Nathaniel O’Dell

Chief Operating Officer

Nathaniel has been committed to helping Mr. Canary® grow since 2012, back when he was a student in Ball State University’s Entrepreneurship Center. He has a personal commitment to seeing individuals with disabilities have access to good work opportunities, and Nathaniel believes in the Mr. Canary® Company’s ability to bring a little goodness to everyone it touches. Nathaniel began as a student-team leader, then he became a full-fledged (bird-pun intended) Mr. Canary® intern, then a Product Manager, afterwards he became Vice President of Mr. Canary® Direct, and now he serves as Chief Operating Officer for Mr. Canary® Company. While Nathaniel laments being a twenty-something who knows WAY MORE about birds than he’d prefer, he enjoys being a part of Mr. Canary’s continued growth and success!

Christina Mowery

Retired Co-Founder, Full-Time Supportive Big Sister

Chris Mowery (left) and sister, Jan Long, started the Mitchell Marketing Group, Inc, dba, The Mr. Canary Company in 1995. With no clear goal except hanging around together and making some cash for the mall, they began a wild ride of business ownership that landed them in a national superstore before they actually had a product. Well, they had a product…they just didn’t own it. Or know how to make it. Or virtually anything else about it, the industry, or running a business; they were, in other words, “like many entrepreneurs.” Chris managed logistics and customer service among other duties. She was renown for sitting down with a cup a coffee, her phone and a list of customers to call; next thing you know, the customers would be inviting her to “drop by if [you’re] ever in Vermont.” Although she officially retired in 2012, Chris remains on Speed Dial for advice and general Big Sister Collaboration. She also manages state seed registrations for our products, too.

Lola Long

Superintendent of Security

No matter its size, security is a major concern for every business. Guided by our small security budget, we’ve made the thoughtful choice of appointing Jan’s beloved dog, Lola, Superintendent of Security for Mr. Canary’s World Headquarters. Rest assured, Lola will snap to attention at the slightest sound-with a racket that sounds as if she’s been pierced, while she speeds to the door to give any would-be intruder a good licking! You have been warned.

The Arc of Greater Boone County

Birdfeeder Manufacturers Extraordinaire

Where do we start! How about with the truth?

Without The Arc of Greater Boone County, Mr. Canary® products wouldn’t make it to the shelves. The Arc of Greater Boone County has been serving Boone County, Indiana, since the 1950’s. These guys are true pro’s- with extremely talented “clients” who quickly prove their abilities far-outweigh their disabilities, and the awesome support staff who make sure they have what they need to be successful in advancing their job skills. All of these guys are incredible, and Mr. Canary® couldn’t ask for better manufacturing partners!

Jan Long

Mr. Canary President

Jan Long is President and co-founder of Mitchell Marketing Group (dba The Mr. Canary Company).

She graduated from Ball State University with a teaching degree in secondary education, essential preparation for her first job in sales at a local TV station. From there, she became a pioneer ‘Pharma Girl,’ with a company acclaimed for indigestion relief and Quaaludes.
From there, the only logical step was law school (Indiana University School of Law) where she spent a year and a half disproving their claims they would teach her to “think like a lawyer.” After that, a job with the Indiana Supreme Court as their founding Director of the Office of Guardian Ad Litem/CASA, a statewide court program to support advocates for abused/neglected children.

With that kind of background and experience, it was no surprise when Jan and her sister, Christina Mowery, sold a mass retailer enough bird feeders to stock and continually replenish about 1800 stores, coast-to-coast – without actually owning any bird feeders. Or knowing how to make them. Or, knowing anything about birds. Or business. (“It’s a long story.”)

Twenty-three years later, she uses her voice and niche in carrying out a mission: to add to the birding industry what Shoebox Greetings adds to Hallmark cards. In other words, to bring a sense of joy and playfulness (aka, a sense of humor) to a simple, family-shared, feel-good activity that has no age, race, gender, religious, educational, political or economic requirements.