OUR TEAM
Our team embraces leadership and vision, answering the call to serve as stewards of God’s creation.
Nani-Waiata Koromete – CEO
Chief Executive Officer
Personal and Agricultural Background
Nani-Waiata spent her early years in Southern California within a blended, multi-language, and multi-national family heritage. She was raised by her German father—who was adopted into the New Zealand Māori Ngāti Tūwharetoa–Tahere Whānau—and her mother of Indigenous Native Inca, Spanish Basque, and Māori descent. Her agricultural roots run deep. Agribusiness, particularly the “farm-to-market” model, became a foundation of her early training. She was mentored by the legendary James Bailey, creator of the Orange County Agricultural Fairgrounds’ Centennial Educational Farm, where Nani participated in the inaugural setup. While living in New Zealand, Nani managed nearly four acres of productive farmland that included vegetable and fruit gardens, a greenhouse with an organic hydroponic system, citrus and fruit orchards, orchid shade houses, and ornamental gardens. With a stream running through the property, it became a favorite on the local garden tour circuit. Remarkably, approximately 98% of this “paradise” contained plants mentioned in the Bible. Her education in plant ecology also included extensive study of Bible-based plants and the Creator’s diet. In 2008, Nani returned to the U.S. West Coast with her husband, where together they developed fresh- and saltwater aquaculture and hydroponic growing systems. Today, living in North Alabama, she cultivates microgreens, petite and full-size greens, along with tilapia fish and vegetables in a state-of-the-art closed-recycle system. |
|
Quentin Koromete – Founder & Chief Engineer
Pioneer, Inventor & Product Development Engineer
Personal
Quentin was born and raised on a 2,000-acre dry stock farm in Whakaangiangi Valley, East Cape, New Zealand (NZ), where natural food was abundant and self-sufficiency was a way of life. He has been a Civil Engineer for over 47 years, with postgraduate education in Aquaculture from the prestigious Deakin University in Australia, specializing in Aquaculture, Nutrition, Propagation, and Water Quality for both sea and freshwater systems. Nicknamed “Batman” (for breaking rules in pursuit of solutions) and often called a Maverick, MacGyver, and tireless workaholic, Quentin remains hands-on and unafraid of hard work. He has personally built five homes, two of which used innovative technology that allowed completion in just days. His combined knowledge of hydraulics and structural engineering has made aquaculture and aquaponics a natural extension of his professional career and personal passion. In 1990, Quentin developed New Zealand’s first Abalone Farm Training Program (Maxcess) and went on to build a shellfish farm on Stevenson Island—cultivating lobster, abalone, mussels, and uni—fully funded by the Unemployment Division of the NZ Labor Department. By 1999, for his university thesis, he built the world’s first operational abalone re-circulating hatchery unit and, by chance, became the proud “father” of baby abalone after applying what he believed were standard aquaculture practices. His unique method set him apart as an innovator. In August 2001, Quentin was granted a fish farming licence from the Ministry of Fisheries for his own saltwater aquaponics system. He later co-founded the Ruawaipu Tribal Authority, where he designed and built a recirculating abalone hatchery and developed a half-ton production system for new farmers at Potaka, which officially opened on February 22, 2004. This was one of the first salt and freshwater aquaponic systems worldwide—an innovative closed-recycling design where 18°C saltwater shellfish waste fed into 35°C brackish water seaweed production, creating a fully integrated loop. Earlier, in 1995, Quentin had also developed the Te Urunga O Te Ra Economic Development Society Constitution and business plan, and he served as Treasurer of the Waiapu Farmers Co-Operative Rebuilding Project until 2006. In 2007, alongside his wife, he created an “organic” hydroponic system that replaced synthetic fertilizers with natural, liquid alternatives. After moving overseas in 2012, he built a hydroponic system that sustained their vegan diet with fresh, organic vegetables. Missing fish in his meals, he went on to design a 100-square-foot greenhouse in 2013—an aquaponic system growing tilapia and vegetables together, complete with a compost unit to provide natural fertilizer, echoing the innovations he had pioneered 15 years earlier. That same year, he built a community-scale aquafarm inside a 12,000-square-foot greenhouse in Newport Beach, California. Of this, 2,000 square feet was dedicated to organic hydroponics and 1,000 square feet to fish raceway tanks. In 2014, Quentin donated his expertise and resources to build a small educational aquaponics unit at Coastkeeper’s Garden, located behind Santiago Canyon College in Orange, California. By 2015, he was enhancing his designs further—integrating LED lighting for algae tanks and photovoltaic technology to keep systems 100% off-grid. |
DEPARTMENTS OVERSEEN
|
Civil Engineering Background
A lifelong athlete, Quentin represented Thames Valley Rugby for two years, even turning down the chance to play for the world-renowned New Zealand All Blacks to pursue his passion for Civil Engineering abroad. Over the past four decades, he has worked across nearly every civil engineering discipline, including architectural, geotechnical, structural, water resources, hydraulic, transportation, environmental, coastal, surveying, contract documentation, and project management. In the early 1980s, his expertise in geotechnical and structural engineering brought him to England, where he worked for The Cementation Company (now Cementation Skanska), then the third-largest construction firm in the UK. He was quickly promoted to serve as a troubleshooter on the company’s military defense contracts, taking on complex and sensitive projects such as:
