Our Team
Grainfield’s most valuable asset is the knowledge, experience, and dedication of our people.
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Grainfield Capital Management is led by Randy Hertz, Chad Hertz, and Dan O’Neil. Combined, the three GCM principals have extensive (100+ years combined) experience in all aspects of farmland investing and management, commodity markets, and merchandising of agricultural commodities. ​​
Chad Hertz
Chief Executive Officer, Hertz Farm Management, Inc.
Partner, Grainfield Capital Management
Recognized expert on precision agriculture. Served as President of the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and continues to participate on various state/national committees. Leadership roles on the Iowa FFA Foundation Board, The Nature Conservancy’s 4R Plus Non-Operating Landowner Working Group, and the Farmland Capital Alliance Ecosystems Working Group.
B.S., Agriculture, and M.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Illinois.
Randy Hertz
Executive Chairman, Hertz Farm Management, Inc.
Partner, Grainfield Capital Management
Previously the longtime CEO of Hertz Farm Management. 40+ years’ experience as a farmland professional in farmland brokerage, farm management, and appraisal. Accredited Farm Manager, Accredited Land Consultant, and Certified Financial Planner, member of both the Iowa and American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and the Iowa and National REALTORS® Land Institute.
B.S. in Agriculture, Iowa State University, MBA, Harvard University.
Dan O'Neil
Partner, Grainfield Capital Management.
Former President, Charles Schwab Futures, the commodities unit of Schwab, a Fortune 500 financial services leader. Previously, Executive Vice President responsible for commodity futures trading at optionsXpress, a Nasdaq-listed online broker acquired by Schwab, and was a co-founder of Xpresstrade, a pioneer in online commodities trading. Extensive experience in agricultural commodities trading, merchandising, and risk management.
B.A., Middlebury College, MBA University of Chicago.
Doug Hensley
President of Real Estate, Hertz Farm Management, Inc.
Joined Hertz as President of Real Estate Services in 2017. Previously, owned and served as President and managing broker of Gorsuch-Hensley Real Estate & Auction. Spent 12 years as managing broker, The Loranda Group, a regional farmland brokerage/auction firm.
B.S., Agricultural Economics, and MBA, University of Illinois.
Gary Meier
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Hertz Farm Management, Inc.
Joined Hertz in 2020. Began his career in public accounting with KPMG in Minneapolis and has served as Director of Taxation at Cowles Media Company and as Chief Financial Officer of Coldwell Banker - Minnesota and at IDI Distributors, a national building material distributor in Minnesota.
BBA-Accounting, University of Wisconsin, and MBA,, University of St. Thomas.
CPA-Minnesota (inactive).
Jeff Troendle
President of Farm Management, Hertz Farm Management, Inc.
30-plus years with Hertz as an appraiser, farm manager, and real estate broker. Accredited Farm Manager and member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) and Farm Managers Advisory Board.
B.S., Agriculture Business, Iowa State University.