Research and Development
Alan Childs | Chief Technology Officer
Alan has worked for MetaFarms since 2001 designing and developing the MetaFarms platform. Alan’s specialty is large scale databases and data warehousing solutions serving online customers. Alan currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer bringing livestock industry customers the latest in online application technology. Prior to MetaFarms, Alan worked for Resaleworld, a software company serving the second hand retail industry, and formed database partnerships with Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, and other industry leaders in delivering online merchandise solutions. His experience in database development began in the 1980s with Oracle and worked in the database consulting industry with customers like MnDOT, Disney, CBS, The Salvation Army, Koch Industries, Hershey, and Lands End.
Alan has worked for MetaFarms since 2001 designing and developing the MetaFarms platform. Alan’s specialty is large scale databases and data warehousing solutions serving online customers. Alan currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer bringing livestock industry customers the latest in online application technology. Prior to MetaFarms, Alan worked for Resaleworld, a software company serving the second hand retail industry, and formed database partnerships with Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, and other industry leaders in delivering online merchandise solutions. His experience in database development began in the 1980s with Oracle and worked in the database consulting industry with customers like MnDOT, Disney, CBS, The Salvation Army, Koch Industries, Hershey, and Lands End.
Jeff Duffy | Vice President, Technical Operations
Jeff joined the MetaFarms team in 2007 to manage the data center infrastructure used to run MetaFarms. Jeff also serves as the Secretary and Treasurer to the Board of Directors. Prior to joining MetaFarms, he spent 10 years with Fourth Shift/SoftBrands, a client/server based software company where he oversaw numerous areas within software development including working with remote Development and Translation teams throughout the world. As a Certified Novell Engineer, he worked for a local CPA firm as a network consultant for both internal and external customers. Jeff has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Mankato State University which he used in several finance positions with National Computer Systems in the early 1990's. His background in finance and network systems continues to help MetaFarms manage their growing needs.
Jeff joined the MetaFarms team in 2007 to manage the data center infrastructure used to run MetaFarms. Jeff also serves as the Secretary and Treasurer to the Board of Directors. Prior to joining MetaFarms, he spent 10 years with Fourth Shift/SoftBrands, a client/server based software company where he oversaw numerous areas within software development including working with remote Development and Translation teams throughout the world. As a Certified Novell Engineer, he worked for a local CPA firm as a network consultant for both internal and external customers. Jeff has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Mankato State University which he used in several finance positions with National Computer Systems in the early 1990's. His background in finance and network systems continues to help MetaFarms manage their growing needs.
Marty Wanger | Director Of Technology
Marty joined MetaFarms in 2019 with the goal supporting and driving innovation within the AgTech space. With a career founded on customer service and proven track record for building strong vendor relationships, Marty is well positioned to contribute to MetaFarm’s ongoing success. Beginning his career at a small tech startup allowed Marty to develop a wide breadth of technical skillsets and an innovative mindset. For the past 10 years, Marty has been able to personify industry software for the wealth management, insurance and banking industries. This customer-centric work will continue throughout the entire MetaFarms Agricultural Platform as features and functionality continue to be added by his team. In addition, managing development teams, driving accountability for our customer’s success, and predictability into the software development process will be continued priorities for Marty. Outside of work, Marty, his wife, and their two daughters enjoy summers sailing on Lake Superior. Marty earned a Bachelor of Science with double majors in Business and Information Technology from Saint Mary’s University.
Marty joined MetaFarms in 2019 with the goal supporting and driving innovation within the AgTech space. With a career founded on customer service and proven track record for building strong vendor relationships, Marty is well positioned to contribute to MetaFarm’s ongoing success. Beginning his career at a small tech startup allowed Marty to develop a wide breadth of technical skillsets and an innovative mindset. For the past 10 years, Marty has been able to personify industry software for the wealth management, insurance and banking industries. This customer-centric work will continue throughout the entire MetaFarms Agricultural Platform as features and functionality continue to be added by his team. In addition, managing development teams, driving accountability for our customer’s success, and predictability into the software development process will be continued priorities for Marty. Outside of work, Marty, his wife, and their two daughters enjoy summers sailing on Lake Superior. Marty earned a Bachelor of Science with double majors in Business and Information Technology from Saint Mary’s University.
