Our Core Team

We are a small team assisted by a large number of volunteers and advisors. Before we get into the mini-bios we want to take a moment and give thanks to all the people who help us along our path: Thanks all, we appreciate it.

Chris J. Kent , Principal Director – Chris is the SRG founder and chief system designer for SMART. With training in change management, computer science, data science, econometrics, project management, and an accounting specialization from the Telfer School of Management – Chris administers SRG. He operated a successful English as a Second Language (ESL) service for international students attending Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He is a science enthusiast with experience in amateur rocketry, electronics and robotics. Inspired by his time in the hospitality industry he had the idea for our campus and curriculum designs. Growing up in rural Ontario, Chris is no stranger to farms and the country life. As founder he will ensure students watch some high quality sci-fi and documentaries. As a life long space geek he is an armchair futurist and advocate of human space exploration.

Nora M. Mendez, Chief of Regional Operations – Nora is responsible for communications, culture and operations in the Philippines. Nora grew up in the province of Nueva Ecija and knows the region, so has is key to our research and networking efforts there. Her family runs a small plot farm in the region and she has decades of practical agronomy experience. Masterminding our seed bank, grafting / air layering stations and plant nursery will also be her responsibility. She supervises build teams and other staff when translation to Tagalog or Ilocano is required. Navigating the Philippines bureaucracy is also an area where Nora has ample experience. With over a decade of experience abroad in the gulf states Nora speaks Arabic. She will be overseeing the EMEA and ASEAN regions of our international student program. Nora will probably be picking the non-science fiction films for movie nights on campus.

Richard W. Blum, Chief of Agronomy & Food Systems – Richard is responsible for our farm to table integrated vertical. As a horticulturist, life long gardener, geologist and avid cook he is overseeing everything from site preparation of the farm to the campus meals and café-bistro fare we prepare. He will also help our students on Foodplus system development, shelf stable food science and biome engineering for our closed loop test environments. Like our founder, Richard also loves science fiction and futurism. Introducing students to key works of hard sci-fi will be important to developing their futurist sides and creativity. Like all of us cinephiles, Richard will be picking epic films for movie nights on campus.