Board of Directors
John C. Bienvenu,
Chairman
Bruce P. Beard
Bradford T. Brack
Cora Hoover
Margaret McFarlin
Jason Naess
Michael G. Ruddy, Jr.
Bruce Rueppel
Lon Van Gemert
John C. Bienvenu,
President & CEO
Dillon Olvera has served as president and CEO of Beard Land and MET Railroad since 2017, bringing 30-plus years of experience in financial analysis, business development, strategic planning, forecasting, and cross-functional team leadership. A 1994 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Dillon began his career as a senior auditor with KPMG before holding leadership positions with Enlighten, E.piphany, ACCPAC International, EMC/Documentum, and Polycom. In 2008, Dillon returned to his native Modesto to serve as vice president of finance for 5.11 Tactical, followed by a role as chief financial officer of Innov8 Partners beginning in 2013.
Senior Vice President & CFO
David Folly has served as senior vice president and CFO since 2017. A 1996 graduate of Fresno State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, David brings 30 years of experience in operational and financial management, strategic planning, and organizational development. His career includes leadership roles with Logitech, California Natural Products, Hilmar Cheese Company, Farmeron, and Grower Direct Nut Company. David also serves on the boards of the Center for Human Services and Sutter Memorial Hospital Foundation.
“As CFO, I work closely with our real estate and rail operations teams to make sure every deal we pursue is one we can stand behind—not just today, but throughout the life of the relationship. We’ve been here for more than a century because we don’t chase short-term wins. We build relationships that outlast market cycles. That’s not just a philosophy; it’s a track record.”
VP Real Estate
Chris Conklin has served as vice president of real estate at Beard Land since 2019, overseeing a diverse portfolio of properties throughout California. Before joining Beard, Chris spent 14 years with the Grupe Company, where he served as vice president of land acquisition and development. Earlier in his career, he was a project manager with Teichert and Graniterock. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and law and society from UC Santa Barbara in 1998.
“I manage Beard’s California real estate portfolio and know our tenants by name. Flexible terms, fast decisions, no sacred cows – because an empty building doesn’t work for anybody. I make sure clients get answers in minutes, not months. What makes that possible is the structure behind it. Beard’s land is already zoned and entitled, and our CEO is across the hall. When a decision needs to be made, we don’t send it up six levels – we talk it through and move.”
VP, Rail Sales & Marketing
Tracy has served as vice president of sales and marketing for MET Railroad for nearly a decade. A 2008 graduate of Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, where she earned her MBA, Tracy began her career with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in 2002 as an equipment manager, overseeing grain fleets and meeting customer demands. She advanced through a series of leadership roles at BNSF Railway, including market manager, industrial products sales manager, and sales director, where she focused on market strategy and growth opportunities.
“After nine years here, the thing I’m most proud of is building a compliance framework that has become standard practice for every new customer we bring on. It’s not flashy, but it matters. When a customer needs a fast answer or a decision made, they get four knowledgeable people in a room—not a corporate chain of command. That’s the real value of working with us.”
VP, Operations
Over the course of his 26-year career with MET Railroad, Jared has worked virtually every job in the operation. He began as a switchman and advanced to locomotive engineer-conductor before moving into management. Jared went on to serve as operations manager, manager of train operations, and general manager before becoming vice president of operations in 2017. He also serves on the boards of the Short Line Safety Institute and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
“Being family-owned means I know everyone by name – and they know I’ve got their back. That kind of trust moves trains. We have seven crew starts a day, move 35,000 cars annually, and maintain 55 miles of track, with a simple standard: ‘Your car gets where it needs to go, on time and in one piece.’ I’ve been keeping that promise for more than two decades.”