John R. Gunter is a fourth generation northeast Arkansas rice farmer, where nearly half the American rice crop is grown and processed. After graduation from university he developed and operated his own 2,200-acre rice and soybean farm, farming for thirteen years before retiring from active farming in 1996 in pursuit of other interests.
After visiting Guinea in 2000, and later residing there through 2001, Mr. Gunter became increasingly involved with the West African rice trade and a myriad of other commodity trading and processing opportunities in the region. Regular contact with Guinean authorities has been maintained over the past six years, resulting in capturing this opportunity to develop Guinea's largely ignored production agricultural sector for the betterment of its citizens.
Mr. Gunter earned Bachelor’s (1983) and Master’s (1984) degrees in Agribusiness and Economics from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration degree with a finance emphasis (1999) from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. In 1998-1999 Mr. Gunter served a one-year assignment to Dominica, West Indies with the Free Market Development Advisors Program administered through USAID.
Mr. Gunter is a private pilot with 500 hours of experience in single engine aircraft and owned a plane until involvement in foreign activities interfered with this pastime. Personal satisfaction is derived from implementing land and water resource projects on the family’s rice farm, as well as maintenance and operation of farm machinery. International travel and immersion in foreign cultures is also rewarding.
After visiting Guinea in 2000, and later residing there through 2001, Mr. Gunter became increasingly involved with the West African rice trade and a myriad of other commodity trading and processing opportunities in the region. Regular contact with Guinean authorities has been maintained over the past six years, resulting in capturing this opportunity to develop Guinea's largely ignored production agricultural sector for the betterment of its citizens.
Mr. Gunter earned Bachelor’s (1983) and Master’s (1984) degrees in Agribusiness and Economics from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration degree with a finance emphasis (1999) from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. In 1998-1999 Mr. Gunter served a one-year assignment to Dominica, West Indies with the Free Market Development Advisors Program administered through USAID.
Mr. Gunter is a private pilot with 500 hours of experience in single engine aircraft and owned a plane until involvement in foreign activities interfered with this pastime. Personal satisfaction is derived from implementing land and water resource projects on the family’s rice farm, as well as maintenance and operation of farm machinery. International travel and immersion in foreign cultures is also rewarding.
