 Ron R. Gibson, B. Comm., M. Sc.
President
Ron has been involved with commodities and financial markets in one form or another for more than 20 years. The philosophy he brings to Gibson Capital (founded in 1998) is to combine strong academic backgrounds and practical industry experience to produce superior research and analytical tools for clients.
Ron specializes in agricultural commodities and has provided advice to some of the largest commodity traders in the world. He has traveled to well over 40 countries and considers himself a lifelong student of the global commodity markets.
Ron previously held senior positions with Chicago-based R.J. O’Brien, one the the largest independent futures brokers in the world. Prior to that, he co-founded a Canadian operation for Memphis-based Sparks Companies, Inc. (now known as Informa Economics). He also spent six years with the Canadian Wheat Board, working in the areas of policy, risk management and transportation. Mr. Gibson has worked under contract with various organizations including the World Bank, American Soybean Association and the U.S. Grains Council. He is also Chairman of First Calgary Savings & Credit Union Ltd., a member-owned financial institution with assets under administration of over $2.5 billion. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan (1983) and Masters of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Manitoba (1990). Ron enjoys skiing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, camping, music and studying Spanish.
 Iebeling Kaastra, B. Comm., M. Sc., CFA, FRM
Research Director
Iebeling has more than 15 years of experience in the areas of commodity market research, risk modeling and hedge program development, supported by an exceptionally strong educational background. His combination of academic credentials and practical trading experience make him a valuable resource to clients.
Iebeling was previously employed by the Canadian Wheat Board where he was responsible for managing their hedging program. He was also an export grain merchant for James Richardson International in Winnipeg, Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree (1992) and a Masters of Science degree in Agricultural Economics (1994) from the University of Manitoba. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a Financial Risk Manager certification. Iebeling enjoys the outdoors and has a wide variety of interests including gliding, sailing, kayaking, traveling, metal-working and building things. He is also a keen follower of the equity markets.
 David R. Sauder, B. Sc., M. Sc.
Research Associate
David specializes in the creation of software solutions with various applications to commodity markets and risk management. In this capacity, he has developed a number of in-depth computer applications, including the PositionBook™ software. David’s analytical, modeling and programming skills have been put to good use on numerous projects over the past ten years.
David’s technical skill is complemented by considerable industry knowledge, acquired during a career outside of the information technology industry. He began working as a Policy Analyst at the Canadian Wheat Board, specializing in transportation issues and subsequently moved to CN Rail where he was Commodity Manager in charge of special crops. David also served as Director of Research and Policy Development for the Manitoba Crop Insurance Corporation. The division he headed there was responsible for creating new insurance programs, as well as determining premium rates for existing programs. He holds a B.S.A. (1987) and M.Sc. (1990) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan.
 Ted Darling, M.Ag., P.Ag.
Research Associate
Ted has worked in Alberta’s agriculture industry his entire career. As a district agriculturalist, farm management specialist and risk specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD), he gained a strong background in economic analysis, business planning, risk management and business arrangements.
He has worked in project management and in the development of decision-making tools for agricultural business managers. Ted is the co-author of several agricultural computer programs including CowProfit$, CropChoice$, RiskChoices and the Feedlot Investment Risk Simulation Tool (FIR$T).
Ted was a member of ARD’s business planning team focusing on the Ministry’s goal of “Effective Risk Management.” He was also a member of the project team that developed Alberta’s recently-launched Cattle Price Insurance Program (CPIP). After retiring from ARD in 2006, Ted has worked as a consultant in the areas of project management, strategic planning, economic analysis and risk management.
Ted holds a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) degree and a Master of Agriculture (Agricultural Economics) degree from the University of Alberta. He enjoys traveling, skiing, cycling and camping. Ted and his wife Donna have two grown children and live in northwest Calgary.
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