LEANN SAUNDERS

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Where Food Comes From, Inc.

Leann Saunders is the co-founder, a member of the board of directors, president and COO of Where Food Comes From, Inc., the leading agricultural and food verification and certification company in North America. Where Food Comes From and its subsidiaries (A Bee Organic, IMI Global, International Certification Services, Sterling Solutions, SureHarvest, and Validus Verification Services) offer programs and services allowing tens of thousands of food producers across all types of commodities to meet specific market needs, including public standards, private brand initiatives, and international trade requirements.

Prior to her time at Where Food Comes From, Leann worked for PM Beef Holdings, where she developed the first-ever USDA Process Verified Program for beef in the U.S. Leann also worked for McDonald’s Corporation and Hudson Foods Corporation.

Leann currently sits on the board of directors for the International Stockmen’s Education Foundation, The University of Nebraska’s Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Board of Directors, and the Colorado State University Agriculture Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council. In 2015, she was the chair of the United States Meat Export Federation and one of only two women to have served in this position. Leann also remains involved with her family’s ranching and stocker operations and is part-owner of the Mayfield Ranches near Playas, N.M.

Leann is most proud of her family, where she is the mom of three children. She remains active in all of their academic and athletic activities and sits on the Douglas County High School Career Tech Department Advisory Board and is the president of the Girls’ Basketball Booster Program. She and her husband John are both passionate about the community, and with another local family, started Summer Jam, a local music concert series designed to benefit the Douglas County Task Force in their hometown of Castle Rock, Colo.