ABOUT
At De Paoli & Associates, our mission is to support Agribusinesses, to help them to start, grow and thrive.
To achieve our mission, we offer consulting services to Agribusinesses to help them to turn ideas into reality and to remove barriers in the process. We advocate for Agribusinesses with governing bodies, help find grants to make ideas a reality, help drive projects to the next level and promote good governance to allow for lasting success.
We enjoy the opportunity to speak and lecture across North America to a wide variety of audiences, both in the Agricultural sector and to businesses and non profits.
We are problem solvers, negotiators, facilitators and knowledge sharers. In a nutshell, we are doers who help our clients achieve measurable results.
Our Team
President
Anna De Paoli CMC, ICD.D
Anna is a Certified Management Consultant, and Corporate Director, who specializes in commercial negotiation in the Agriculture sector. Her negotiation experience ranges from small business transactions to multi billion-dollar supply agreements.
She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors from the Unviersity of Durham, the Certified Management Consultant as well as the Institute of Corporate Directors designations.
She is a Director at Big Marble Farms, Alberta’s largest vegetable greenhouse as well as a Director for Future Fuel, a power generation and composting operation and is President of ATCO Future Fuel RNG L.P who are developing a renewable natural gas project in Two Hills Alberta. She is also on the Board of Directors at IPPSA, the Independent Power Producer Society of Alberta.
Prior to her consulting career, Anna spent 10 years working internationally for Shell in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. She was involved in commodities trading and supply chain management for a wide range of refined products and biofuels.
Anna is an active volunteer in the local community, she is the Past President of the Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society, one of the oldest Agricultural Societies in Canada as well as Co-Chair of the annual Millarville Races. She is also Co-Chair of the Institute of Corporate Directors Calgary Chapter executive. Most recently, Anna was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her significant contributions to Canada, her leadership and business acumen as her volunteerism.
Associate
Melonie McKee
Melonie McKee is an experienced and passionate farmers’ market and agricultural sector consultant dedicated to strengthening market operations, supporting agricultural businesses, and building community partnerships that create long-term sustainability and stability within the sector.
Whether optimizing market performance, supporting board governance, developing vendor strategies, advocating for best practices, or providing training and mentorship to market managers, Melonie is committed to helping clients and communities thrive.
Melonie brings more than 14 years of direct experience as the Manager of the Millarville Farmers’ Market and Events, where she led one of Alberta’s most recognized farmers’ markets and supported the growth of both vendors and community-based agricultural events. Her leadership earned her the Outstanding Farmers’ Market Manager of the Year Award in 2019, along with five subsequent nominations. She is also the President of Alberta Farmers’ Market Association and Board Member of the Canadian Farmers' Market Coalition using her experience to advocate for farmers’ markets, vendors, managers, and agricultural communities across the province and country.
In addition to her farmers’ market expertise, Melonie has experience in event planning, vendor recruitment, market development, agricultural society operations, grant support, stakeholder engagement, governance, and community economic development. She holds a certificate in Event Planning & Extension through Mount Royal University, further strengthening her practical approach to planning, operations, and organizational success.
Outside of her professional work, Melonie gives back to her community through the Cowboy Trail Lions Club, her local Royal Canadian Legion, and the Millarville Races.
In her free time, she enjoys fishing, camping, golfing, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Associate
Cassandra Cadrain
Cassandra has over 15 years of experience in the greenhouse industry, specializing in operational excellence, human resources, regulatory compliance, government funding, food safety, quality systems, and organizational development. Since entering the industry in 2010, she has held progressive leadership roles spanning operations, compliance, administration, project management, human resources, and executive support.
She is recognized for helping organizations navigate complex regulatory environments while improving operational efficiency and supporting sustainable growth. Her expertise includes grant funding, government relations, stakeholder engagement, workforce planning, regulatory compliance, food safety and quality systems, and business process improvement. She has successfully led multi-million-dollar government funding initiatives and have extensive experience working with federal, provincial, and municipal government agencies.
Throughout her career, she has managed complex projects involving greenhouse operations, digital transformation, ERP implementation, Temporary Foreign Worker program compliance, environmental reporting, certification programs, and audit readiness. She has developed practical systems that strengthen operational integrity while supporting executive leadership and organizational success.
Cassandra is a passionate advocate for Canada's greenhouse industry and works closely with government officials, industry associations, and stakeholders to promote policies that support food security, workforce sustainability, and the continued growth of controlled environment agriculture. She believes greenhouse production plays a critical role in strengthening Canada's domestic food supply and building resilient agricultural systems.
Holding a Diploma in Chemical Technology, she combines technical knowledge with extensive experience in operations, administration, compliance, and project leadership. Her collaborative, solutions-focused approach enables organizations to navigate complexity, improve performance, and build sustainable operations with confidence.
When she is not working, she is usually planning her next trip, trying a new restaurant, enjoying a round of golf, or spending time with my dog. She is a firm believer that great relationships, continuous learning, and new experiences are just as important outside the office as they are in business, and they continually inspire fresh perspectives that she brings to every client and project.