big picture while understanding how to implement all the components necessary to achieve the objective. Jim has worked extensively with public agencies at the Local, State and National Levels, both within the United States and internationally. Many of these projects have involved collaborative efforts with numerous environmental organizations and business interests.
Ken Bentz, independent team member, was raised in the ranching business as part of the third generation of a South East Oregon ranching family. His formal education came with a Business degree from Oregon State University and a MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno. He began his real estate career along with a construction business while getting his MBA. He moved his young family back to the high desert of Oregon to take up ranching again on the historic Harney County Crow Camp Ranch nestled at the mouth of a canyon and creek overlooking the Harney Valley.
Ken has spent his life working in every aspect of Western Cattle Ranching business. He has extensive experience with the daily requirements of ranch operations as well as the 20 years of owning Bentz Reality affords him a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business. Ken can help Facilitate the Purchase or Sale for Multi-Generational Ranch Families; help young Buyers just starting out, Place Money for Investors or find a match for a Recreational Buyer. Ken can help you with Traditional Asset Management, Leasing, Cattle Placement, Supervision and Production Consulting.
Jim Crocker, independent team member, is a third generation Oregonian with a passion to develop sustainable natural resource projects that focus on converting organic waste into additional value added products. His career focus has been to improve agricultural efficiencies with a focus on utilizing waste and developing alternative revenue streams for existing agriculture products.
Jim Crocker’s education includes undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Oregon State University. Two Bachelor’s degrees in Agriculture, a Masters in Rangeland Resources and PhD. work in GIS all from Oregon State University.
Jim Crocker is a renewable energy developer focusing on Energy from Agricultural Waste Products as well as Geothermal, Solar and Hydroelectric, Landfill and Livestock Waste to Energy, Carbon Offset Credits and Carbon Sequestration. He has been involved in all phases of development from Power Purchase Agreements, Design, Capital Management and Ownership. Jim co-owns several businesses in diversified agricultural production and delivery with Crown C and Gardens to Go.
Jim serves on the Oregon State University Cascades Campus Board and helped develop the Energy Engineering Systems degree offering at OSU Cascades.
Through his involvement in both the Oregon political process and OSU Jim has shown his on-going interest in the sustainability of both the agriculture and the renewable energy industries.
Larry Havniear, independent team member, is the owner of Havniear Construction, founding it in 1978 in Bend, Oregon. Larry has focused his career around commercial building and real estate development.
Larry’s passion for building has always been the driving force for him. It has always been his goal to produce the finest quality buildings and projects that accurately match the requests and needs of his individual clients. Larry considers it an honor to represent his clients and meet their constructional needs.
With over 40 years of experience in Commercial Building and Real Estate Development, Larry has a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business. Larry’s business experience extends well beyond the commercial building and land development and he has been involved in a variety of successful business ventures though out his long career.
Rob Gordon, independent team member makes his home in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon along with his wife Andrea. Rob is the retired Sheriff of Washington County.
After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Rob began is long career in Public Safety and Government with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. During his career Rob held every rank within the Sheriff’s Office to include holding the elected Office of Sheriff for the last ten years of his service.
Rob’s formal education includes a B.A. degree in Human Resources Management from George Fox University, dual Executive Certificates from DPSST in Police and Corrections, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
While Sheriff, his organization became nationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the National Commission on Corrections Health Care. Under Rob’s leadership his jail became fully compliant with OSSA’s Oregon Jail Standards, an effort that Sheriff Gordon led as chair of the working group to implement in all counties in Oregon.
Rob is the Director of Account Management for a nationally known inmate communications firm serving all of North America. He is known for his talent in Training, Leadership and Management, Agency and or Business Evaluation and Trouble Shooting, Government Affairs Management, Public Information Management, Public Relations, Meeting and Training Facilitation, Team Building, Staff Evaluation, Training and Maintaining Organizational Culture that is positive and gets the results needed.
Out of all the awards Sheriff Gordon, ret. received during his service, ”Jail Manager of the Year” in 1998 and 2001 along with “Sheriff of the Year” 2006 and 2008, both two times, no one has ever has done this before or since.
Rob’s passion runs deep for well run and performing organizations and he is more than willing to help you.
Mike Bentz, independent team member, is the owner of V Box Land and Livestock located in the high desert of Eastern Oregon. He along with his wife Linda have been very successful in the all areas of operations of their large ranching business as well as managing a successful Ranch Horse Sale and Rancher’s Select Replacement Heifer Sale each year.
Mike’s success is due to his ability, knowledge and understanding of the greater picture related to every aspect of today’s production of high quality cattle and working horses. Mike has been able to grow and be profitable with the ever changing pressures from government, markets, and special interest groups. He applies a very sound business plan for success and business sustainability.
Mike can assist you with your Business Plan Development and Maintenance, Production and Range Land Health, Habitat Development, Herd Management and Improvement, Ranch Trouble Shooting, Family Business Plan Review, Feed Improvement, Cost Return Models and Employee Development and Relationships.
Mike understands that none of us operate a business in a vacuum. Your business success is always going to be tied to the greater community that you operate within. To that end, Mike applies a strong sense of Stewardship to all his business decisions making sure that the Industry, Land, Livestock, Wildlife, Neighbors and Community will benefit as well in the long term.