Meet The

Farm Team

Greg Bohlen

Founder and CEO

Greg Bohlen is Co-founder and Managing General Partner of Union Grove Venture Partners (UGVP). Throughout Greg’s 30 years in banking and venture capital, he has invested in over 60 venture-backed companies and successfully taken 24 companies public. UGVP was selected by the Dow Jones as the #1 global private fund-of funds in 2022. Greg returned to his farming roots in 2015 to start Union Grove Farm and follow his passion for eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives, focusing on food as medicine. Greg is also a published author, a volunteer fireman and on the board of the Orange Grove Fire Department.  He lives in Chapel Hill, NC on the family farm built with his three sons over the past two decades.

Greg Giguiere

Vineyard Manager

With over two decades of experience in vineyard management, regenerative agriculture and team leadership, Greg joins our team bringing a commitment to sustainable and innovative growing as well as premium grape production. A fifth-generation farmer, Greg grew up on a family ranch in the Dunnigan Hills of California developing a life-long passion for agriculture and sustainable practices. Before joining UGF, he was as Director of Viticulture Operations at JK Vineyards. He and his team focused on improving soil health and enhancing wine grape quality by adopting regenerative farming methods, including bio-fertilization, adaptive grazing and cover cropping. Greg holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Viticulture and Oenology from University of California at Davis.

Patrick Kavanaugh

Head of Soil & Vine Health

Patrick Kavanaugh leads the Soil & Vine Health program at our regenerative vineyard. He joined Union Grove Farm after retiring from a 20-year career in education, where he taught Science at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough. Prior to his time in education, Patrick worked as a Propulsion Systems Engineer for Rockwell & Boeing on the Space Shuttle Main Propulsion System.


At Union Grove Farm, he oversees our comprehensive compost and vermicompost operations, continuously monitoring and assessing the health of both soil and vines. His focus is on ensuring optimal vine growth by enriching the soil with the best biological practices, ultimately producing the highest quality, nutrient-rich grapes.


Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Virginia, and a Science Teaching Certification from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Martin Crompton

Projects and Marketing Director

Martin has over 25 years of experience working as a development leader and consultant in the USA, Europe, and Central America. He has provided strategic leadership and direction on innovative and market disruptive initiatives across over a dozen different industry platforms. Over the past several years, his focus has pivoted to sustainability, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. Martin joined Union Grove four years and ago and connects our operation to some of the leading players and solution providers in the regenerative farming movement in the USA.  In addition to his work at Union Grove, he serves on the NC Wine and Grape Council and the NC Muscadine Growers Association board.

Dane Jensen

Farm Operations Director

Dane Jensen grew up in San Diego, California and has been working in agriculture for over a decade. Prior to joining Union Grove, he worked as a shepherd at Tablas Creek Vineyard, one of the first certified regenerative wineries. Dane is passionate about holistic grazing management and is spearheading our 2023 initiative to integrate sheep into our vineyards. He currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his two young daughters and his sheepdog, Sophie.

Collin Mallet

Livestock and Compost Specialist

Collin grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina and has been working summers on the farm since 2018 while he attended school. In 2022 he graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Sustainable Technology with a focus in sustainable agriculture. He is passionate about sustainability in agriculture and will be assisting both Dane and Laura with composting and livestock management. Collin now lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is excited to get his boots on the ground at UGF.

Copyright 2024, Union Grove Farm.

All Rights Reserved.

FIND US


7203 Union Grove Church Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516

[email protected]

(919) 824-6800

The Center for Regenerative Agriculture

3501 Dairyland Road

Hillsborough, NC 27278

hosting


The Barn Venue

Distillery coming soon

Harper Grace House coming soon

Follow Along