The former chief executive officer of Avena Foods and well-known civil servant Maryellen Carlson has died.
Carlson taught school before joining the federal civil service, working for Consumer and Corporate Affairs and then Agriculture Canada.
In 1997, she moved to Saskatchewan Agriculture to head the industry development branch and eventually became assistant deputy minister. She sat on numerous boards including the Western Beef Development Centre and Ag-West Bio Inc.
She moved to municipal affairs, also as an assistant deputy minister, before leaving for the private sector.
Carlson joined Avena Foods, the Regina-based gluten-free oats processor, in 2009.
She is survived by her husband, Lyndon Carlson, senior vice-president of marketing at Farm Credit Canada.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