Phil Phan | Development Manager
Phil has worked for MetaFarms since 2003 and currently serves as our Lead Software Developer. Phil’s responsibilities include leading our development team. His main development focus is our data entry forms, imports, code standards, and release/deployments. He also helps MetaFarms research and integrate new technologies. Phil is proficient in Microsoft C#, ASP, .NET, Visual Studio and SQL Server programming. Phil is a 2003 graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with a B.S. in Computer Information Sciences and a minor in Communications.
Phil has worked for MetaFarms since 2003 and currently serves as our Lead Software Developer. Phil’s responsibilities include leading our development team. His main development focus is our data entry forms, imports, code standards, and release/deployments. He also helps MetaFarms research and integrate new technologies. Phil is proficient in Microsoft C#, ASP, .NET, Visual Studio and SQL Server programming. Phil is a 2003 graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with a B.S. in Computer Information Sciences and a minor in Communications.
Steve Drais | Software Developer
Steve joined the MetaFarms team as a software developer in 2006. Prior to MetaFarms Steve worked at Agris Corporation (a leading feed business management software company) for over 20 years. Steve’s primary responsibilities here at MetaFarms include report development and maintenance. He is also our primary development resource on our PowerVIEW OLAP analysis tool. Steve graduated from Mankato State University with a B.S. in Computer Science.
Steve joined the MetaFarms team as a software developer in 2006. Prior to MetaFarms Steve worked at Agris Corporation (a leading feed business management software company) for over 20 years. Steve’s primary responsibilities here at MetaFarms include report development and maintenance. He is also our primary development resource on our PowerVIEW OLAP analysis tool. Steve graduated from Mankato State University with a B.S. in Computer Science.
David J Brooks | Cloud Systems Administrator
David joined the MetaFarms team in 2014. David brings 10 plus years of IT infrastructure experience to our company. David will take over the data center infrastructure as well as the MetaFarms office infrastructure. Prior to joining MetaFarms he spent many years working for companies like EMC, BestBuy, and Corporate Technologies just to name a few. Many of these companies provided IT support for hardware to customers like printers, desktops, server, routers, switches, and phones. Also many of these companies provide software support like Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Servers, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Office, and other third party software. David also holds and maintains many industry certifications like A+, ISM (Information Storage and Management), VNX Platform Engineer, and holds an A.S degree in Computer Networking Systems from ITT Technical Institute. With David’s IT background, he will help MetaFarms maintain the high standards for our network.
David joined the MetaFarms team in 2014. David brings 10 plus years of IT infrastructure experience to our company. David will take over the data center infrastructure as well as the MetaFarms office infrastructure. Prior to joining MetaFarms he spent many years working for companies like EMC, BestBuy, and Corporate Technologies just to name a few. Many of these companies provided IT support for hardware to customers like printers, desktops, server, routers, switches, and phones. Also many of these companies provide software support like Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Servers, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Office, and other third party software. David also holds and maintains many industry certifications like A+, ISM (Information Storage and Management), VNX Platform Engineer, and holds an A.S degree in Computer Networking Systems from ITT Technical Institute. With David’s IT background, he will help MetaFarms maintain the high standards for our network.
Blair Eisenbraun | Software Developer
Blair joined the MetaFarms development team as a software developer in 2016. His coding experience in HTML, CSS, C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, Javascript, and SQL Server gives him the background necessary to help create and maintain reports, data imports, and frontend pages. Blair’s responsibilities include general maintenance of MetaFarms code, as well as converting legacy code to new industry standards. In addition to his development skills, Blair is knowledgeable in frontend design and copywriting optimized for SEO.
Blair joined the MetaFarms development team as a software developer in 2016. His coding experience in HTML, CSS, C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, Javascript, and SQL Server gives him the background necessary to help create and maintain reports, data imports, and frontend pages. Blair’s responsibilities include general maintenance of MetaFarms code, as well as converting legacy code to new industry standards. In addition to his development skills, Blair is knowledgeable in frontend design and copywriting optimized for SEO.