Pherotech International was founded in 1980 and is a Canadian-based revenue producing Life Science company that is a world leader in the development and commercialization of semiochemical and non-toxic insect trapping technologies for pest management in home and garden, forestry, agricultural, structural and commercial applications.

Since Pherotech was founded, it has assembled a world-class team of business executives and scientific advisors.

The company is led by CEO Mark Grambart, who joined following successful careers with Mercedes-Benz in Germany and JM Huber Corporation in Atlanta, GA, USA. Mark is also President and CEO of Victoria, BC based Contech Electronics. Contech makes advanced animal training, control and wellness products for pet owners and gardeners throughout the world.

Research and Development is directed by Dr. John Borden who is world renown in the field of Chemical Ecology and whose research results were the basis for the founding of the company. Dr. Borden’s work has led to major advances in the management of devastating pests such as the mountain pine, ambrosia and spruce beetles as well as pests found in agriculture and in one’s home and garden.     

Pherotech International offers a wide variety of scientifically-backed leading products with an established distribution network as well as direct sales to large customers that include the US Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Forest Service and large retail chains such as Wal-Mart. The company has an impressive pipeline of new products with strong commercial potential that will allow it to grow profitably and maximize its returns on invested capital for years to come.

Pherotech International Management Team

Mark Grambart, Chief Executive Officer

Mark Grambart has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Victoria, and an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. Grambart was recruited out of university by Mercedes-Benz, and was the youngest member accepted into Mercedes-Benz’s International Management Development Program, which in turn lead to business development, marketing, and operations positions. He led a 50-person, international team in designing and building a prototype fuel-cell powered vehicle. After completing his MBA from the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, Grambart was recruited by American engineered–materials giant JM Huber Corporation where, as vice president and general manager of Huber’s Industrial Business unit, he had direct responsibility for $170M in sales, 550 people and 10 plants. In this role Grambart helped turn the business around, shifting from commodity to specialty, and growing the business by $20M in a declining market, more than tripling profits in two years.

Allen Spigelman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Allen Spigelman is vice president of sales and marketing for Contech Electronics and Pherotech.
Previously, Allen worked with the Hilti Group, a privately-held $4 billion power tool company that serves construction, industrial, and commercial customers around the world. While at Hilti, Allen's roles included vice president of global training based at headquarters in Switzerland, general manager of Hilti’s business in the Philippines, and business development manager for Hilti ProShops in North America. The Hilti ProShop program is an exclusive partnership with The Home Depot which includes a direct sales force in more than 300 "shop-in-shop" stores.  Prior to Hilti, Allen was China Country Manager for General Physics, a publicly traded training and technical services company.

Allen has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Mr. Vaudry holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Pest Management from Simon Fraser University. Mr. Vaudry has worked in the pest management industry for the past 25 years. He has founded and operated pest management businesses such as PES Professional Ecological Services Ltd. and BioCare Products Ltd. A patented inventor, Vaudry brings valuable experience about pests, pest control, pest management products and management skills to Phero Tech International.

Dr. John Borden, Ph.D., RPF, RPBio, FRSC, Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Borden received his Ph.D. from the University of California (Berkeley) and is currently a Professor Emeritus at Simon Fraser University. During his career as an academic, he raised more than $11 million in external research funding, supervised more than 100 graduate students and published more than 350 papers in refereed journals, one book and 17 book chapters. He also holds nine patents. Dr. Borden has received numerous honours throughout his career, including gold medals from the Science Council of British Columbia and the Entomological Society of Canada, the Hewlett-Packard Canada Forum Award, the Scientific Achievement Award from the Canadian Institute of Forestry, the J. Everett Bussart Award from the Entomological Society of America, and the Founders’ Award from the Western Forest Insect Work Conference. He is a Fellow of the Entomological Societies of Canada and the United States, an Honorary Life Member of the Entomological Society of British Columbia and the Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia, and in 1999 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Phero Tech International Board of Directors

Jim Heppell, Chairman of the Board

Jim Heppell is a co-founder and Fund Manager of the Advantage Life Science Fund I, the best performing retail fund in Canada over the last five years. Jim is President and Partner of BC Advantage Funds.

Frank Holler, Director

Frank Holler was the founding CEO of ID Biomedical, which was sold to Glaxo Smiteh Kline in 2006 for $1.6 billion. He is also the founding Director of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals and the founding CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals. Frank is CEO and Partner of BC Advantage Funds.

Mark Grambart, Director

Mr. Grambart is a director of Pherotech International, an advisor for Starfish Medical (a designer and manufacturer of high-tech products for the medical device industry), and a director of VIATeC (Vancouver Island Association of Technology Companies).

About Lions Capital

As fund manager of BC Advantage Funds and Lions Liquidity Investment Fund I LP, Lions Capital currently manages more than $57 million of venture capital. Lions Capital also provides financing, merger and acquisition, and financial advisory services to life science and technology companies. In 2006, Lions Capital received the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association's "Deal of the Year" award for achieving the highest realized return on an investment of any venture capital firm in Canada.