After returning to New Zealand, Quentin managed budgets of over $15 million annually for local government, overseeing road and bridge construction as well as new maintenance contracts. As Compliance Engineer for a novel low-cost housing system (built without nails), he authored the official Code of Compliance Manual later adopted by the NZ Government. He also pioneered a low-cost road repair method, which he presented at the World Conference for Sustainable Transportation in 2004 to an audience of more than 400 international engineers. Since then, Quentin has operated his own private engineering company, working on projects including residential subdivisions, state-of-the-art irrigation, farmland dewatering, surveying, and hydroelectric feasibility studies for power stations ranging from 2–10 megawatts. He also brings over 30 years of business expertise in writing business plans, financial forecasting, and law—serving as a Law Practitioner with the United Tribes of New Zealand, with specialized knowledge in civil technology and contract law. |
JEANI VOLKER
|
Jeani Volker
Jeani Volker is an entrepreneur with a passion for environmental issues, social justice, and investing in companies with proven success. She brings six years of sales and marketing experience in radio and television in Oklahoma City, three years in membership sales for the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and six years as National Marketing Director for BBW Magazine in Los Angeles, California. As an active member of the Los Angeles community, Jeani discovered from early childhood that healing was one of her natural gifts. If asked what instrument she plays, her answer is “the body.” For more than 20 years, she has dedicated herself to health and wellness, teaching techniques to reduce stress and promote relaxation. She incorporates approaches such as Access Consciousness—practical, dynamic, and pragmatic tools designed to help people live more consciously and remove barriers to receiving. Today, Jeani combines her entrepreneurial insight, wellness expertise, and investment background by lending her support and knowledge to Enviroculture Inc. |
DANIEL J. RIVES
Director of Communications
|
DANIEL J. RIVES
Daniel Rives, a Birmingham, Alabama native, brings over a decade of experience in strategic communications and multimedia production to Enviroculture™. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications Media (2018) and a Master of Science in Communication Science with a concentration in Communications Specialist (2021). Daniel’s career has spanned broadcast journalism, corporate communications, and technical media production. He has served as a photojournalist for ABC and CBS affiliates, traveling with reporters to cover live events and breaking news, and as a Communication Analyst and Videographer for Alabama Power where he produced training media, managed audiovisual operations, and led cross-functional campaigns highlighting clean energy and workforce development initiatives. Beyond corporate and newsroom settings, Daniel has built a film and photography company, Daniel has created impactful visual content for diverse clients and initiatives. His partnership with Enviroculture™ has included building the Enviroculture.org platform. He is currently editing the forthcoming eBook Faith of a Mustard Seed: Unlocking Food Freedom and producing an exclusive documentary on Enviroculture™. As Communications Director, Daniel is responsible for advancing the Enviroculture™ mission through digital storytelling, virtual education programs, and academy development. With expertise in strategic messaging, broadcast production, and content design, he plays a key role in connecting communities to sustainable solutions and expanding access to food freedom worldwide. |
JAMES BRIEN
PROJECT FINANCE & COMMERCE ADVISORY
|
James Brien
James is a New Zealand-born international entrepreneur and director of Ardent 8 Group, currently residing in Singapore. He had a long history with the founders, having served as best man at their wedding and being considered their adopted son. Together, they have successfully completed numerous projects over the years. James has recently focused on investment banking platforms, where he has established credibility in funding and managing complex projects. As a teenager, he became a self-made millionaire by founding and growing one of New Zealand’s top-five internet service providers and later one of the country’s first internet cafes. Today, James brings extensive expertise in directorship, trusteeship, management, technology, project management, funding, and finance. A true trailblazer, he networks globally and leverages unparalleled commercial acumen to assist in setting up the FST and Enviroculture™ websites, managing information technology, and organizing documentation and processes for large-scale funding, asset management, and international licensing. |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KAREN L. WOODS
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
|
Karen L. Woods
Karen is a member of the Enviroculture™ Advisory Board and has been actively involved with our projects since 2011. Her professional background is grounded in retail and marketing, and she is currently the co-owner and operator of an Organic Mattress Specialty Store in Reno, NV. Karen’s passion for socially conscious business practices and sustainable living has inspired her mantra: “RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENT and GROW FOOD.” Her work as an urban gardener, focusing on produce and herbs, has naturally aligned with the Enviroculture™ mission. She is particularly committed to bringing fresh, healthy food options to urban food deserts, where at-risk neighborhoods often have little or no access to affordable, unprocessed products. Karen believes that including residents in the food production process is key to fostering healthy lifestyle choices. Enviroculture™ provides the perfect platform to engage community leaders and residents in cultivating their own bounty, creating sustainable paths to food security. |
|
|
|