Our Team

Don Taylor

CEO  |  AmplifiedAg

Prior to joining the AmplifiedAg team, Don served as Chief Technology Officer for Benefitfocus, Inc, an online benefits platform company, for over a decade. He was responsible for the technology vision of Benefitfocus, Inc, specifically around the company’s platform architecture, security, infrastructure and product strategy. As a software industry veteran of more than 30 years, Don brings extensive experience in developing and providing advanced software solutions to the healthcare, banking, and logistics industries. Prior to joining Benefitfocus, Inc, he was the founder and Chief Technology Officer of a software company, which developed a multi-tenant suite of SaaS applications for the third-party logistics market.

Jessica Brewer

COO  |  AmplifiedAg

Jessica has over two decades of software industry experience, most recently serving as Senior VP of Account Services at Benefitfocus, Inc., where she had executive ownership of the practice. She also served 10+ years as the Senior VP of Engineering and Global Services, leading the company’s software engineering, business operations and application deployment teams. Jessica earned a Master of Science degree in Software Engineering Management from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in Computer Science from the College of Charleston. She serves on the board of the Charleston Women in Tech and the South Carolina Aquarium.

Pete Cuneo

CFO  |  AmplifedAg

As a Certified Public Accountant with 15+ years of experience in both public and private accounting in industries such as: manufacturing, aerospace, software, real estate, and hospitality. Pete brings a wealth of knowledge to the financial management to the team. He also has experience implementing multiple accounting and ERP software systems as well as assisting with debt and equity capital raises. He received a master’s degree in accounting from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance from Mercyhurst University.

Stefanie Swackhamer

VP of Mission, Marketing, and Business Development  |  AmplifiedAg

With 15+ years experience in community based work, Stefanie is an advocate for implementing sustainable farming solutions in communities and passionate about education and serving. As a teacher she started a Literacy Through Latin program at a Title I high school in North Charleston, SC. Stefanie holds a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching with a specialization in Cross Cultural Learning as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classics from College of Charleston.

David Flynn

General Manager  |  Tiger Corner Farms & Boxcar Central

A senior Army officer for 24 years, Dave has extensive experience implementing solutions for challenging problems. He leads his team of seasoned software engineers. Together they have built the Boxcar Central technology platform, which integrates IoT sensing and control systems within a business software suite. Ultimately, this provides an end-to-end, holistic solution for today’s technology-driven indoor farming landscape and beyond. Dave hold a master’s degree in strategic studies from Air University and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from Clemson University.

Andrew Hare

General Manager  |  Vertical Roots

In his role as General Manager at Vertical Roots, Andrew is responsible for farming operations, strategic planning, and customer success.  Andrew is driven by the mission to bring healthy, safe, and local produce to communities everywhere. Prior to Vertical Roots, Andrew was an entrepreneur and restaurateur, who co-founded and operated, two successful local eateries in the Charleston, SC area. Andrew’s background also includes 9+ years in the benefits administration industry with some of the largest insurance brands in the United States. 

Matt Daniels

Chief Horticulturist  |  Vertical Roots

As Chief Horticulturist for Vertical Roots, Matt is responsible for the controlled environment system design, management of plant health through the entire lifecycle, and all product related research and development. His scientific approach to environmental controls, photobiology and plant nutrition enables Vertical Roots to deliver consistent, high quality produce 365 days a year. Matt was previously a Systems Engineer for Tiger Corner Farms and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State.

Evan Aluise

Chief Engineer  |  Tiger Corner Farms

As Chief Engineer, Evan is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of our farms and facilities fleet-wide.  Prior to joining Amplified Ag, Evan was an officer in the United States Navy for 8+ years serving as a member of the Submarine Engineering Community.  He was named Instructor of the Year Navy-wide during his time at Nuclear Power School.  Evan holds an MBA from the University of South Carolina and a Mechanical Engineering degree from North Dakota State University.  Additionally, he earned a Submarine Design certificate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jackie Jones

Director of Operations  |  Vertical Roots

Jackie brings 15+ years of experience in operations, leadership, manufacturing, and continuous improvement to Vertical Roots. Previously, she held several positions at Nestlé including Production Supervisor, Operations Manager, and Project Management Office Engineer.  Additionally she has a background working in the healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. Jackie holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Northwestern Ohio and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Wright State University.  She also has earned multiple certifications in food safety and business process improvement.